The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-16

DuC the Sa1utD~
Thess. w., 16, ~
Rev. Xxx, S, 6.
Is. "Let US not, TN
other any more, but juN
no man put q stumbling
sion to fall In his brothers
Lord, who can read the thoV
hearts, Is capable Of judging o
correctly. "He shall not Judge
sight Of His eyes. neither reprove aftc
shall He judge Elsa. M., 8, ~. But whilc.
we are In some things to reserve Judgment
we are to try the spirits as to what we hear
taught, for II we bid godspeed to a false
teacher we are partaker with Him q John
w., l; II John K, III.
ii. 81 know and am persuaded by the
Lord Jesus that there Is nothing unclean OF
itself, but to him that esteemeth anything
to be unclean to him it Is unclean." The
topic especially before the apostles mind
was that of eating or not eating certain
kinds Of food oversees 2, 81. In another
epistle 1t was that Of keeping certain dayS
as well as that Of eating and drinking Cool
H., 16, I'D.
Is. "But, II thy brother be grieved with
thy meat, now walkest thou not charita-
bly,, according to love. Destroy not him
with thy meat for whom Christ died" Love
does not say: 81 can do as I please. II
others do not like 1t, that Is not my affair.
I will not deny myself an innocent enjoy
the self In US which talks that way. Love
seeketh not her wi and endureth all
things. Gwen Christ pleased not Himself"
(Rom. .xv., 81, but even sought the glory,
Of God and could say, ri do always those
things that please Him."
16. "Let not then you good be evil
spoken Of" One might say that this or
that Is good for my health, and I need 1t,
and the doctor prescrtbes it, and there Is
nothing against 1t. Well, be it 80. Happy
Is he that condemneth not himself In that
thing which he alloweth, but have 1t to
thyself before God (verse 22), and do not
cause others to stumble. 3
II. For the kingdom of God Is not meat
and drink, but righteousness and peace
and Joy in the Holy Ghost" AS one has
said, the chief business of the company for
whom Christ died Is not eating and drink
ing, but a right relation to God, our neigh
bors and ourselves. Peace and Joy come
by believing Chapter XIV, 13)-that Is, BY,
receiving Him (John l., 12), who Is our
righteousness and peace q Cor. l., 80; Eph.
H., 14). All food and raiment necessary for
US are made sure to US in Him (Math. XVI
1888.
49,. "For he that in these things serveth
Christ Is acceptable to God and approved.
Of men," Acceptable or well pleasing to
God Is the main thing, whether men ap-
prove or not. When we please God, the peo-
PIE of God, who are themselves right with
God, will surely approve. Others may con-
denim. But consider Him who endured con-
trsdiction Of sinners against Himself lest ye
be weary and faint (Heb. xiii, 81. No n
can be as well pleasing to God as bis Be-
loved Son, and His treatment from men
must be good enough for US John xy., 49,
2O). Let us continually "serve the living
and true God and wait for His Son from
heaven" and all will be we'll q Thess. T.,
9, 10). -
10. "Let US therefore follow after the
things which make for peace. and things
wherewith one may edify another" not
peace at any price, regardless Of the right
or wrong Of it, but the peace which Is OF
God aud In fellowship with the Prince Of
Peace. Even He said, 81 come not to send
peace, but a sword" CMath. K, 34). And BE
spoke Of trouble even in households for
peace and to seek the peace even OF our
enemies, but it must be in fellowship with
Christ and never apart from Him. +
20. "For meat destroy not the work OF
God. All things indeed are pure. But 1t
Is evil for him who eateth with ofense.nj
In verse Is we had, destroy not him." and
here 1t Is, destroy not the work Of God.",
In Eph. H., ID, we read that we are bis
workmanship" In what sense can this be-
destroyed 1t cannot refer to the loss OF
the soul, for no truly saved soul can ever
perish John <, ~, %; ill.,, 16). But as
the judgment seat Of. Christ is the place off
Judging here referred to, where only the
saints shall appear to be judged for their
works as believers, I have no doubt that I,
Cor. ILL.,, IA, Is, helps us to understand the
destruction here referred to.
81. ut Is good neither to eat flesh, nor
to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy,
brother stumbleth, or Is offended, or Is
made weak" See also I Cor. viii, IS. This
is certainly a very self-denying line Of life
and looks unnecessarily strict, but the
whole question Of our life as Christians 10
focused In self or Christ, unto myself OF
unto Him. "Unto the Lord" Is the only
correct motto and covers even our eating
and drinking (verse 8 and I Cor. 4. s1).-
Lesson Helper.