The citizen., 1920-02-19


GOLDEN TEXT-He that saith he abid-
eth In him ought himself also 30 TO walk.
even as he walked.-I John 2.6
PRIMARY TOPlC-Doing as Jesus did
JUNIOR TOPIC-IiOw TO Treat Those
Who Wrong Us
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Nobility Of Patience.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
ideals for Christian Living
TIE purpose ~ Peter was 10 esinb-
Iish all who were passing through
suffering and testing. See for exam
Pile ~. 3;iI. 4:l2. 5:iO12.
!. Christian Growth wv. i-5).
The Christian obtains his life
through the new birth. and the agent
Of It's accomplishment n the Word
Of God q :23). The same vitalLz
ing and encrglzlng power which makes
the believer child of God Is essen.
tlal 10 growth and development. In
order to have spiritual growth there
must be both rcnunclation and appro-
priation.
I. Remuneration ". ~. Certain
things Injurious To spiritual life must
be put away C) malice-all wicked
ness that ls the viii 10 de- injury 10
others without cause: (2) guile-de
ceit of all kinds. (3) hypocrisles-
felgning to be what one Is not-assum
ing false appearance: 90 envies-
hatred ~ others because they possess
excellencles which We do not; C')
evil speRklng-all kind Of slanderous
speaking against others.
? Appropriation wv. .. ~. %
Spiritual food must be taken ". y
The principle ~ fhe new life was con
veyed through the Word q III and
the Word Is the means by which that
life is to he strengthened and lie
veloped just as new born babe
loves milk. 80 men who are horn again
love the Bible. (2t Spiritual food
must he asslmilated ". ~. The Word
Of God must be received aud asSim
Hated by meditation
3. The grand objective (vv. 4. ~.
II II coming ~ Christie grow up
and become n part OF the glorious
church. the spiritual house. which Is
designed 20 show forth the glory OF
God
~. seerIy Behavior OF Christians
Ivy. ii.2o).
|. A. pilgrims and sojourners wv.
II, i2) Christians are merely so
journers on the earth: they are jour
neying through II on their way TO the
eternal home In the heavens. our
heavenly citizenship Uhil. 3:20)
should constrain MS TO C) abstain
from neshly lusts ". III. The term
"lusts" includes the entire army NJ
unclean forces springing from our
carnal natures; they are enumern'ed
In Gala ians 5:i92l. These war
against the soul. (2) Behavior hon
est before the heather ". l2). Chris
tians should so live that II will be
impossible for the world 20 speak
against them as evIldoers.
2. As citizens wv. IBID. While
the Christians true citizenship Is In
heaven he has responsibility as n
citizen on the earth. A Christian man
recognizes the neccsslty Of social or
der and will not only grnclously sub
init To the authority Of rulers regard
less Of the form of government hut
will faithfully perform his oblign'
tions ~ n citizen. This he will not
do through cringing fear. hut as the
Lords free man. by this free sub
mission as a servant of God he puts
20 silence the ignorance Of foolish
men wv. Is l6). OD Honor all men
W. 10. lie win see In every man
tie image Of God and therefore give
honor 10 him. (2) Love the broher-
hood ". ~. The Christian has a
peculiar love for those who are ~ the
same household (3) Fear God ".
1T). A) Honor the king ". III.
This has peculiar significance. for In
all probability the wicked Nero was
the king then reigning.
2. As servants wv. 1920. While
doubtless slaves were meant here. the
principle applies to all who have re-
Iatlon 10 employers The Christian
will he I'm subiection To his master
He VIII not only do this when his
employer ~ geitle ana rthSonhhle, hhi
even when II means wrongful suffer
ing II means not only submission
but loyalty. II II the duty of a Chris
tian TO consider and further the In
terests Of his employer. Many times
10 do So means hardship and suffer
ing. The grand example Of suffering
wrongfully Is Jesus Christ. While his
suffering Is an example to us. II was
much more. because he suffered In
order TO break forever the power of
sin so as to do away forever with
oppression.