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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
November, 1938
The beautiful handkerchief is now free from the sin of covetousness. Covetousness may not be your sin, but whatever the sin in your life may be, Christ can save you and free you.
red cloth, which reminds us of the blood of Christ, over the two handkerchiefs. (While the two pieces of silk are covered, pull the yellow free from the other, allowing the yel low to drop to the floor.)
DECEMBER .18, 1938 CHRIST’S NEW COMMANDMENT M a tth ew 5:43-48; 22:34-40; L u k e 10:25-37; J o hn 13:34, 35; 15:12-14; G alatians 5:13,14
spiritual exercises beyond fallen human na ture to perform. The common saying, "I’ll give him as good as he sends,” reveals what nature would do. If one is born of God, that one will be, in his own measure, like God—and God so loved the world (the world of rebels and enemies) that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). The passage does not imply that because we treat others with love, we thereby secure life or salvation for ourselves as a reward. But having new life, we are to manifest it by loving as God loved. The world loves its own and does good to its own. What commendation could the Christian expect for doing nothing more than the world does? The Christian is to be "perfect,” like his heavenly Father, showing toward others that holy love and yearning that He imparts. II. T h e I m portance o f L ove (M a tt . 22:34-40) A lawyer, one of the Pharisees, asked the Lord: “Which is the great command ment in the law?” The answer, so clear that a child could understand it, involved loving God with all the being, and loving the neighbor as oneself. We see at once the utter impossibility of fulfilling this com mand without the possession of the new nature. But on this twofold command, love to God and love to man, hangs all the law and the prophets. And these two can be rolled into one, the first. Whoever loves God with the whole being will of necessity love his neighbor as himself. But where is the man who has loved God with every department of his being and loved his neighbor as himself? III. T h e E x t e n t o f L ove (J o hn 13:34, 35) This is the new commandment given by our Lord; and it touches, not the outside world, but the inner circle of disciples. They are to “love one another.” It might appear at first sight that this instruction is not difficult. But He adds, “as I have loved you.” The Christian is called upon to exhibit the same love to his fellow Chris tians as Christ bestowed upon the Christian himself. While the Lord Jesus lived upon earth, in the face of every discouragement He continued to love; and at the end, though He knew all the weaknessess and failures, and even the unbelief, of His dis ciples, it is said that “having loved his own that were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1, R. V .). Christ, speaking to His own, declared that they were to love one another as He loved them! Love of this kind would be, for all who saw it, the proof that these were
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 2 2:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question , tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. - ■ Lesson Text: Matt 5:43-48; 22:34-40; John 13:34, 35; 15:12-14. Golden Text: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). Devotional Reading: Rom. 5:1-8. Outline and Exposition I. T h e M an ifesta tion o f L ove (M a tt . 5:43-48) UR LORD enlarges the Old Tes tament command to include even our enemies. Obedience to His word takes on new meaning when we re member that all for whom Christ died were His enemies, being also the enemies of the Father from whom Christ came (cf. Rom. 5: 5-10)—yet He loved them. Blessing those who curse, doing good to those who hate, and praying for those who persecute, are BLACKBOARD LESSON
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