The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-05-02
~ IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAyH
CcHOOL Lesson
BY REV. P. B. FITZWATER. D. D..
Member Of Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.
g, Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for May S
SIN, REPENTANCE, AND FAITH

LESSON TEXT-Luke 15:11-24.
GOLDEN TEXT-If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.-I John 1:9.
PRIMARY TOPIC-When Boy Was
Sorry.
JUNIOR ToP1C-Jesus' Story of the
Prodigal Son.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-When We Do Wrong.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-The Forgiveness of Sin.
|. The Origin of Sin (Gen. 3:1-24).
Man was placed on probation in the
Garden of Eden. The means used in
the testing of man were most simple.
God issued just one prohibition, and
alongside Of the tree of knowledge of
good and evil was placed the tree of
life. To this tree man had access.
Satan, personal being, appeared in
the guise of serpent. He induced
Eve to doubt both the Word of God
and the love Of God and then ap-
pealed to innocent appetite. She gazed
upon and lusted after that which God
had forbidden. Following her yielding
to the suggestion Of Satan, she induced
Adam to disobey God. We see from this
that so far as the human race is con-
cerned sin originated in the free choice
of the head of the race and through
the law Of heredity passed upon all
mankind.
The MI Az of Cir
3:1O-1S).
By the use of many quotations
from the Scriptures, Paul proves that
every member of the race is guilty of
sin.
III. The Destiny of Sinners (Gen.
6:5-S).
Mans rebellious disobedience to God
was followed by his resolution to de-
strOy the race from the face of the
earth. Gods holy nature is such that
the sinner must be punished. The only
escape from the wrath of God is
through the Savior who was provided
by God in the person of his Son.
~. The Divine Remedy for Sin
John 3:14, 10; lisa. So :4-9).
The sinless Son of God took the
place of the sinner by becoming in
corporated with the race through the
incarnation. AS a human being he
rendered perfect obedience to the law
of God, fulfilling every demand and
on the cross of Calvary made vicari-
Gus atonement for sin. Just as the
Israelites who were bitten by the
venomous serpent were healed by look
the pole, so is the sinner saved from
sin by looking to the one who was
made curse for sin in his sacrifice on
Calvary I'll Cor. 5:21).
V. Repentance Necessary (Acts
2:32-39).
The one who hears the gospel mes
sage and receives the crucifed Savior
not only has forgiveness of sin, but
turns from sin to God and thus re.
penis. On the Day of Pentecost Pc
ter's gospel message, which centered
in the Lordship and Saviorhood of
Jesus Christ, convicted the people of
their sins. The evidence of their faith
in Christ was manifested in their con
viction of sin and their penitence was
shown in their confession of Christ in
baptism.
vi. The ForsIvlng God duke
15:11-20.
The center Of things in this parable
is neither the prodgal son nor his
brother, but the certain man who
had two sons" He who fails to see
the heart of our Father God will miss
the purpose Of this parable.
l. The sons INSTRUMENTATION ". 12).
The sons desire for freedom moved
him wilfully to choose to leave home
2. The sons departure ". 13). Hav
ing made the fatal decision, he went
posthaste to the enjoyment of his
cherished purpose.
3. The sons degeneration wv. 10,
1Q. From plenty in his fathers
house to restitution in a far country
was a short journey. The sinner real
ICES his restitution when the very pow
ers which minister to his pleasures are
burned out.
4. The sons degradation wv. 10,
16). When his money was exhausted,
he was driven to hire out to citizen
to feed swine. 1t is ever so, that those
who will not serve God are made
slaves to the devil (Rom. GIG.
8. The sons restoration wv. 1920.
a. He came to himself ". ~. b. He
made resolution ". 1S). C. He
made a confession wv. IS, 19). d. He
acted ". 20). e. Reception by his
father wv. 20-24).
The father had not forgotten his
son, So anxious was he for him that
he ran to meet him and fell upon his
neck and kissed him.
VII. Justification the Issue Of Faith
from. 5:1-11).
The one who receives Jesus Christ
is declared righteous. His guilt is re-
moved; he has peace with God.