THE K ltfd’S BUSINESS
33 one that he is looking on the same moon on which we look, so when we see the bow let us remember that He also, sees the bow—and remembers. And when we see the bread and wine let us remember that He remembers while we remem ber. b.—Its appropriateness. The exqui site fitness of the token is itself a token of its divine appointment—(a) it ap pears on our clouds; (b) it (commonly) ends the storm; (c) it glorifies our clouds; (d) it is woven of our clouds; (e) it proves that the sun (perhaps still hid) is still shining; (f) it is turned from us, not aimed at us; (g) it binds heaven and earth in one; (h) it is the all embracing arm of heaven; (i) it is formed of light that gives beauty and color to life; (j) it is the symbol of hope; (k) and of God’s mercy even “the half is not told,” the circle shall be com pleted” in glory (Rev. 4:3). but Adam and Eve had a deep con sciousness of their sinfulness and knew that the man-made clothes did not fit them for God’s presence. They did not seek God, but sought to hide from Him. God sought them, however, and in this act of God we get the true picture of His grace. He seeks the sinner. He clothes the sinner. He provides for the sinner. When the Son of God came He announced that He came to seek and save the lost. The law of sin and death was put into operation when Eve reached out and took the forbidden fruit. “But the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.” Thanks be unto the God of grace for His unspeakable favor. LESSON 4 Januhry 26, 1913. Golden Text—1 Jno. 3:16 The lesson for today is an illustration of the last lesson. Here we have the outworking of the law of sin and death. Cain and Abel, born outside of the Gar den of Eden, inherited the nature of their parents. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” God has ordained that every seed should bring forth after its own kind. There is an eternal warfare between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. These two sons illustrate great opposite truths and find their parallel in the two men Who came
(a) the exit from the Ark and by, (b) the judgment of the dispersion (Gen. 11 : 8 ). 2. Note: (1) The new principle, civil government. It is agreed that in the pregnant phrase “by man shall his blood be shed,” we find the charter for the State. Though vengeful men so distort ed it, and in our Southern States ana mountains still distort it, taking veng- ance into their own hands, it is evident that God did not mean that blood should be shed save by due process of law, the process of judicial government, hereby instituted. (2) The token, a.—In token of His pledge God appointed a sacra ment, a bow, in the sky. As Jesus ap pointed the bread and the wine, so the Lord gave new meaning to the rainbow, and made it a memorial, that we may remember His “I will remember” when we see it. As we think of an absent loved The Golden Text tells the story of human life. Every soul born into the world since the Fall was born a bond servant to sin; they are Satan’s by right of conquest. Men sin because it is their nature. “As by one man sin entered into the world.” Sin is a serpent which has wound itself around humanity and left its deadly sting in a vital part. Sin is a blood disease which has made all creation one. Sin is a death blow given to man by his enemy, Satan; “death passed upon all men.” When Adam and Eve yielded to Satan’s snare, they took themselves out of the hand of God and yielded themselves to Satan, they doubt ed God’s word, believed the devil’s lie and thus became children of the devil and possessors of natures devilish in their opposition to God. “Whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are, whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death or obedience unto righteous ness.” The nature of sin is manifested in the first act of the fallen pair. Sin separated them from God. The pres ence of God in the garden filled them with fear and dread. Why should any one fear the presence of God? Why not look forward with joy to being with Him? Men talk glibly of meeting Him,
The Heart of the Lesson By T. C. HORTON LESSON 3 Janary 19, 1913. Golden Text—Jno. 8:34
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