The Sabbath School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 25, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 12.

The Sabbath School

International Series.

Lesson II.—Sabbath, April 10, 1897.

PRIVILEGES AND EXPERIENCES CONNECTED WITH ABIDING IN CHRIST.

Lesson Scripture, John 15:12-27, R. V.

12 “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as 13 I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a 14 man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye 15 do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my 16 Father I have made known unto you. Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye may love one another. 18 If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before 19 it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; 21 if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they 22 know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse 23 for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and 25 hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, 26 whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness 27 of me; and ye also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

QUESTIONS.

1. What commandment did Christ give? What example interprets this commandment?

2. What is the highest exhibition of love among men?

3. Who are the friends of Christ?

4. In what way does Christ no longer speak of his followers? Why?

5. What name does he use in speaking of them? Why this change?

6. Through what process do men become the disciples of Christ? To what experience are they appointed? With what purpose in view?

7. What commandment is now repeated?

8. What may encourage those whom the world hates?

9. What experience would secure the love of the world? Why are the followers of Christ hated by the world?

10. What previous statement is now to be recalled? What experiences will the disciple share with his Master?

11. What is the real reason for such treatment of believers?

12. What would have left the world free from the guilt of sin? How is it now?

13. How closely is Christ identified with the Father?

14. How was the guilt of sin brought upon the world? Whom has the world hated?

15. What Scripture has thus been fulfilled?

16. What is the work of the Comforter? From whom does he come? What is he called?

17. Who will be associated in the same work? What fits them for it?

NOTES.

1. “THEY will keep yours also.” Those who are acquainted with the Lord’s sayings (the Word of God), and keep them, will always have ears to hear his servants, and hearts to keep their sayings. Those who know the voice of the Good Shepherd will be able to distinguish between the voice of the false and true undershepherds, not only because they are acquainted with God’s Word, but because they are so fully acquainted with the Spirit of God in their own experience. They will not believe every spirit, but they will try the spirits (1 John 4:1), and thus be able to discern who are the servants of God, and who are the “false apostles, deceitful workers” (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Thus those who keep Christ’s sayings will keep the sayings of his true servants.

2. “THEY had not had sin.” An important truth is taught in verse 22. Jesus said, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin.” That is, their guilt was proportionate to the light given them. This was not only true of the Jews then, but it has always been true of all classes, and it is true to-day. It is a truth of general application. The light we have determines our responsibility.

Christ did not mean that the people would be sinless if he had not come with greater light, but that with the greater light they would be left without excuse for sin. The law entered—was spoken—that the offense might abound (Rom. 5:20), and that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful (Rom. 7:13). The Lord gives light and instruction, not to increase our guilt, but that we may sense our guilt, and thus be led to accept Christ and receive his abounding grace. See Gal. 3:24; Rom. 5:20. Those who sin without law—without light and instruction—shall also perish without law. Rom. 2:12. Christ came to give light, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. John 3:16, 17. Without light and salvation through Christ all would perish (Acts 4:12); for all have sinned (Rom. 3:10, 23; 5:12, 21).

3. “FROM the beginning.” That is, from the commencement of His public work. Luke uses the same expression (Luke 1:2), and refers to the same time in verse 3, when he says “from the very first,” and in Acts 1:21, 22. Paul also mentions it, using the expression “at the first” (Heb. 2:3).

Suggestions for Further Study.

1. When did Christ give his life for man? See Rev. 13:8. What was the nature of the life which he gave?

2. What is meant by the expression in verse 16, “and that your fruit should remain”?

3. Why are God’s people persecuted? Is it because they are good, or is it because their persecutors are bad? Verses 18, 19, 21, 25, and John 16:3.