The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-11-06

LESSON len Luke 10 LA.
GOLDEN TEXT-Repent We, and believe
the gospel.-NIark lis
Sin with its devastating conse-
quences has its only remedy in the
salvation which is in Christ Jesus.
He died to set us free from the pen
atty, the power, and ultimately the
very presence of sin. However, His
death, which was for all mankind,
is effective only for those who in
repentance and faith accept His re-
deeming grace and turning from
their sin.
I. Worldly Pleasure Brings sor-
row wv. 11-16).
Selfshness is at the heart of sin,
which is essentially self-will over
against God will The younger son,
who represents the sinner, wanted
his own way. He suffered from
l. Restlessness Under Restraint
wv II, 12). The father loved his
son and sought his welfare by prop
er parental control, but the boy
wanted to be free to live as he
pleased. God loves all men and
seeks by loving and gracious re-
straint TO lead them in ways of
righteousness and peace. But they,
while they want His blessings, are
often eager to get away from
His guiding hand
2. A Request Resulting in Respon-
sibility WV u, 49, When the prodi-
gal asked for his inheritance he took
upon himself full responsibility for
its use. The man who refuses to
have Christ rule over his lie as
sumes a grave and heavy burden
which he is not able to bear.
It is an awful thing to rule God
out Of ones life, to attempt to steer
a successful course through the
stormy sea of life Why do it? 1t
will always result in loss and failure.
8. RiotOus Living Leading to Re
preach (vv 1916 In the far coun-
try he found for time what we
call fun" but it led to bitter sor-
row. To the flesh there are pleas
uTes Of sin" (Heb. 1880, but they
are only for seaSon"; that is,
Every short lived-and they come
high. The devil is not such a fool
as to go fishing without bait The
pleasures OF sin are the devils bait,
and they always have a hook in
them. If you bite at TIE devils bait
you will soon have the devils hook
in your g;lls and be in the bottom of
the devils Boat (John W. Brad
bury.
The end OF 5atan's fun road
was q pigpen in a far country. That
may not always be literally true (al-
though it happens often enough, but
it is always true spiritually Men
and women are in state Of spir-
itual collapse and disgrace because
they have rejected Gods way. But
there is way out.
II. Godly Screw Brings Joy wv,
17-2N.
Paul tells US that "godly sorrow
worketh repentance to salvation"
and thus differs from '"the sorrow
VI lIlG MOi4A WHICH WO1I>N III
death" II Cor. no The prodigal
found his way back to the fathers
house. First, there came to him
l. Remembrance and Realization
wv. 1910. He began to think. If
men and women could only be made
to think we would have more re-
pentance, but Satan tries to keep
them too busy to think. He remem-
bered what he lad as a sen in his
fathers household. What memories
will your boy have in his hour Of
need? You are writing that record
now.
He "carne to himself" The man
in sin is really unbalanced, subnor-
NAL, not himself, spiritually insane.
When he ''came to" he knew that ne
was in the way Of the perishing.
Then came
2. Repentance and Return wv.
20, 2D. To repent means to change
your mind, to turn your life in an
"about face" from sin to God. Re-
pentance calls for more than think
ing or talking or praying. One must
act The young man "arose and
came to his father" That was his
part, and then came the father S
part
8, Restoration and Rejoicing (vv.
1924. The son expected to return
as a hired servant, but his father
restored him to full family fellow
ship. God is gracious, and the re-
pentant sinner finds himself clad in
the spotless robe of Christ's right
eousness, wearing the ring of SON
ship, with shoes on his feet, so that
he may go on the errands of his
Father
Gods plan of salvation brings no
halfway redemption. There are no
stepsons or distant relatives in His
family. It is a full salvation which
brings glorious fellowship in life and
service.
You who are still eating the husks
of this world, who are in the far
country tending swine, we invite you
too to come to God and share in the
rejoicing in the Fathers house.
Life Struggle
Life is a struggle, but not war
foro II &c. n davis 1obCY bfrt Ia bOr