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November, 1944
International Lesson Commentary DECEMBER 3, 1944 W O R L D -W ID E CHR IST IAN FELLOW SH IP J ohn 17:18-23; 1 C orinthians 1:1-3; 12:4-14; 2 C orinthians 8:1-9
Outline and Exposition B. B. S utcliffe Points and Problems H omer A. K ent Golden Text Illustration
A lan S. P earce Blackboard Lesson G retchen S ibley Children s Division M ildred M. C ook Object Lesson E lmer L. W ilder
the family of believers is in view. For the establishment of this unity, the Lord would sanctify, or consecrate, Himself. He was separated unto all the, will of God, that the disciples also, sent into the world as He was, might be separated unto the same will. The instrument for this sepa ration, or holiness, is the Word of God. Disciples, being unlike the sin' less Lord- Jesus, have need of both negative and positive sanctification: separation from sin and the desire for sin, and separation unto all the will of God. This practical sanctification will reveal the unity of believers, and will constitute a testimony that the world may believe that the Father sent Christ into the world (vs. 20, 21). Di visions and strife within the chur'ch have often nullified this testimony. Whatever the present failure of the church may be, the “family” relation ship will be fully manifested at last, and the world will know, whether it believes or not, that our Lord was sent into the world by the Father to be the Saviour of men (vs. 22, 23). II. T he S phere of F ellowship (1 C or . 1:1-3) The sphere of the fellowship that is here in view is in the “church of God.” The church is composed of all who are sanctified (or set apart) in Christ Jesus, called saints, together “with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.” Many evils were found in the church at Corinth. But in spite of B LACK BOARD LESSON "OEITHER PRfW I FOR.THESE ALOnE,6UT FORTHEfT) ALSOWHICHSHALLBELIEUEOn mETHROUûH THEIR WORD; THAT THE4 ALL mfl4 BE ODE.” JOWn17’•2.0?2.i w m
John 17:18 As thou hast sent me Into the world, even so have I also sent them Into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify my self, that they also vmight be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one;; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. **22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, arid thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved 1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,-with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of adminis trations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in ail. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all bap tized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or- free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. LESSON TEX T: John 17:18-23; 1 Cor. 1:1-3; 12:4-7, 12, 13. GOLDEN TEX T: “ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one In us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17: 20, 21). DEVOTIONAL READING: Col. 1:16-23. Outline and Exposition I. T he F oundation of F ellowship (J ohn 17:18-23) A S OUR Lord was sent into the world, in like manner He sends His disciples into the world. 19). In this passage the oneness of
G ladys B owman , I llustrator Lesson material is based on outlines of International Sunday School Lessons , copyrighted by International Council of Religious Education; used by permission. that fact, the company of believers was the “church of God” ; it belonged to Him, it had been established by Him and would be watched over by Him. Positionally, the members were separated from all other people, “sanctified in Christ Jesus,” by the God who owned them. They were all called “saints,” the family name of God’s people everywhere and in every age. The naine does not imply sin lessness or perfection; it is a name that God sovereignly bestows. Those who bear thât title ought to conduct themselves in saintly manner; but practical holiness, another line of truth, is not immediately in view here. III. T he P urpose of F ellowship (1 C or . 12:4-7) The purpose of fellowship among believers is the spiritual profit of each believer. There are diversities of gifts, and differences of administra tions, but all are to be controlled by the Lord, for the good of all. The individual believer profits from the gifts, ministrations, and opera tions; and more than that, fellowship in these matters belongs to the whole company of the church. IV. T he N ecessity of F ellowship (1 C or . 12:12, 13) The necessity of fellowship- comes from the fact that all believers are members of one body. In the Gospel of John, the unity is that of the fami ly; here it is the unity of the body, an organism. Each one who believes in .Jesus Christ' as personal Saviour is at once baptized by the Holy Spirit
For this cause they need, above all else, practical sanctification (vs. 18,
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