The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-04-16

LESSON IkNI-Luke IL .3i-46, 02-04.
GOLDEN TEXT-He that is not with me
is against me; and he that eathereth not
with me scattereth.-Luke ll:23.
Opposition to Christ ard to Chris
tan teaching has come down
through the centuries practically I'M
changed. Hence, we find in Christ's
dealings with the enemies of His
day helpful indication Of what may
be done in our time.
1t is sad to note that the chief
opposition came from those who
professed to be religious leaders. 1t
is expected that the world, the flesh,
and the devil should fight Gods
truth, but one might expect better
of those who profess His name The
difficulty is that there is only pro-
fession, with no real life.
l. Hypocrisy Unmasked wv. 81
AZ.
The Pharisees professed great in
terest in the observance of religious
laws, but their concern was for the
outward appearance, while God
judges the heart. First we note
false profession of cleanliness.
Christ came to the Pharisees' table
with clean hands, but tie had not
observed all their ceremonial wash
ings. When rebuked He struck home
with terrific force at the heart Of
the whole matter ". 39); namely,
that inward fIthineSS of heart which
often makes FOLK metlculouS ABOUT
outward cleansing. This leads to
substitution OF technlcaI observance
OF the letter OF the law mat ignores
love ana judgment " ~ Whlch
are SO precious 10 God. mere can
be a dead, dry ana technical oftno-
doXy which entirely misses the
point.
But worst OF all IS the covering
up OF spiritual death ". AZ. Some
tunes we SPEAK OF thoSe VINO are
dead and don know II, ana mat
may actually be true spiritually.
Ihere may be oeath Wlthln ana YET
a brave ana sometimes SeIl-oeIud-
ing outward show OF lie.
TT. Theological Deafness Con-
demned wv. 45-52)
The LAWYERS of that dav were
those learned in the Mosaic law.
hence were really the teachers of
tbeo1cov and ethics They. came nm
der the roblJke of Christ as He pro-
nounced three "wocs'' upon them.
First tbov wore quiltv Of heap
ing mon others burdenson1e REQUIRE
n7ents which thew did not them
selves keep. and which they did
not helm tbe people to keep. There
are sucb teachers TODAY who set up
standards thew do not themselves
observe. a sort of signpost pointing
the RIGHT wav while thev are not
themselves going that wav. Then
there are those who present high
ethical standards without the spir-
final dynamic needed TO live M to
them. To tell a man to be sood
without telling him of the Saviour
who ran make him good is m0ckcry.
Then those of Cbrist's dav were
condemned for hating Gods wit
nesses. Thew were willing to build
sepulchers for the dead prophets
(kllIed by their tatherSl, but were
not willing to hear the llVlhg proPh-
cts. How true TO lie that IS! Inc
very ones who hate and hlnder those
who are preaching Goo WORD
speak and sing smoothly OF the 1allh
OF our fathers, and clam as their
own the witnesses OF past Gay
Christ also pointed out that Winnie
processing to interpret inc Ia" lAcy
obscured It's meaning. lhey thleW
away the key to knowledge so mat
neither they nor their people could
learn-and yet they continued to
teach. Have not t1e lalse teac,'efS
of our day done Likewise? Ihey deny
the integrity and authorlty OIL the
only infallIble Word-the Bible; they
reject the deity OF our Saviour
Christ, and yet they talk about be
ing Christians and preachers OF the
truth. Woe be unto them IN the day
of Gods judgment ana Wrath!