SUNDAY BEADING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15948, 19 June 1915, Page 8 (Supplement)

SUNDAY BEADING.

L THE SINNER'S FRIEND. I Ut JEW >» v- eaddisgtok, Is thfl prssent day ''tie Bibla is greatly neglected. Many read books about tho Bible, but few appear to study it as the Word of God to be studied. It has been said with truth: " Tho chief defect, after all, is tho neglect of searching the Scriptures—experimentally, spiritually, dogmatically, for tho soul's own .good, and as a matter of personal religion, with much retirement and prayer." Consequently, people aro often very hazy and uncertain as to what the Bible really teaches. They have not clear and distinct views of the great truths it sets forth. The result is failure as witnesses to the truth, and an easy reception of error. Let me therefore «arncst'ly ask yon to g * search the Scriptures" with a definite object in view. I would suggest four great truths for research: — I. The New Birth.—Tina is absolutely necessary, for we are, without exception, fallen beings who have inherited a corrupt nature. That which is born of the flesh is flesh" (John 3:6; Ps. 51: 5; Eph. 2 : 3). Our Lord's words are unmistakable: "Except i man bo born again, lie can* rot m the Kingdom of God " (John 3 : 3). They evidently imply : — (1) That man is a fallen being, requiring a new nature and a new life before lie can either enter or enjoy Heaven. (2) That this great change can only be effected by God the Holy Ghost (John 1: 1314: 26; 16; 714 Rom. 8: 14: Eph. 2: 1). The means He usually employs is the Word of God (1 Cor. 4 : 15; jas. 1 : 18; I Pet. 1 : 23). I by which He leads the sinner to believe | in Christ (Rom. 10: 8-17). I 1 '3) That when this change has token 1 •splice in the heart, the whole Ife is "•changed. For the new birth leads to a ' new life (2 Cor. 5: 17). Our Lord's ' words are the more striking because they , were addressed to a devout and upright ' man earnestly seeking the truth. - Are you seeking it? Are you born „ .---'from above?" The vast importance of • this great spiritual change is shown by . our Lord's solemn assertion to Xico- ' dcnius: "Ye must be born again!" , 11. The Imputed Righteousness of * Christ-.—lt is written : " Holy, holy,' • holy, is the Lord of Hosts" (Isa. 6:3; ' Rev. 4 : 8). None can enter and enjoy " His presence without a like nature, and . - A Perfect Righteousness. > < ~ As we hare seen, this Divine nature 4 roust be imparted and implanted by the , Hcly Spirit; but from whom is this per- ' feet righteousness to .be obtained? Cer- . ; trinly not from ourselves, 4 for "all our ' righteousnesses are as filthy rags'' (Isa. . ■■ 64: 6). St. Paul speaks of two classes ' i 1 <of religious men— who, being • ~ ignorant of God's righteousness, aro going about to establish their own righteous- * 1 " ness. and those to whom ' Christ's light- * | eousuess is imputed, as their sins have * h £ bten imputed to Him (Rom. 4; 2 Cor. ! Is /*• 21). _ _ • jx-;'. To which righteousness are you trust- . i:- tng? In which do you desire to be r SiPf .ff found at the last? Can you say with 1 ic the Apostle that you desire to "be found - < in Christ, not having mine own righteous- ' yiEjMMWKig; i 4 ecus ness which is of God by faith" 7 dhil. 3:9)? ; r John Berridge wrote: "Jesus Christ first pays the debt of perfect obedience: | / and thereby, as Surety, redeems the heavenly title: then He takes the law-curse ' Jsv, •on Himself, to free believers from it. -a . .And both these blessings are imputed or Iv : charged to the account of every true 4->:"r. believer. By the of his Surety he is freed from condemnation; and by His p r obedience alone he is. made righteous (Rom. 5: 19). He is justified in the *•>'" eye of the' Jaw, fnd obtains a legal title g?\- to Heaven." . T ask: 1° whom are you trusting; to g, yourself, or, to Christ, our Divinely-an- . pointed Surety? ' ' ?£; m. A Present ' Salvation.— Gospel proclaims pardon and peace—a present salvation from the guilt and dominion of s. >' sin, through the perfect work of Christ, active and passive; through the working of tho Holy v Spirit in us. - % Such regenerate t» ones are saved in Christ forever. .It. is written : "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the ' "Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3 ; 36; 5: 24). % All who trust in Christ alone for saltation are addressed in the Epistles as already - f . ? v' Forgiven, Accepted, and Safe. ir Christ. Do yon realise a present salvation from both the guilt and power of sin? Have you "everlasting life?" Have you peace with God through our ;' Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? IV. The Two Natures in the Believer. St. Paul relates a very remarkable experience in Rom. 7, in which he forcibly describes his state twenty years after his conversion. In this he shows us that after the. new and Divine nature is planted in the soul, the sinful old Adamnature remains. Hence the life-long conflict of which true believers have, like the'; Apostle, such a painful experience— the old corrupt nature inclining the soul to earthly things, and the new, spiritual nature, under, the influence of the Spirit of Christ, "drawing up their' mind to high and heavenly things." Look within. Do you .know anything of this conflict? Have you a new nature? Or, has the " old man " still all his own wry? If tho Holy Spirit has begun the good work of grace in your soul, you will realise sin to be a grievous and intolerable burden and you cannot .rest Mi til you sre freed from it by beholding " the Lamb of God -which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1 : 29). Then, though the conflict will be lifeluig. you will be more than conqueror through Him that loved you (Rom. 8 • 37; 1 John 5:4). i "Search the Scriptures" respecting these four great truths, and may "the j Spirit of Truth guide you into all truth" for the Redeemer's sake (John 16: 13). AN ANCIENT BASKET. The Basketmakers' Company has become posfessed of an ancient example of their craft, believed to be about 4600 years old. It was presented by Colonel Lord William Cecil, a freeman of the guild who brought it from Egypt. Being extremely fragile it has been enclosed in a hermetically scaled glass case, in which it will lie jirceeived by the company. It is a small Shabti basket of the XI. Dvnasty from 2965 to 2778 B.C. ' ' These rare old baskets, woven with wiilows very much in the same way that baskets are now made, are occasionally found in mummy cases, and their object there has been explained to contain the ji Shabti which was regarded as an indispensable accompaniment of the mummy. || The Shabti are little figures of wood or r\ metal, which were suppreed to accompany and look after the dead in their journey fi-v - through the underworld. Ml--"' In many, instances they were enclosed in 4s:/, mats of woven leaves, and baskets such as Wj\! , that which' tho Basketmakcr*;' Company have now . added to their treasures, were fp||£ very • rarev.:>s_'' " 1 '" ' 12L . ■ I a- mymt*-- ■ >■ ■■■■ • ■ • - --'.r