The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-19
TEACHING POINTS.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. desired to look into the
hearts of his disciples into a mirror. great
deal depended upon the image of himself he found
there.-The mountainous region of northern Cali
lee, 1.-THE Switzerland of Palestine" was an appro-
pirate scene for the important conversation which
Jesus now held with his disciples
% V.I3-I7. Jesus asked what reputation he
had gained among those who had beheld him from
distance and saw him but seldom. The report by
the Twelve was that he was regarded by friendly
people one of the great prophets; none classed
him among common men.-The second question
Ct Jesus, growing out of the first, was what the dis
ciples themselves believed him be- He had reason
to hope that by his recent refusal of the proffered
visible kingship, that he had destroyed in their
hearts the image of the Christ they had SO long
cherished. When Peter, with the fervor of convc-
rion replied for the Twelve, Thon art the Christ it
was great spiritual triumph 1t was truly an in
spired utterance. Peter, his course Immediately
succeeding shows, spoke more wisely than he knew.
Jesus called himself the Son of Man; the apos-
ties through Peter called him the Son of God,-eyi-
IDENTIFY meaning the same The Amounted of God.
The Amounted points to an Anointer A son, in the
nature of things, cannot be as old as his father
That Jesus is the Christ the Chosen and Amounted
of God, whose mission 1t is to make all men know
their like childhood and hership to God, is the fun
damental truth of our lesson and of the Gospel.
(2) V.IS-2o. Jesus, while an outcast and in APP
consequent establishment of his church-His
church was to be founded the truth that he is the
Amounted of God, therefore duly qualified to speak
of the Father Whoever believes in Jesus true
Example and Teacher is in reality member of
Christ's real church-The ideal church of Christ
exercises Divine mercy and justice; but not every
professed church of Christ, indeed any, is en-
tirely faithful to the ideal. A distinction is TO be
made between churches, which must be composed OF
fallibe men, and the Invisible Universal Church,
which can embrace only the good.-The true
Church OF Chnst,-which in organized form is not
vet very apparent to human eyes, must always
Judge and love with the mind and heart of Christ.
"A premature and untimely confession OF faith
is no real service of faith. Not till confession Is INT,
and can be understood, can it be real confession.
CD V.zI-23. We who are in degree famili,r
with the method of Jesus, can have but small real
izaton of the strangeness and seeming impossibiity
OF his method to the apostles, while it was yet in
in prospect A Christ who was to be Inundated
and killed, was to them an impossible conception.
Notwithstanding Jesus constantly endeavored to
exain the mystery they could not fathomits deeps.
We ourselves could scarcely see the wisdom of the
cross IL it had not been demonstrated to us in his
tory To be useful by service; to save the world
bypacing thunder moral obligation; to demonstrate
the spiritual life and its immortal hope und-r the
most forbdding earthly circumstances; to die for
the love Of the Father and for the love of menthis
Is range of spiritual experience and vision to which
not all Christians have yet attained.-Peter, as
| kindly spokesman OF the Word-Spirt, endeavorng
10 draw Jesus down from his chosen path OF suffer
ing and sacrifice. was to his Master the Satcn, tie
Adversary Our Satan. according 10 the spiritual
aw. Is whatever influence aggregate Of influences.
draws rs away frol cur true ideal.