The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-15
The
School
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 28.

Subject: Temperance, ! Cor. 1929
82-Golden Text: Rom. 1872
Commit Verse 24-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
T1ME.-57 A. D.
PLACE.-Ephesus.
EXPOSITION.-I. Let no man
seek his own, but each his neiphbor's
good, $3.50. Some of the Corin-
th1ans whose thoughts were entirely
occupied with themselves and their
own rights and privileges were say
ing: ALL things are lawful to me-"
Paul, who was governed by the Chris
tlan principle of love, and therefore
thinking of the effect Of his actions
no only upon himself, answers:l
Yes, all things are lawful; but all
things are not expedient Tor helpful,
or proftable)." A true Christian
does not ask what is permissible, but
what is profitable. He asks, not what
l have a right to do, but what will
"edify," what will build up the
Church Of Christ, others as well as
myself. us it permissible for a
Christian to attend the theatre?" one
asks. Better ask, Is it profitable, will
1t edify? rs 1t permissible for q
Christian to use. the Lords Day as
he does other days?" Better ask, Isi
1t profitable, will it edify? In all
things Let no man seek his own but
each his neighbours good" The be-.
lever should not be troubled with q
morbid conscience, he should not fear
to eat anything sold in the markets
because of a suspicion it might have
been offered to an idol and thus
tainted. He need ask no question
about that; for even If it had been Of
fered to an idol it really belonged to
the Lord; for the earth is the Lords,
and the fulness thereof" FPS. 24:1;
50:12; 1 Tim. 4:4l. A. glorious
truth, that, with many practical APP
plications. If the earth is the Lords
it is ours also If we are His children.
There are some to-day afraid to sit
down to the Lords table unless they
have first carefully examined every
one there and found that they are
perfectly sound in doctrine and in
life, lest they themselves be defled.
That is sadly confounding the O. T..
laws with N. T. liberty. One cal
lever know perfectly, and could
therefore never have q conscience
perfectly at rest. Christianity is not
morbidness e Tim. IL; Rom. 8:15).
The Christian might eve 60 to a
feast made by an unbeliever, and in
case he did he should eat whatever
was set before him, and not be haunt
ed by the torturing suspicion, Per-
haps this was offered to an idol" He
need ask no question about this. But
If some one should say, "This hath
been offered in sacrifice" then he
should not eat, not because he would
himself be hurt, but for the sake OF
the one who said it, that he might not
be hurt. His liberty could not be
judged by another's conscience, and
he would still have liberty to eat as
far as his own conscience was con-
cerned. but his liberty would give
place to love. Here are two great
principles: ID Every mans liberty
must be determined by his own con-
science, not another's (cf. Rom. IL:
2-10). (2) Liberty must give way
before love. The question is not what
have I liberty to do, but what does
love prompt me to do. If ! do par
take in grace, no one else whose opiu-
ion may differ about what Is permits
sible has a right to speak evil OF me
concerning that for which I return
thanks to God. But If I am a real
Christian (cf. Jno. 1880, I will do,
nothing that will cause another to-
stumble just because I have a right
to and no one else has q right to con-
denim me for doing.
II. Whatsoever ye do, do all to-
the glory Of God, 31-3S. Paul lays
down a very simple but very great
principle for deciding what we may
do and how to do it, Whether there
fore we eat or drink, or whatsoever
We do, do all to the glory OF God.
That principle will settle all cur ques-
tons. Do nothing that you cannot do
to Gods glory, and whatever you de-
eide to do, do 1t to His glory, Then
we can put away all %troublings Of our
conscience and be free from all sense
of condemnation. But how many
things professed Christians are doing
which if they stopped and thought
they would soon see that they could
not do to Gods glory. Ifyouhave any
doubt about anything you are doing,
ask yourself, a / do this to Gods
glory? If you are not absolutely sure
that O can then don't do 1t. And
If you do 1t be sure you do it to Gods
glory. We should give no occasion
to stumbling to any n OF the three
classes into which God divides men,
Jews. Gentiles, the Church OF God.
Our own pleasure should v be
our rule of action, but the pleasure
and profit Of others, even all men.
Our W profit should be utterly ig-
nored (cf. Phil. 2:4), and we should
live for the profit Of others, !. e., that
they may be saved. We should be
glad to give up our liberty or any
right if some n thereby may be
saved (cf. CHI. 9:12, 22). How in
tensely Paul was occupied with one
thing, the salvation of others (cf.
Rom. 1911; 9:1-3; 11:14; / Cor: 3:
22). This is the Christian principle
of total abstinence, abstinence Tor
the purpose of saving others.