The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-12-12
SCHOOL.
Lesson xl.--Fourth Quarter, For
Dec. is, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Memory Verses, Fl, 22-GoIden Text,
Eph. iw, 80 (R. V.)-commsntary
Prepared by Rev. o. NJ. Stearns.
In last lesson we were warned
against being an offense to any n be-
longing to Him. for In touching those
who are His He is touched. even as
Il is written. HE that toucheth you
boucheth the apple of His eye" Czech.
u, 81, and as he said to Saul when per-
scouting His people. why ~persecutest
thou me?" tActs *, a. Now he teach
es us how to deal with those who Of
TEND us verses IS to 2M-6rst of all,
4 heart to heart talk with the offending
party alone verse 15I in many In
stances that would without doubt set
tie the difficulty, and the two or three,
or the church. would not be needed.
Contrast the ordinary way Of telling
others first and the general result Of
increased separations and misunder-
standings. When we work in Gods
way we can count on God working in
and with US 1sa. XVI. II: Phil.
u, 10: lesson verses IS. 1917. The
precious assurance in verse 20 is not
often used in it's connection, but 1t Is
precious in any connection with the
work of the Lord and for many years
has taught me never to ask the Lord
to be in our midst when we meet in His
name. but to rest on His own assur-
ance that He is present.
Peter had been paying attention and
wondering if he should go to a man
who offended him more than once or
twice and probably thought that he
was stating an extreme limit when he
asked If he should forgive him seven
times. Great. indeed. must have been
his surprise at the Lords reply, mot
until seven times. but until seventy
times seven" oversees 81. 22). which was
equal to saying. Continue to forgive
till the kingdom comes"
If we would understand the teach
ing Of the Spirit we must notice what
he has said elsewhere upon any sub
ject, and | remember that Daniel was
told that after seventy sevens the
kingdom would come. bringing in ever
lasting righteousness dan. TX. pa.
After s~ixty-nine sevens from the ap-
pointed time Messiah was cut of and
had no kingdom to show. Just, as fore
told. the SEVENTEEN week is yet future,
but will surely come. We must there
fore continue to forgive those who give
US occasion to do so increasingly Dan.
IL, 25-27. "He, being full of compass
sion. forgave their iniquity and de-
stroyed them ~not-yea. many a time
turned He His anger away, " " . for
He remembered that they were but
flesh" Cps. xviii. 3Sl. That u Lord
was thinking Of the kingdom in its
present phase Of mystery and future
manifestation seems clear from His
illustration of the king taking account
Of his servants. The main point of the
lesson seems to be that those who are
forgiven so much should readily for
give the comparatively small offenses
Of others against them.
The contrast between the debt of the
man to his master and that Of the other
servant to him would be something
like the difference between $1,000 and
Is cents. What kind Of a man. being
forgiven freely the large amount, would
fail to forgive his fellow the tri6e?
And yet many are just like that.
Our indebtedness to God cannot be
reckoned. it is SO great. Our iniquities
cannot be numbered. yet He freely and
fully forgives all who. with true peni-
tence, turn to Him, saying, Though
your sins be as scarlet. they shall be
as white as snow: though they be red
like crimson. they shall be as WOOL"
81, ever J.. am he that blotteth out thy
transgressions and will not remember
thy sins lisa. j. 19: xiii. 25l. Com
pared with the mountain of our trans
gressions against God, which He freely
forgives, the ~offenses of others against
US must be the veriest trifies. which
should be as freely forgiven by us, en-
Rbling US to pray sincerely, Forgive us
Our debts Is we forgive our debtors"
(Matt. vi. ~. To obtain the forgive
ness of our sins the only condition is
that we come with true ~penitence to
Him who has said. Him that cometh
to me / will in no wise cast out" THY
sins are forgiven. Thy faith hath
saved thee. Go in peace" John vi,
81; Luke vii. 1850.
But. having become children OF God
by faith In Christ Jesus and having the
assurance Of the forgiveness Of bur
sins. there is need of constant forgive
ness because of constant detilement
and shortcomings. the difference be-
tween the forgiveness of the rebel, the
unsaved sinner. and the forgiveness of
a child in the Fathers house. The my
Heavenly Father and your Heavenly
Father of verse 35 of our lesson and
Matt. vi. Id. 10. show that .'if We for
give" and IF We forgive not refer
to disciples and communion,
If a child Of God. as Peter was, and
the disciples to whom He taught that
prayer should cherish an unforgiving
spirit toward n one. such could not
enjoy the conscious forgiveness Of theiI.
Father. There would be a cloud be-
tween. as when children are con-
scious of disobedience to parents they
do not cease to be children. but there
is a lack OF communion. The Lord. who
delivered the formerly forgiven debtor
to the tormentors verse 34l. was the
~rnwar r a~3 oe ~ r she wvs q ne 0IYp