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LESSON V.—SABBATH, NOVEMBER 4, 1893

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 23, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 50.

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LESSON V.—SABBATH, NOVEMBER 4, 1893.

ABIDING IN CHRIST.

Lesson Scripture, 1 John 2: 26-29; 3: 1-3.

  1. These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray.
  2. And as for you, the anointing which ye received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that anyone teach you; but as His anointing teacheth you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in Him.
  3. And now, my little children, abide in Him; that, if He shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
  4. If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every-one also that doth righteousness is begotten of Him.
  5. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
  6. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.
  7. And everyone that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
  1. Concerning whom has this instruction been given? Verse 26.
  2. What abides in the believers? Verse 27.
  3. Of what have they no need?
  4. What teaches them?
  5. What will they do as a consequence of this teaching?
  6. To what are the “little children” exhorted? Verse 28.
  7. What will be the result of thus abiding in him?
  8. What is the character of Christ? Verse 29.
  9. What is true of everyone who does righteousness?
  10. To what is especial attention now directed? Verse 1.
  11. How is this love manifested?
  12. What follows from this relationship?
  13. When is this relationship entered upon? Verse 2.
  14. What is not yet made manifest?
  15. What change will take place “when he shall be manifested”?
  16. What effect does this hope have upon its possessor? Verse 3.
  17. What is the true standard of purity of character?

NOTES.

1. VERSES 26-29.—Paul warned the church of future trouble (Acts 20: 29), and this apostasy began in hisday (2 Thess. 2: 7). Jude writes very strongly concerning these deceivers (Jude 4: 10-13), who abounded before John's death (2 John 7). The Holy Spirit, which was promised by Christ (John 16: 7), and had been poured upon them (Acts 2: 33), would teach them the truth (John 16: 13), and would protect them from deceivers (Acts 10: 19, 20). Jesus says, “Abide in me.” These words convey the idea of rest, stability, confidence. See the lesson in John 15: 4-7. Such a life brings conformity to the divine character (2 Cor. 3: 18) and confidence at his coming (Isa. 25: 9). “God is righteous. . . . And if so then the source of righteousness. When, therefore, a man doeth righteousness, we know . . . that the source of his righteousness is God: that in consequence he has acquired by new birth from God that righteousness which he had not by nature. We argue from his doing righteousness to his having been begotten of God. . . . The whole mass of Socinian Pelagian commentators have reversed the members of the argument, and made it conclude that doing righteousness is the condition, on our part, of becoming a child of God. Roman Catholic expositors . . . go equally wrong, in understanding hath been begotten, not as the statement of a past abiding fact, but as the ground of a confidence as to the future.”—Alford, Lee & Shepherd, edition 1883.
2. VERSES 1-3.—“It would require the language of the Infinite to express the love that has made it possible for us to be called the sons of God. Faith makes us children of God (Gal. 3: 26), and this is a present experience. The Holy Spirit belongs to the sons of God (Gal. 4: 6), who are also heirs (Rom. 8: 17) of the inheritance. In fact “all things” belong to them (1 Cor. 3: 21). The world knew not Christ (John 1: 10) nor the Father (John 17: 25), and for this reason (John 16: 3) will persecute true Christians (John 15: 18-20). This present life is the time for the perfect character. “If you give yourself to him and accept him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for his sake you are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in the place of your character, and you are accepted before God, just as if you had not sinned.” The character is fixed at the coming of Christ (Rev. 22: 11), who “shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory” (Phil. 3: 21, R. V.), and thus shall we “appear with him in glory” (Col. 3: 4). So shall we be satisfied. Ps. 17: 15. Holiness is required of those who shall see God (Heb. 12: 14), and this privilege is promised to the pure in heart (Matt. 5: 8); but “who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Prov. 20: 9. It is by faith (Acts 15: 19) which works (Gal. 5: 6) in obedience (1 Peter 1: 22) that we are purified. “He who hath this hope in him learns from the Scriptures that he must be a worker together with God.”
3. WORD THOUGHTS.—Anointing . . . abideth (v. 27). See John 14: 16, 17; 16: 13, 14.—What manner (v. 1), how great and wonderful. See Matt. 8: 27.—Hope set on him (Christ), in verse 3, instead of “in him” in common version.—Purifieth, by faith (Acts 15: 9).