The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-02-27
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 20
PETER WRITES ABOUT CHRIS
TIAN LIVING.

even as he walked.-I John 2:6
PRIMARY TOPIC-Doing as Jesus did.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How to Treat Those
Who Wrong Us.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Nobility of Patience.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Ideals for Christian Living.
The purpose of Peter was to estab-
lish Fall who were passing through
suffering and testing. See for exam
pie 1t. 3:14. 4: IL, 5:1O-12.
l. Christian Growth wv. 10y.
The Christian obtains his life
through the new birth, and the agent
of its accomplishment is the Word
of God Q:23). The same vitaliz-
ing and energizing power which makes
the believer a child Of God is essen,
tial to growth and development. In
order to have spiritual growth there
must be both remuneration and appro-
priation.
l. Remuneration ". ~. Certain
things injurious to spiritual life must
be put away O malice-all wicked
ness, that is, the will to do injury to
others without cause; (2) guile-de-
ceit of all kinds; (3) hypocrfsies-
feigning to be what one is not-assum-
ing false appearance; (4) envies-
hatred of others because they possess
eXcellencies which we do not; (5)
evil speaking-all kind of slanderous
speaking against others.
?. Appropriation wv. 2, 81. ~
Spiritual food must be taken ". p.
The principle of the new life was con-
veyed through the Word Il :23), and
the Word is the means by which that
life is to he strengthened and de-
veloped. Just as a new born babe
loves milk, so men who are born again
love the Bible. (2) Spiritual food
must be assimilated ". 81. The Word
of God must be received and assim-
Hated by meditation.
3. The grand objective wv. 4, 81.
1t is coming to Christie grow up
and become, a part of the glorious
church, the spiritual house, which is
designed to show forth the glory of
God.
II. seemly Behavior of Christians
wv. 1920.
1. AS pilgrims and sojourners wv.
IL, 12). Christians are merely So
journers on the earth; they are Jour-
neying through it on their way to the
eternal home in the heavens. Our
heavenly citizenship (Phil. 1920
should constrain us to (1) abstain
from fieshly lusts ". 1D. The term
"lusts" includes the entire army of
unclean forces springing from our
carnal natures; they are enumerated
in Galatians 5:19-21. These war
against the soul. (2) Behavior hon
est before the heather ". 12). Chris
tians should so live that it will be
impossible for the world to speak
against them as evildoers.
2. AS citizens wv. 1910. While
the Christians true citizenship is in
heaven, he has responsibility as
citizen on the earth. A Christian man
recognizes the necessity of social or
der, and will not only graciously sub
NIT to the authority of rulers regard
less of the form of government, but
will faithfully perform his obliga-
tons as a citizen. This he will not
do through cringing fear, but as the
Lords free man. BY this free SUBJ
mission as servant of God he puts
to silence the ignorance of foolish
men ivy. Is. 16). ~ Honor all men
". ~. He will see in every man
the image of God and therefore give
honor to him. (2) Love the brother
hood ". 10. The Christian has a
peculiar love for those who are of the
same household. (3) Fear God ".
10. (4) Honor the king ". 10.
This has peculiar significance, for in
all probability the wicked Nero was
the king then reigning.
3. AS servants wv. 1925. While
doubtless slaves were meant here, the
principle applies to all who have re-
lation to employers. The Christian
will be in subsection to his master
He will not only do this when his
employer is gentle and reasonable, but
even when it means wrongful suffer
ing. 1t means not only submission,
but loyalty. 1t is the duty of Chris
tan to consider and further the in
terests of his employer. Many times
to do so means hardship and suffer-
ing. The grand example of suffering
wrongfully is Jesus Christ. While his
suffering is an example to us, it was
much more, because he suffered in
order to break forever the power of
sin so as to do away forever with
oppression.