Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-27
Sunday School Lesson for June % Discussed
by Rev. J. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.
TEMPERANCE LESSON Ephesisns v:e-:I.

INTRODUCTION.-Th international
committee has called this temperance
lesson. II would be an unwarranted linn
ita ton To confine the passage to that VIZ
tue alone As the reader may see, there
is but solitary sentence. in verse IL, that
hears upon that subject. and that is
thrust in as a precept on Christian living.
which is the more appropriate topic. The
apostle was writing 10 the church at Eph-
esus seeking to guard its members against
the evil practices of the outside world.
Then. as now. there We're many DISPOSE
lions and deeds popular with unbeleNers
that were contrary 20 the spirit or the
gospel Drunkenness was one OF the vices
of the time. To shun it and live soberly
was the duty Of every follower OF christ
But there were other vices and sins which
were condemned with equal vigor In our
lesson. and there are corresponding vir-
tues none of which should be overlooked
This exposition will regard the entire
teaching. setting temperance In Its right
relations.
DECEIVING Oversees 6-0.--The first
evil here condemned is that one that LEADS
men astray more easily than any other.
1t is the false teaching of those who pro-
ers. what the apostle terms vain woros
In the olden time there We're prophets VINO
dealt out falsehood DER, xHix:o,, cineu,
therefore, deceiverS. They had celtani
ends to gain and resorted to this methoo;
Jesus informed His disciples that men OF
like character would appear In the new
dispensation. and uttered warnings aSainsl
them Matt. XXiv:D. Afterwaro there
were loose teachers concerning the SECOND
coming Of Christ and other important
ha nsft @
suit of such beguiling words COL, H'i,,
Ieclarin that the wrath OF God nad IN
this way come upon the chiloren Oh oIe-
obedience. those who had departed Iroi,
the true faith The Ephesians should
have no part in the errors disseminated
they should not be deceived by them OF
partake of the conduct proposed py mem:
PROVING (verses S-1O.-To support
this advice the apostle REMINDS tnose 10
whom he wrote that formerly they were
in darkness. that is. in ignorance on re-
ligious matters. holding many errors TOT
truth. but now they had escaped ana Were
In the light of the Lord. (John, WILL
This simply means that the Ephesians In
Incoming Christians had learned what
was sufficient to protect them against the
foolish words OF false teachers. This mad
come to them with the attending rlgheous-
ness as the fruit of the spirit OF grace
that had been granted to them Accord
ingly. instead OF needing the vain words
contrary to Christian teaching. they
should hold fast to that teaching and ap-
ply It, In this way they would gradually
come into fuller knowledge and richer
life and they would be able to prove, to
understand and to show what is accept,
able to the Lord. They could not afford
to turn away to other teachings
REPROvING Werses 11-f4).-The
Christians at Ephesus were called to do
more than hold fast to the truth and to
learn and apply. rejecting all false teach
ers-they were obligated to assume an at
tftude of antagonism against all evil ways.
1t was their duty to reprove those who
practiced what false teachers advised.
This reproof might be given by refusing
all fellow ship or friendship with the per-
sons mentioned. To that course they
might be led by considering how abomi-
nable these practices were. so abomfnabie
and shameful that they might not even
be mentioned. Paul does not here allude
specifically to any of these things. He
deemed it improper so much as to recite
the deeds. He would not lower the tone
OF his letter by such reference. He re-
are called to live In such way that they
would be lights in the world. showing men
how to live.
WALKING (verses 15-1O.-These
tive rule in regard to conduct. which is
given under the head of walking. a daily
advance through the duties of this life.
That walk or behavior should have three
general EdcteTIStlC. SIOulu De
circumspect, attended by a careful CON-
sideration Of all circumstances in all re-
!atiOns OF life. Herein it should be dis
tinguiShed from the course of fools who
have little regard for life's relations and
duties. Second. there should be due con-
sideration of time. redeeming II. saving it.
and making the best possible use of it.
This Is a most distinguishing quality of
good man. God SO estimated the value
Of time that He gave in one commandment
regulation for every day ZEN, XX:s-11
the longest section of the decologue). Third
in all his doings the Christian must have
supreme regard to the will of the Lord.
which Is. after ali, the law Of life John
xv:14). Hence. that law must be studied
to be understood psalms. i:2).
DRUNKEN. WerseS IL and 1870
much OF the lesson refers to the results of
unworthy teaching. Thought is next di-
rected TO a vice that has come down to
our day. The ancients began the use of