The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-06

Lesson 10 First Quarter, FoI
March 8, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text OF the Lesson, Luke xii, 35-4ss
Memory Verses, ~, 4e-GcIden Texts
Luke xii, 37-conmentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns. '
The secret of ~deliverance from ths
snares of this present evil age is the
attitude OF expecting the return Of the
Lord Jesus. according to the teaching
Of the ep~istles, waiting for the COM
ing OF our Lord Jesus Christi "serv-
ing the Living and True God and wait
ing for His Son from heaven" look
ing for that blessed hope. the glori-
GUS appearing Of the great God, ven
u Saviour Jesus Christ" Il Cor. /, Z;
/ Thess. 1, 8, 10; Tit. II. 13).
In the gospels, as In the Old Tesla
ment, the coming of Christ Is general
", II not always. His coming in glory
to set up His kingdom; His coming in
vengeance upon His enemies and with
redemption for Israel, as in Deut.
xxi, 39-43: lisa. xXxiv, /; xxxv. 4:
xiii, /; Matt. xiv. 80: XIV, 81. His
coming for His church, previous to
His coming in glory to judge the ma
tons was specially revealed to Paul,
as we saw in u last lesson.
The reference to the return from the
wedding in verse 80 makes us think OF
the order Of events in Rev. xix. where
the coming In glory with His saints
follows the marriage Of the Lamb:
also In Matt. XIV, 1. in both the Syriac
and Vulgate versions. the reading Ia
that the ten virgins went forth to meet
the bridegroom and the bride" so
that the virgins cannot represent the
church nor can the "all nations" of
Matt. XIV. 81. include the church. The
church must be seen with Him As the
Bridegroom and with Him when He
shall come in His glory Matt. XIV. i.
81: Col LII, a. The coming Of Christ ns
the Son OF Man is His coming with
His saints to begin His reign Of right
eousneSS and peace on earth Matt.
XVI, g.; Dan. vii. 13. IA: lisa. xxxif,
l, ~.
Having considered the ]interpreta-
ton. we must not lose the application
to our hearts as set forth in such
words in u lesson as loins girded.
lights burning, watching, ready. doing
80, 81, 40, d., 49,. The loins girded
takes us back to Ex. xii, II, and the
night Of the FIRST passover and on to
Eph. Vi, II; I Pet. i. 10; 'Ioins glrt
about with truth" "gird up the loins
Of your mind, be sober and hope to
the end for the grace that is to be
brought unto you at the revelation of
Jesus Christ"
Watching reminds us Of the thrics
repeated watch" Of Mark Xiii. 80. 35.
81; the reproof In Gethsemane: Gould
est not thou watch one hour? Watch
We and pray lest ye enter into tempta-
ton" Mark xiv, 81, 49,; the praying
end watching of Eph. vi, 1S; Col. iv,
2; the Watch We; stand fast in the
faith" OF I Cor. xvi, 10, and the watch
ing to 9 what He will say (Hab.
Ii. II. The word ready" reminds un
that on His part "all things are now
ready" but there is a fullness of ''sal-
walton ready to be revealed in the last
time" duke xiv, H.. I Pet. /, B..
Believers should always be ready to
preach the gospel. ready to every good
work, ready to be absent from the
body or to be caught up to meet the
Lord in the air (Rom. /, Is: Tit. ill, /:
Acts xxi, 13; Rev. xix, I; I Thess. iv,
1918. AS to doing" (verse 49,, while
there can be no doing on our part to
obtain salvation (Rom. Nv, 5; Eph. II,
g., 81, we are saved in order to good
works which God has prepared for us
to walk in. works which are good and
profitable unto men when they are
God working in US both to will and to
do Of His good pleasure (Eph. Ii, 10:
Tit. i'll. 6; Phil. ii, 49,.
The coming Of Christ will not be to
His waiting ones rs a thief. for we are
not in darkness, but children OF light
and OF the day Il Thess. v, 4, 81. We
are stewards OF the manifold grace OF
God and Of the mysteries of God. and
the me thing required of a steward
is faithfulness Il Cor. ", /, 2; | Pet.
", 10). All who handle the word OF
God must be careful to give meat in
due season, not only milk for babes.
but meat az people are able to bear it
W wi" IA, 10, AcO' " A1-ATt JUN
xvi, 12). -
We are stewards in reference to all,
with which our Lord has intrusted us.
whether talents or wealth or the Cos
pei, and we must give an account Of
u stewardship. Every one Of us
shall give account Of himself to God,
Rom. xiv, 12). This will be at the
Judgment seat Of Christ. where only
saved ones shall be to be tried for
their service since they became beliey-
ers. We need for all our service such
words as these: THAT God In all.
things may be gloriied through Jesus
Christ" Not as pleasing men, but
God. who tristh our hearts Il Pet. iy,
IL: I Thess. Il, 4; II Tim. Ii. 15).
As Joseph shared the throne with
Pharaoh, SO we are to share the rule
with Christ In His kingdom, but
whether over few or many cities, will
depend upon our faithfulness as stew
ards now (Rev. iii. 81: v. 10; Luke
xix. II, 19). Joseph was ruler over ALI
Egypt; Christ shall rule over all the
world (Ps. lxxii,, III. gl.@
There are those called servants who
are only outwardly servants. like the
Pharisees. Such shall And their place
with the unbelievers. However they
may profess to have known Christ. He
will say to them: 81 never knew you.
Depart from Me We that work iniquls
ty'' (Matt. vii. 21-23).
THAT ffpnrn viii ha HfSaMway% 10 ff@4