The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-03-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LEssoNxIll,FlRsT QUARTER. lNTERNA-
TlCNAl SERIES, MARCH 81.


Text, Cor. Nv, 2O--Commentnry
Prepared by Rev. D. NJ. stearns.
copyright. 1907, by American Press Association
Havlns the choice of an Easter les
son instead of review of the quarter,
we gladly chose the resurrection story,
though In the review there Is resurrec-
ton also. in the cherubim. in Noah and
his family coming safely through the
waters of judgment to new earth, In
the giving back of Isaac, etc. The
very first assurance OF deliverer
(Gen. ill, l5) has In it the resurrection,
as we'll as the suffering OF the de-
liycrc".
Instead of taking the verses assigned
as lesson from this marvellous resur-
rection chapter, we prefer to take the
whole chapter. noticing, to begin with.
the effect that the resurrection of
Christ when truly received will have
lpon the belieyer--he will be steadfast.
unmoyable, always Astounding in the
work of the Lord, knowing that his
labor Is never In vain in the Lord
(yerse 5Sl. because he Is identified
with One who Is alive foreyermore and
has all power in heaven and on earth.
The first portion of the chapter, to
verse 10, states fully the gospel empha-
sizing six of the ten or twelve resur-
rection appearances Of Christ and
proving that, apart from His resurrec-
ton. there is no gospel, no salvation,
no forgiveness of sins, nothing to
preach. The gospel is simply stated in
verses 3 and 4-Christ died for our
sins, He was buried. He rose agaip the
third day. and all this according to the
Scriptures. 1t is written in Acts K. 43.
ITO Him give all the prophets witness,
that through His name whosoever be-
lieveth in Him shall receive remission
Of sins" On th,t great resurrection
day we read that Christ said to the
two with whom He walked to En-
maus. Ought not Christ to have suf-
fered those things and to enter into
His gIory?" And. beginning at Moses
and all the prophets. He exPounded I'm.
TO them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning himself luke xiv. 20. 81.
Tie same evening as He went with
the eleven He Endorsed Moses and the
prophets and the psalms and opened
their understanding that they might
understand the Scriptures and said,
Thus II Is written and thus II be-
hooved Christ to suffer and to rise
from the dead the third day and that
repentance and remission Of sins
should be preached in His name among
all nations. beginning at Jerusalem"
duke xiv. HID. Unless His resur-
rection means so much to us that we
long to preach the gospel to every
creature. II Is evident that we have
not yet been endued with power from
on high. We must so see Jesus risen
and gIorifed that we shall fall to zero
in our own estimation and learn to say
truly. Not I. but the grace Of God.
which was with me" Il Cor. ". o. 10l.
Then. as 10 our message. We must re-
ceiye il from God as Paul did. verse -.
See also Jer. |, 10: John XII. 40. for
anything that comes merely from our.
selves will count for nothing.
Then the gospel that does not In.
ciude the resurrection Of the believer
and our subsequent reign with Him tIll
all enemies shall be put under Him,
even death Itself. Is not a full gospel
oversees 2I-2sl. BY the first Adam
came sin and death, by the last Adam
came life and resurrection. and all who
are Christ's shall have resurrection
bodies az his coming tverse 49,. No
tice this whole age, already 1900 years.
covered by the word "afterwarii." and
the mIllennial age covered by the
word then" Of verse "a. The highest
mountain peak Of Scripture IL In verse
%. In the words. that God may be all
In all" We may even now In some
measure anticipate that time by let
ting Christ be all In all In as aud work
all In all through us (Col. III. IL: Cor.
xii, O.. While We wait for the king
dom and live 10 hasten II we should
manifest something u its righteous
ness aud Joy and pence In these mortal
bodies. the life Of Jesus made manifest
In Us ROm. xiv, Il: II Cor. ~, 10. III.
THIS will not be apt TO be the case IN.
less we are filed with enthusiasm be-
cause Of the resurrection gIories which
await Us, most surely believing and
thus knowing the certainty Of these
things. that our present body OF hu.
initiation shall be fashioned like unto
Ills glorious body. that we shall be like
Him when we shall see Him as He IL
luke l. 1, 4; Phil. III, 20. q; I John
III, p.
There are many believers who seem
to,think that all there IL TO redemption
Is preparing Us for heaven and getting
Us there when the time comes, giving
no thought 10 the resurrection OF the
body. the return Of Christ TO reign, the
restoration OF Israel and all associated
truths. The sad perverslon Of Scrip.
ture which teaches that Israel II now
the church and the church Is the king.
dom may be responsible for this. The
truth II that the church II a company
Of people gathered out Of ali nations.
while the kingdom will include all m.
tons. with the literaiIs Israel az the center
and Jerusalem the throne Of the Lord.
These sinful natures. even In the best
Of people, like NIcodemus, cannot zee