S U N D A Y S C H O O L continued
the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It also bespeaks for them the daily sus taining grace of God for every experience and the peace of God to garrison their hearts (Phil. 4 :7 ). The Day of the Lard 5:1-11 Following his teaching concerning the first phase of our Lord’s return, the rapture, in- the preceding chapter, the Apostle proceeds now to say some things with respect to the time immediately following. This is referred to as the Day of the Lord. It w ill be a dark day in its judgment aspect. It is also called “the time of trouble,” “the great tribulation,” and “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” Just when this time will come, it is not for us to know (v. 1). It will come at a time unexpected' (w . 2, 3 ). Believers should not be surprised when that day arrives because of the abundant notices of it in God’s Word. They are the children of the light and should be alert to coming events and busily engaged in warning unbelievers to turn to Christ so that they will not be' overtaken in the judgments which are to come upon the earth (w . 4-8). Moreover, this passage makes it clear that believers are not destined to go through the great tribulation: “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 9). Then, in verse 10, it is made clear that all believers “whether we wake or sleep,” that is, whether we live till He returns or die before He comes, shall be spared the terrors of the tribulation judgment. The church will have been translated to heaven before that time. Thus Paul exhorts believers to “comfort yourselves together” in view of this fact (v. 11). Practical Exhortations 5:14-23 In these verses there are twelve distinct exhortations, verse 23 being a benediction emphasizing purity of life in view of the coming of the Lord. These exhortations need not much explanation. These need to be obeyed. The observance of these twelve exhortations will result in Christ- like character. In those who give ex pression to them, the world will see what it means to be a Christian. Being a true Christian makes a real difference in living. Helps for the Children Paul's First Letter 1 Thess. 1:1, 2; 5:15-18 Memory Verse: "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good . . . " 1 Thess. 5:15 Paul had visited the town of Thessa lonica during one of his missionary journeys. Some of the people had received the Lord Jesus as Saviour; others had become angry with his preaching so that Paul had to leave during the night to protect his life. Soon a church was organ ized in Thessalonica. One day the Chris tians were greatly excited. A letter from Paul had just arrived! How eager they were to know what it would say. Paul reminded them of how they had been saved, and of the many things which the Lord Jesus had done for them. He also told them that many of their members were unhappy because they were not living as Christians should live. Some of them quarreled, some were lazy and others THE KING'S BUSINESS
his Saviour. Paul told everyone who came to visit him about the Lord Jesus. He sent some of his helpers out to preach the gospel. Some of the books in our New Testament are books or letters that Paul wrote to Christians in faraway places while he was in prison. Those who truly love the Saviour can never stop tell ing others about Him. Perhaps other Christians might have become very cross and unhappy if they had been put in jail for their faith in Christ. They might have felt that God no longer loved them, and that it just doesn’t pay to be a Christian. Paul was really happy in jail! He knew that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his pur pose.” He knew that when we belong to the Lord Jesus, He never allows any thing to happen in our lives that is not for our best. Many people became Chris tians because Paul was in jail. Perhaps some of them might never have heard the way of salvation if Paul had not been there. Sometimes God asks boys and girls to serve Him in hard places. Perhaps you have moved to a new neighborhood where everyone is a stranger to you. Perhaps God has allowed you to be sick for a long time so that you have been in bed or in a hospital for many weeks. Perhaps those in your new neighborhood or in the hospital will never hear about your Sav iour unless YOU tell them! Pray that God will make you a real missionary wherever He may allow you to be. May 17, 1953 On the Coming of the Lord 1 Thess. 1:1; 5:1-11, 14-23 Pointers on the Lesson The first five lessons of this quarter have had to do with the life of the Apostle Paul. The remaining seven w ill have to do with some of the great teachings of the Apostle in six of his epistles. This week’s lesson is the first of the latter and we •will find ourselves concerned with Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. Inasmuch as both of the Thessalonian Epistles are much taken up with the second coniing of Christ, it is fitting that in this lesson attention should be given to that great doctrine. The Salutation 1:1 First Thessalonians is the first of Paul’s writings and it was written to the infant church which he had founded at Thessa- lonica. It was a church which had given a good account of itself but it needed some instruction with respect to certain matters, especially pertaining to the sec ond coming of Christ. There are still a lot of folks who are confused on this subject! In order to have a proper back ground for this lesson, the teacher should read carefully Acts, chapter 17, verses 1-14, where the record of the founding of the church of Thessalonica is presented. The names of Silvanus (Silas) and Tim- otheus are included in this salutation be cause they had a vital part in the estab lishing of this church (Acts 17:4, 10, 14). The salutation notes how these believers were linked in infinite grace with God
stimulated among God’s people today. Arrival at Rome v. 16 Upon arrival at Rome, Paul was given into the custody of “the captain of the guard,” the Pretorian prefect, into whose hands were committed all who were to come before the emperor for trial. Special privilege was accorded this noted prisoner in being allowed to dwell by himself “in his own hired house” (w . 16, 30). This was commonly done with the better class of prisoners who were not accused of any flagrant offense, providing the indi viduals could find the necessary funds to pay for the separate housing. In Paul’s case this probably was not difficult since he had many friends. Such a provision was certainly in the providence of God since it allowed His servant a larger ministry. Of course, he had a prison guard watching over him all the while. Witnessing in Rome to the Jews w . 17-24 Paul wanted to make clear to the lead ing Jews in Rome why he was there. He was not there to accuse them, but only to defend himself. He told of his experi ences in Palestine as he appeared before the Roman authorities. They found noth ing worth condemnation in him and would have released him (v. 18), but the Jews objected and so he appealed to Caesar for a verdict (v. 19). That was why he was now in Rome. He wished now to assure these Jews before him that he bore no ill will toward them. He was a prisoner “for the hope of Israel” (v. 20). His earnest desire was that they might em brace the One for whom he was suffer ing. These Jews manifested a lenient atti tude and expressed a desire to hear more from Paul’s lips at a later time (w . 21, 22). Thus an opportunity was afforded this great missionary to preach “the king dom of God” to them and to lift up “Jesus” in their presence (v. 23) There were some definite results from this meet ing— “some believed . . . some believed not” (v. 24). How like the results in preaching today! Witnessing to all Comers vv. 30, 31 For two years while Paul was under prison guard he had the privilege of dwelling in his own hired house. He made a church out of his place of abode in that people kept coming to visit him and when they came he preached “the kingdom of God” to them. Do folks who come to your home hear the gospel? Helps for the Children Memory Verse: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Can you believe that the great mission ary Paul spent many months in jail? Usually only people who have broken the law are sent to jail. Enemies of the Lord Jesus were so unhappy that Paul was preaching that they had Paul placed in prison so that he could no longer preach. Prison bars could not stop the great missionary from telling others about 44 Paul in Prison Acts 28:14-31
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