Lesson 403 - Junior

Memory Verse

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them"  (Ephesians 5:11).

Notes

Paul's Letter

Jesus Christ never spoke an unprofitable word, and the words of His Apostles are also profitable and true. When Paul the Apostle preached to the people, or wrote letters, his message was a potent one.

From Rome, Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus to "walk in love," and that is intended for us today also. He writes as a kind father pleading that we follow God, "as dear children." Naturally, as children bear a resemblance to their parents, so the life of a saint of God bears the image of Christ and fruits of Christianity. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is clean, holy and pure. Even foolish talking and jesting are not "convenient" and are out of place in the life of Christians. Jesus said that for "every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" [MAT:12:36]). Idle words are useless and unprofitable, words without worth. Jesting might include foolish statements that have an evil meaning, or that suggest something vulgar or indecent. This has no place in the conversation of Christians. We read in [ECC:10:1], that "a little folly" in him that is thought to be wise and honourable is like dead flies in the ointment. We are told to walk "not as fools, but as wise."

"Walk as children of light." Sin is darkness, and Satan is the prince of darkness. We are told to have no fellowship with sinners, but rather reprove them. Who are your friends? Whose company do you enjoy -" Christians' or sinners'? Often the life of a genuine Christian is a rebuke to sinners, even though not a word is spoken. However, when the Lord opens the way, let us not hesitate to speak a word for Jesus. Do not try to hide your light "under a bushel."

Evil Days

Verse 14 is as a bugle call, "Awake," "Arise." What was the urgency of the message? "The days are evil." Make the most of every minute! No time to lose; the time is short! "Be not drunk with wine." However, there are other ways of becoming "drunk" and losing the Spirit of God. Some people are almost "drunk" on the pleasures or cares of life. Some young people become so much absorbed in reading novels they act as if they were "drunk"; some are "drunk" on watching television; others are so intent upon theatregoing they cannot stay away; some girls indulge in the latest styles, until the fashions of the world occupy their every thought. But it is not so with Christians.

Those who are drifting away from God will say: "Oh, but I am young! I have to live my life. What is wrong with attending a movie occasionally? What is wrong with watching television? Will it hurt me to smoke just one cigarette?"

Overseas, when the soldier boys had long, lonely hours away from home, some boys would say: "What is wrong with going to a free show? Just a big, open field, and you sit on the ground with the other boys. What is wrong if it is not a bad picture?" What was wrong with it? Because going once made them want to go the second time, and then again and again. Even though it might be regarded by most people as innocent, it would lead to something worse. We often hear testimonies of those who, before they were saved, would rather have gone to a show than to eat a meal. A young man testifies, "I found no satisfaction in the movies: every time I was disappointed." Another said that everything around him turned black the first time he ever stepped inside a theatre. Many pictures shown are indecent and they corrupt people's minds.

One reason that TV should be banned from Christian homes is that adults and children alike become so much attached to watching it that important things are completely crowded out. In how many homes that have TV will you find a family altar? TV has no place in the life of a child of God because many of the programs depict crime and suggest immorality. Some will argue that there are good programs, but a minister once said, "There may be some good food to be found in a garbage can, but are you going to send your child to the garbage can to eat?"

"Submitting yourselves one to another." How few are willing to give in! Perhaps they are right -" nearly every one feels he is right most of the time -" but the Lord blesses us for giving in, even though we think we are right. In [1PE:5:5], we read, "Ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder." This could apply to boys and girls obeying their parents, teachers, or ministers.

The Holy Bride of Christ

Verses 20-23 are often read by ministers at marriage ceremonies because they give a picture of the close unity between husband and wife. There is a oneness brought about through marriage, when a young man and a young woman leave their father, mother, and home to be joined together until death separates them. (According to the Word of God, divorce and remarriage are not sanctioned, even though permitted by the laws of our land.)

A similar picture we can draw from this lesson is that Jesus Christ left His Father's bosom to come to this world to woo to Himself a Bride, the Church of the Firstborn, out of a lost world. Soon Jesus shall come and claim that Bride unto Himself, at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the very highest place or award to which a Christian can attain. We should put forth every effort to have part in this glorious event!

The formal church today is seemingly asleep, while God is calling those who are spiritually awake and alert, to be a Bride for His Son.

Large weddings do not just happen, but every detail is carefully planned. Have you ever attended a wedding and noticed the spotless, snow-white dress worn by the bride? Did you see the radiant smile upon her face as she clasped hands with her bridegroom? All these things teach us a lesson about being prepared to meet Jesus who is coming to catch away those who have made themselves ready. "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" [REV:19:7]). Let us make sure that no detail is overlooked: we must be saved through the Blood. We must make right anything we have done to injure others. Water baptism, after we are saved, is also important. We must be sanctified, through the Blood of Jesus. That is a second, definite work of grace, when the Blood of Jesus is again applied to the heart. This experience brings a holy, clean life, a deep love for God and others. "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." We read in [HEB:12:14], that without holiness "no man shall see the Lord."

After sanctification we must seek for and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. This glorious experience has been compared with the "extra supply" of oil, or Spirit of God, which the wise virgins had who went forth to meet the bridegroom. (Read [MAT:25:1-13].) Those foolish virgins without that extra supply of oil, or Spirit, were left outside.

Once more the writer of this chapter takes our thoughts back to the Christian home and speaks of the love between husband and wife, a bond so great that the two are as one. This love is compared with Christ and the Church, and it is called "a great mystery."

Questions

1. What is said about foolish talking and jesting?

2. What is meant by a Church without spot or wrinkle?

3. How close is the true Church to Christ?

4. How do we know that the days are evil?

5. What is meant by "redeeming the time"?

6. Name several ways in which people may become "drunk."

7. What does it mean to submit?

8. What is meant by "children of light"?

9. Who is the Head of the Church?

10. How may we become holy?