616
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
October 1928
tonness, strife, envying" (v. 13). No one can honestly charge Paul with not being practical. He never fails to let the Chris tian know that something is involved in believing such doctrines as those expound ed in this epistle. Dishonesty, carousing, running with women, quarreling and grudging are practices utterly inconsistent with such a profession. A knowledge o f rich spiritual truths is no substitute for practical piety; rather, it should stimulate it. The closing exhortation of the chapter is : “ Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision fo r the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof’ (v. 14). Appropriation of Christ is better than mere imitation of Him. We must have the very power of Christ as our complete wardrobe in order to live His kind of a life. When He is put on, the things of the world and the flesh will fall off. We should carefully notice the words “ make not provision.” People often take great pains to plan out enjoyments of the flesh. The Christian is exhorted to quit planning for the satisfaction of the flesh. Stop fighting temptation in your own strength and stop waiting around the cor ner for temptation to catch up with you. Is there overmastering temptation that baffles you and keeps boasting against you? Turn to Christ alone. He will cover you and sin will slink away. This is heaven’s unencumbered plan of victory in the life. It has enabled thousands to meet, without fear, the fiercest tempta tions. —o— P ith and P oint The best way to shake off the fear of rulers is to “ do that which is good” (v. 3). The man who never bows will never soar (v. 5). The man whose citizenship is in heaven has double responsibility as a citizen o f earth (v. 2 ). " A bill we will always owe (v. 8 ). The ways of the world are a “ night gown.’’ ; Put it off when you rise to con- H ct for Christ (v. 12). Victory will he YOURS only through personal dealings with HIM (v. 14). The only way to do what we can’t do and must do, is to do it through Christ (v, 14). —o— A C hapter S ummary “Love is the fulfilling o f the law” (v. 10). Let us make a practical application of this principle to the chapter before us and see how our lives measure u p : 1. Love to God will lead His children, for His sake, to be obedient to the or dinances o f rulers (vs. 1 - 2 ). 2. Love causes His people to do good, never to do evil (v. 4). 3. Love to God will move His people to pay their taxes without grumbling (v. 6 ). 4. Love to God will always be evidenced by an outflow of love to one’s neighbors (v. 8 ). 5. Love will so dominate the life o f God’s child that he cannot indulge in open sin (v. 9). 6 . Love will never do ill to a fellow man (v. 10 ). 7. Love o f Christ’s appearing will be a constant incentive to the works of light (v. 12).
Yes, Times H A V E Changedl
From Los Angeles Times
heart unless the Christian is constantly watchful unto prayer. “ The time is s h o r t ............ it is high time , to awake out o f sleep . . . the night is far spent, the day is at hand" (vs. 12 - 13). With all the complications of gov ernment and society, we are not to forget “the blessed hope” (Tit. 2:13). Even the smoke of burning Christians at Rome could not becloud it. Paul indicates that it might be even at the doors. W e know not the time (Mk. 13:3S; cf. Mt. 25:19). The apostle hoped for translation, yet he speaks o f the possibility of death. The promise of Acts 1:11 has been a silent force throughout the centuries, molding lives and quickening believers to soul winning. Nothing is more certain than that no man can be dogmatic as to the time of Christ’s return (Acts 1 :7). The very un certainty of the time is an incentive to “cast off the works o f darkness and put on the armour o f light." Jesus Himself is the soul’s armor and arms. It is of no avail for the Christian to try to fight the devil with the devil’s weapons. “Let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting, drunkenness, chambering, wan
have little thought for the interests of their creditors (Prov. 3:27-28). The great debt we owe to God (love) is payable to man (including our creditors). A fine church was once erected. The pas tor was asked by a stranger if the con gregation would be in debt. “Yes,” re plied the pastor, “it frightens me to think of it.” “Why did you build without the money?” he was asked. “ Oh, we didn’t,” answered the minister, “but think how much a church like this will owe the com munity and the world. They will be look ing to us to manifest the love o f God to men.” “Love is the fulfilling of the lav/’ (v. 10). Dr. Maclaren said: “ If love to God doesn’t find a field for ■its manifestation in active love to man, then worship in the temple will be a mockery.” The thir teenth chapter of 1 Corinthians is a com mentary on this statement. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor” (v. 10 ), even when he has done ill to you. Love teaches a Christian to slight the slights and be kind to the slighters. Un less we can bear with the faults of others, we betray our own. This supply o f di vine love very easily leaks out of the
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