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Fundamentals of Christian Education
The word of God is to stand as the highest educating book in our
world, and is to be treated with reverential awe. It is our guidebook;
we shall receive from it the truth. We need to present the Bible as
the great lesson book to place in the hands of our children and youth,
that they may know Christ, whom to know aright is life eternal. It
is the book to be studied by those of middle age, and those who are
aged. The word contains promises, warnings, encouragement, and
assurances of the love of God to all who accept Him as their Saviour.
Then place the holy word in their hands. Encourage them to search the
word, and they will in so doing find hidden treasures of inestimable
value to them in this present life, and in receiving Christ as the bread
of life they have the promise of eternal life.
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The lesson book, the Bible, contains the instruction of the character
they must have, the moral excellence of character which must be
cultivated, which God and heaven require. “Blessed are the pure
in heart: for they shall see God.” “Follow peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” “Beloved, now are
we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but
we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall
see Him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as He is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth
also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that
He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.”
This all-important knowledge is to be kept before children and
youth, not in an arbitrary, dictatorial manner, but as divine disclosures,
which are of the highest value to secure their present peace, quietude,
and rest of mind in this present world of turmoil and strife, and as a
preparation for the future, eternal life in the kingdom of God, where
they shall see God, and know God and Jesus Christ, who gave His
precious life to redeem them.
Christ came in the form of humanity to live the law of God. He
was the word of life. He came to be the gospel of salvation to the
world, and to fulfil every specification of the law. Jesus is the word,
the guidebook, which must be received and obeyed in every particular.
How necessary that this mine of truth be explored, and the precious
treasures of truth be discovered and secured as rich jewels. The in-
carnation of Christ, His divinity, His atonement, His wonderful life in
heaven as our advocate, the office of the Holy Spirit,—all these living,