The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-18
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. SUNDAY IN THE CHURCHES .
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Sunday School Lesson-May rs.
Pastor, C. w. Foley; subject: "Truth-
fulness." Matt. 5:S3-37; James 81
~; 5:12.
II. THE LESSON HEREIN TAUGHT
1t is not the simple lesson of truth
fulness, however important that may
be. We must look deeper than the
Golden Text (Eph. 4:25-R. W. sug-
gests for the heart teaching of Matt.
5:33-37. The profound, yet very
plain lesson taught here is-Vows
forbidden. This includes all vows,
oaths, man made covenants; every
thing suggestive of the stability and
reliability of man.
The word translated forswear
means-to violate ones oath; to COM
nit perjury. 1t is plain, however,
that what He is saying is not, "thou
shalt not forswear thyself," this is
what the law said. What then did
He say? "Swear not at ALL The
reason for this is quite evident-vow-
ing, pledging had led to perjury I'M
der the law.
We see in this the law doing it's
work-showing man up. BY the law
is the knowledge of sin-Rom. 800.
The law was not given to perfect
man, but to show the imperfection of
man-Heb. 7:19. Read Heb. I'LL
%, where we see that the foregoing
commandment" was disannulled, not
because it was sinful, but because it
had served it's purpose in showing
man up as sinful, and also in guard
ing him faithfully on the way as the
'schoolmaster," or child leader (Gal.
3:24), to Christ who has now been
brought in as the better hope. -~
So we see there was no interim,
God never deserted man, but kept
him shut up under law to faith, or
better, the faith about to be revealed
Gal. 1928. All this was necessary
by way of preparation, as Gal. 1922
shows. The law has done it's work,
the scripture hath concluded; and
what is the conclusion? "All under
sim" To what end? "That the
promise by faith of Jesus Christ
might be given to them that believe"
So here in our lesson, the tolera-
ton of oaths under law proved every
man unfit to take oath, make vows,
enter into covenant, that he might
be ready for the perfect Man Christ
Jesus in whose blood the New Cove
nant is, and will stand because of
the character of the One who has en-
tered into covenant with God.
Now every one who believes into
the Lord Jesus Christ, comes into
abiding, unfailing covenant relation
with God. And the law came in be-
sides, that the trespass might
abound; but where sin abunded,
grace did abound more exceedingly
Rom. 5:20-R. V. Profitable in
deed would it be were we permitted
to turn to the last chapter of Levi
ticus and study it in connection with
this. Turn to it and read, noting
that which is so evident, viz: law in
force but can not avail
In the face of the most merciful re-
lease the Israelite was still unable to
perform his vow. They, as we, and
we, as they, are left bankrupt sinners
with no capacity of our own for good,
and no ability to perform. Then
notice how beautifully in grace pro-
vision comes in sacrifice. Man in
deed was worth something, but an
other must produce the value. Es-
cape indeed for man, but none for
the Victim, He must die, no substi-
tute could be provided for Him.
Mans value is represented in Him,
but His value is by no means ex-
hausted in the redemption of man.
AS the matter now stands under
grace, "We are complete in Him."
Col. 2:10. Note the revised reading,
''1n Him We are made full" The
word means, to make replete, i. e.,
literally, to cram. Read Pip. 4:18,
10, where the same word is used, and
plainly means, to fill up a deficiency.
Jesus stands for our incompleteness,
our emptiness, and we, in Him, get
our completeness, our fulness. Where