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14 THE CONVENTION TEACHER Lights on the Lesson By REV. BERNARD BYRD, D.D. [Column 1] LIGHT NO. 1- (Isaiah) Because of their association with idolaters, many of the Israelites on various occasions were led to believe that because the idol gods of other nations were thought of mostly as super-humans, and that these gods could be injured by men, and even be killed, they cherished ideas that Jehovah also might have some limitations. The prophet was faced with the supreme task of showing the people the infinity of Jehovah, and the omnipotence of his effort or action. (a) The Scripture also reveals that the person who surrenders himself to the Divine Father becomes like him in his character. LIGHT NO. 2--(John) One improper [/End of Column 1] [Column 2] belief of that ancient and middle aged people which has to some extent come down to us of today, was that God was a far away character, only to have contact with man on occasion and then mostly to reprimand him. Such ideas made it hard for the people to accept Jesus as the abiding presence of God. Displayals of his great power often brought fear to the spectators. In the fourteenth chapter of St. John, Jesus is pictured revealing to his disciples that God can live in the flesh without his holiness bringing death to the flesh. (a) Christ strove to impress men that God is not to be seen as a spectacle, but rather he is to be seen in his action. [/End of Column 2] Editorial Reflections By REV. S.A. PLEASANTS, D.D. [Column 1] Jehovah is the Everlasting God. This tells us who He is. Being Jehovah the Everlasting God takes in by expression and implication the whole God-Head. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and this is also continued in expression and implication, when it says Creator of the ends of the earth. The Kingdom Book teaches that, The Father created all things, the Son created all things, and the Holy Spirit created all things. Being the God-Head He never stops nor gets, weary. No one being able to understand this One by searching, is further proof that this is the Eternal God-Head. No one, according to the teaching of the Book of Life, can find Him by searching. We know Him because He revealed Himself to us. He is unknowable without Christ Jesus the God, who is the effulgence of His Glory, and the exact impress of His substance. He has made God known in all ages through the Holy Spirit, who revealed His Son in the revelation of His Word and the creation of His Person. This same God gives power to the weary, and adds new strength to the weak. Young men may faint and weary, the strong youth may fail, but those who wait for God get new strength from Him. They shall rise up with full strength like unto an eagle. They shall run and not get weary. They shall walk and not faint. This that is said is revealed to [/End of Column 1] [Column 2] us from God and when one finds this out for himself, he will do it by his personal acquaintance with God by his living in the consciousness of His presence each day. When once we enter into the life of Christ, being put there by the Holy Spirit, and abiding there by the Holy Spirit's teaching, we then become to know Him without question. One's faith becomes strong enough to know God fully, and that there is no difference in Him and the Son, it is when all doubts are removed and that one believes fully in all Christ says and does relying on Him and Him only, for every thing naturally and spiritually. When one's faith in God becomes what God wants it to be, God can then use him at will to do through him what He did through His Son. Doing the greater works than Jesus is letting the Holy Spirit in our lives, have His way in us, as Christ let Him have His way in Him. Jesus qualified this statement when He said greater works shall he do, because I go unto the Father, and whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. He had taught them when He went to the Father He would send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit through them would do greater works than Christ because Christ was limited in the flesh to one place at a time. [/End of Column 2] [[end of page]] [[start page]] 15 THE CONVENTION TEACHER Lesson III. January 18, 1948 OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD SENIOR TOPIC: MAN'S NEED OF GOD Romans 8: 12-17; 31-39. [[line]] AUTHORIZED VERSION [Column 1] 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? [/End of Column 1] [Column 2] 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [[italicized]]It is[[/italicized]] God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [/End of Column 2] [[line]] REVISED VERSION 12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; 34 who is he [/End of Column 1] [Column 2] that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [/End of Column 2] [[line]] MOTTO TEXT--It is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:16. [[line]] [Column 1] LESSON SETTING Time: A. D. 58. Place: Rome LESSON OUTLINE 1. True Christians Led by the Spirit (VV. 12-14.) II. Privileges of Genuine Christians. (VV. 15-17.) III. The Christian's Security. (VV. 31-39.) [/End of Column 1] [Column 2] DAILY HOME READING January 12 --January 18 M. Man's Need. Romans 7:14-25. T. Man's Hope. II Corinthians 5:11-19. W. What God Requires. Micah 6:1-8. T God's Patience. Hosea 11:1-9. F. God's Care. Psalms 103:1-10. S. God's Pardon. Psalms 103:11-19. S. Worshiping God. John 4:5-26. [/End of Column 2]
