Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1914 — Brooklyn TABERNACLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Brooklyn TABERNACLE

C-Vt-* BIBLE«STU£>Y • ON to/E are unprofitable servants. Luke 17:1-10—May 24. ‘ fflorieth, let him ylory in the Lord.” —1 Corinthian* l:3t. CODAY’S lesson Is in four sections, each apparently distinct and separate. Nevertheless, they manifest the Wisdom from Above. We shall consider them in their order. Our Influence Upon Others. The , word offenses signifies stumblings. ensnareinents. Jesus' consecrated followers are called little ones, because they are New Creatures, started in the way of full consecration to God's will. However, there should be growth In grace, knowledge, love. Strength of character should be attained, which would be not only wise l , strong, difficult to ensnare, but able also to assist others less developed. The dangers of ensnarement exist because Satiin has the majority of mankind more or less under his influ-ence-blinded by error, superstition, sin. etc. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not.’’ (2 Corinthians 4:4.) That Jesus did not refer to Infants Is manifest from the words, "One of these 1 little ones which believe In Me."—Matt. 18:ti, Jesus would not unjustly condemn anybody for ignorantly or unintentionally offending His followers. We must suppose that He meant to caution those who would deliberately attempt to deceive, entrap, discourage. Ills little ones. We have all heard of deliberate, intelligent plotting against the Lord's followers. To whatever extent this may prevail, It has Indicated the satanic spirit. One drowned in the sea would lose merely his present life. During the Mil lennluin, after he had been awakened

from the death sleep, he would have full opportunity for recovery from sin and death. But those who Intelligently persecute Jesus’ followers so degrade themselves morally that it will be much more difficult for them to come Into accord with the.

New Dispensation. Whoever sins against knowledge endangers his opportunities for life everlasting. A Forgiving Spirit Necessary. Verses 3 and 4 are apparently a part of the discourse recorded in Matthew 18:15-22. The lesson Is for Jesus’ followers, not the world, as shown by the Injunction that, If necessary, the matter come before the Church. The basis of the argument Is that all need Divine mercy, because all are Imperfect; and that to assist us to cultivate this grace, the Lord has arranged that His blessings shall be tiependent upon our endeavor to exercise this Godlike quality. It seems strange that our forefathers and ourselves were so deceived by what St. Paul styles “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1) that once wo thought of our Heavenly Father as absolutely unforgiving because His human creatures had sinned. We Insisted that the wage of sin must be eternal torment. How little we understood the real character of the God of all grace, the Father of mercies! Faith Power—Credulity Power. A great deal which passes for faith is mere credulity. The faith commended in the Bible relates to things which God has promised. We are encouraged not to question His ability to accomplish all His good promises. Our forefathers had too much confidence in men. They swallowed the creeds of the Dark Ages; and the more absurd the proposition, the more faith they thought they had. They should have said, “Where has God declared such things?" Those who defended the creeds cried out against sober faith, branded it heresy and burned the truly faithful at the stake. In our lesson. Jesus' disciples asked Him to Increase their faith. His re-

ply is greatly misunderstood today. On two other occasions He made similar Remarks respecting mountains. Evidently the Master wished His disciples to realize that if they should receive a command from God to move mountains or trees into the

sea, proper faith on their part would bring the desired results. 1 But God gave no such command. Hence faith would have no basis for operation In such cases, Some amongst Christ’s followers are naturally progressive, aggressive or self-cojieeited. BtH-omiiig His disciple* does 'not change these natural 'traits instantly.' Old tilings pass away gradually. These classes must remember that the work of God’s grace is His favor toward them; and that obedience to His commands is primarily for (heir development. We are all unprofitable servants. ,in that God could easily do without us None of us is indispensable to his work or His glory. Quite the contrary, the opportunity for* entering into the Lord’s vineyard and laboring therein is chiefly for our own advantage. The service brings us experiences necessary for our qualification for higher service beyond the veil.

What Creeds Have Done.

Stumbling Stones.