Part 8 (2/2)

Bible Study.--Christianity is a book religion as well as one in which G.o.d enters into spiritual communion with man. The Church has ever acknowledged its duty to teach the Scriptures, for in them it finds the truths which it desires to inculcate (John 5:39).

Evangelization.--Beyond the bounds of the Church there are those, near and far away, who need to be taught about the gospel of Jesus Christ. More and more the church is feeling the responsibility for the welfare of individuals and of society and of the state. If there are great evils and giant wrongs which need to be remedied, they have their origin in the evil in men's hearts. For the cure of bad hearts there is no remedy in all the world save that given by Jesus Christ. Hence the activity of the church in seeking to evangelize men not only at home but throughout the world.

There are three things which every church needs to realize in order that this work may be prosecuted with the utmost vigour and enthusiasm.

1. A clear conception of what the church is and its relations to G.o.d and man.

2. The opening of the eyes to the fact of sin in the world and its destructive power upon the soul of man, here and hereafter (1 John 1:8; Romans 5:12; John 8:34; Matthew 18:7-11).

3. That the only real help or salvation of man's soul is through our Divine Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. ”Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12; 16:30,31; Philippians 2:10; 1 John 2:12; Romans 10:13; 1 John 1:7,9; Matthew 9:6).

The Equipment for the carrying on and extension of this work cannot be too good. The cause frequently lags from making it one of the interests of life and not the chief care. Every church building should express in usefulness and beauty, in all its appointments, man's thought of a temple erected to the great and living G.o.d.

THE HOPE OF THE CHURCH

The Establishment of the Kingdom of G.o.d Upon Earth.--The prophets of the Old Testament had two great thoughts which they continually presented, namely, the coming of the Messianic King and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom. Isaiah said, ”Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder and He shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty G.o.d, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end” (9:6,7).

When John the Baptist came, he proclaimed the coming of this King and kingdom (Matthew 3:11,12; John 1:1-28) and when he saw Jesus he said, ”Behold the Lamb of G.o.d which taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is preferred before me: for He was before me” (John 1:29-33). ”And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of G.o.d” (v. 34).

Jesus spoke much about His kingdom, the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of G.o.d. He sought to explain by many parables and by direct discourse what this kingdom was like; it is mentioned by name many times in the New Testament (Matthew 13:11,19,24,31,33,44,45,47, 52; 22:2; 25:1). He claimed that He was the Messianic King (Matthew 26:63,64; 27:11,37; 26:53,54; 16:16,17; John 14:9; Luke 22:67,69; John 18:37; Mark 14:61,62), and the Son of G.o.d. He declared that before Him all nations should come to be judged (Matthew 25:31-46). As in the Old Testament so in the New Testament the world-wide character of this kingdom of G.o.d is plainly shown.

There are Four Conceptions of the Kingdom of G.o.d set forth in the Bible. 1. The reign of G.o.d over all His creatures. 2. The reign of G.o.d over men and nations. 3. The reign of G.o.d over Israel. 4. ”The reign of G.o.d as Divine Love over human hearts, believing in Him and constrained thereby to yield Him grateful affection and devoted love.”

It is this fourth conception which is most prominently set forth in the New Testament. The special work of Christ on earth was to reveal the supreme rule of Divine Love.

The Church and the Kingdom.--It is the care of the church to forward the establishment of this kingdom of Divine Love everywhere, in the heart of the individual, in society, in the business world and in the national life. For this we pray, as Christ taught us, ”Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

QUESTIONS

What is the Christian Church? Define it. Who is the Head of the church? How is the church a divine inst.i.tution? What can be said of the beginning and completion of the organization? What are the ordinances? What can be said of the human elements? Where is the authority and ground of teaching? What can be said of the forms? What can be said of the life of the early church? What is the chief end of the church? What can be said of the activities of the modern church?

What of the wors.h.i.+p? What of the fellows.h.i.+p? What three things are necessary to keep clearly in mind, in the work of evangelization?

What ought the church equipment to be? What is the hope of the church?

What are the four conceptions of the Kingdom of G.o.d? What is the chief conception? What can be said of the church and the kingdom?

STUDY X

THE CHRISTIAN HOME

Scripture references: Ephesians 6:1-9; 5:25-33; Colossians 3:17-25; 1 Corinthians 7:12-17; Mark 10:2-12; 7:9-13; 5:19; 1 Timothy 5:4; Luke 15:6; t.i.tus 2:1-15; Exodus 20:12,17; Deuteronomy 6:1-9.

THE HOME

What is a Home?--It has been answered that, ”It is the unit of society.” It has also been pointed out that this unit must be kept clean, pure and right, in all its relations, or society and the state will suffer grave consequences. Certainly, in the past, the inst.i.tutions of society and state have been seriously weakened only when the moral decay of the family has first set in. There are many organizations which have for their special care the fostering of the social and political life, while the strengthening of home ties has been sadly neglected.

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