The Republican., 1937-03-04
V"'"'" IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAyH
CcHOOL eSs0n
BY REV HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST,
Dean of the Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago.
g Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for March 7
LIFE HERE AND HEREAFTER
THROUGH CHRIST
LESSON TEXT-Inhn 1A.1.15

LESSON TEXT-John 14:1-15.
GOLDEN TEXT - I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father. but by me. John 14:6.
PRIMARY ToPIC-In the Heavenly
Fathers House.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Why We Need Christ Always.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Life Here and Hereafter through Christ.
1t was the night before the darkest
day in the worlds history. On the
morrow the Son of man was to
hang on Calvary's tree for the sins
of the world-for your sins, and for
mine. But for the moment he was
alone with his disciples. The last
Passover had been eaten together,
the betrayer had been discovered,
and the Lord has told them that he
was soon to go where they could
not follow. Peter had, by his bold
self-assurance, brought forth TIL e
prophecy of his denial. The disciples
were disturbed. Then came from the
Saviour the words of comfort, as
surance, and power which have been
the strength and solace of his peo-
pie through all the centuries. Our
life both here and hereafter is in
His mighty hands.
1. Comfort wv. 1-3).
Troubled hearts are everywhere
in the palace and in the cottage, on
land and sea. There is a place of
rest, thank God! There is One who
still speaks the majestic words,
"Let not your heart be troubled,
ye believe in God, believe also in
me-"
His comfort is one which covers
the future life, for he says:
l. 81 go to prepare a place"(v.2).
Concern about future destiny is set
tied at once when Christ Jesus be-
comes our Lord and Saviour. We
need worry no longer. He has gone
on before to the Fathers house to
prepare a place for his own. When
we come to that ever-peaceful shore
we shall not come as strangers, but
as sons and daughters to a prepared
place in our Fathers house.
WILL SOIIlC dSdIIl \N.OJ ID
the word that gives present mean
ing to the future promise. He not
only prepares the place, but he it
is who brings us there. The glorious
hope of his coming again is the
Christians greatest comfort and
mightiest incentive. to useful, holy
living.
II. Assurance tvv. 4-1D.
The doctrine of Christian assur-
ance is one of vital importance,
and should be taught in all its scrip
tural power and beauty. Unfortun-
ately it has so suffered violence at
the hands of some of its friends
that others have not only come to
fear it, but even openly to oppose
it. This is most regrettable, for it
is manifest that until one has as
surance he will make but little prog
ress in Christian usefulness.
The believers assurance rests
fundamentally on Christ himself.
Two grounds are given in the text.
l. Il am the way, the truth, and
the life ". g.. These words are
their own best commentary. Read
them again, slowly, weighing t he
meaning of each word. If we are
in him who is the way, how safe
we are! If we are not in him? Read
his own solemn words in verse 6,
'No man cometh unto the Father
but by me-" ". 1D.
In Christ dWellS all the fullness of
the Godhead. He is not only super
natural being, he is God. How can
anyone deny that and read his
words in these verses? To do so
is to make Jesus a liar and
blasphemer.
III. Power wv. 12-15).
His followers are not left in
world of sin and need as a little
group of hymn-singing weaklings,
thinking only of the day when they
shall be in a brighter land. All, yes,
they sing hymns and rejoice in
them; they look for a better land;
their weapons of warfare are not
carnal-but weaklings? Oh, no! God
uses them to do great and mighty
things for his glory.
l. "He that believeth" ". 12).
This army of God carries the royal
banner of faith.
2. "Greater works shall he
do'' ". 12). Jesus only began his
work on earth. Its greatest develop
ment was to be the joyous privilege
of his followers.
8. "If ye ask I will do
". 14). Someone has called this a
signed blank check on all the re-
sources of God. Faith fills it in, un-
der the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Moody knew how to use it. So did
Mueller, Livingstone, J. Hudson
Taylor-the list might go on indef-
nitely. Shall we dare to trust God
and add our name as one of those
who ask in faith?
The Man of Wisdom