The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-12-15
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER l9.

Lesson Text: "John's Message About Sin
and Salvation" John l., to H., g.
Golden Text: John L., 9-Lesson
Commentary by the Rev. d. NJ. stearns.
S. "This then is the message which we
have heard Of Him and declare unto you,
that God is light and in Him Is no darkness
at all. John wrote his gospel that we
might believe that Jesus Is the Christ, the
Son of God. and believing have life In Him
(John Xxx, 31). He wrote this epistle that
we who believe might know that we have
eternal life, be full OF iov and not sin
(Chapters ", IS; L., 4; H., y. Knowing Jesus
personally, having heard and seen and
looked upon and handled Him, he declares
Him as the Word Of Life, th,st We, too, may
have fellowship with him, and with
the Father, and with Jesus Christ
6. "It we say that we have fellowship
with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and
do not tell the truth From the beginning
Of the Bible story light is suggestive of God
and darkness OF sin and satan. The waste
and void and dark condition Of things in
Gen. l., 2, seems to have been the result Of
Judgment, which must have come upon the
earth, tor, according to Isa. XIV, 18, r. ",
compared with Gen. l.. 2, God did not create
the earth waste and void. Isa. xxxiv., II,
and Jer. w., %, are the onlyaother two
places where we have the same combina.
tion Of Hebrew words as In Gen. i.,2, and
in each case ajudgment is manifest.
z. "But II we walk in the light, as He is
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His
Son cleanseth Us from all SIM" Light
shines, discovers, beauties, purifies, for
light Is OF God. Not only did Jesus Christ
say, "I am the light of the world" but He
also said to His own, Eye are the light OF
the world; let your light 80 shine, before
men that they may see your good works
and glofify Your Father which IS in heaven
(Math ", IA, 16). live walk with God, we
cannot but walk in the light, but walking
80 iod implies at least two things-viz.,
''tv, such as is not natural to u.s. and
per-. agreement with God iabout every.
thing (NIic. vi, 8,margin; Amos ill.,, 81.
8. IF We say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth Is not ip
u.s." There are those who conclude from
the previous verse that all sin. root and
branch, Is removed from their beings, but
such thought is contrary to the teaching
of Scripture, and surely the Holy Spirit In
placing the statement Of this verse just
where He has sought to correct any such
false teaching. While we are In these NOR
tai bodies the flesh or old nature remains
in us and lusteth against the Spirit, but
the Spirit Is also In US as children OF God
by faith in Christ Jesus and keeps US from
the things which otherwise we might dc
(Gsl. ", II, R. W. ,rr
9. "If we confess our sins, He Is faithful
and Just to forgive US our sins and TO
cleanse US from all unrighteousness.'
While in the mortal body always delivered
to death for Jesus sake-i. e., the death OF
self or the flesh or sinful nature (u Cor.
w., 1D, II we sin against God, as all are
liable to do, here Is our comfort, that in.
stant confession Of sin brings Instant for
giveness through the blood -of Christ, and
then we must go on more< watchfully and
prayerfully. ..ar
10. 'If we say that we have not sinned,
we make Him liar, and, His word Is not
in u.s. John Is writing to those who are
for only such as have received Christ are
children Of God (John-i., 12). Others arc
children Of the devil even though they may
be very religious, according to our Lord iD
John will, a. ~
81. "My little children, these things
write unto yoa that ye sin not, and II any
man sin we kave an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" Our
marching orders day by day are to sin not.
We,haye been redeemed by the blood Of
Christ, that the righteousness OF the law
might be fulfilled In US who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit CRom. viii, A.,
Surely God has made full provisions for us
to live this life which He would have us
live to Hls>glory by our advocate or para.
clete with Him, Jesus Christ the right.
eous, and by our paraclete In US, the Holy
Spirit; yet so weak are we and often 80 un.
watchful that notwithstanding the abun.
dant provision we grieve both Father, Son
and Spirit. .2t. >g
2, "And He Is the propitiation for our
sins, and not for ogrs only, but also for the
sins OF the whole world" Propitiation
here signifies atonement, reconciliation.
sacrifice, and that provided by God through
Christ Is sufficient for all the world. There
Is no forgiveness of sins apart from Him
and His great work, but in and through
Him there Is sufficient for all who Will &c:
cept Him, even for every soul on earth II
they will come. How shall they come IL
they do not hear? .-.. aims.
8. "And hereby we do know that we
know Him II we keep His command.
ments." Not faultless conformity, for
there Is none such on earth, nor ever was,
except in Christ, but hearty acceptance
Of and willing subsection to His whole re-
vealed will. He Himself said, "He that
hath Ny commandments and keepeth
them, he 1t is that loveth Me-
4. "He thar saith, know Him, and
keepeth not His commandments, Is u liar,
and the truth is not in him."'2 SO skillful Is
satan In pcrverting tho truth and in blind
ing people that he leads some to say, "Oh,
1t does not matter very much how l live.
{ believe in,Je Christ. and therefore I
am saved. II my life ls not quite correct,
I will only lose my works" Now SUCH are
evidently deceiving themselves, and are
liars. Believing about Jesus Christ saves
no one. He must be received into the heart
and that Is the Scriptural sense OF belieV-
ing (John l., 12).
"But whose keepeth His word, in him
verify Is the love Of God perfected. Hereby
know we that we are In Him." When We
receive letters from those whom we love,
we treasure them and read them many
times, and live on them. A mere casual
reading OF a letter, and that but once,
would not indicate much love for the writer:
How, then; can those be said to love Goa
who care not for His word?
6. "Re that saith he abideth In Him,
ought himself also 80 to walk, even as ne
walked" He could say, "The Father nath
sent Me, and live by the Father" But
He also said, "As the Father hath sent Me,
so send I you" and she that eateth Die,
even he shall live by Me" (John vi, 81; xx,
Ply. Now He was here wholly for COO,
speaking the words Of God, doing the will
OF God, always pleasing God. There Is no
other way for US, and we must be willing
to renounce self, deny self, die daily unto
self that His life may be manifest In US, or
else prove ourselves unworthy OF His name.
Lesson Helper.