Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-02-18
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson VIII.--First Quarter, For
Feb. q, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Luke xii, LIP.
Memory Verses, 8, e-Golden Text,
Luke xii, documentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

He had in our last lesson spoken of
the Pharisees as not only having a
mere outward religion, but also of be-
ing one with their ancestors In perse-
cutting and killing the prophets, and
He had accused the lawyers of not
only refusing the truth themselves, but
of keeping it from others. Now He
says to His disciples. Beware ye of
the leaven of the Pharisees. which is
hypocrisy" AS matters were consum-
mating and the crisis approaching, He
was speaking more pointedly concern
ing some things.
All the wrong will be manifest in
due time. and the right win prevail. so
that it is wise to live always in the
sight of the Lord and seek in all things
His approval Il Cor iv. 3; II Tim. ii.
15, He had said on a previous occa-
sion, Beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and of the Sadducees and of
Herod,'' but they were so dull that
they thought that He referred to literal
bread and not to false doctrine (Matt.
xvi, Gil; Mark viii, 15l.
There is more need than ever to be-
ware of false teachers and teaching.
for Journalism and rationalism and
worldliness are ever increasing. The
Pharisee was all for form and outward
show, even though protesting to be
lieve some things. The Sadducee had
no use for anything supernatural,
-Haf
Iigious. preferred the sinful pleasures of
this world ACTS xiii, s; Mark vi. 2o).
There is no place in the Bible where
leaven ever signifies anything good
In Lev. vii. 10; xiii, II. where leaven
was commanded to be offered, it rep
resented sin in us and in our service,
as is explained in Amos iv, 8, margin.
In the parable in Matt xiii. SO, it re-
fers to the corruption of the food CIV
en- in the churches in this age of 1.-The
mysteries of the kingdom" which Is
set forth in the parallels Of the sower.
the tares. the mustard tree and the
leaven. We are rapidly approaching
the time of the oven and the burning.
If we receive the word Of God SIM
ply and heartily we shall know some
thing of the hatred of the religious
world (John xvii. 14). even unto perse
cution and death (Rev. l. 8; ii, 10; xiii
IL. but our Lord teaches Us that the
death of the body is not a serious mat
ter if we are truly His, for it will
mean for the believer real gain and
something very far better than remain
ing here phil. i, 81. 23). Therefore we
are not to fear it (verses 4, Z; Matt. K.
90. He who cares for sparrows will
surely care for His own redeemed
ones, so that we may be as brave as
Daniels friends If we have faith in
God. The unsaved have every reason
to fear death, for to them it will mean
the torment of Luke xvi. %. and final
ly the lake of fire (Rev. Xxx, IA, 15).
A true child of God is one who. see
ing himself to be sinner has pleaded
guilty and cast himself upon the mer-
cy of God in Christ. receiving Jesus
Christ as his own personal Saviour.
putting all his trust in the precious
blood shed for him on Calvary. Thus
one is able to say. Being justified by
faith, | have peace with God" Rom.
", u. None others are children of God.
according to the Scriptures.
Now, while God needs no evidence
of our sincerity in this apart from our
faith, for He reads the heart, it is nee
essary that men should see some evil
dence of our faith. for they can only
see faith as it is manifest in the lives
and the works of believers. according
to Eph. Ii. 10: Tit. iii. 8: hence that
other saying about confessing with
the mouth the Lord Jesus and show
ing faith by works Rom. x. 8. 10; Jas.
ii. 24l. There are those who walk in
the outward life as Christians. but
who mind earthly things and are the
enemies of the cross of Christ They
profess that they know God, but in
works they deny Him phil. iii, IS, 10:
Tit. i, 16.
1t is not for us to judge them or to
say that they are or are not thus and
so. He will see to that. But we may
judge ourselves and consider well If
our faith in Christ is real and our life
corresponding in any measure thereto.
That there is possibility of being
saved and yet unrewarded is plainly
taught In | Cor. ill. 1i-15.
The last verse of our lesson is
great comfort to those who are willing
to confess with their mouth. as well as
to such as may suddenly be placed in
e difficult position. Nothing can take
the place of reliance upon the Holy
Spirit both as our teacher and our ut
terance. | have in my mind along
with verse II the comfort of Ex. iy.
II; Jer. l. 10: Prov. xxi. IS. and have
proved the reality of this comfort
times without number.
As to the sin against the Holy Spirit
which hath no forgiveness. / under
stand it to be the persistent rejection
Of the voice of the Spirit until the
heart becomes so hardened and the
ears so dull of hearing that His voice
is heard no more. Those who fear
that they have committed this sin are
H. ~