The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-24
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 20.

w., 1-S "a Temperance Lesson>-Gold.
en- Text: Peter w., documentary
on the Lesson by Rev. D. NJ. stearns
Having completed our study Of the Acts
of the Apostles, it certainly seems fitting
that we should have at least one lesson
from the writings of Peter, who was ar
apostle before Paul, who was used by the
Spirit to be the messenger on the great
day Of Pentecost, who was also used tG
open the door to the gentlles, and with
whom Paul at one time spent fifteen days
In Jerusalem (Gal. l.. II, 1S). But whether
we study the writings Of Peter or Paul, the
same Spirit spoke through both and
wrought in both, even as Paul said, "He
that wrought effectually in Peter to the
apostleship of the circumcision, the same
(Gal. H., 81. In fact, we must bear In
mind that whether we study Moses. or the
prophets, or the gospels, or epistles, OF
Revelation, all were written by the very
same holy Spirit Of God.
1. "For as much then as Christ hath suf-
fered for US in the flesh, arm yourselves
likewise with the same mind, for he that
hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from
SIM" The thought here takes US back to
chapter ILL.,, 18, where he said that Christ
hath once suffered for sins, the just for the
unjust, that He might bring US to God,
being put to death in the flesh, but quick:
ened by the Spirit. It seems to me that
the thought Is q continuation Of the be-
ginning OF his epistle, where he cmpha.
sizes the living hope by the resurrection OF
Christ from the dead and dwells upon the
inheritance thereby secured to US which
ought to lift US above all present things,
making US holy In all conversation.
2. "That he no longer should live the
rest Of his time In the flesh to the lusts OF
men, but to the will Of God" Or rs In
Rom. vi, II, "Dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our
Lord" The saved sinner is new creature
or creation in Christ, old things passed
away, all things new, and he is supposed to
have left in the grave Of his baptism into
Christ all the self life, with its aims and
desires, and henceforth ever to walk In
newness Of life (Rom. vi, 8, D.
8. ttF or the time past OF our life may
suffice us to have wrought the will OF the
gentiles, when We walked In lasciviousness,
insts, excess of wine, revelings, banquet
ings and abominable idolstrles." That Is
the life of many a citizen Of this world to-
day, Just living to fulfill the desires Of the
flesh and OF the mind Eph. H., 81, with no
thought of God or of future life. That,
however, is not the writer's point here,
of Christ are ofttimes guilty OF living that
same old life in some measure, to their own
loss and to the great dishonor OF Him
whose beautiful name they bear.
4. "Wherein they think 1t strange that
ye run not with them to the same excess o.
riot, speaking evil Of you" In our day 1t
is not only the people Of this world who
think It strange that their wives or hus-
bands, or brothers or sisters, will not ire
quent the theatre and the ballroom any
more since they have received Christ, but
many whose names are on the church
registers, and who are seen at the COM
munion table and yet continue In this old
goddess life are harder to put up with IN
their cruel words and conduct toward
those who will walk no longer with them
In their worldliness.
8, "Who shall give account to Him that
Is ready to judge the quick and the dead"
AS We found In the Acts, there shall be
resurrection both OF the just and the un-
lust, but not at the same time. There shall
be a Judgment also of living and dead just
and unjust, but not all at the same time.
II we are Christ's our judgment for sin ts
past at Calvary, where He suffered for our
Sins, but all who are His must appear before
His Judgment seat, to be judged for >heir
works since they received Him (Rom. XIV,
10: II Cor. ", 10). After that We will come
with Him to Judge the living nations tor
their treatment Of Israel (Math. XIV, 81.
At the end Of the thousand years all tho
ere thew are sent into the lake Of fire to
have their portion with the devil and his
angels Rev. Xxx, 11-15). Ifpeople had any
faith at all In God and His word, one would
suppose that the statement, "God shall
bring every work into Judgment, with
every secret thing, whether 1t be good or
whether 1t be evil' (Eccl. Kill, 14), would
lead them to consider their ways, and II
Christians believed what Is written IN !
Cor. ILL.,, Il, Is, they would surely mend
their ways and quit their worldliness, lest
they be saved as by fire, much to their
shame.
6. "For, for this cause was the gospel
preached also to them that are dead that
they might be Judged according to men In
the flesh, but live according to God In the
Spirit" The best light have upon chap
ter ill.,, 10, is that found in chapter l., II,
which, II I understand 1t, teaches that the
same Spirit who was In Christ was also IN
Noah, as we'll as in all the profits, and
through him preached to the antediiu-
VANS who, in the days Of Chrlst's humtlt-
alton were spirits In prison. May they not
be the dead here referred to who, when
they were alive, had the gospel preached
to them, some Of whom must have believed
during those 120 years, but possibly died
before the deluge? I confess that the
waters are deep here, but some day we
shall know more fully.
z. "But the end Of all things is at hand.
Be ye therefore sober and watch unto
prayer" In view Of the possibility OF our
sojourn In these mortal bodies ending any
day, or the possibility Of the whole church
being caught up any day, what manner OF
persons ought we to be in all holy CONVEX
sation and godliness2 Whatever gifts or
praces God has bestowed upon US, let US
minister the same one to another as good
stewards Of the manifold grace OF God
(verse 10). Let US not think trials strange,
but endure all meekly, counting them
privilege, and, even II We suffer for doing
we'll. God will be we'll pleased II we take 1t
meekly (chapter H., 20:
8. And, above all things, have ferVent
love among yourselves, for love shall cover
q multitude Of sins" Humility before God
(chapter ", 5, g and love to our fellows
must be very pleasing in the sight OF COD,
for both are so Christlike. Though He was
rich chow rich we cannot imagine), yet Tor
our sakes He became poor that thus he
might make US rich, and 1t was His love to
us when we were dead in sins that did 1t
the love that shed His blood for US, that
blood which alone can take away sins. This
Is the love that covers sins, and II we have
any love to Him worth mentioning we will
not worry much over CHAPTER ILL.,, 19, or w..
6. but lust hold fast and wait for light and
live to get souls under the blood which
cleanseth from all sin-LeSsOn Helper.