The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1893-11-08
STUDIES In THE EPISTLES.
THE SUNDAY-SCHO LESSONS.
IMITATION OF CHRIST.
November 10Th, 1898.
EDhesians iv: SO-32
Ephesians iv: 20-32.

of Paul's first visit to Ephesus; and
in the 18th chapter of his three
years ministry there. In Acts Xxx:
II :3S, you may read of his inter
view with the elders of Ephesus at
the Acts we read, And Paul dwelt
two whole years in his own hired
house, and received all that came in
unto him" During this stay at
Rome he wrote this letter to the
Ephesians. 1t is splendid contri-
button to the great Book of God.
The holy light and love of God are
in ITS glowing words. 1t has been
called doctrine passing into prayer,
and soaring into an impassioped
psalm. There are two main parts of
the epistle 1. DoctrinaI, chaps 1 8.
2. Practical, chaps. 4-6.
In the Practical part the doctrine
of Gods redemption is resolved into
the practice of the Christian life.
In the lesson to-day Christ himself
is shown to be the example and
standard of Christian practice, and
this. both in heart and in life. In
our imitation of Christ, there is to
be-
l. Likeness to Christ IN Heart, as.
20 "a He had been writing of the
wretched moral estate of the Gen
tiles, among whom they were born
and brought up. But these Gentle
believers, to whom he writes, from
the midst of the darkness and aw-
ful depravities of the heather world,
had Learned Christ" and he was
sure they had not so LEARNED
Christ as to suppose Trey were to
continue in such wIckedness and
d, Element. "But We have not so
learned Christ" They had "heard
Him, and been taught by Him :"
divine teacher, so far above all Gen
tile teachers or leaders of thought.
To be taught by Him, meant on
the one side, 1.-The putting off the old
man." the old, unregenerated self,
the whole spirit and motive and
principles of their past lives. 1t
was to be taken off, laid aside left
behind, as an old garment, worn
and soiled. 1t was corrupt accord
ing to the deceitful lusts; )" (which
maketh corrupt" (Revised Version
grows worse, according to, by the
means of, the desires that deceive,
"the lusts of deceit"
On the o.her side it meant, to be
renewed, made new or young again
Gin the spirit of your mind" in the
very life and being within. In the
inner man renewed, beginning life
again with new thought and pur-
pose and spirit. So there was not
only the putting off, but the putting
on. "That we put on the new man"
In the stead of the old, forsaken ma
ture. A new man, (which after God,
in the likeness of God, "is created,
in righteousness and true holiness"
How lofty the standard How di-
vine and thorough the change How
rich the qualities of the new life
II. Likeness to Christ IN Life, rs. 25. |
32-The passage grows more prac-
tical, and goes into detail in de-
scribing our imitation of Christ in
the outward life.
1. IN Notwithstanding away
lying, speak every man truth with
his neighbor." And gives a motive
eve are members one of another"
How can we lie. and wrong one who
is a member with us of the body, of
which Christ is the head
q IN Anger-To be angry, and
yet sin not, is the narrow line a
Christian sometimes has to follow.
Let your anger be so short-lived, so
soon quoted, that "the sun go not
down upon your wrath"
3. Resist the DeUiI. q. 27.
a. Honesty and Industry, q. 28.-I
"Let him that stole" How common
it was IN their heathen world, and |
in their past lives Now, "steal no
more" but by honest labor obtain
the thing which is good. And this
not for selfish good, but that he
may have to give to him that hath |
need" How thoroughly changed |
How distinctly Christ-likel
5. Purity of Speech, q. 29-'Let no
corrupt communication proceed out |
of your mouth Rather that which |
is good, useful, edifying, and such |
as may do good, minister grace |
unto the hearers"
6. Not GrieUjDg the Spirit, o. 3d.
BY the Spirit ''ye are sealed unto
the day of redemption" It is His
Office to mark the children of God, |
and so to mark them with the i'm
age of God, that they are known and |
claimed in the great day of final re-
demption By your Gin you may
Orievn the Shirt and roor HE bC1v, /