The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-12-17
Lesson for December 20
THE SUPREME GIFT OF LOVE
CHRISTMAS LESsoN)

(cHRISTMAS LESsoN)
LESSON TEXT John 4:T-21.
GOLDEN TEXT-Beloved, IL God 50
loved US, we ought also to love one
another.
PRIMARY ToPIc-Gods Gift Of Love.
JUNIOR TOPIC The Greatest Love
In the World.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Why Jesus Came to Earth.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Gift Of the Saviour.
The committees selection Of this
Scripture passage for Christmas les
son is most fitting. The birth Of Christ
the entrance Of the Son Of God upon
the condition of humanity-was the
supreme expression Of Gods love
(John 3:16). The meaning Of Christ
mas rightly apprehended will put love
In the heart Of q man for his fellows.
l. The Origin Of Love wv. 7, 81.
Love is Of God for God in the es-
sence of his being is love. God does
not merely love, he is the fountainhead
Of all love. Love of country, love OF
humanity, filial and parental love-
every particle Of love everywhere, has
been derived from God. His love is in
finite, eternal and Interchangeable. Since
love is of God, every one who loves
Is born of God and knoweth God. The
Christian by his life of love interprets
God to the world.
u. Gods Manifestation Of Love
wv. 9, 10Y.
Gods method of making known his
love is through the incarnation, the
sending Of his only begotten Son into
the world to be the Precipitation for
our sins (John 3:16). The coming of
Jesus Christ into the world and his
taking upon himself human nature
makes eternal life possible for those
who receive him. If one would know
Gods love, let him look at Jesus
Christ. Those who gaze upon him with
reverent contemplation cannot doubt
Gods love.
III. The Supreme Motive of Love
". 1D.
Gods love is the grand incentive
for bringing his children to love. Since
the Heavenly Father loves, his chill
dren should show their resemblance
to him. In the proportion that we ap-
prehend Gods love, in that measure
we will love his children.
". Love, the Proof That God DweIls
With Us wv. 12-16).
l. No man hath seen God at any
time ". 12). But there Is abundant
proof of his being. The unmistakable
evidence of his being Is love in the
heart of man. Love is not native to
the human heart, for the heart Is
deceitful above all things and des-
perately wicked (Jer. 17:9). Out OF
the heart proceeds murder (Mt. Is :19).
Love in the heart is proof that God
dwells therein.
2. Love proves that Gods Spirit Is
within us ". 13). The fruit Of the
Spirit is love (Gal. 5 :22).
8. Love testifies that the Father sent
the Son to be the Saviour of the world
". 14). The indwelling Spirit shows
us Christ and makes us believe in
him as Gods Son, the Saviour.
4. Love makes fellowship with God
possible wv. Is, 16). Since God is love,
he that dweleth in love dwelleth in
God and God in him. Those who deny
the deity and saviourhood of Christ
have no fellowship with God, and
those who have fellowship with God
will confess Jesus Christ as his di-
vine Son.
v. Loves Relation to the Judgment
wv. II, 1S).
1t casts out fear. A judgment day is
coming, for God hath appointed day
in which he shall Judge the world in
righteousness by that Man whom he
hath ordained (Acts II BY. 1t will be
a terrible thing for those unprepared
to meet God at that time. But for
those who are indwelt by the Living
God there will be a joyful meeting.
The way to get rid of the fear of
meeting God in the judgment is to be
living now in fellowship with him.
vi. Gods Love the Ground Of All
Love ". 1917.
The reason we love is that our lives
have come into touch with the great
Fountainhead Of love- The incoming
of Gods being and nature becomes the
animating and controlling principle of
our lives.
VII. The Child Of God Possesses
Dual Love ". 20).
The proof that one loves the unseen
God is that he loves the person who
bears the likeness and image of God
and has become a member of the
same family through the redemption
in Christ Jesus Love to God and man
is united in the heart of the Christian.
VIII. The Solemn Command From
God ". 21).
God commands that those who love
him should love their brethren. Obedi-
ence to this command will do away
with all war and strife.