First-Day Offerings

1.What was Christ's position with the Father before he came to this earth? .
2.What relation did he sustain to the Father? .
3.From what time did he become a sacrifice? .
4.In what manner in the former dispensation did the people show their appreciation of this gift of Heaven? .
5.Is God robbed by the withholding of offerings? .
6.What is it to be guilty of robbery? ; . See note.
7.What special promise is made to those who give an offering of all their first-fruits? .
8.How is the continuation of offerings taught in the New Testament? .
9.What other churches had previously been instructed to do the same thing? .
10.What other churches were encouraged by the example of those at Corinth? .
11.In Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians, which was written one year later, how does he allude to the instruction he had given them in his first epistle? .
12.To what miracle in the Old Testament does the apostle allude to encourage them in bestowing their liberalities? ; .
13.What further encouragement does the apostle give on the same point? .
14.How should Christians give? .
15.How would this affect those who received the donation? .
16.What would the poor saints at Jerusalem be led to do in return for this liberality? .
17.What argument from sowing grain does he bring to encourage their liberality? .
18.What argument does the apostle use to show that this act ever will be remembered in Heaven? .
19.How many think it worth while to do this? How many studying this lesson are doing it? How many not doing it will do it?

Notes

Christ's position with the Father, being equal to him, made him the only being who could pay the penalty of the broken law. He was first and the best that Heaven possessed. The first religious services of which we have any account were the bringing of offerings and sacrifices by man. The sin-offering was a lamb without blemish, for it represented Christ. Men were also to bring the first-fruits of everything which they received, as a wave, or thank-offering to God. By withholding these offerings, they robbed God, and showed that they did not appreciate the sacrifice that Heaven had made for their salvation. We do not read in so many words in the New Testament that men were to bring the first-fruits of all they received as an offering to God, but the apostle, in writing his second epistle to the Corinthians, referred directly to their offerings, and taught them to believe that God would help to make up their offerings if they had willing hearts, even to the working of a miracle such as was wrought in the supplying of an omer of manna to each man in the wilderness. Certainly no one can read the eighth and ninth chapters of Second Corinthians without feeling that the apostle attaches great importance to this matter of weekly offerings. More than this, it is an institution owned and approved directly by God himself; and none will be poorer in this life for following the instruction thus given; but it will secure to them promises that they otherwise would fail to receive.

Another important thought gathered from these chapters is that the apostles would not have the brethren give because they felt compelled to, but from choice. This spirit is a most precious gift of the grace of Christ. The natural feeling, to see that self is cared for first, arises from a love of self more than from a love for the cause of Christ; but to do for the cause of Christ first, arises from a heart renewed by the grace of God.

Bible texts in this lesson

John 17:5 · John 17:24 · John 1:18 · Revelation 13:8 · Nehemiah 10:35-37 · Malachi 3:8 · Exodus 20:15 · James 2:10 · Proverbs 3:9 · Proverbs 3:10 · 1 Corinthians 16:2 · 1 Corinthians 16:1 · 2 Corinthians 9:2 · 2 Corinthians 8:10 · 2 Corinthians 8:11 · 2 Corinthians 8:12-15 · Exodus 16:16-18 · 2 Corinthians 9:8 · 2 Corinthians 9:7 · 2 Corinthians 9:11 · 2 Corinthians 9:12 · 2 Corinthians 9:13 · 2 Corinthians 9:14 · 2 Corinthians 9:6 · 2 Corinthians 9:9 · 2 Corinthians 9:10

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