Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15


The subject of the lesson for June IL
II The New Life in Christ. The lesson IL
found In Col. 3: lis.
Paul's lettertto the church at Colosse
was writtenffom Rome during Paulss im.
prisonment there in the year 81 or CD. AT
about the same time he wrote q letter to
the church at Ephesus, and another to
Philemon, a member Of the church at
Colosse, concerning a fugitive slave of
Philemon's by the name Of Onesimus.
This letter is largely given to personal
warnings to the Colossians, admonishing
them against various heresies and dan
gers. RESPONSIVENESS Of speech" is one
danger Ga and philosophy and vain de-
ceit" apother e: 81. Judaistic ritualism
Is also to be avoided-"let no man judge
you in meat, or in drink, or In respect of q
feast day, or a new moon, or a Sabbath
day." Some kind Of "worshiping Of the
angels" is also named as thing to be
Stunned GIG. Asceticism, modification
of the flesh, are condemned (2s23). The
true modification, the cutting off of evil
tendencies and passions, Is recommended
In the lesson.
Pauls theology attached far greater i'm
portance to the resurrection Of Christ than
most Of the orthodox theologians since his
time have given it; and thereby saved him.
self from some of their mistakes. 1t 10
much urged to-day that we look upon sal
walton as the fruit not only Of the death
Of Christ but of his life. This Is not only
true, but it Is also very old. The life of
Christ, however, includes not merely the
period before the crucifxion, but also that
following the resurrection and continuing
forever. He still lives; and it is by vital
connection with him as living Christ that
we enjoy the blessings won for him by US.
This Paul constantly insisted upon; his
phrase "in Christ" meaning just this.
Those good men who have so emphasized
the vicarious death of Christ as an atone
ment for sin that they have ignored his
saving life are responsible for much mis-
understanding of Paul's gospel. In nearly
all his epistles he gives much prominence
to the place of the resurrection in Chris
tian faith and its effect upon the conduct
as well as the belief Of the Christian.
Explanatory.
eff We then be risen with Christ: the
revised version has better translation,
"If We then were raised together with
Christ" That is, the reference is to q
single definite point of past time when the
believers were raised from sin to the life
of faith. This point was the time of re-
generation, symbolized later by the rising
from the baptismal waters.
For We are dead: better in the revised
version, "for We died." In the moment
when the believer passed from the realm
of the natural and sinful into the realm
of the spiritual, according to Pauls
phraseology he died to sin. This thought
is natural companion of Johns frequent
metaphor Of the second birth. If one is
born anew, something must become of the
old self; and Paul says it dies, or ought
to die.
when Christ shall appear: this is
probably not to be restricted to final APP
pearance or manifestation of Christ in the
world, but is to be applied to his gradual
manifestation in the coming of his king
dom through the ages. As he is mani
tested, and thereby glorified, those whose
life is hid with him shall also be manifest
ed, shall share in his glory as they have
shared in his life. This sublime prospect
provides the incentive for nobler living
which follows these verses.
"Mortify" will have to be explained to
younger pupils. 1t is used in its literal
sense, to put to death. Here again we are
reminded Of our Lords Injunction in the
sermon on the mount-"If thy right hand
offend thee, cut il off," The sinful desires
and habits which have survived from the
old life though they should be already
dead, must be put out of the way. The
first four sins named are sins of the flesh,
which the early Christians were far from
abandoning so quickly as may be suppos-
ed. Not the Colossians only, but the
Corinthians and many others were guilty
Of offenses which arc rare indeed among
church members to-day. That Christian
ity could triumph over obstacles shows its
power. Covetousness, however, is en-
phatically not a sin against which warn
ings are no longer needed. The history
of our missionary enterprises proves that.
Paul Speaks plainly about it. He calls II
idolatry-and that word meant more in
those days, when idolatry meant some
thing real and abhorrent and debasing,
than it does to-day when we use it figura-
lively and carelessly.
''Now ye also put off all these: the re-
vsed version makes this command-"but
now put We also away all these" The sins
here named are not unknown among pro-
Tossing Christians of our day. Anger GER
tainly is sadly common among persons
who have promised to live in peace. Malice
is not seldom seen. Shameful speaking
out of your mouth" Us the revised version
renders" filthy communication is some
times me-. with among men who ought to
know better. 1t means abuse; and abuse
is abuse whether il be couched in vulgar
language or in conventional terms.
Lying, again, is fault not usually call
ed by its rigth name when it takes the
form Of misrepresentation and yelled SLAM
der. How easily Paul speaks of putting
off the old man and putting on the new
man." as IL ii were a suit Of clothes. Yet
there is nothing artificial or superficial
about Pauls ethics. He knew perfectly
well that an intense struggle was requr-
ed TO conquer old habits and begin the new
life to which Christ has called the believ-
er. He knew that there was no magical
efficacy in the act of repentance, or even
in the regenerating act of the Spirit,
which would make all that followed per-
feetly easy. But knowing that 1t was
possible, he insisted that il was essential
Bowels of mercies" should be, as in
revised version, "a heart Of compassion"
The expression in the authorized version
Is relic Of past stage Of the language
which is practically unintelligible to-day
except to educated people. Notice how
Paul emphasizes those graces that make
for peace. Nearly all the qualities named
in the twelfth, thirteenth. fourteenth and
fifteeCth verses are of this sort. His be-