The Dermott news., 1916-07-27
LESSON FOR JULY 30
THE WORD OF THE cRoSG.v

i EpheSuS some four or i've years after Paul had left Corinth. We have seen some of the difficulties which sur rounded this church. It was small body of believers in great city of four hundred thousand. II was sur rounded by all kinds of liscentiouSnesS and excess so that to maintain Chris tian moral ideal was difficult in the eN- tremc. That is why this first epstle has so much to dc with church govern ment and such questions as the mar riuge relation, the conduct of public assemblies, spiritual gifts, the reSur- rcction from the dead different fac tonS, the love feasts of the rich and the poor, eating meat offered to idols, i law suits conducted before the heath en, the Lords supper and church dicipline are discussed. Paul did not himself write the letter. SoSthcnes acted as his amanuensis. In this let ter is the wonderful and immortal love l chapter (Ch l3), and the magnificent resurrection chapter (Ch. 15)
 The only unity desirable or possible is Chat which Christ prayed for (John 1 r :2D. This is not n unity of opinion or of organization. but Il unity of pur- pose and power. the working together of belivcrs in harmony to attain the great purposes of Christianity.
 l. The Power and. Wisdom of God. (vN. lS-25). To a sin-blinded mind the preaching of the cross is foolishneSs. Even some professed Christians reject the doctrine of substitution which is found everywhere in the Bible. Usa. 53 .6 Gal. 3 :13; Cor. s :2D. If the doctrine of the cross is fooliShncsS to anyone 1t is to them that perish" The Jews require sign (v. 22) but the cross puts them to shame (y. 2D. God Is made unto us wisdom. not the wisdom of men but the wisdom of the Spirit It Is such preaching as this that Is the power of God. IL has proven itself the power of God in our lives. It will destroy the wisdom of the wise" and bring 10 nothing the understanding of the prudent (sa. % IA cf. Jer $ :9). God is constantly making foolish the power and wisdom of this world. rhilosophic research after the unknowahle tries to mak' God of it's own pattern but does not satisfy the longnss of the human heart and God through the foolish ness of the thing preached k pleased to save them which believe" The performing of miracle (Math. 12 :3S), and the Greeks seeking after wisdom. or philosophical reasoning. is no match for the Christ cruChed whom Paul preached.
 II. The Preaching and Power of Paul (vv, 26 to Ch. . .2). Taking the Biblca3 n whole, we see in II Gods plan anI purpose with regard to the goal of mankind. The problem was by what means this purpose could be per formed, The whole of the Old TeSta ment k story of God working to th end. Then at the best time in all hi.- tory came Jesus, the son of God, into the world, and, by his death on tEe cross and his resurrection, We are all bound together in one summed up n the cross as the power and the wisdom of God for salvation. The symbol uf the cross is common sight. yet tle great truth which il symbolizcS Is often obsCured by scholars. and fails to he lived by disciples. God chooses those whom the world rejects, the foolish" and whom the world rejects as the weak" These are the onts that were called even in Pauls day. Tho purpose of this call is to Confouud i Ger to put 10 shamc) the wisdom of men The most powerful motive in existence is the motive of the cross. CD The cross is the highest proof and the strongest expression of the love of Cod for man. (2) the cross was l the agent whereby atonement was made for sin. (3) The cross shows us ] the terrible evils of sin and the de- mnnd of such a sacrifice as Gods son in order to save us from 1t. tD It l shows us that God wants us to come 10 him and to be saved, ard that there l Is Joy in heaven over every repentant sinner. (5) IL shows the supreme val ue of right and duty in that Christ went to the cross at the terrible cost of his life. (6) It shows the value of the human soul. CD From the cross. through the resurrection and the ever living Saviour, God has given us tho fullness of the Spirit to inspire and transform.
 We are nothing in ourselves. and God has made Christ unto us wisdom and righteousness" that is, Gods righteousness Is provided for us in Christ q Cor 5:2l: Rom. 5:1: Phil. go k. v): also sanctifcation and redemption, that Is, we are separated from the world unto God and in him we are redeemed from sin and its con sequences.
 There Is left no room for glorying in ourselves.
 This was the preaching upon which Paul depended, not upon rhetoric nor