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THE KI NG ' S BUSI NESS
October, 1937
I N T E R N A T I O N A L L E S S O N Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division Golden Text Illustration Object Lesson B y B. B. S utcliffe B y G retchen S ibley B y H elen G ailey B y A lan S. P earce B y E lmer L. W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain
NOVEMBER 7, 1937 CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND PEACE C olossians 3:1-17
as being a fit Covering for sinners, but as being appropriate to the Christian who is “the elect o f God, holy and beloved.” Garments, in Scripture, are frequently sym bols of habits of life. Here we have the Christian’s inner and outer apparel de scribed as seven graces: compassion, kind ness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, forbearance, and forgiveness, none of them being possible, in reality, for the unsaved ■to produce. The outer garment, covering ~all and hiding all, is love. This is the bond of perfectness, holding all together. III. C hristian P ower (15-17) Repeatedly the Scriptures exhort the be liever with the words, “Let us. . . —im plying that the power of the Christian will be measured by the Christian’s will. “Let” the peace of God rule in the heart; that is, let it “ arbitrate” (v. 15, R. V. mar gin) ; let it examine, conclude, and decide every question, and then abide by its de cisions always. “Let” the word of Christ dwell in the heart richly (v. 16). The "word of Christ” means not merely what Christ actually said as recorded in the four Gos pels, but also what is said of Him through out all Scripture. Let this word of Christ dwell as a permanent resident—not merely as a transient guest—to control, influence, and rule the entire life. “Let” whatever is done be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God (v. 17). For the Christian, every thing in the life is to be related to Him. Following the exhortations associated with
Golden Text: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body” (Col. 3:15). Outline and Exposition I. C hristian P osition (1-4) I N VERSE 1, the word “if” has the force of “since,” or “seeing that.” There is no question about the believ er’s association with Christ in death and resurrection; but the believer’s recognition of that fact needs to be stressed. Dead with Him (Col. 2:20), risen with Him (Gal. 2:20), hidden with Him (Col. 3:3), coming with Him (Jude 14)—the believer must grasp this glorious truth if he would know anything about true “ Christian Char acter and Peace.” Growing out of the fact of the believ er’s union with Christ is the exhortation to seek those things where Christ is, and to set the mind upon these things. The word “ affection” does not here mean the feelings or emotions, but rather the thinking, or the mind (cf. v. 2, R.V.). This word was also used when our Lord said to Peter, “ Get thee behind me,. . . thou mindest not the things of God” (Mk. 8:33, R .V .). We are to actively seek, and consciously think upon, the things of Christ; and we shall find that this exercise will make us strong to triumph in the hour of temptation. The position of the follower of the Lord Jesus Christ is described in verse 3: “hid with Christ in God.” It is a position pro vided by God Himself for the Christian. Concerning our Lord, these words embrace His resurrection, His ascension, His pres ent high-priestly ministry, His union with God the Father, His coming to earth, His personal glory, and (v. 4) His future man ifestation. Concerning the Christian, the words imply the complete identification with Christ and union with Him. Christ is the Christian’s life. He is its source, its sphere, its support, its security, and its satisfaction. This being the case, the Chris tian is to seek the things where Christ is. II. C hristian P ractice (5-14) There is a very close connection between doctrine and duty, position and practice. There are two great utterances which af fect every Christian: “Thy sins are for- [These lessons are developed from out lines prepared by the Committee on Im proved Uniform Lessons of the Interna tional Council. The outlines are copy righted by the International Council of Religious Education and used by permis sion .—E ditor .]
given,” and “Arise,. . . and walk” (cf. Mk. 2:1-12, R. V .). Therefore, after stating the believer’s position in Christ, the apostle exhorts to practice, telling how one who is dead and risen with Christ should live. The Christian is to “mortify” a number of things which might be called pagan vices (vs. 5-7). These evil things are~ni the very warp and woof of nature and are revealed through the body. With these evils there is to be no compromise. The child of God is to slay (make to be dead) the old man, that is, all that the sinner is in the flesh. The new man (v. 10) is all that the Christian is in Christ. The believer is to “put off,” furthermore, what might be termed civilized vices (vs. 8-11). The reason is that the Christian is in Christ, and none of these things, whether pagan or civilized, are to be found in him. We should be careful lest we teach that the mortifying and the putting off consti tute a way of salvation. God has no com mand to the unsaved beyond the familiar truth: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). And we should also be careful lest we at tribute to Satan these evils, which have their origin in the fallen human heart (cf. Mk. 7:22, 23). It is human selfishness that gives Satan his opportunity with the sinner. The follower of Christ is to “put on” what might be termed Christian virtues (vs. 12-14). These are to be put on, not
Thy Word Is Light By E M M A LEE DAV IS The path was long, and fraught with unknown fears. I hardly dared to take a step ahead, Till one day through a mist of thankful tears, I saw the light, and by its rays was led. How glorious Thy Word, a burning flame That shines along the way before our feet; A staff when steps are halting, slow, and lame; A two-edged sword for every foe we meet. How comforting Thy Word, our wine and oil That flows into our wounds to soothe and heal; The resting place from labor and from toil; A sanctuary blest where we may kneel. Oh, may we always find our hearts' desire Bound up within that holy Word of Thine; A pillar, first of cloud and then of fire, To lead us ever in Thy will divine.
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