Middletown transcript., 1921-04-02
LESSON FOR APRIL 3
THE IDEAL CHRISTIAN.

~ID6N1
LESSON TExT-Rom. 1872, 9-21.
GOLDEN TEXT-As ye would that mon
should do unto you. do ye also to them
llkeWise.-Luke 6:31.
6:33; Phil. 4:8, 8; Col. 3:12-16; Pet. 3:S-17.
PRIMARY TOPIC - Making Others
Happy.
JUNIOR ToP1c-IAving Happily With
Others.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Marks Of True Christian.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Christians Standard Of Character.
]. In His Relation to God wv. 1, 2).
He Is dedicated to God. He con-
scientiously presents his entire being
to God.
1. The basis Of this dedication (v.
~. 1.-THE mercies Of God" The grand
reason for the dedication Of ourselves
to God is because we are recipients OF
the mercies of God. Our union with
Christ makes us willing and able to
give ourselves to God.
2. The nature of the dedication
". u.
(1) An act Of the free will. Those
who voluntarily present themselves to
God, He consecrates to His Service.
(2) 1t embraces the whole man ". y.
By "bodies" is meant the entire per-
sonality-body, soul and spirit q
Thess. 5:23). The inner life expresses
itself through the body. .3) 1t is a
living sacrifice ". ~. In the Old Tes-
lament the victim was slain before be-
ing placed upon the altar, but in our
case God wants our bodies as living
instruments Of service. (4) 1t is for
rational service (v. ~. The logical
outcome of our union with Christ is
an intelligent service for Him. Christ
saved us in order that He might live
His life In and through us.
3. The obligation Of the one dedi-
Gated to the Lord ". p. 1t is nom
conformity to this world. The one
who has handed himself over to the
Lord will not be fashioned by this
evil, devil-governed age Il John 5:19)
II. In His Relation to His Fellow
Christians wv. 9-13).
1. Love without hypocrisy ". 81.
We should not merely pretend to love
people while hating them in our
hearts. Feigned love is disguised
hate. Love is the outstanding charac-
teristic Of Christianity.
2. Abhor the evil and cleave to the
good ". 81. Gods children must be
like him. God hates wickedness of
all sorts, so His children will have the
same attitude towards sin that He has.
3. Be kindly affectioned one to an
other ". 10Y. This is to be broth
erly love, namely, that which passes
between those who are Of one blood
members Of the same family.
4. In honor preferring one another
". 10Y. This is most difficult. 1t is
natural to claim the best places for
ourselves. Christ pleased not Film
self.
5. BE not slothful in business ".
11). This hardly refers to secular af
fairs, but rather to the church life
which was to be characterized by zeal
energy and warmth, being regarded
as service to the Lord.
6. Rejoicing in hope ". 12). At
fiction shall surely come to the Chris
tan. In all trials the Christian should
be filled with hope Of future glory. If
we walk by faith we shall then be able
to exult in the hope Of the glory Of
God.
Z. Patient in Tribulation ". .l2).
This blessed hope will make possible
a life Of patience.
8. Continuing in prayer ". 12). Only
by constant and persistent prayer shall
we be able to live above our circum-
stances and fix our hope upon Him
whose coming shall bring delivernnce
from all our trials and transform us
into His glorious likeness.
I. 9. Distributing to the necessity of
saints-given to hospitality ". 13). 1t
is obligatory to Christians to divide
their wages with fellow Christians who
are destitute (Eph. 4 4:2S). The Chris
tiaD's house should be place where
teachers and fellow believers can find
free entertainment.
Ill. In His Relation to UnbeIievers
wv. 14-2I.
1. Do good for evil tv. 14). We are
to bless those who persecute us. The
natural man pays back in the same
coin, but the renewed man responds
in kindness and good deeds.
2. Be sympathetic ". 15). We
should rejoice with those who rejoice
and weep with those who weep. Christ
entered into the joys Of the wedding
at Cana, and wept with Mary and
Martha.
8. Find points of agreement ". 16).
We should seek for points of agree
ment in all things, instead Of being
vain in our own conceits.
4. Live honestly before all men w.
~. We should so live that our char
acters may attract others to Christ.
5. Live in peace ". 1S). We should
exhaust every means to bring about
reconciliation. If the other party Will
not yield. we should see to it that it is
not our fault.
6. Be not vindictive tvv. 1929. In
stead of rendering eye for eye and
tooth for tooth, we should heap Goals
of fire upon our enemies by deeds of
kindness.