Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-10-23
uU1evrD ON III JnfIaliTIenAl
sUlIhs!''II!o,'l00L
LESSON !,
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 2
WHAT THE KING REQUIRES.
By REV p. B. FITZWATER, p. D.,
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
10 1920. Western Newspaper UnionL)

| WHAT THE KING REQUIRES.
LESSON TEXT-Matt 5:1-4S.
GOLDEN TExT-Be ye therefore per-
feet, even as your Father which Is In
heaven is perfect.-Matt. 5:4S
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Lev. -:
Is; Deut. Ga, g. Luke 6:2O-3S.
PRIMARY TOPIC-What the Heavenly
Father Wants Us to Be.
JUNIOR TOPIC-What Jesus Wishes
His Followers to Be.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Measuring Up to Christ's Standard.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Character Which Jesus Requires
The so-called Sermon on the
Mount" is the kings proclamation OF
the laws which obtain in his kingdom.
These laws do not set forth terms Of
salvation to sinners, but the principles
Of life which shall obtain when Christ
reigns on earth.
|. The Characteristics Of the SUBJ
jects Of the Kingdom wv. 1-12).
These characteristics are set forth
in the nine Beatitudes.
| 1. The consciousness of utter spir-
itual poverty ". 81 poor in spirit
does not mean to be without money
lisa. 6:2), but to come to the end OF
self in a state Of absolute spiritual
beggary, having no power to alter
ones condition or to make ones self
better.
2. A profound grief because Of spir-
itual insolvency ". ~. The mourning
here is not because of external grief,
but because of the keen consciousness
of guilt before Holy God.
3. A humble submission to Gods
will ". 81. The outgrowth Of mourn
ing over spiritual insolvency is meek
ness.
4. An intense longing to conform to
the laws of the kingdom ". 81. Hav-
ing received the righteousness OF
Christ as free gift, he follows after
the purity of character which ex-
presses itself in deeds Of righteous
ness.
5.~Merciful ". y. The subjects Of
the kingdom now take on the charac-
ter Of the king. Because of the I'M
! exampled mercy of Christ. His fol-
lowers will be merciful to all things.
6. Purity of heart ". 81. Since the
king is pre-eminently pure. the sub
jects who enjoy fellowship with him
must bave heart purity. Those whose
hearts are pure are able to see God
right now in everything.
Z. Peacemakers ". 81. The one
who has received the peace Of God
through Jesus Christ will diffuse peace
to others.
8. Suffering for Christ's sake ".
10Y. The world hated Christ, the
king, therefore those who reflect his
spirit in their lives shall suffer perse-
cution III Tim. 3:12).
9. Suffer reproach ". 11). This
means suffering falsely. In such case
we should glory in it, for it brings
great reward in heaven.
II. The Responsibilities Of the Sub
jects of the Kingdom wv. 1916.
Man is corrupt, and the world is in
utter darkness. The disciples Of
Christ are to live such lives as to pu-
rify and enlighten. Their responsible.
tiles are set forth under the figures of
salt and light.
1. Salt of the earth ". 13). The
properties of salt are ~ penetrating;
(2) purifying; (3) preserving. Since
salt only preserves and purities in the
measure that it penetrates, so Chris
tians only as they enter into the life
of the world can preserve it from de-
cay.
2. The light Of the world ". 14).
Light Eliminates and warns. This
world is cold and dark. The devil has
set many pitfalls and snares. AS sons
| of the light we should live so as to
prevent the unwary from stumbling
and falling.
III. The Laws Of the Kingdom wv.
2O4S).
1. AS to deeds of righteousness.
They must exceed that of the scribes
and Pharisees.
2. AS to sanctity Of life wv. 21-26).
Thou shalt do no MURDER" means
more than simply to refrain from the
| tdAAA6 VI i11C' As0Sn OuSSI ID ucAIt
murder ". 22).
8. AS to organized life wv. 1892.
The family is the unit of society.
There is no sin that so rots society
as that against the relation of the sex
es. The two awful sins against the
family are (a) adultery wv. 27-3O),
(there is heart aIultery as well as
heart murder; (b) divorce wv. 81.
32). Moses, for the hardness of the
hearts Of the people, permitted a man
in case of adultery to put away his
wife and give her bill Of divorce
ment.
4. AS to oaths wv. $500. Speech
is the absolute test of character.
Whatever Is more than the simple
form of affirmation or denial comes of
the Devil.
s. AS to behavior toward those who
do not recognize the laws of the king
dom wv. 3S-4S). ~ Not revengeful
wv. 80. 4O); ~ willing to do more
than is required ". AZ; (3) chari-
table ". 42)-even the borrower
should not be turned away; (4) love
toward enemies wv. 45-48). Love to
enemies consists (a) in blessing them
that curse us; (b) in doing good to
them that hate us; (c) in praying for