The Coolidge examiner., 1936-02-07
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-:-LESSON-: - =
By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, d. D..
Member of Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.
g Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for February 9
JESUS INSISTS ON RIGHTEOUS
NESS

NESS
LESSON TEXT-Luke 6:39-49.
| GOLDEN TEXT-Why call ye me,
Lord, Lord, and do not the things
which 1 say?-Luke 6:46.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Tells Us
What to Do.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus' Code for
Helpers.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Overcoming Our Faults.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
| TOPIC-The Test of Our Religion.
In verses 2O-26 Jesus sets forth
the inner spiritual condition or
those who are members of his king
dom. In the lesson text for today
he sets forth the principles govern
ing the life of his followers.
|. Love Your Enemies ". 29).
Love here is not mere natural af-
fectioh Love is not sentiment but
is the sincere desire for the welfare
of another, and the willingness to
do all in ones power to accomplish
that which is good for the indi-
vidual. To love friends is easy, but
to love enemies is only possible to
those who have been born again and
have been made partakers of the
divine nature.
n. Do Good to Them Which Hate
You (v. 2O.
Love is positive in it's nature. The
disciple of Christ will not merely
refrain from doing injury to the one
who hates him, but will be con-
cerned with and engaged in doing
good to him.
III. Bless Them That Curse You
". 2S).
To bless means to speak well Of,
to invoke a blessing upon. Injury
by words is hard to let go unchat
lenged. The disciple of Christ will
express the spirit of his Lord and
will, therefore, return blessing for
cursing.
". Pray for Them Which De-
spitefuIIy Use You ". 2S).
1t is obligatory upon the Chris
tian to pray for those who heap
abuses upon him. The best COM
mentary on this is Christ's own
example. Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do"
Ouke 23 :24). When Christ was re-
viled he reviled not again; when
he suffered. he threatened not; but
committed himself to him that judg-
eth righteously" q Pet. 2:23).
V. Patiently Endure Wrong and
Injury ". 29).
The Christian is not to bristle in
defense of his rights, but rather to
suffer insult, injury, and even loss.
This expresses the law which gov
erns the individuals action and
should not be pressed so far that
evildOers go unchecked. Rightly
constituted government has been or
dained of God for the protection of
the innocent and punishment of evil
doers (Rom. 13:1-S).
vi. Give to Every Man That
Asketh of Thee (v. 30).
This text does not authorize pro-
miscuous giving, neither does 1t
mean that any request made by the
idle, greedy, and selfish should be
granted. There is a giving which
Injuries the one to whom the gift is
made. 1t would not be proper to
give man money to buy whisky.
The principle enjoined is to give the
thing needed to the one asking, The
supreme need of every able-bodied
! person is to be given a way to earn
his living.
| VII. Do to Others as You Wish
Others to Do to You (vv. 31-35).
This is. called the Golden Rule. 1t
is the sum total of Christian duty
as it pertains to human inter-rela-
tions. If this rule were lived up to,
the problem of capital and labor
would be solved, war would cease,
international relations would be
peaceably adjusted, and all prof.
teering in business would end.
VIII. Be MercifuI ". 36).
This means to be filed with pity
and compassion; to enter into SYM
pathy with every need of others.
Our supreme example is the Heav-
enly Father.
TX, Censorious Judgments Con-
demned ". 80.
This means that the evil or false
in others should not be sought out.
We should not sit in critical judg-
ment upon the action of others. This
does not. however, prohibit the esti-
nation of others by their deeds.
K. Compensations of Right Liv-
ing ". 3S).
The believer who gives freely of
money, .oves sincerely, makes the
Golden Rule the standard of his life,
shows mercy and Kindness to others
and refrains from impugning the
motives of others, will be fully re-
warded. God will see to it that there
be no loss.
XII. Danger Of Following False
Teachers (v. 39).
The teacher who does not know
God and the way to heaven will lead
others into ruin. Only such as know