Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-07-26
IMPROVED UNIFO2M INTERNATIONAL
SUNlNSO[IOOL
LESSON
(By REV. 2. b. FlTZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright, 1913 Western Newspaper
Union.)
LESSON FOR JULY 28
oBEYINe GOD.


James /: :22-27
INTERMEDIATE, SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPIC-Obedience To whom?
Why? How?
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Chron-
icles 1918; Psalms 103:17-1S; Matthew 5:19;
John 15:12-14; I John 1886, II.
Obedience is a vital part of our re-
ligiOn. The obedience of the Chris
tian is not legal but filial. Eternal
life is not secured through obedience,
but obedience is the tangible evidence
that one possesses it.
|. The Call of the First Disciples
Matt 1922.
1. By whom-Jesus Christ ". 1S).
Jesus is the Son of God. Since he
is equal with God, he has the right to
call. Those who hear his call should
render instant and hearty obedience.
2. The circumstances of their call
". 1S).
The call ca he to them while they
were busy wi 4 their business inter
ests. God ally dys calls men who are
vitally engaged in some business, not
those in idlenQss.
8. The nature of ". 19).
It was a dc Unite call, in that def
mite men were called into definite
service.
~ To follow Christ. We must fol-
low Christ before we. can serve him.
Only Christians can do Christian work.
We should follow him to be like him,
in order to win others to him.
(2) To win men for him-'Fishers
of men," Christ calls men into work
of the same character as that in which
they were engaged. They had been
fishing for fish; now they are to be
fishers of men. When Christ calls
men he does not call them to lower
service. This is a fine case of promo
ton. Men catch fish to kill and feed
upon them, but Christ's disciples catch
men to make them alive and feed
them.
A. Response to Christ's call wv. 20
22).
(1) They left their business inter
ests Immediately.
(2) They not only left their busi-
ness, but James and John left their IA
ther also. Following Jesus sometimes
means turning ones back upon busi-
ness interests and dearest friends and
relations. Regardless of what it
costs, the true disciple will rem
der instant obedience to the call
of Christ, because he has a right to
call us, and we can trust his wisdom
| to not call until he has need.
II. The Motive for Obedience (John
IA :22-2D.
The grand motive actuating obedi-
ence is love to Christ. The proof that
we do love him is that we obey him.
| Even when we may not be conscious
of unusual outgoings of the affection
{ the conclusive evidence that we love
is that we obey. Keeping his com
mandments means such a regard fol
them that we highly treasure them as
something precious. The reward fol-
such obedience is to have Christ's
I prayer for us to God to send his Holy
Spirit upon us (John 14:16. 17). Then
too, the Father will love US, and he
and the Son will take up their abode
with us. This abode is not temporary
but permanent.
III. The Kind OF Obedience That
Counts (James 1 :22-2O.
1. The obedience of deeds (vv. %
24).
Hearing Gods Word will do no goot
unless it is accompanied with obedi
ence. Hearing and not doing is a:
futile as beholding ones face in {
looking glass and forgetting what man
ner of man he is. Calling Christ Lord
and not doinglwhat he says, will avail
nothing Matt. 7:21, 22). To pretent
to know God and not keep his com
mandments is to lie Il John 2:4).
2. The obedience of perseverance
(v. 25).
We should not only look into Cod
Word and admire its perfections, bu
steadfastly and persistently do tn
things required. Only those who thu
persevere shall be blessed in thei
deeds.
3. The obedience of speech (v 26)
The one who has genuine religio
will control his tongue. Just as tn
physician ofttimes can diagnose tn
physical condition of the patient by a
examination of the tongue, so tn
moral and spiritual condition of th
individual can be determined by tn
speech of the individual. The on
who does not control his tongue prove
that his religion is empty and void.
4. The obedience of Kindness ". 27
Those who have received the kinC
ness of God will manifest that kint
ness in their lives. This kindness wi
express itself in ministering to the f.
therIess ana widows.
5. The obedience Of purity of Iii
". 2O.
The Law of God enjoins upon h
children not only purity of life, bl
abstinence from all appearance of ev
The one who has been made parta
er of the Divine nature keeps himse
from the sins of the world. 1t meal
his separation from the things of Il
world which cOrr1Ot