The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-12-01
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER 5.

Lesson Text: "Christ's Humility and Ex-
altation," Phil. H., 1-11-Golden Text:
Phil. H., documentary on tho Los
son by the Rev. DR.. D. M. stesrns.
1. "If there be therefore any consolation
In Christ, II any comfort Of love, II any fel.
lowship Of the Spirit, II any bowels and
mercies." Consolation here Is literally
lone called to your side," and comfort is
zone speaking beside you" So we might
read, eft there Is anything in Christ being
ever with you and ever talking to you, and
In having the constant comp8nionshtp and
guidance and teaching OF the Holy Spirit,
II there is anything in the tenderness and
compassion of the Father manifested in the
Son by the Spirit, then let it be seen in you
to the glory Of God that Christ may be
magnlfled."
Q. "Fulal ye my joy, that ye be- like
minded, having the same love, being Of one
accord, OF one mind" Oneness Of the
members OF the body in the service Of the
head Is something greatly desired by our
blessed Lord, as is very manifest In bis
prayer in John xviii, and 1t will also be the.
great desire Of all who are fully one with
Him. Not only does He comfort us with
the assurance, Gas the Father have loved
Me, so haveI loved you, but He also ADDS,
"This Is My commandment, that We love
xv., 9, 12).
8. "Let nothing be done through strife
or vain glory, but In lowliness OF mind let
each esteem other better than themselves,
Another reading is, "In nothing follow self
seeking" jeremiah said to his scribe,
Baruch: "Seekest though great things for
thyself1 Seek them not" (Jer. xvi, 81.
Although the whole land was Abrams
and not Lots, vet rather than have strife
Abram told Lot to take his choice and
20 whittier he would. When the Philis-
tines strove for the wells which Isaac had
reopened, Isaac did not resist, but kept on
yielding until there was room for all and
the strife ceased (Gen. kill, 8, 8; XVI, 22).
4. "Look not every man on his own
things, but every man also on the things
of others" Not enviously, as some would
pervert it, but desiring the welfare OF Others
as much as or more than your own. Love
seeketh not her own q Cor. kill, b.: Let
Episcopalians seek and rejoice In the well
fare Of Methodists, and 50 Methodists Of
Baptists, Baptists Of Presbyterians, and SO
one, all uniting heartily to seek the honor
Of the Head in the completion of His body,
the church, which has no name but Christ
Q Cor. xiii, IL, 13).
5. "Let this mind be in you, which was
also In Christ Jesus" II any man have
not the Spirit OF Christ, he Is none Of Bis
CRom. will, 81. Now, every penitent sin.
ner who truly receives Christ receives also
the Spirit OF Christ, but some are mors
controlled by and manifest more Of that
Spirit than others. It Is the privilege OF
every believer to be filled with the Spirit
walk in the Spirit, and when one Is only
willing to have no will but the will Of God,
no choice but Gods choice, no way but
Gods way, no service but what He ap.
points, God will quickly fill that one with
His Spirit and continue to fill him day by
day and moment by moment.
6. who, being In the form Of God.
thought 1t not robbery to be equal with
God" Another reading is, Deemed not
his equality with God a thing to grasp at. J"
He was not always saying: 81 am God; ]
created all things; own the universe; do
as please In heaven and on earth, and
therefore you must bow to Me, and If you
don't will make you, for I have all power" !"
Those who are always grasping at their
position as II they might lose 1t, or at least
some OF the honor belonging to it, are very
small people, or people Of very small minds,
whatever their position may be.
|. Z. "But made Himself OF no reputation,
and took upon Him the form Of a servant
and was made In the likeless Of man." He
took not on Him the nature Of angels,
which would have been very great hu.
|, initiation, but as the children are partakers
wise took part Of the same (4eb. H., IA, 16).
He emptied Himself of the glory which He
had with the Father before the world was,
and consented to endure the limitations OF
a mortal body for over thirty-three years
| not only so, but he consented to endure
such limitation under the most limited Of
earthly conditions, such as the manger at
Bethlehem, the humble home and the car
penter's shop at Nazareth. ....r rs.
| 8. "And being found in fashion as a man
He humbled Himself and be came obedient
| unto death, even the death OF the Cross. "
The Son of Man came not to bo ministered
unto, but to minister and give His life q
ransom for many CMath. xx., 2s). He
consented to be despised and slandered
and misunderstood, prosecuted, blind
folded, buffeted, spit upon, scourged, led as
lamb to the slaughter, crucifed.
9. "Whereiore also God hath highly ex-
alted Him and given Him name which Is
above every name." He Is now at Gods
right hand, with the Father on His throne
(Rev. ILL.,, 21), and In due time all kings
shall fall down before Him and all nations
serve Him (Pa. lxxii., 1). By His work
and by that alone, which He has finished
without help from man, eternal life is free.
ly given to every one who receives Him,
and share In His glory. and Q place on His
throne (John xviii, %; Rev. ILL.,, 2D. p.
TO- "That at the name OF Jesus every
knee should bow of things In heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the
earth" And so 1t shall come to pass, for
God has purposed it. 1.-THE Lord OF Hosts
hath sworn, saying, Surely as l have
thought, 80 shall 1t come to pass; and as
have purposed, 50 shall 1t stand" lisa. XIV,
24). John saw the consummation OF 1t IN
his vision when he heard every creature
which Is In heaven, and on the earth, and
under the earth, and such as are In the
sea, and all that are in them, saying,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb forever and ever"
Grew. ", 49,. There Is none other name
under heaven given among men whereby
we may be saved.
II. "And that every tongue should con-
fess that Jesus Christ Is Lord, to the glory
Of God the Father" 1t shall surely .be.
to the everlasting comfort and bliss OF
some and to the everlasting woe Of others.
Saved and unsaved shall all confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord. The saved shall re-
ioice in Him as their Lord, while the un.
saved shall have to confess Him as Lord
to their everlasting confusion, but In each
God will be glorified. See II Cor. H., 10,
16. A good test as to whether we are now
honoring Him as Lord Is seen In Verse IA
Of our lesson chapter. II by the Spirit We
have confessed Him as our Lord and DAILY
do so, there can be In our lives no mur-
muring or disputing, no strife or envy. be
is not Lord Of these things.-Lesson
Helper.
TILE TeNNESSEE EXPOSITION.