The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-01-01

to house. Mrs. Harper. Dow City. Primary, Mrs.
noes: Den M;sa; IemPt rance Sears McHenry.
Jan. 5. 1908 The Word Made Flesh.
John l: lila
The lessons for the coming six
months will be in the New Testament.
Personally it would suit US if the
lessons remained in that most precious
part of the bible for two years at
least. A perfect understanding of
the Old 10 needed to thoroughly COM
perhend the New. but it seems to the
adult attendant on Sunday school at
least. that the gentlemen in charge
of the lesson course miss it in not
bringing the gosples and the great
epistles distinctly to the front. 1t
has come to such a pass that the
children know more in detail as to the
lives of Moses. Saul. David and Solo
mon than that of Jesus the Christ. 1t
is therefore refreshing that we shall
be allowed for six months to study
the life of Jesus as told by John.
The beginning verses of the first
chapter of John. have furnished texts
for sermon and lectures lasting many
months from most eminent divines.
and SO in the ordinary Sunday school
class the wonderful things told about,
can be but specifically talked of. We
are brought face to face with the
truth that Christ lived before the
foundations of the world were laid,
and that all things were made
through Him and without Him was
not anything made that was made.
This to many is startling thought.
There is tendency to think that
Jesus Was new creation. or being.
who came into existence with HIS
birth as celebrated at the Christmas
time. But John states, and Jesus.
bears the same witness of himself.
that He existed in power for ages
before taking on the form of a man.
and coming to earth as recorded in
the gospels. In John s. So Jesus de-
clared Before Abraham was. ann"
statement which caused the Jews
to take up stones to kill Him. Then
the first great truth to be gained
from the lesson is the certain ex-
istence of Jesus the Christ as an
active force before the creation of the
world. through the years after. and
His continued life in heaven now.
Next the truth can be impressed that
this powerful one is our friend. that
He has said that it we confess Him
here on earth He will confess US in
heaven.
Jesus came to give light and life
to the world. All history since His
coming. bears out the claim that He
has given life and light, which
has performed wonders in transform
ing power. There is subject matter
for books without number telling of
what the religion of Jesus Christ has
accomplished. The lesson verses we'll
say that He came to His own and
they received Him not. Blessed be
His mission on earth. for the follow
ing verse states that to those who do
receive Him. He gives the right to
become children of God. The last verse
given for our study states that Christ
was made flesh aud dwelt among US,
the only begotten Son of God, full of
grace and truth.
The lesson of to-day thus brings us
face to face with the divinity of Jesus
Christ. He cannot be considered as
q good moral man who set us an ex :
ample and then died natural death.
Any religious body or group of in
dividuals who deny the divinity
of Jesus. have no claim to His saving
power. and the eternal life He told
about. 1t is time there was revival
of vital christianity based on the
divinity of Jesus Christ. and now is a
good time to start it. by each true
christian standing for it when the
occasion REQUIRES.