The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-10-11
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 15.
Lesson Text: Classification by Faith"
Romans W, 1-11-Golden
Text: Romans W, g.
Commentary.

Text: Romans W, s.
Commentary.
I. Therefore, being justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ" Ifthere is q foundation truth
that needs to be fully received, firmly held,
daily enjoyed and joyously passed on, 1t Is
this-that all who receive Christ are justified
and actually have peace with God, for
Christ Himself Is our peace, through the fln-
ished work of Christ without any work Of
ours. Commit Rom. iy., S; Eph. il, 8, 8;
made the peace by the blood Of His cross,
and it is our privilege to receive it (Col.
l., 20).
2. .By whom also we have access by faith
into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice
in hope OF the glory Of God" It is by grace,
without single work OF ours. that We are
saved, and In that grace it Is our privilege to
live, fer our High Priest within the veil rep
resents US before God in all Els perfec:-
ness, and we may come boldly for mercy and
grace in every time of need (Heb. w., Is, 16).
This covers all our life from the moment OF
our acceptance until we are taken home.
The last clause Of this verse calls attention
to the blessed hope of Titus H., 13, when we
shall be like Him q John ILL.,, 2, 81.
3 "And not only so, but we glory in tribu-
lations Also knowing that tribulation work.
eth patience" The sufrerings Of this pres
ent time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in US,
and all our Affections are working out for us
far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory Rom. viii, 18; II Cor. iv., 17). By
His grace we may learn to count trials joy,
knowing that when patiently borne they
bring glory to Him and great good to US,
conforming US to His image (Jas. l. 2, 8, r.;
II Cor. xiii. 9, TO- Rom. viii, 2S, 29).
4. ''And patience, experience, and expert
ence, hope" Patience under trial Is very
glorifying to God and very confusing to sa-
tan, and is one Of the most convincing proofs
OF the reality of Christianity (II Thess Ill !, 5
margin Jas. ", 10; Rev. xiii, 10 XIV, 12).
The word translated experience Is in II
Cor. H., 9; xiii, 8, Phil. IL. %, translated
'sproof." 1t is the evidence that we are the
Lords and develops in US 1rmer grasp OF
the Joys set before US and the glory to be
brought unto us at the revelation OF Jesus
Christ q Pet. l., 6, Z, 49, 'iv, u, 1S).
5. "And hope maketh not ashamed, be-
cause the love Of God is shed abroad In our
hearts BY the Holy Ghost which is given unto
u.s." The Holy Spirit Is the earnest OF our
inheritance until the redemption Of the pur-
chased possession (Eph. l.. IS, 14). He
makes known the love Of God to us, and that
He loved US even when we were dead In sins
(Eph. H., 4, 81 that, knowing all about Us,
He loved US and will love us even to the end
Deut. vii, 7, 8; Jer. xxi, 8 John Kill, y;
that, having loved us enough to seek us out
and make US his own, He will not cease till
he has finished the work and made US just
like Himself in that bright morning (Phil. l.,
6; ill.,, 20, 21). His people shall never be
ashamed (Joel H., 26, 2D.
6. "For when we were yet without strength
in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
without strength means that we are as
helpless to better ourselves spiritually as the
Young man at the Gate Beautiful OF the tenn
Die was to walk of his own accord, for the
word "impotept" applied to him Acts w., 81
Is the very word here used. "Ungodly" Is
said by Young to signify In some places
s.worthless, or without value p" We are apt
to think that there must have been something
about US to cause God to love US, but from
this verse it is not so. Ask the missionary In
Alaska or in Central Africa what there Is to
love in the most degraded they have ever
seen, and from the dark picture see yourself
in the sight Of God. -!
7. "For scarcely for righteous man will
one die, yet peradrenture for good man
some would even dare to die" 1t seems
strange. yet we all know it to be true, that
there are righteous persons who are not much
given to good works. They have accepted
Christ and are outwardly blsmeless In their
lives and very religious in the way OF church.
going, but as to helping the poor and making
the widows heart to sing for Joy, that ts not
their way. It would be very hard to find
substitute for such person IN the matter OF
death, but for one who has lived to do good
and scatter his substance among the needy 1t
would not be 80 difficult.
8. "But God commendeth His love toward
IL 1yaf oin NhrISf
died for u.s." Here is love beyond all that
earth ever witnessed. The objects OF this
love are not only felt negatively impotent and
worthless, but positively sinful transgressions
against Him who loved them and died Tor
them. "Hereby perceive We the love OF God"
'!Behold what manner OF love" !. Jonn ILL,
16 ill.,, p. That this love can be sighted
and despised shows how hardened is the heart
of man.
9. NMuch more then being now justified by
His blood we shall be saved from wrath
through Him." In the first verse it was justi-
fed by faith and now by blood. In chapter
ILL.,, "a, it was by grace, and in Jas. H., 26, 1t
is by works. There Is no conflict nor contra
diction in these statements. We are justified
meritoriously By the blood Of Christ, instru-
mentally by faith in Him, freely BY His grace,
and the evidence Of our justification before
men is our good works. Being justified, we
are delivered from the wrath 10 come H.
Tkess. l., 10.)
TO- 'sFor If when we were enemies we were
reconciled to God by the death OF His Son,
much more, being reconciled, we shall be
saved by His life" The work OF reconcilia-
tion is entirely of God; the need Is wholly
ours. God was in Christ, reconciling the
world unto Himself QI Cor. v, 19. The
cry through the ambassador Is that because
of such love on the part of God, who seeks
the welfare of the impotent and worthless,
the sinner and enemy, and has PROVIDED
righteousness for such, the rebel should be
willing to believe andreoeiye such love. I'D o
further Joy Is that having saved US, He lives
to keep us. He Is our life CHeb vii, 25 heV.
l., II 1S, Col. ILL.,, A.
II. "And not only SO, but We also Joy IN
God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom
we have now received the atonement." The
God Of hope fills us with all JOY and peace IN
believing and makes us to abound III nope
through the power OF the Holy Ghost (Rom
XIV, 13.) BY more intimate acquaintance
with and knowledge of the Father, Son ana
Holy Spirit we learn that the Kingdom OF
God is righteousness, peace and Joy In the
Holy Ghost (Rom. xvi, 17.) So the recon-
ciliation (see margin) provided by GOD,
wrought out by Christ and brought to us by
the Spirit makes US new creatures In christ
Jssus.-Lesson Helper.
TAKING DROP,