David Maddock Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading TeamSTUDIES IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIANHis Faith and His ServiceByHENRY T SELL DDPREFACEThese studies consider the questions What did Christ teach What isthe standpoint of Christianity  What is a Christian What ought he tobelieve and why How shall he regard the Bible and the church  Whatshould be his relations to God to his fellow men to his home tosociety to business and to the stateThe strength and reasonableness of the great main positions ofChristian faith and service are constructively presented Carefulattention is also given to the practical application of Christianprinciples to the perplexing problems of modern lifeThis book is for use in adult Bible classes Bible study circlespastors training classes in the essentials of Christianityeducational institutions and private studyIt is uniform with the authors Bible Studies in the Life of ChristBible Studies in the Life of Paul and his other Bible study booksHENRY T SELLChicagoCONTENTS   I CHRIST THE GREAT TEACHER  II THE CHRISTIANS GOD III THE CHRISTIAN MAN  IV THE CHRISTIANS FELLOW MAN   V THE CHRISTIAN FAITH  VI THE CHRISTIANS BOOK VII THE CHRISTIAN PRAYERVIII THE CHRISTIAN SERVICE  IX THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH   X THE CHRISTIAN HOME  XI THE CHRISTIAN BUSINESS WORLD XII THE CHRISTIAN SOCIETYXIII THE CHRISTIAN STATE XIV THE CHRISTIANS HOPESTUDY ICHRIST THE GREAT TEACHERScripture references Matthew 423 512 729 1354 2655281920 Mark 12122 412 66 Luke 53 111 1947 John 659714 828THE FOUNDER OF CHRISTIANITYThe heart of the Christian religion is found in Jesus Christ If wedesire to know what Christianity is and of what elements it iscomposed we must look to Him and His teachings He is the great sourceof our knowledge of what God man sin righteousness duty andsalvation areOur interest in the books of the Old Testament lies in the fact thatthey lead up to Him We study the books of the New Testament becauseof their vivid portrayal of His life teachings death andresurrection  With Jesus Christ a new era dawned for the world withnew principles ideas and aspirations for humanity  His teachingstouch every department of human life and where they are accepted andfollowed they show their marvellous transforming power  There can beno more important study than what Jesus Christ said and did while uponthis earth  Never man spake like this man John 746WHAT CHRIST TAUGHTThere are five great lines which His teachings followed they have todo with God man sin salvation and the future lifeThe Right Relation of God to Man and Man to GodHow does God regardman and How shall man look upon God are questions upon which thebest thought of men in all ages has been expended  Upon the answersgiven have been founded all sorts of religious and philosophicalsystemsMan in this great universe desires to know in what relation he standsto the Author of it Is man only a creature of fate What does Godcare great as He is for one manJesus Christ recognized this desire of man to know his standing withGod and He proclaimed not only the power but the Fatherhood ofGod When He taught His disciples how to pray He began His immortalprayer not with Great God of the universe or Creator of allthings but After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father whichart in heaven Matthew 69 Here was a new conception of GodThrough Christ man comes into personal relations with God as theFather John 1627 who cares for him as a son Man is to love andforgive as God loves and forgives in this relation of Father Matthew2237 61415 Man is to do all that he does as in the sight of hisFather in heaven Matthew 6126 God is made known as supreme loveJohn 316The Right Relation of Man to ManThere are many causes which dividemen into classes castes and nationalities Once divided men begin todevelop a class feeling and pride which tend to deepen and widen thegulfs which separate them from each otherWith the truth proclaimed by Christ of the Fatherhood of God camealso the great truth of the Brotherhood of Man The true relation ofman to man no matter what the caste class employment ornationality is that of sons who have a common father  The secondgreat commandment given by Christ is Thou shalt love thy neighbouras thyself Matthew 2239 When He took the example for a goodneighbour He selected a Samaritan a man of an alien race Men arenaturally inclined to do good to those who treat them well and whosehelp they need but Christ in carrying out this new law of brotherlylove said Love your enemies bless them that curse you do good tothem that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you andpersecute you that ye may be the children of your Father which is inheaven Matthew 54448 It is only through this love of man forman no matter what the class or condition that right relationsbetween men can ever be established and maintainedThe Right Relation of Man to SinMan violates his sense ofrighteousness and justice He transgresses the laws of God and hisnature Mans sin is everywhere doing its destroying work There isindividual social corporate and national sin Romans 323 Thisfact of sin is not only set forth in the Bible in unmistakable termsbut every government recognizes it in its laws and courts of justiceSociety puts up its bars to protect itself against the sinner and allliterature proclaims the evil results of sinWhat ought to be mans attitude to sin Shall he make light of it andcall it a necessary part of living  Shall he continue in it althoughhe recognizes its evil results and draw others with him into greaterand larger violations of the laws of God and man  These are practicalquestions Some temporize with sin and say Let us lead outwardlycorrect lives but within certain bounds we will do as we pleasehence arises the practice of secret sinningChrist came declaring that mans relation to sin should beuncompromising He