The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-12-09

Phil 1-21-Commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns
In our last study for the present on
the life Of Paul il would seem wise to
glance al the whole epiSlle rather than
only at the last chapter He is still
of the same mind as when he wrote L
Cor. ii. ., determined to know nothing
save Jesus Christ and Him crucided,
for in this brief letter he mentions the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit forty
eight times. His mind is stayed upon
the Lord. concerning whom he SAYS,
Il know whom have believed and am
persuaded that He is able TO keep"
Our lesson chapter opens with Il sol
emn charge in view Of the Judgment.
ana we are reminded of Eccles. ri. .;
Xii n, know thou that for all these
things God will bring thee into iudg-
meut;' also Of Matt. xii. 81 Every
Idle word that men shall speak they
shall give account thereof in the day
Of Judgment Ler us remind our
selves that the Father iudgpth no
man. but hath committed all Judgment
unto the Son. that all men should hon
or he Son even as they honor the Ia
Their Jjohn V, -. 81. Believers who
have died and who are resting from
their labor>, along with all living be-
levers who Shall he in q moment
changed, shall appear for iud-mei at
the Judgment seat Of Christ for belipv-
eTS only. Then there will be the iudg-
mcnt Of living nations when He shall
come with His saints TO establish His
kingdom. ana a thousand years later
the Judgment of the rest of the dead
at the great white throne. In due
time and in due order there shall be
a resurrection both of the just and the
unjust and a judgment of all that have
ever lived.
As His witnesses, His messengers,
we are therefore to preach the word"
tverSe -, {" preach the preaching
which He rj! us Jouah ill., ,; DER. i,
I: Eek, ii, I; iii. III. being warned. as
We're the prophets and apostles that
many will not endure it, but. loving
pleasure more than God and being sat
istied with form of godiness with
out the power iii, I. -, they will pre-
fer lying. deceit and dcuSion to the
truth OF God lisa MIX. Is; XXN, SIP.
| The word for the faithful witness is,
| Watch, endure fulfill thy ministry"
| please Him who hath chosen you"
| Study to show thysclt approved unto
God Verse -; ii. a. Many things
! look different when we come to the
hour Of our departure, but if by His
grace we have fought the good fight
of faith and have kept the
tvcrSe !; l Tim. vi, 12l we may b;
! holiness even in the day Of iudgm
Il john iy, Ia. Fitness to meet i
depends wholly upon His great ;,..d
| all sufficient sacrifice for MS. But we
| will not be approved as His redeemed
| ones unless we have run the race we'll
| and been good soldiers of Jesus Christ
Our safety depends upon Him alone;
| our reward depends upon our faithful
ness The crown here spoken Of-the
crown of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES not for
| Paul only. but for all who love His
appearing Verse ST. The crown of
| life is for patiently enduring the
crown incorruptible for self denial the
| crown Of rejoicing for winning souls.
| the crown Of glory for feeding the
| fiock-four different lines of service.
| But this one is for an attitude OF soul
| in all our service Many saved ones
| do not love His appearing. and many
| Observation-Disclosures would he glad to see
! lin and may be said to love His APP
pearing although not looking for Him
| so soon or in the same way as some
| others. If we receive one or more or
| all of these crowns it will be that we
may cast them at His feet and give
! Him all the glory (Rev. iv, 10, III.
| These crowns, or rewards. are not
| given US when we die. although it is
a common saying He has gone to
his reward" but. as Paul says. at
that day concerning which see Rev.
| xxi, -; Pet. V, IA. Then notice
| that Paul was not thinking of dying
quietly in ones bed with kind friends
about him. but he was ready to be
| offered as a sacrifice in any way His
| Lord might appoint.
In verses 9-15 note how some are
taken captive by the world and some
openly withstand the word. But note
also how some at one time considered
| Improbable may later become profit
able. The closing verses of the lesson
teach us to find our encouragement
where Paul found his--in the Lord
alone-and. though all turn away from
| us Verse Is and i. 15p. He hath said.
will never leave thee nor tOrSake thee"
so that we may boldly say. The Lord
is my helper; | will not fear what
man shall do unto me Heb. xiii.
| 5. 81. The Lord stood with me and
strengthened me" makes us think of
an experience OF David when in a
| time Of great distress his faithful go
| turned against him and spake of ston-
| ing him. but it is written, David en-
couraged himself iu the Lord his God" I
| q Sam. Xxx. g.. No one could be more
alone than our Blessed Lord. but His
comfort may be seen in these words:
The living Father hath sent Me. and
live by the Father" He that sen
Me is with Me; the Father hath not
| loft Mo 1lOup for | do nlUoyS those