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FIRST-DAY OFFERINGS

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jul 15, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 27.

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FIRST-DAY OFFERINGS.

(Lesson 4, July 27, 1889.)
1. WHAT was Christ's position with the Father before he came to this earth?
"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." John 17:5, 24.
2. What relation did he sustain to the Father?
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:18.
3. From what time did he become a sacrifice?
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8.
4. In what manner in the former dispensation did the people show their appreciation of this gift of Heaven?
"And to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the Lord; also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God; and that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage." Neh. 10: 35-37.
5. Is God robbed by the withholding of offerings?
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." Mal. 3:8.
6. What is it to be guilty of robbery?
"Thou shalt not steal." Ex. 20:15. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10.
7. What special promise is made to those who give an offering of all their first-fruits?
"Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Prov. 3:9, 10.
8. How is the continuation of offerings taught in the New Testament?
"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." 1 Cor. 16:2.
9. What other churches had previously been instructed to do the same thing?
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye." Verse 1.
10. What other churches were encouraged by the example of those at Corinth?
"For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many." 2 Cor. 9:2.
11. In Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians, which was written one year later, how does he allude to the instruction he had given them in his first epistle?
"And herein I give my advice; for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have." 2 Cor. 8:10, 11.
12. To what miracle in the Old Testament does the apostle allude to encourage them in bestowing their liberalities?
"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want; that there may be equality; As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack." Verses 12-15.
"This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating." Ex. 16:16-18.
13. What further encouragement does the apostle give on the same point?
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." 2 Cor. 9:8.
14. How should Christians give?
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver." Verse 7.
15. How would this affect those who received the donation?
"Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God." Verses 11, 12.
16. What would the poor saints at Jerusalem be led to do in return for this liberality?
"Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you." Verses 13, 14.
17. What argument from sowing grain does he bring to encourage their liberality?
"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." Verse 6.
18. What argument does the apostle use to show that this act ever will be remembered in Heaven?"As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth forever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness." Verses 9, 10.
19. How many think it worth while to do this? How many studying this lesson are doing it? How many not doing it will do it?