The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON TX. FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATloNAL SERIES, NOV. %.

- Commentary by the Rev. ID. M.
steasns.
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 an
apostle before Paul, who was used by the
Spirit to be the messenger on the great day
of Pentecost, who was also used 10 open
the door To the gentiles, and with whom
Paul at one time spent 10 days in Jerusa-
lem (GaL i, II, ls). 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 effectuslly in Peter TO the
apostlsship OF the circumcision, the same
was mighty in me toward the gentiles"
| (Gal. ii, 81. In fact, we must bear in
mind that whether we study Moses, or
the prophets, or the gospels, or epistles, or
Revelation, all were written by the very
same holy Spirit of God.
!. "For as much then as Christ hath
suffered 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 iii, Is, 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 nesh but
quiokensd by the Spirit 1t seems to me
that the thought 10 continuation Of the
beginning Of his spistls, where he smphA-
sizes the living hope by the resurrection of
Christ from the dead and dwells upon the
Inheritance thereby secured 70 us which
ought to lift us above all present things,
making as holy in all convsrsstisn.
Ae = n H. IL.
rest Of his time in the hssh to the lusts Of
msn but to the will of God Or as in
Rom. vi, IL; Dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our
Lord. The saved sinner 10 new crea-
sure 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
it's aims and desires, and henceforth ever
TO walk in nswness of life from. vi, 8, ~.
3. For the time past Of our life may
sufdcs us to have wrought the will Of the
gsntiles, when we walked in lascivious-
ness, lusts, excess OF wine, revslings, ban
quetings and abominable idolatries."
That is the life of many citizen of this
world today, just living to fulfil the de-
sires Of the flesh and of the mind (Eph. II,
-, with no thought of God or of future
life. That, however, is not the writer's
point here, but rather that those who bear
the namo 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 bsaatiful name they bear.
4. wherein they think it strange that
ye run not with them TO the same excess
of riot, speaking evil Of you." In our day
it is not only tho people OF this world who
think it strange that their wives or hus-
bands, or brothers or sisters, will not
frequent the thsatsr and the ballroom any
more since they have received Christ, but
many whose names are on church registers
and who are seen at the communion IA BILE
and yet continue In this cid 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 world
Illness
8. who shall give account TO Him that
is ready to judge the quick and the dead"
AS We found in the Acts, thsrs shall be q
resurrection both of the just and the IN
just but not at the same time. There
shall be . judgment also of living and
dead, just and unjust, but not all at tho
same time. II we are Christ's, our judg-
ment for sin is past at Calvary, where He
suffered for our sins, bus all who are His
must appear before His judgment seat, to
be judged for their works since they re-
ceived Him (Rom. xiv, 10; III Cor. v. 10).'
After that we will come with Him to
judge the living nations for their treat
ment of Israel (Math. NV, 80. Al the
end OF the thousand years all the unsaved
will appear before the great white throne
ere they are sent into the lake of fire to
have their portion with the devil and his
angels (Rev. xx, 11-15). II people 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 il be
good or whether il be evil' (Eccl. xii, ~,
would lead them to consider their ways,
and IL Christians believed what is written
in / Cor. iii, IA, 10, they would surely
mend their ways and quit their worldli-
ness, 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 he 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 /, II,
which, il l understand it, teaches that the
same Spirit who was in Christ was also in
Noah, as we'll as in all the prophets, and
through him preached to the antedilu-
vians, who in the days of Christ's humili-
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 100 years, but possibly died
before the deluge? / confess that the wa
tiers 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 godlinessp Whatever gifts or
graces God has bestowed upon us, let us
minister the same one to another as good
stewards Of tho manifold grace of God
(verse 10). Let us not think trials strange,
but endure all meekly, counting them "a
privilege, and, even II we suffer for doing
well, God will be we'll pleased IL we take
1t meekly (chapter ii, 20).