The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-29
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
DECEMBER 3.
Lesson Text: "GratefuI Obedience"
James l., 16-27-Golden Text:
John w., 19-Com-
mentary.

16. "Do not err. my, beloved brethren
This epistle has been designated as "love
manifested In obedience, or the perfect man
continuing in the gospel law Of liberty"
There Is nothing in the whole letter which
conflicts with the doctrine that we are saved
by Christ alone without any works of ours
(Rom. iv., s.; Eph. H., 81, but the compile
mentary truth Is made clear that being justi-
fed by faith We must by our works make our
faith manifest. Compare Eph. H., 10; Titus
ill.,, 8. Part of these works which give evil
dence of the reality OF our faith consist Of
patient endurapce OF trial. which patience
will bring to the person enduring the reward
OF the crown Of life (verse 12). But while God
tries US for His glory and our good we must
never think that He tempts us to do wrong.
On this point we must not err.
II. Every good gift and every perfect gift
Is from above and cometh down from the
Father Of lights, with whom Is no variable
ness. neither shadow Of turning" All gifts
of God must be good and perfect, and He who
gave His own Son will with Him give us all
things (Rom. viii, 32). Thanks be unto God
other gifts (II Cor. ix.. 15). God Is light q
John l., 81 and therefore the source OF all
light, temporal and spiritual. Dwelling in
God we dwell in light and must Of necessity
show it. AS to His unvariablpness He says,
~ am the Lord; change not" (Mal. ill.,, 81.
18. 'Ot His own will begat He us with the
the word of truth that We should be kind Of
first fruits OF His creatures" God who COM
manded the light to shine out of darkness
hath shined in our hearts. and as 1t is the en-
trance Of His word that giyeth light 1t is thus
the light comes. When we receive His word,
we receive Himself, for He is the Word OF
God, and thus We are born again. or from
above (see II Cor. iv., C; Ps. cIix.. 100 John
l.. 1, 12 13). Peter also testifles that we are
born again by the Word Of God q Pet. j., 2,
81. and this agrees with born of water and
the Spirit (John Ill, 5; VI, So; Eph. ". 26>.
19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren. let
every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,
slow to wrath Because all good Is from
God and all evil from US, therefore eagerly
devour all He says, but be careful OF what
proceeds from our lips. We are to take
heed what we hear, and how we hear (Mark
w., "a; Luke viii, 1S), and We are to let the
word of Christ dwell in US richly. so that out
of the abundance of the heart the mouth may
speak (Col. ILL.,, 16 4; Math. xii, 34). And by
this very word of God abiding In us we shall
be kept from sin (Ps. cxix., 11).
20. "For the wrath of man worketh not
the righteousness OF God" Angry arSu-
ment and disputing never accomplished the
glory Of God. and yet some preachers cannot
talk on holy things and keep their tempers.
Paul's advice TO Timothy Is good, '.The
servant Of the Lord must not strive. but be
gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient"
QI Tim. H., 24).
81. Wherefore lay apart all fllthiness and
superduity Of naughriness and receive with
meekness the engrafted word. which Is able
to save your souls" Here Is testimony as
clear as Paul ever gave that 1t Is the word
that saves. By the word comes the new
birth rs we have seen, and by the word comes
the assurance Of salvation Q John y, 11-1S).
Our part is to meekly racs;ve the worl.
To this end We must simply have done with
all iniqulty, cleanse ourselves from oil
fllthiness of the flesh and spirit and find
perfect holiness IN the fear ofthe Lord III
Cor. VIII, Heb. xii. I, q.
~. "But be ye doers o. the word and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
Jesus Himself slid. '.Not every one that
saith unto Ne, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom OF heaven, but he that dveth
the will Of My Father which is in heaven
(Afath. vii, 21). my mother and my breth-
rem are these which hear the word Of God
and do it, Iuke viii, 21. hewhoie ofthe
second chapter OF this epistle from verse Il
to the end IS commentary upon the verse.
2S. 'For II any be bea1er ofthe word and
not doer he Is like unto q man beholding
his natural face in a glass" The word Of
. God is a mirror in which each one can seq
himself and his failures, and In which he can
also See what he ought to be, for there are
many illustrations Of men and women IN
whom God dwelt and wrought for the good
of others--people who were not hearers only,
but doers. lor God wrought in them both TO
will and to do. See II Chron. XXI, q,
and xxIiv.. l, 2: also Coz. xv., 10 Phil.
H., 2O-22.
o. "For he behoideth himself and eoeth
hts way and straightwsy forgeteth what
manner OF man he vas" 1t is good thing
for man to see himself if he will only profit
BY it and become better w2D, hit this
knowledge of ones failures and yes continu-
ing in the same old way is 4 terribly harden.
ing process. "Hoy shall we escape If we
neglect so great sa.vation?" "Now consider
this ye that forges God lest I tear you in
pieces and there be none to deliver (Heo.
IL, s Ps. J.. 22).
25. But who so looketh into the perfect
law OF liberty and Continusth therein, he De-
ing not u forgetful hearar, but a dosr OF the
work, this man shall be blessed in his deed"
The LAYER in the tabernacle at which the
priests washed their hands and feet is sug-
gestive o. the word OF God by which We ara,
daily cleansed (Eoa. ", &c; Ps. cx:x., 81,
and 1t was made out OF the looking glasses OF
the women GEN. xxXvIII.. 81. instead OF
looking at ourselves, we are to look at Hin
who Is revealed to US in the word OF God.
&c. If any man among you seem to be re-
ligious and bridleth not his tongue, but de-
ceiyeth his own heart, this mans religion is
vain" The third chapter Is discourse upon
this little unruly member which ofttimes
works so much mischief. The tongue Is
harder to manage than horses or wild beasts
or serpents, but although no man can tame!t
God can, for the things which are Impossible
with men are possible with God. and there Is
nothing too hard Tor Him (Math. xiv, &c:
Jer. xxxii., ~.
81. "Pure religion and undealed before
God and the Father is this. to visit the father
less and widows in their affliction and to keep
himself unspotted from the world" The re-
ligion that is manifest in talk, however good,
and Is not accompanied by O consistent life
is vain. The church member whose tongue
is given to SANDER and back-biting Is worse
than vain and is heaping uptorment for him
self. But that Christian who, constrained
BY the love OF Christ, goes about doing good,
making the widows heart to sing Tor Joy
(Job xxx, 13). is glorifying God and help
ful to men whether they say much or little.
See Math. ", 16 I Cor. xr.. So; Titus ILL.,, 81
Rom. xii, !, 2.--I,esson Helper.
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