The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-04-25
Lesson for April %
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

Lesson Tor April 20
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
LESSON TEXT-II Timothy 3:14-17;
Psalm I9:7-14
GOLDEN TEXT-o how love thy
law! 1t is my meditation all the day
Psalm 1897.
PRIMARY ToPIC-The Book God
Gave Us.
JUNIOR ToPIC-The Book God Gave
Us.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-How to Use the Bible.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-Inspiration and Authority OF the
Bible.
|. The Origin or Source I'll Tim.
3:16).
They are inspired of God, which lit
orally means "God-breathed." Peter
says Holy men spake from God, being
moved by the Holy Ghost" I'll Pet. /:
2D. When Paul declares the Scrip
lures to be God-breathed, he means
that the utterances resulted from Gods
breath IN mems mouths. Because they
are God-breathed they are the veritable
words of God. The holy Scriptures not
only contain the word of God, but they
are in verify the message of God to
men.
u. The Value of the Scriptures III
Tim. 3:14-17).
l. Able to make wise unto salvation
". 49,. Salvation is alone in Christ.
1t is obtained through faith in his
finished work on the cross.
2. Disciplines the life wv. 16, ~.
II Is profitable for doctrine, which is
the divine standard of conduct. In the
Holy Bible alone is to be found this
standard of life Not only is it the
standard of life, but Of all thought.
Then, too, it reproves, that is, confutes
error. The way to deal with error is
not denunciation but the positive pres
entation of the revealed truth. 1t also
corrects, that Is, sets straight many of
the dislocations of personal and social
conduct. The Word Of God is the
standard of measurement which sets
straight the lives Of moral beings.
Further, it instructs in righteousness
and thoroughly equips the minister for
Christian service. The mastery of
Gods holy Word is the indispensable
equipment for Christian service. One
who lacks this knowledge of the holy
Scriptures is utterly unfit for the Chris
tan ministry, no matter how well
trained he may be in other things.
Ill., The Nature and Effect of Gods
Law FPS. 19:7-1D.
l. 1t is perfect. 1t is without flaw.
1t converts and restores the soul: it
turns man back to God himself to lead
life Of holiness. 1t not only converts
sinners, but restores the saints to di-
vine fellowship.
2. 1t is sure. 1t is absolutely de-
pendable. Mans reasonings change, but
Gods Word endures forever. God
cannot lie. 1t makes wise the simple
Common men and women as to natural
gifts become wise even in the rightful
things of the world, because of their
mastery of the Word of God
8. 1t is right The precepts and judg-
ments of the Lord are expressions of
absolute righteousness because they
proceed from the righteous God and
are, therefore, inherently right.
4. 1t is pure. There is no admiXture
Of error. There is no compromise with
that which is untrue. Because of this.
it enlightens the eyes All that mars
the spiritual vision is taken away. Con
duct for the Christian is clearly de-
fined.
5. 1t is clean. This is seen in the
effects Of the Word of God upon the
life. The individual who is sanctifed
by it is clean within and without.
6. 1t is true and righteous. The de
cisions of Gods Word are true without
exception. The judgments of Gods
Word are unimpeachable Because of
these qualities, Gods Word is more
to be desired than the choicest of gold.
Obedience thereto brings great reward
w. The Prayer of the Believer Cps.
19:12-14.
The life brought face to face with
Gods Word is seen as sinful The soul
cries out for
l. Cleansing ". l2). The perfect
law reveals the imperfections of the
life. The Word Of God reveals sins of
which the individual may be ignorant.
2. To be kept from presumptuous
sins. Presumptuous sins are peculiarly
dangerous. In the Mosaic economy no
sacrifice was provided for such sins.
g. Freedom from the dominion of
such sins ". 49,. How awful is the
slavery of those who are in bondage to
presumptuous sins.
4. That the words of the mouth and
the meditations Of the heart be kept in
line with Gods Word ". 14). From
many dangers the believer would be
saved If the words and meditations of
his he It were kept in line with the
Scriptures