LESSON IX.—SABBATH, AUGUST 26, 1893.
REVIEW QUESTIONS.—(a) What care has the Lord for the righteous? (b) How should we regard the evil which may come upon us? (c) What great example have we in this? (d) What is our duty in view of such trouble? I. Suffering with Christ.
VERSES 1-6: "Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, wine bibbings, revelings, carousings, and abominable idolatries; wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you; who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." - Who has suffered for us? Note 1.
- In view of this what should we do?
- What effect does God design that this suffering shall have on us?
- How should we regard our past life?
- How will the world regard this turning away from sin?
- What will they do?
- To whom must they give account?
- To whom may we commit our cause?
- What warning and privilege has God given all in view of the judgment? Note 2.
II. Positive Duties and Virtues.
VERSES 7, 8: "But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer; above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins." - What great event does the apostle declare to be at hand?
- What should we do in view of that event? Note 3.
- What grace should we cherish above all others? Note 4.
- What will this charity or love do?
1. Suffered in the flesh.—Christ took upon himself the infirmities and sins of the flesh (Heb. 2: 14; 4: 15; 2 Cor. 5: 21); but to every sin he died; every lust he crucified; every selfish desire he denied himself; and all for our sakes. We are to reckon ourselves dead unto sin (Rom. 6: 11), to put to death the passions and sins of the flesh (Rom. 8: 12, 13; Gal. 5: 24), to deny ourselves (Matt. 16: 24), to renounce all and follow him (Luke 14: 33). Thus, dying to sin, in Christ we cease from sin and live unto God. Rom. 6: 11; 7: 4. This death to sin is in a sense instantaneous when the soul by faith yields all to God and accepts of Christ's death for his death and Christ's life for his life. Rom. 6: 3-7. It is progressive in the sense that, day by day, moment by moment, the soul, by the Spirit of God, yields every upspringing lust of the flesh to the will of God. He died to sin when he yielded himself to God. When the lust of the mortal body asserts itself, he reckons it dead; it is crucified by the Spirit, and Christ reigns instead of carnal lust. Rom. 6: 11, 12. The lust is not sin; it is yielding to the lust that is sin. James 1: 15. The suffering for Christ and with Christ is when we by the Spirit crucify or put to death the lust when it rises, in the very thought which gave it birth. As long as we wear the mortal flesh, temptation will arise, but Christ gained the victory in the flesh for us (Rom. 8: 2, 3), and we in him may also gain the victory (1 Cor. 15: 57, 58). See Rom. 8: 12, 13; Col. 3: 3-6. Let the past in evil be sufficient; live for Christ now. 2. For unto this end.—For this object; that is, the object of the gospel is to save us from sin and that we might live unto righteousness. To them that are dead.—Dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2: 1); the gospel is preached to them that the life in it may give life to them, so that they might live unto God. See 1 Peter 2: 24. God warns us of the judgment, but gives to all the privilege of living according to God a spiritual life. 3. Of sound mind.—Rightly weigh between the things of time and eternity. Be sober, not intoxicated with the pleasures or pursuits of life, sober even unto constant prayer. "Pray without ceasing." We are not safe a single moment without God. 4. Fervent in your love.—"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." The more closely we resemble our Saviour in character, the greater will be our love toward those for whom he died. Christians who manifest a spirit of unselfish love for one another are bearing a testimony for Christ which unbelievers can neither gainsay nor resist. It is impossible to estimate the power of such an example. Nothing will so successfully defeat the devices of Satan and his emissaries, nothing will so build up the Redeemer's kingdom, as will the love of Christ manifested by the members of the church. Peace and prosperity can be enjoyed only as meekness and love are in active exercise. . . . Love 'rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.' He whose heart is imbued with love is filled with sorrow at the errors and weaknesses of others; but when truth triumphs, when the cloud that darkened the fair fame of another is removed, or when sins are confessed and wrongs corrected, he rejoices.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace. Discord and strife are the work of Satan and the fruit of sin. If we would as a people enjoy peace and love, we must put away our sins, we must come into harmony with God, and we shall be in harmony with one another. Let each ask himself: Do I possess the grace of love? Have I learned to suffer long and to be kind? Talents, learning, and eloquence, without this heavenly attribute, will be as meaningless as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Alas that this precious treasure is so lightly valued and so little sought by many who profess the faith!"—Testimony 31. WORD THOUGHTS.—Arm (v. 1), put on you as an armor the same mind, the same thought; wear it constantly, as does the soldier in service. The whole armor is "in the mind of Christ." See Eph. 6: 13.—Lasciviousness (v. 3), "wantonness" (Rom. 13: 13), excesses of all kinds.—Lusts, fleshly lusts, the inner passions of licentiousness.—Wine bibbings, insatiate desire or appetite for drink, drinking wine to the full.—Revelings, the word originally meaning only "merry-making," but, like all selfish pleasures, degenerating to carousing. Referring to old village celebrations, accompanied with music and "a revel, lascivious feasting" (Gal. 5: 21), dancing.—Banquetings, literally "a drinking bout."—Abominable, "unlawful, wicked," violation of divine law.—Run not with them (v. 4), that is, as Bengel observes, "in a troop," like a company of revelers; compare with chap. 2: 24, "going astray like sheep."—Excess, "pouring forth," margin, "flood."—Riot, "profligacy," wastefulness, debauchery.—Ready (v. 5), "implying a near judgment." (Vincent.) See v. 7.—Is at hand (v. 7), is come near, "has come nigh."—Sober, R. V. "sound mind." Compare with Mark 5: 15.—Watch, R. V. "sober." See chap. 4: 13.