HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1936-09-10, Page 11LESSON XII.—September 20.
CHRISTIAN LIVING. --Romans 12.
PRINTED TEXT
Romans 12; 1-3, 9-21.
GOLDEN TEXT
Christ liveth in me. Gal, 2; 20,
THE LESSON IN ITS SETTING
Time.—The Epistle to the Romans
was written in A.D. 57.
Place.—This epistle was written
from the city of Corinth, while Paul
was on his third missionary journey,
and was written to the Christian be-
lievers living at Rome.
1. I beseech your therefore;,, breth-
ren. Never once does Paul command
his readers; his favorite word is be-
seech (Eph. 5: 1; 1 Thess. 4: 1). By
the mercies of God. (See 2 Cor. 1: 3).
These mercies refer to all the won-
derful promises and truths recorded
by the apostle in the preceding eleven
chapters. To present your bodies.
"Christianity does not condemn the
body, but demands that the body shall
be purified and be united with Christ.
A living sacrifice. This is in contrast
to the dead sacrifices of slain animals
presented in the temple. Our sacri-
"" Tice li-as to-do with. our daily life. Holy
acceptable to God, which -is 'your s pLe
itual service. The margin here is prob-
ably much better when it substitutes
• "belonging to the reason" for the
word "spiritual." The service we give
to God is not an automatic one, but
one that results when we begin to
comprehend what God has done for
us.
2. And be not fashioned according
to this world. "The spirit of this pres-
ent age is absolute selfishness as con-
trasted with divine love. Its object is
the gratification of self, rather than
the doing of the will of God, and its
authority springs from Satan because
it has refused the one true Ruler of
the Universe. By the renewing of
your mind. Our minds are no longer
to be enslaved by our fleshly nature,
but are to be renewed and purified by
the Holy Spirit. That ye may prove.
"The result of this purification is to
make the intellect, which is the seat
of moral judgment, true and exact in
judging on spiritual and moral ques-
tions." What is the good and accept-
able and perfect will of God ? The will
of God is. good because it comes from
God, who, alone, doeth good, and be-
cause, in our doing it, only good can
possibly result (Deut. 10: 13; 28: 63;
;.): 5). By "acceptable" is meant the
impression produced on us when we
contemplate his will, as realized in
our life.
For 1 say, through the grace that
was given me, to every man that is
among you, not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think.
Stan fell because he became proud
and was determined to take the very
place of God in heaven; our first par-
ents fell when Satan appealed to their
pride in telling then they could be
as gods. In the renewed life of the
Christian, pride is the first thing that
must be got rid oi. But so think
as to thins: soberly, according as God
hath dealt to each man a measure of
faith. "The wise and prudent man
will remember that his position in the
community is dependent, not on any'
merit of his own, but on the measure
of his faith, and that faith is the gift
of God. Faith is used here for all
those gifts which are given to man,
with, or as the result of, his faith."
9. Love without hypocrisy simply
means love that is sincere, that is not
put on. Abhor that which is evil;
cleave to that which is good. Charles
Hodge has finely interpreted this sen-
tence in his paraphrase: "A striving
to avoid what is injurious to others
and earnestly endeavoring to do what-
ever is kind and useful."
10. In love of the brethren be ten-
derly affectioned one to another. The
word translated "tenderly affection -
ed" comes from a verb which denotes
"the delicate attentions mutually ren-
dered by those who cherish one an-
other with natural affection, as par-
ents and children, brothers and sisters.
The apostle, by using this term,
wishes to give to the love of the mem-
bers of the church to one another the
tender character of a family affec-
tino." In honor preferring one an-
other. Tho word here translated "pre-
fer" means "to go ahead," "to lead."
"It is not only an injunction of polite-
ness, but that in all acts of respect
and kindness, we should take the lead.
11. In diligence not slothful. (See
Eccles. 9: 10). Fervent in spirit;
serving the Lord. The reference here
is probably to the human spirit within
a man.
12. Rejoicing in hope; patient in
tribulation. Persecution would be
breaking upon the Roman church
within ten years after this letter was
written. Continuing steadfastly in
prayer. "The idea expressed by the
word steadfast is that of firm adher-
ence and constant waiting.
13. Communicating to the necessi-
ties of the saints;; given to hospitality.
Hospitality has always been appre-
ciated by those receiving it, but this
was especially the ease in the first
few centuries of the church when
'Christians were so often ridiculed,
driven away, and, later, put to death.
14. Bless them that persecute you;
bless, and curse not. See the teaching
of our Lord regarding this most diffi-
cult virtue in Matt, 5: 10, 11, and our
Lord's own practice of such a lofty
Ideal in Luke 23 34.
15. Rejoice with them that rejoice;
weep with them that weep. Cf. 1
Cor. 12: 26. See also the account of
our Lord at Cana (John 2: 1-12), and
at Bethany (John 11: 1-44). If we are
members of one body, we have the
same wishes and the same feelings,
The joy of one member is the joy of
another; the sorrow of one should be
the sorrow of all.
16. Be ofthe same mind one toward
another. The word here translated
"mind" really means a mental and
moral disposition. Set not your mind
on high things, but condescend to
things that are lowly. Be not wise in
your own conceits. The word here
translated "condescend" does not
mean, as the reader would at first
take it to mean, to have an attitude
of ,patronage, but it means that we
are to be carried along with those
who are of a lowly place in life, i.e.,
we are not to assume an attitude of
arrogance and superiority over those
who may not be so fortunate as we
are in the things of this life, and es-
pecially in our service in the church.
17. Render to no man evil for evil.
Take thought for things honorable in
the sight of all men. (See Prov. 3: 4;
2 Cor. 8: 21) . Our Lord was one who,
when reviled, reviled not again (1
Pet. 2: 23) .
18. If it be possible, as much as in
you lieth, be at peace with all men.
(See Matt. 5: 9). Of course there are
occasions when Christians, because of
the attitude of other people, are pre-
vented from being at peace. The em-
phasis here is on the pronoun you.
Let it never be said that we are re-
sponsible for -antagonisms and bitter-
ness.
19. Avenge not yourselves, beloved,•
but give place unto the wrath of God:
fos it is written, Vengeance belon{feth
unto me: I will recompense, said the
Lord. The quotation here is from
Deut. 32: 35. We are to stand out of
the way and leave the matter of ven-
geance with God, whose prerogative
it is alone to punish.
20. But if thine enemy hungerfeed
him; if he thirat, give him to drink:,
for in so doing thou shalt heap`ceals
of fire upon his head. To heap coals
to fire upon any one is a punishment
which no one can bear. Kindness is
no less effectual. The most malignant
enemy cannot always withstand it.
The true and Christian method to
subdue an enemy is to `overcome evil
with good.'"
21. Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good. If our life
is filled with good, the evil against
which we must struggle will, then
more easily be overcome. A person
earnest in doing good does not have
time or inclination to practise evil. A
life that is filled with good has no
place for the incoming of evil
thoughts and evil 'desires.
No Partridge Shooting .I
In Ontario This Fall
TORONTO — Ikon, Harry C. Nix-
on, minister of game and fisheries,
announces that no shooting of par-
tridge will be allowed in Ontario
this fall, in view of reports that the
,birds are practically extinct.
Mr. Nixon and his deputy, D. J.
Taylor, are at present considering
allowing a general open season for
pheasants. Departmental wardens
and overseers are said to be in fa-
vor of a general season„ but it is
believed unlikely to be sanctioned.
The annual big shoot will be allow-
ed on Pelee Island with the bag limit
probably cut from six to five birds.
As in other years, it will be compul-
sory upon the Island shooter to take
hen birds as well as cocks.
AUTOGRAPHS WANTED
Arrival of Grace Moore, movie songbird, in Pasadena; Cal., en route
to .Hollywood after six months abroad, seemed signal for turnout of
every autograph seeker in town. Above she obliges with a smile.
DEFENDING CHAMP
Marion Miley, of Lexington, liy.,
polishes up -her stroke as she pre-
pares to defend title an Women's
Western Golf totirney at South
Bendy Ind.
CANADIAN GIRL IS QUEEN OF BRITISH CARNIVAL
A Canadian girl, Miss Mary Elisabeth McIntyre, of Winnipeg, who is attending the Empire Holiday
School at Eastbourne, England, was crowned Carnival Queen of the Sussex resort. She is shown arriving
with her maids of honor at the Redoubt, Eastbourne, for the crowning ceremony.
New Silhouette
Hammed 'Stocking
Peter Russell Uses "Drench-
ed" Shades in Sheath
Gowns
LONDON. — A young Bruton St.
designer who mayors till &'.ieath si.-
houette is Peter Russell. lie calls
his version the "stocking". The
shades in which he makes his sheath
gowns he calls "drenced" .— drencn-
ed blue, drenched pink, drenched
g -con. Apple -green white is another
shade which he has launched while
green -gold and lime are colors he
also likes for evening. A sheath of .
the last-named shade has a large '
garland of black cellophane cur-
rants and leaves across the boson] !
over this dress is worn a mantilla
of lime -colored tulle. Russell pro-
vides tulle mantillas for all his even-
ing gowns, believing that they pro,
tect the coiffures and complexions of
those who go "a -partying".
Isobel, whose favorite daytime col-
ors are mushroom, beige, sage -green
and brown, provides color accents
with contrasting furs. Red fox is her
favorite this season. Whenever pos-
sible she avoids working it into co-
lors and cuffs preferring to use it
as an edging. Always famous ror
ler furs, Isobel :s making a few,
capes for daytime wear. .Cut she
• stresses knee-length coats, which are
either fitted or belted. One of her
newest and most unusual modals is a
seven -eighth slength mink coat
which molds the figure.
BIG CHIEFS OF GRIL) TRIBE
"It's right tlicee in the book," Abel Eliowitz (right) plight be
whi.Jpering to Coach Johnny Ferraro of Montreal's Big Four squad.
They form the two-man board of strategy in the new football deal, and
are whipping the candidates into trim nightly at the Westinount Athletic
Grounds.
151 NTGL SH CITO,CL BOYS S %T ? C2 Rl' A L
;1iinY HALL
Boys of 36 English Public Schools are shown as they were photographed on the steps of the Montreal City Hall with Alderman W. S.
Weldon (third from left in the front row), who welcomed them to Montreal on behalf of the Mayor.
The boys arrived on the Cunarder .Ausonia and left for Ottawa, Brockville and a five-day holiday in a camp in the Kawartha Lakes
district before going on to Toronto, Niagara Falls and New "Stork, whence they will sail home on the Queen Mary on September 9.
In this, the third party of British Public School boys to visit Montreal in three years, are 106 boys. Last year's party brought 59
boys to Montreal, and in the previous year the first of the groups had 23 members. It is expected that next year's visiting group will be
much larger than the present one. B-3