The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-06-15
THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.


|
8,1-15-Memory Verses Ia.
Especially Adapted from Peloubct's Notes.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Let the peace Of God
| rule In your hearts.-Col. S:1a
READ Ephesians All to 5:24.
TTME.-Written during Paul's first Ro-
man Imprisonment, about A. d. e.
| PLACE.-Psul's prison at Rome.
RULERS.-Nero. emperor OF Rome: al
binus. governor Of Judea.
PLACE IN BIBLE HISTORY.-Paurs
imprisonment Is referred to In Acts $3.50. 81.
There IL no mention of the Coloss!ans In
the Acts, but 1t is probable tArt the church
there was founded while Nul was at
Ephesus, in that neighborhood (Acts lV.
DIVISIONS OF THE BOOk.-L The in
PRODUCTION Qi-l0. including the greeting.
thanksgiving and prayer for the Colossan
church. Z A doctrinal section Q:l4 TO 2:0.
T. A controversial section GA to SD against
certain errors. Moral application 0:s to
t6). 6 Personal greetings Hd-lD.
EXPLANATORY.
I. Crucified with Christ. Tho Old
Life Dead.-It has been wisely said that
ITO learn what to love and what to hate,
what to honor and what to despise,"
is the purpose OF education. It may
be added that what one Is alive to, and
to what he is dead, are the test Of char
acter; so that he who loves what he
ought to love and hates what Is hateful
to God, who honors what is honorable
and despises what is unworthy. who
fears to do wrong and delights in what
ever is pure and holy, who is dead to
sin and alive to righteousness-he Is
"the perfect man in Christ Jesus" and
Is made meet to be partaker Of the
inheritance Of the saints in light" and
has been translated by God "into the
kingdom of His dear Son" Q:12. 13).
ii. The Resurrection with Christ to
New Life.-Vs. IA. But he that is
dead to sin Is not dead being. Thus
Paul says Of himself: II am crucified
with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth In me; and the
life which I now live in the flesh live
by the faith Of the Son Of God. who
loved me, and gave Himself for me"
(Gal. $3.50. See also Rom. GA, 5, o, 10;
Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 2:12). Disciples are
branches of the True Vine. Their life
10 the same as the life of the vine. The
same life flows unseen through vine
and branches. "In Gods" "As the in
finite sphere Of all your life, your love,
your aspirations. your voluntary nc
tivities."-Cow!es. "When Christ
shall apD"ar:" r. w., shall be mani
tested, l., il.is world by the coming Of
His kingdom. by the fruits Of His life,
and at last by His glorious coming in
the clouds OF glory. "Shall ye also
appear with Him in glory:" both in
this present time, In the fruits which
grow from the inner life, as the clusters
cover the vine and show what It is and
manifest the glory Of its life, and also
In His final coming in glory.
I'LL Putting on the Old Man and
His Deeda-vs. so. '"These verses con-
tain the negative side OF Paul's appeal"
Barry.
Intempersnce is ono Of the worst and
most typical manifestations Of the old
and worldly nature. It fosters all the
evils spoken Of above, as dampness and
darkness foster crawling insects and
vermin. It Is the hot house Of crime.
"When our judges tell US from the
bench that nine-tenths Of pauperism
and crime are caused by drink, and our
physicians that If only irregular tip
pling were abolished half the current
sickness OF the land would cease, and
our statesmen that the ravages OF
strong drink are equal to those Of the
historical scourges Of war, famine and
pestilence combined, surely to swal.
low such glut Of spoil the appetite OF
hell must have been still more enlarged,
and the mouth Of hell made yet wider
George Adam Smith.
". Putting on the New Man and His
Deeds.-Vs. 1915, v. IL. "Put on there.
fore:" AS the necessary result of the
new life. DR.. Maclaren speaks of these
verses as O description Of "the garments
of the renewed SOUL" and "the ward.
robe of the oonsecrated SOUL"
Temperance stands among these vir-
tues. They flourish In Its atmosphere
Note. Is this list of virtues practical
: and noble, and worthy? Yes; for he
who has these has the elements of what
are called the heroic virtues. These art
the household heroisms, the daily and
, hourly cultivation of the qualities
, which make heroes and martyrs. Mac
laren well says: "By the side Of it:
sincere and lofty beauty, the 'heroi'
virtues embodied in the worlds typ,
of excellence show vulgar and glaring
like some daub representing q soldier
5 the sign-post Of public house, by th'
sids Of Angelieo's white-robed visions
I On tie still convent walls. More self
. cesoeea2, more heroic flrmness, NOR
osaAszektrths estimate, NOR
( o1 evcs7saang Strong and manly, vii
! fnA . nsbier Ased in subduing passion
Q ana Ahcrishfns forgiveness, which th'
: world thinks folly and spiritless, thai
\ anywhere else. Better is he that ruletl
. a spirit than he that taketh city,"
Spear Points.