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International S. S. Lessons

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 20, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 3.

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International S. S. Lessons.

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." —Neh. 8:8

LESSON X.—SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1893.

GRATEFUL OBEDIENCE.

[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]
Lesson Scripture, James 1:16-27.
  1. Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.
  2. Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.
  3. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
  4. Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
  5. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
  6. Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
  7. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.
  8. For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror;
  9. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
  10. But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth, but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.
  11. If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.
  12. Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Golden Text: "We love him because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. What admonition does the apostle give to the brethren? Verse 16. Note 1.
  2. In view of what is this admonition given? Verses 12-15.
  3. What is the character of that which comes from God? Verse 17.
  4. How were we begotten? Verse 18.
  5. What do we thus become?
  6. In view of all this, what disposition should we manifest? Verse 19.
  7. What reason is given for this? Verse 20.
  8. What are we exhorted to receive? Verse 21.
  9. What is this word able to do for us?
  10. What must we put away, before it will thus work? Note 2.
  11. What relation should we sustain toward the word? Verse 22.
  12. To what is one likened who is but a hearer of the word? Verses 23, 24.
  13. What is God's law called in verse 25?
  14. How and when is it a law of liberty? Note 3.
  15. In the simile, what represents the law?
  16. To reap benefit, how must one look into God's moral mirror? Verse 25.
  17. What must be the relation of his outward life to that law?
  18. What advantage will accrue to the man who thus observes God's law?
  19. What is said of the religion of him who bridles not his tongue? Verse 26.
  20. What is pure and undefiled religion? Verse 27.

NOTES.

  1. Be not deceived.—That is, do not make the mistake of attributing the temptation to God; do not say that evils come from him, for it is from him that every good and perfect gift cometh.
  2. Overflowing of wickedness.—The margin reads "malice," a malevolent disposition. See verse 19. Every uprising of feeling toward another. For every uprising of malice cherished in the heart is an overflowing. Crush it out by the power of God before it springs into life.
  3. The law of liberty.—Every citizen of every commonwealth is a free citizen of that country, and the law of that country is a law of liberty to that citizen so long as he observes God's law. So long as the child of God observes God's law, that law is to him a law of liberty. David says, "I walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts." Ps. 119:45. When that law is violated, man comes under its condemnation, appointed unto death. It is Christ and Christ only who can free from the condemnation of the law, and furnish strength to walk in it at liberty, observing its righteous requirements. Rom. 5:1; Gal. 5:1.