Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-02-25

. =
1oLDEN TExT-"Ye think that |
am come to destroy the law or the
prophets. i came not to destroy but
10 fulfill-Matt 5:17
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Lesson on obe-
dienee.
JUNIOR ToPIc-obeying the Law.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Obeying the Law
YOUNG PEOPLE AND Admit Top.
lC-How to Secure Respect for Law
IL is TO be regretted that the lesson
committee introduced this lesson. i'm.
portant as II Is, thus breaking up the
UNITY OF instruction in the Gospel of
John. Teachers who prefer TO con.
finue In John would do well to choose
Iohn l2:l-l1 as the alternative les
son.
J. The Tribute Money wv. 1927.
The Pharisees and Herodians pro
posed to entrap Jesus and bring Him
INTO conflict with the Roman govern.
iheht SO they came TO Him with
subtle question-''Is II lawful To give
tribute to Caesar or not?" At this
tline the Jews. were CALLING under the
yoke of the Roman government Some
even denied the right to pay tribute to
the government. To have answered
this question yes or no would have
involved difficulty. To have answered
yes would have conveyed the impress
SION OF endorsement of all that the
Roman government did. To have an
sWered no would have at once brought
Him into conflict with the govern
nent. Christ's reply to this question.
properly understood and applied is
the final word on the subject. Until
the civil authorities demand of MS
that which is a violation of Gods
law, we are bound to render unto them
obedience. Render unto Caesar the
things that are Caesars means that
within the realm of the right of GOV.
eminent the Christian should vieid
glad and full obedience. Render
unto God the things that are Gods
means the highest obligation Since
enjoying His protection and care. it
is our duty to own all allegiance to
Him, to yield our lives to Him in sery.
Ice. worship and praise Everyone
who enjoys the benefits Of civil GOV.
eminent is obliged to pay the taxes
which are necessary for the support
Of that government. and everyone who
receives Gods favor is placed in like
obligation unto Him.
u. The Great Commandment in TIE
Law (vv 34-40)
l. The First Commandment Wv
34-3S)
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, with all thy soul
and with all thy mind" This means
that supreme and undivided love To
God is the first and gfeat command
ment, Mans supreme obligation is to
God. 1t is wrong to evalHate mans
character on the basis of his morality
rs expressed in his relation to his
fellowman. Real righteousness is do
ing the right thing with God The
greatest immortality Of which a man
can be guilty is his failure to respond
to the demands of God. The one who
does not supremacy and with und-
vided affection love God is the great
est sinner.
. The Second Commandment wv
39-40)
The second commandment is like
unto the first in that it centers in
love. 1t is not said that it was equal
unto the first; that would not be true
man may love himself, bat not SUI
premey. Ones love for his neighbor
may be either too much or too little
The measure set is love for self We !,
should love God better than ourselves.
He is worthy of all our affections :
and demands all. Love is not mere
emotion but a supreme desire for the
welfare of another and a willingness
to do everything possible to secure
that end The command to love our
neighbor is involved in the command
TO love God TO pretend to love God
Is folly If we d9 not love our neigh
Dor. To attempt to establish Il broth
erhood among men without the recog ,
milton Of the fatherhood of God is :
utter nonsense Men become children
of God by faith In Jesus Christ 1t
is true that in the sense of being
Gods creatures, all men are Gods
children, but in The New Testament
sense, men are only Gods children as 7
they are in Christ. The only way to !
bring IN tie brotherhood Of man is 10 I
preach Jesus Christ to the race and !
Secure acceptance Of Him. We thus /
become brothers in the real sense OF ,
the term when we have God as our |
Father. All obligation resting upon |
man is embraced in these two COM,
maudments Those who conform their
lives to them are Gods children and
are the very best citizens.