The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-09-23
The
Sunday School
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 26.

Subject: temperance, I Cor. 1929
32-Golden Text: Rom. 15:2--
Commit Verse 24--Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
TIME.--57 A. d.
PLACE.-Ephesus
ExPOSITION.--I. Let no man
seek his own, but each his neiQhbor's
good, 23-30. Some of the Corin-
thians whose thoughts were entirely
occupied with themselves and their
own rights and privileges were saw
ing: "All things are lawful to me"
Paul, who was governed by the Chris
tian principle of love, and therefore
thinking Of the effect of his actions
not only upon himself, answers;
"Yes. all things are lawful; but ali
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
! have a right to do, but what will
'edity," what will build up the
Church of Christ, others as we'll as
myself. "Is It permissible for
Christian to attend the theatre?" one
asks Better ask, Is 1t profitable, will
It edify? "Is It permissible for
Christian to use the Lords Day as
he does other days." Better ask, Is
1t profitable. will It edify? In all
things Let no man seek his own but
each his neighbor's good" The be-
iiever should not be troubled with
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 1t really belonged to
the Lord; for the earth Is the Lords,
and the fulness thereof" (Ps. 24:1;
50:12; l Tim. 4:4). A glorious
truth that, with many practical ap-
plications. If the earth is the Lord
It is ours also IL 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 defiled.
That Is sadly confounding the o. T.
laws with n. T. liberty. One can
never know perfectly, and could
therefore never have a conscience
perfectly at rest. Christianity is not
morbidness e Tim. IL; Rom. S:15).
The Christian might even go 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
II 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 1t, 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: (1 Every mans liberty
must be determined by his own con-
science, not another's (cf. Rom. IA:
2-10). (2) Liberty must give way
before love. The question is not what
have l liberty to do. but what does
love prompt me to do. II I do par.
take in grace, no one else whose opin-
ion may differ about what is permis.
sible has right to speak evil of me
concerning that for which l return
thanks to God But If am a real
Christian (cf. Jno. 1880, I will dc
nothing that will cause another tC
stumble just because l have a right
to and no one else has a right to con.
denim me for doing.
III. Whatsoever We do, do all &c
the glory of God, 31-33. Paul lays
down a very simple but very grea'
principle for deciding what we may
do and how to do It, whether there
fore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever
We do, do all to the glory of God.
That principle will settle all our ques
tions. Do nothing that you cannot dC
to Gods glory, and whatever you de
eide to do, do II to His glory. Ther
we can put away all troublings of oul
conscience and be free from all sens
Of condemnation. But how man!
things professed Christians are doinl
which II they stopped and though
they would soon see that they coult
not do to Gods glory. Ifyou have an,
doubt about anything you are doing
: ask yourself, can I do this to God
; glory? If you are not absolutely sur
: that you can then don't do 1t. AM
II you do 1t be sure you do 1t to God
glory. We should give no occasion
to stumbling to any one of the thre
; classes into which God divides mer
Jews, Gentiles, the Church of GOO
! Our own pleasure should never b
|. our rule Of action, but the pleasur
and profit of others, even all mer
, Our own profit should be utterly il
' nored (cf. Phil. 2:4), and we shoul
live for the profit OF others, 1. e.. tina
they may be saved. We should b
I, glad to give up our liberty or an
right II some one thereby may b
: saved (cf. ch. 9:12, 22). How II
, tensely Paul was occupied with on
: thing, the salvation of others &c
Rom. 1871; 9:1-3; 1874; l Cor. 8
!, 22). This is the Christian principl
of total abstinence. abstinence fC
, the purpose of saving others.