Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1934-12-28
Improved n SUNDAY
Uniform o~-r~~r
-:-LESSON =
CBy REV p. B. FITzwATRR. D. D..
Member Of Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute OF Chlcago.)
O. Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for December 80
TESTS OF A CHRISTIAN


GOLDEN TExT-whosoevsr be-
lieveth that Jesus IL the Christ In
born OF God: and every one that
loveth him that begat loveth him
also that Is begotten of him.
John ST..
PRIMARY ToPIc-How to Show
We Love God.
JUNIOR ToPIC-sons and Daugh-
tsrs Of God.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
ToPIC-How Christ Helps Us to
Live Our Best.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
ToP1C-Victory Through Christ.
The purpose Of John In this epis-
tie is to furnish criteria by which
one may know beyond a peradven-
ture that he has eternal life (see I
John 5:13). In working out his pur-
pose he sets down definite thesis
In chapter 1, verses IA, which Is
that eternal life was manifested to
credible witneSses-John and his
fellow apostles-in the person of
Jesus Christ. Through the incarna-
ton Jesus Christ has become iden-
titled with the human race, so that
those who believe In him are intro
duced to the Father, resulting in
a vital fellowship. The saved one
has his fellowship with God, or fell
lowship In the life eternal. The
entire epistle is devoted to the ex-
hibition Of tests by which one can
surely know that he is saved. The
lesson unit for today is the culmina-
ton Of these tests.
I. Believes That Jesus Is the
Christ ". u.
Such faith is the proof Of regen-
Grafton. He not merely believes In
the ethics Of Jesus, but that the his
toric Jesus Is the Messiah Of Cod
the Son Of God come In the flesh.
The one lacking this belief is still
unregenerate, regardless Of his pre-
tensions. Jesus Christ is the giver
Of eternal life. Yea, he Is, In his
very essential being, eternal life.
Therefore, the one who believes in
him as manifest In the flesh is
born Of God.
II. Loves the Children Of God.
". u.
The one born of God loves those
who are born Of God. The unfaIl-
Ing test Of fellowship with God is
that we love those who are born of
God. Love for God shows itself in
loving Gods children.
III. Keeps Gods Commandments
wv. 2, 81.
This Is filial, not legal obedience.
We do not keep Gods command
ments In order to become his chill
dren, but because we possess his
nature. Obedience is the unfailing
proof Of the divine birth.
w. oVercomes the World wv. 4,
81.
Conflict for the regenerate man
is absolutely certain. The worlds
ways are opposed to God. By the
world Is meant all that is opposed
to God. 1t includes all the lusts
Of the flesh which respond to the
enticements Of the world. It also
includes Satan, the prince Of this
world. The one who believes that
Jesus Is the Son Of God is born of
God and has Jesus Christ living In
him. Therefore, he Overcomes the
world, because he has in him one
who Is greater than Satan. Faith
In Jesus Christ Is the weapon by
means of which victory is realized
The victorious life is the absolute
test of being Christian.
v. The Grounds Of Christian Be
lief wv. 6-12).
Since victory over the world Is
secured by faith In Jesus as the
Son of God, it Is important that we
know the grounds upon which such
belief Is based The believers faith