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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
October, 1934
This realization encourages the Christian to continue in patience, however long the time of waiting may seem. He remembers that it is the grace of God which delays the ful fillment of the certain yet future good (2 Pet. 3). The love of the true church member is seen in his treatment of all other members, uniting with them in gladness and single ness of heart, while praising God and thus having favor with all the people (vs. 46, 47). Praise is the crowning grace in all Christian experience. It is the highest spiritual exercise in which the Christian can engage. When we pray, we desire to receive things from God, but when we praise, we give thanks to God. In offering praise, the Christian fulfills the highest purpose of his being, for it is written that “whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” (Psa. SO:23).. III. T he C ontinuance of C hurch M embers (Acts 2:47). Believers do not join the church, the body of Christ, but are made a part of it by the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Men and women may join denominations, but these are all organizations from which they may resign or be put out. But believers are joined to the church through the oper ation of the Holy Spirit, and when once a person is so joined, there can be neither exclusion by one’s own action, nor excom-
BLACKBOARD LE SSON
more than anything else at the present time is light. Through its acknowledged spokes men, writers, thinkers, statesmen, and others, the world testifies that it is groping in the dark; in spite of the passing of centuries, the world is no further advanced than the stage of mere experiment in such realms as those of sociology, education, and government. Hence, the Christian who will do the world some good in his day is the one who will be publishing far and near the Word of life, remembering the declara tion: “The entrance of thy words giveth light” (Psa. 119:130). Christians are both the salt and the light of the world because of the presence of the indwelling Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is not given to the believer for his selfish enjoyment, but that, through the believer, blessing may extend to a.11 the world. Christians cannot live unto them selves : The salt must be spread, and the light must be allowed to shine, in order that glory may come to the “Father which is in heaven.” II. T he C onduct of C hurch M embers (Acts 2:41-47). Christian conduct cannot begin, of course, until conversion occurs—and that salvation results from the reception of the Word of God (v. 41). No unsaved person can produce Christian conduct, and no one is ever saved apart from the Word. And obedience to the Word is the evidence of having received it by true faith (cf. Jas. 2:26). The Christian—the member of the true church—-will continue “steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (v. 42). That is, he will not be governed by what he himself thinks, nor by what others think, nor even by what the apostles did, but by what the apostles taught. We must remember that the guide for Christians today is not the practice of the early saints, but their precepts. The true church member will also con tinue in the apostles’ fellowship (v. 42). That is, he will be found associating with those who are filled with the Spirit and working according to the will of the Lord. He will not become so finely “taught in the word” as to deny the unity of the body of Christ by separating himself from those in whom the Spirit of the Lord is found, but will be in fellowship with all who call on the name of the Lord in sincerity. Again, the true church member will con tinue in the breaking of bread as an act of worship, remembering always that the basis of his standing before God is secure, through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s sacrifice for sin will constantly be recalled as the Christian looks for that event which may close his journey on earth pf-the catching away of the saints to meet the Lord in the air. Moreover, the true church member will continue in prayers (v. 42). This exercise is vital for every Christian, but alas, in many organized churches today, the meet ing for prayer has been discontinued. But prayer is absolutely necessary for every be liever, not only for his personal difficulties and growth in grâce, but also for the proc lamation and spread of the gospel. Furthermore, the true church member will be manifesting his new life in Christ by his faith, his hope, and his love (vs. 43-47). In the period of our lesson, this faith was revealed in the fear which fell upon all who heard of the manner of life among the members of the church. They had “all things common” ; and as every man had need, that need was supplied out of the common fund created by the com mon possession of all the goods belonging to all the members. Here again, we have
to remember that today’s conduct cannot be governed by the practice of these early Christians, but we are to give attention, rather, to the precepts given by the apos tles. Attempts to inaugurate a system based on the practice of the first Christians have more than once thrown the church into confusion. Such attempts have result ed also in the denial of much that is taught in the epistles—precepts given for church government and conduct today. The hope of the true church member ex tends to the future and to the unseen. The difference between the hope of the Chris tian and that of the individual of the world is that the expectations of the unregenerate man may or may not be realized, whereas the desires of the believer—based upon the Word of God—are certain of fulfillment.
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