The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson XIII. - Second Quarter
For June 80, 1907.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Cor. <. 23-ss.
Memory Verse, sf-Golden Text,
Rom. xiv. 21--commentary Prepared
by Rev. .. m. stearns. -

HON. xiv, 21--Conmentary Prepares
by Rev. .. m. stearns. i.
copyright, 1907. by American Press Associat ion.
The letter was written to those who
were in Christ Jesus" waiting FOR
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
chapter |. 2, q. and the closing words
are, IF any man love not the Lord
Jesus Christ let him be accused; the
Lord cometh" XVI. 22). The letter
opens with an assurance to the faith
fulness of God, who calls unto the fel.
lowship Of His Son Jesus Christ our
Lord and ends with the exhortation,
Watch ye; stand fast In the faith: quit
you like men; be strong" d, o; xvi, 49,.
Some Of these people had been thieves
and drunkards and worse. but were
now washed, sanctifed. justified and
temples Of the Holy Ghost through the
precious blood of Christ wi, oil. 10.
2O). The epistle was written to re-
mind them of their former lost and
helpless condition, their redemption
through crucified and risen Christ,
the resurrection glory that awaited
them in the kingdom. and In view Of
all this to walk in love. steadfast IN
movable, always Astounding in the
work Of the Lord chapters xiii and
XIV, Isl.
Our lesson is taken from the section
Of the epistle which concerns the be-
lievers attitude in reference to things
offered to idols and his conduct toward
those who still worshiped idols (chap
tiers viii ID xi. inclusivel. The believer.
the child Of God. given to Christ out
OF the world. Is still left In the world
that through him the world may
see and know and believe In the Lord
Jesus Christ John xvii. 2O-o3). The
one great question. therefore. for the
believer Is: How can my life tell most
powerfully for Christ-how can the
life ~ Jesus be made manifest in me:
Oil Cor. ". H. The section OF the
epistle selected for our lesson Is
summary Of this important matter. be-
ginning with the statement that while
1t may be perfectly lawful for me TO
do many things it may not be expedi.
ent for me to do them, inasmuch as lib.
erty on my part might not help Others.
The lesson closes with the saying
that as believers we are not to seek
our own profit, but the profit or others.
that they may be saved. or. as 1t Is set
forth In the closing words OF the pre-
vious chapter. we are so to keep I'M
der. bruise. beat black and blue our
body Of sin. the self. the old man In
us. for the gospels sake. that we may
by all means save some Qx i9-2T. II
re 10 otherwise we may find our lives
G'Sapproved at the judgment seat or
Christ and see our works cast away.
burned up and we ourselves saved as
b. fire Chapter I'll. 1915: II Cor. v.
9. l0I.
The opening verses Of our lesson
chapter tell Us Of many In Israel who
having been redeemed from Egypt fall.
ed to enter the promised land because
Of unbeIief aud IdoIstry. not that we
are to think OF them as lost. but rs
cut OF from present privileges here.
even as I'm chapter II. 80. we read OF
believers nj Corinth who were sick and
dying because Of sinful lives when
they ought TO have been Certifying
God. The matter Of eating this or not
eating that Is comparatively a trifiing
matter. lnasmueh as II Is not what we
eat or drink that necessarily deilles US.
See Mark VII. Is. 10.
Note also Col. II. 10. II. The life OF
0 child Of God Is one Of perfect free
dom to enjoy the riches and fullness OF
bis Fathers home. but In such a way
as to make others want to belong 10
the same family. Our eating and
drinking and all our conduct before
men should be after such a fashion A.
would lead others to want to know
our God Clarifying God means max.
Ing Him 50 glorious In the eyes Of 9th.
ers that they shall be drawn 10 Him
and becomeAT His children.
Take any kind Of a sinner such as Is
described IN chapter vi. 0. 10. and there
Is not a single thing that God asks or
expects Of such In the way Of reform