Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-10-22

| heaven II ptTleSt,--matt 0'fo.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Lev ID
IS, Deut, 6:i, 8. Luke 6;2O-SS,
PRIMARY TOPlC-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 or
salvation to sinners, but the principles
of life which shall obtain when Christ
reigns on earth.
|. The Characteristics Of the Sub
Iects of the Kingdom wv. 1-l2).
These characteristics are set forth
In the nine Beatltudes.
/. The consciousness of utter splr-
itual poverty ". 3.) Poor In spirit"
does not mean to be without money
lisa. 66:2), but to come TO the end OF
self In 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 e.. AZ. The mourning
here Is not because of external GRIEF,
but because Of the keen consciousness
of guilt before a Holy God.
| 3. A humble submission TO Gods
will ". 81. The outgrowth of mourn
ing over spiritual insolvency is meek
ness.
/. An intense longing to conform TO
the laws Of the kingdom w. 6), Hav-
ing received Die righteousness Of
Christ as free gift. he follows after
the purity Of character which eX-
presses itself in deeds of righteous
ness.
;. Merclfu ". 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-emlnently pure, the sub
jects who enjoy fellowship with him
mist have heart purity Those whose
hearts are pure are able to see God
right now in everything.
I. Peacemakers ". 81. The one
who has received the peace of God
through Jesus Christ will diffuse peace
TO others.
s. Suffering for Christs sake ".
100. The world hated Christ, the
king, therefore those who reflect his
spirit in their lives shall suffer perse-
cution I'll Tim. 3:12).
8. Suffer reprotch ". 1D. This
means suffering falsely. In such ease
We should glory in it, for it brings
great reward In heaven.
II. The Responsibilities Of the Sub.
jects Of the Kingdom wv. 1870.
Man is corrupt, and the world Is In
utter darkness. The disciples of
Christ are to live such lives as to pu-
rify and enighten. Their responsible
titles are set forth under the figures of
salt and light.
l. Salt Of the earth ". 49,. The
properties of salt are ~ penetrating;
(2) purifying; t3) preserving. Since
salt only preserves and purlfes in the
measure that it penetrates, so Chris
tlans only as they enter into the life
of the world can preserve it from de-
cay.
.. 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.
20-4S).
/. As TO deeds OF righteousness.
They must exceed that of the scribes
and Pharisees.
2. AS to sanctity Of life wv. 21-28).
Thou shalt do no murder" means
more than simply TO refrain from the
taking of life. Rash anger is heart
murder ". 22).
8. AS to organized life wv. 1882.
The family is the unit of society.
There Is no sin that so r0ts society
as that against the relation Of the sex
es. The two awful sins against the
family are (a) adultery wv. 27-30),
tthere is heart adultery as well as
heart murder; (b) divorce wv. 81,
32) Moses, for the hardness of the
hearts of the people. permitted man
In case Of adultery to put away his
wife and give her bill Of divorce
ment.
4. As to oaths wv. 1880. 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
ivy. 80, 40); (2) willing to do more
than is required ". Az; (3) chart
table ". 42)--even the borrower
should not be turned away; (4) love
toward enemies wv. 45-4S). Love to
enemies consists (a) In blessing them
that curse us; ID In doing good TO
them that hate us; (c) in praying for
those who despitefully use us. When
we do this we have the positive proof
that we are Gods children.
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