Middletown transcript., 1921-04-09
LESSON FOR APRIL 10
BIBLE TEACHINGS ABOUT THE
CHRISTIANS BODY (HEALTH).

BIBLE TEACHINGS ABOUT THE
CHRISTIANS BODY (HEALTH).
LESSON TEXT Cor. 6: 10. 20; s24-2;
Gal. 81. 8.
GOLDEN TEXT-Every man that striv-
9th for the mastery is temperate In all
things.-I Cor. 9:5.
REFERENCE MATERIALProv. y:
2s-35: Isa. 2S:1-S; Gal. 5:19-21.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Taking Care Of Our
Bodies.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Growing Strong.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Value Of Health.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Public Health Problems.
The teachings of this lesson have an
important bearing upon, physical
health, but the primary reference Is
moral. The sin with which Paul was
dealing was fornication, not matters OF
hygiene. That physical health may be
included we do not question, but sad
and serious will be the blunder if that
only is taught.
I.-GIorifyins God in Your Body Il
Cor. 6:19, 20.
It should be noted that the last
clause of verse 20 is omitted in the Re-
vised Version and the best manu-
scripts. The conclusion of Paul's argu-
ment is, therefore glorify God in your
body"
1. The Christians body is the temple
Of the Holy Ghost ". 19). Gods
dwelling place on earth is now the re-
deemed human body instead OF the
temple at Jerusalem. If the sinless
Spirit is to dwell in the body it must
be kept clean. To defile or abuse the
body in any way is to insult the Spirit
and commit the most awful sacrilege
This truth apprehended solves forever
the problem of licentiousness, gluttony.
use Of tobacco, the abuse or neglect OF
the body in any way whatsoever.
2. The Christians body is Gods
property (v. 19). Being Gods temple,
the proprietary right is in God and not
man. Being the property Of the Lord,
the Christians motto is, "Whether
therefore ye eat or drink, or Whats0-
ever We do, do all to the glory of God
q Cor. 1O:3I. holiness unto the
Lord" ought to be written over ouI
bodies.
3. The Christians body has been
bought ". 2O). The price paid to re-
deem the body was the precious blood
of Christ Il Peter 1: Is, 19). We esti-
mate things by what they cost. When
we estimate our bodies in that light
we will be very jealous Of their purity.
Guarding our health is part of our re-
ligion.
II.-Keeping the Body Under Con.
troll Il Cor. 9: 24-2O.
The Christians life is more than
mere existence, there is something to
do-to be accomplished.
l. 1t is race wv. "a, 25). In order
to win a prize there must be self-de-
NAL and definite exertion. The Chris
tian obtains life by contact with Jesus
Christ through faith (John 3:16; :36;
6:24). This he possesses before he can
begin the race. While he gets saliva
ton (life) at the beginning, God places
before him definite rewards as incent-
ives to exertiOn. The Christian be-
lieves to get life, but works for re-
wards. In the Olympian games only
one could hope to get the prize, but in
the Christian race there is reward
waiting for every one who disciplines
himself and runs. AS the racer in these
games mastered his desires and qb-
stained from everything which might
hinder him to win the prize, so the
Christian will make any sacrifice to
win. The prize in the Grecian games
was corruptible, but the prize of the
Christian is incOrruptible. If the
heather would practice such self-de-
nial regardless of its pain for gar
land of pine leaves, shall not the Chris
tian turn from bodily indulgences Of
every Kind so as to obtain the crown
Of righteousness which fadeth not
away?
2. It is a fight wv. 26, 3D. The
Christians efforts are not mere beat
ings of the air. He has a real antag-
onist. His fight is not sham conflict.
He should exert himself with all his
energy, and strike to hit his enemy. In
order to win success the body must be
kept under. In this case the antagonist
is the body. 1t should be so dealt
with as to bring 1t under subjection.
All the evil propensities of his nature
should be brought under control.
HI.-Reaping What You Sow (Gal.
6:7, 81. =
God has established a law in the
world that whatsoever a man sows that
shall he also reap. To 60 on sowing
with the expectation Of not reaping Is
to mock God. The world is full of ex-
amples of those who thus Knocked Him.
This text has primary reference to
giving to the support of ministers Of
the gospel; its real bearing is upon the
believer for his stinginess rather than
upon the sinner for his meanness, bur
it has a bearing on all that we do. If
we are primarily concerned with the
qualification of our appetites we are
sowing to the flesh, which shall end In
harvest Of corruption. On the other
hand, if we act on the impulses of the
Holy Spirit within us we shall reap a
rich harvest Of spiritual things.