Middletown transcript., 1916-11-25


ter teach and illustrate the great
principles of the Christian life. Pau4
calls it my Gospel" It's funda-
mental principle is that justification
regenerates men, and nothing else
The second section is the practical ap-
plicatiOn of these truths.
I. The Exhortation to Gratitude
(vv. 1-2). therefore" because of the
work of Christ on our behalf, we are
to present our bodies as living
sacrifices unto God, to be used fog
his glory and service. (See chapter
GLIB. 16. 19). Paul urges, he beseeches;
he is winSome, though he might COM
mand. To present" technically means,
''bring an offering to Cod" The body
is the sum of all human faculties,
physical and spiritual. 1t must not he
detiled by being yielded as an instru-
ment to sin, for it is the temple OF
God. Il Cor. 3:16, ~. A Living Of
fering," (nOt as the bodies of slain
animals offered by Jews) is a cOnse-
Grafton of the body, and not deStTuc-
ton of life. The original means thai
this-the offering Of ourselves as
living Sacrifice-is a reasonable, ra-;
tiOnal service. God has the right OF
ownership of every member Of our
body, and there never was day when
there was greater need of insisting
upon a Christianity that affects the
bodies of men than today. Hands, lips.
ears, eyeS-every member should be
constantly presented to him who pur-
chased it by the blood of his own Son.
Il Cor. 6:20; Pet. 1 :1S-19) This
is a spiritual, religious service be-
cause it is our spirit which presents
the offering of the body which he In
habits. Too many of us are fash
ioned according to this age" When
the mind is made new, old things pass
away (H Cor. SID. We have new
thoughts, new desires, new purposes.
new affections, new tastes, new am
bitions, new ideals; everything is new.
II. The Expression of Gratitude
wv. 3-S). Or the right use of the gifts
Of God. Q) Avoid "self-cOnceit", (vv.
3-5). These verses indicate how I'M
portant this subject is. COnceit is en-
tertaining an exaggerated opinion OF
ones own ability. The church has
many members, and they do not all
have the same office; there is variety
in the unity of the body. So in the
church there are many members In
one body" each of which is important;
all are essential. (2) Prophecy"
". 81, not necessarily foretelling, but
the revelation of spiritual truth and
experience according to the proper
ton of our faith (Ps. 80 :3), the living,
spiritual experience of the presence Of
God within us. (3) Ministry" ". y.
The business side of the church, col
Iecting of its money and the distribu-
ton to the poor. Some can best at
tend to such business. Many churches
fail by not selecting wise leaders for
this work. (4) "He that teacheth.' n
The true pastor is a combined proph-
ct, pastor and teacher. We are all
teaching, whether we wish to or not.
1t is q privilege as well as an ObIigR-
ton. (5) "He that eXhOrteth" ".
81; this word is closely akin to the
word comforter, of which John and Bar
nabas were shining examples. (SeG
Acts 4 1867. (6) "He that giveth," do
it with simplicity, unmixed motives;
according to the revised version, lib
orally" "a "He that ruleth;' those
who are appointed or chosen to take
charge of departments of church work
are not to fail in diligence. (S) "He
that showeth mercy must do it with
cheerfulness or hilarity for the joy Of
the privilege.
III. Conduct Toward All Men Cvv.
9-21). The renewed soul needs guild
ance, encouragement and instruction.
~ "Ih love" ". 81. The hypOcrtte
wears a mask. Notice the close con-
nection of "abhor that which is evtl"
with "cleave to that which is good"
The word for cIeave means literally
to glue it, so that nothing can separate
you from love which is the supreme
good. "In honor preferring one an
other" ". 10). Let others carry the
of US can stand this acid
test. (3) "Diligent in business" tv.
~. whatsoever your hands find to
do, do it with your might. being fer
vent or boiling in spirit. the reverse of
the previous exhortatiOn, In that which
we are thus to serve the Lord. Few
need exhOrtatiOn to be diligent in their
own business, but all of us need this
with regard to the kings
business" (4) Rejoicing in hope ".
12). Triumphing over trials and ditfi-.
culties in the way. Looking for that
blessed hope" Titus 2:13). 90 Pa
tience and tribulatlOn ". 12). The
Latin "tribulum" was the threshing in
strument or roller whereby the hus-
bandman separated grain from the
husk. Sorrow, distress and a,lversity
are the means for separating men from
the chaf of their lives. Sometimes
small annOyances, long continued. he
come great tribulatiOns. (See Joshua.
"a :12.) (6) Continuing in the Schnol
Of prayer ". 12). Steadfast, urgent.
pressing, persevering prayer (Luke
l2:D. (O "Given to hospitality (v.
l3); literally, pursued it, going after
It. (S) Our treatment of those who
persecute US ". 14). "'When the dog
Darked at the moon It kept shining.
right on."-D. L. Moody.
(9) sympathy with others" ". Isl.
with others in JOY and in
sorrow.
(1O) Humility" ". 16); lack Of
distinction between rich and poor.
learned and unlearned, master ana
servant.