The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-03-30

tDfectOf biblical Department. VI ING
Moody Bible Institute, Chicago; OFF,
cial Lecturer OF the Cook County
1Chicagol Sunday school Assoc
citation on the international
5. 5. Lessons)
Copyright. 1906, by Joseph b. Bowles.)
Scripture Lesson Matthew 7:15-29
Warning Against False Teachers.
1t should not seem strange 10 any
student of the Bible that there should
be founc within the ranks of Christian
ity men who, though outwardly
wearing its garb, yet inwardly ara
traitors to its cause. Christ Himself
predicted such a condition OF things.
The traitor in the guise Of the pa
triot, the wolf in sleeps clothing is
to be looked for. Christianity must
be ON the constant lookout for its
Benedict Arnold.
Traitors Within It's Own Camp.
We are not TO look for these false
teachers within the ranks of in
fidelity, but in the pulpit, the pro-
fessor's chair, the theological SEM
mary, the university. The very places
which should stand for the defense
and purity of the Christian faith are
to be watched for its most bitter and
effective enemies. Contemplate be
yond degree is that man who, pos
ing as an exponent and defender of Chris
tian truth is vet traitorous to that
faith; who, by false teaching, is under
mining the very foundations of the
faith of those who by their sacrifices
and gifts are his daily support. That
a man has a right, MAYNARD, TO be-
lieve and teach what he believes to
be truth should be acknowledged, but
let him not occupy the chair in a
Christian institution, nor the pulpit
in a Christian chruch in order 10 de-
stroy the very things that chair and
that pulpit call upon him to sacredly
defend. Benedict Arnold was a gen
tleman compared to this class of men
he got out of the camp and went
over TO the British. Let some OF our
preachers and theological professors
have the honesty and character enough
to get out Of the ranks of the church
the moment they find themselves to be
out of accord with its doctrinal teach
ing and spirit.
True Teaching to Be Known by It's
Fruits.
What fruits are produced by such
false teaching? Uncertainty; unbe-
lief; doubt of the veracity of the Bible
revelation; denial of the resurrection
of Christ, His Deity, and redeemins
work; disbelief in the immortality OF
the soul. Are these the fruits which
should be produced by the men whJ
profess to represent the truth OF
God as it is in Jesus Christ? BY such
fruits We shall know them-know that
they are false
A Message to Individual Christians.
This lesson sounds a solemn note OF
warming to every Christian, great ana
small 1t seems to assert the fac;
that there is the possibility, yea, the
! certainty, OF some people waking w
in the resurrection morning sadly dis
! appointed. They thought they were
saved; now they find out they ar;
| not. Three surprises may be in store
for us in the Judgment day: We
shall be surprised to see many people
in Heaven whom we did not expect &
see there; we shall miss many people
| We expected to see there; we shall be
J surprised to find ourselves there-at
! least to find ourselves lnheritors OF
such magnificent glory.
! What Is the True Test of Christianity?
Not profession, but obedience. Bet
/ ter profession and obedience. 1t is
not enough to call Christ pretty names
We must do what He tells us. There
is a danger of our, resting content n
merely believing all Christ's claims fOl
salvation. We should not rest in any
mere ritualistic lip confession d
Christ. Active heart obedience to His
/ commands must accompany this con
fession. The man who hears Christ's
words, and comedies them 10 be true
and then does not make them the con-
trolling power of his life, is the man
who builds his house on the sand a
testing day is certainly coming. Christ
the eternal truth, has said so. In that
I day such a man will find that his
professions have been merely empty
words: they may have satisfied him IN
life; they cannot satisfy the Son of
God in judgment Banishment from
the presence Of God will be his por-
'tion forever and ever.
Beneficence Does Not Save.
No one can read this lesson thought.
| fully without realizing that il is DOS
sible for a person TO be an active
worker in the church, preacher il
the pulpit a great soulwinner, theo-
logical professor, and yet be lost IN
the last great day Christian work not
done from true motive-faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the
worlds not truly Christian work,
and receives no saving merit in that
day. 1t is an awful thing to think