Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-12-03

LESSON Text olossians SILT.
GOLDEN TEXT-Now we are the body
of Christ, and members in particular. II
Corinthians 1927.
Church membership means
great deal; fact which has been
obscured by the prevalent idea that
joining the church is just like join
ing any other organization. We need
to be reminded again and again that
the local or UNCONVENTIONAL organi-
cation has real meaning only as 1t
represents in the world Fellowship
Of true believers who, by the new
birth, have become part Of the living
and true church, which is the body
of which Christ is the Head
It is likewise essential that be-
levers know what their membership
in the church means, so that they
may fully appreciate it and properly
present it to the world.
1. A New Life (vv. 1-3).
The church member is Cor should
bel Christian. that is. one who has
passed from death to life through
the regenerating work Of God in
Christ (John S:6, -. Thus he has be-
come "a new creature; old things
have passed away; behold all things
are become new" Gil Cor. SID.
This new spiritual being has en-
tirely changed interests and desires.
The things of the world which he
used to love have now become dis
tasteful to him. The things Of the
Spirit which used to seem strange
and not understandable to him Il
Cor. 2:14) now become the center
of his life. Being risen with Christ
in newness of life he seeks those
things which are above.
II. A Changed Life tvv. 4-1S).
Setting ones heart upon things
above means that the Life win be
changed. There will be putting
off of the things of earth and put
ting on of the new man, in practice
as well as in creed.
Although the Christian is new
creature in Christ, he bears with
him until he dies Cor Jesus comes)
the old nature. which tries to hold
him down. to draw him back to the
worldly and feshly things from
which he was saved.
But the Christian is to make no
provision for the flesh, to fulfill the
lusts thereof (Rom. 3:14). He is
rather to reckon" himself TO be
dead indeed unto sin, but alive into
God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ;,
This calls for an act of his will
(and repeated or continuous act)
by which he puts away the sinful
things mentioned in verses SO. One
might sum them up in two groups:
Cd sexual indecency and immoral
ity ". 50. and 90 wicked words and
attitudes wv. 8, 81. The early
church had no corner on such sins.
They mar Christian fellowship now.
They ought not do so, for the church
member should show the new life Of
the soul by changed life before his
fellowman.
iii. A Gracious Life (vv. 14-17).
Too often, following Christ-and
church membership-has not seemed
attractive to the unbeliever, nor has
it recommended the grace Of God,
because it has been sad, unpleas-
ant, negative thing which God never
intended it to be.
To the average non-C Christian
BRIGHTLY or wrongly, the matter Of
being Christian seems to be
rather drab affair of denying ones
self the interesting and pleasant
things of life. Those who feel that
way have never seen the real thing.
for If they had. they would sense
(even though they could not under
stand IT'D that here was the fulfill
ment Of all that is best in life.
The purpose and plan Of God for
man is that he should be in fellow
ship with Him. and thus to be set
free from the limitations and the
disappointments of human life apart
from God. The normal life of the
Christian is one Of love, peace, 10y.
fellowship. praise and thankfuIness.
Let US make 1t just that in this world
OF hatred. war, sorrow. division.
weeping and ingratitude.
This portion of Scripture merits
closer examination. Note first that
love (use love" for charity in v.
l4 is the bond which unites these
Christian graces into whole which
is harmonious and well-balanced.
Naturally, the peace of Christ win
be the ruling factor in such a life.
controlling the heart, the seat Of
mans emotions and affections.
Such a life is cultivated and de-
veloped by the indwelling OF Gods
Word and mote it, richly" The
weakness Of many church is found
right here-there is so little teaching
and receiving Of the Word into the
heart.
Christian faith expresses itself ia
song. Thou hast put gladness IN
my heart" Cps. 4:7), and that means
a song. How true it is that hymns
and songs teach and admonish US
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