The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-14
READING FOR THE DAY.
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. 81. 1895

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Sunday School Lesson for Nov. 81, 1885.
WALKING IN THR LIGHT.-I John !, $40: H. 1-6
Golden Text-If we walk in the light as He is in the
light have fellowship with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ His Son. cleanseth from all
sin.-I John j, z,
There can be no doubt that this epistle was
written by the author Of the fourth gospel. 1t
was given to the churches many years after that
work. and II was evidently written near the end
of his life somewhere about the year 80. Poly
carp, who was disciple of John, and who suf
fered martyrdom A. D. 16S freely quotes in his
writings from this first spistle. Though in old
age, yet his mind was clear, his experience rieh
and under the inspiration Of the Spirit he gave
as one of the best and most helpful of all the
epistles We would be glad to have had more
about himself, more of incident and experiences;
but it is he stands before us the ripest mobiles
fruitage Of the early church.
The great thought everywhere present in the
epistle is fellowship The believer is in fellow
ship with God and His Son Jesus Christ; and
all true believers are in fellowship with each
other. When asked as an old man why he so
constantly repeated the phrase, little children,
love one another he said. Because this is the
command OF the Lord; and nothing is done un-
less this be done" He is said to have been the
a.
death, and this occurred when he was nearly
hundred years old, in the city of Ephesus
LESSON APPLICATIONS.
/. The message John and his Christian asso-
ciates heard is the one we hear We, as we'll as
they, have it to declare God is light TO us as to
them. In that light we may dwell, not visit.
We dwell in the light by meditation, prayer and
Bible study. God is not understood only by
those who abide not with Him.
z. Our Christian character is determined by
life, not by profession. Hypocrisy is in some
degree pardonable when it is practiced in hope
it is determined to overcome Immediately con-
scious personal Inconsistencies Do not cease to
profess Christ every time you fall.
J. 1t is not necessary to live in sin. If man
sin it is because he enjoys it. IF Christ cannot
save from all sin and keep US in that saved life,
he is impostor, unable to do for US what on
certain practicable conditions he declares him
self able to accomplish Sinlessness is salvation.
All men have sinned. We have all yielded
in actual transgression to the downward predis-
position of our natural bent. Ofthis are all we'll
aware. Now Christ came in his atoning sacrifice
to purify US from all natural tendency to deprav-
ty. and to pardon all the guilt of sin. Purity
is salvation.
5. John in all his writing, and especially in
his present admirable gospel summary. had but
one object in view-to keep men from shining
Some of our modern sacrilegious biblical inter-
preters do not agree with him, and deny that
change the standing conclusion of the inspira-
ton.
6. Christ is the Christians. not the sinners,
advocate before the eternal throne. The just
man, the Christian, need not but still he may,
fall seven times, and through the plea of the
advocate in his behalf rise again. If he is
weak, his Christ is strong, and he cannot fall
by his own choice. Men sin because they like it.
z. Christ is the only one through whom
purity and pardon are possible. Christ is mans
propitiator, not his advocate Christs propit:a-
ton makes it possible for God to purify and par
don every repentant sinner. We are not con-
versant enough with heavens economy to say
why this is, but the fact is plain by revelation.
8. Practically, if not theologicay faith and
obedience are synonymous Men believe in
Jesus Christ when they do as He bids them. A
soul is saved when Gods commandments are
kept A soul is saved, is sinless when Gods
are kept Which of Christ's
cannot be keptl Can God be
perfectly obeyedl
8. When men keep Gods commandments they
know ii. and in doing this thew 6now they are
saved. How grandly soul carries itself when
it knows that it is living life of obedience
Conscious obedience IS a chariot of fire to 60 to
heaven IN. .,nless Gods commandments can be
kept -.e Is a monster of iniqulty, and not our
--Tfng Father.
10. When we abide in Christ we cannot but
relive the spirit Of His lfe His character is I'M
like our own In size, in quality they are iden-
tical. When Christ saves He makes as like His
sinlass self