Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 1, Number 14, DeMotte, Jasper County, 27 October 1932 — IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL Lesson [ARTICLE]

IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL Lesson

By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D., Mem-

ber of Faculty, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. 1932, Western Newspaper Union.

Lesson for October 30 THE CHRISTIAN AND LAW OBSERVANCE (World's Temperance Sunday) Romans 13:1-7; I Corinthians 9:19-27; Galatians 6:1-10; I Peter 2:11-17. GOLDEN TEXT--Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7. PRIMARY TOPIC--Laws for Me to Keep. JUNIOR TOPIC--Why We Have Laws. INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP-IC--Observing the Law for the Sake of Others. YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP-IC--The Church and Law Observance. I. The Christian Obligation to the State (Romans 13:1-7). The believer is a citizen as well as a Christian. The instructed Christian will be loyal to the state as well as to the church. 1. Obedience to rulers (v. 1-4). This obligation is upon all Christians. The civil government is ordained of God and rulers are his representatives. 2. The spirit in which the Christian renders obedience to rulers (v. 5). He should regard it as his obligation, not only because it serves a good purpose but because it is morally right. 3. Method of expressing this obedience (vv. 6, 7). a. In payment of taxes. The citizen who enjoys its benefits is morally bound to support the government. b. Payment of duty upon merchandise, and license fees. The business exchange between nations must be regulated, and for this the citizen should pay. c. Veneration to magistrates, "fear to whom fear.” Those who have the fear of God in their hearts will venerate their rulers and representatives. d. “Honor to whom honor” is due. Civil officers should be honored because of the ministry they perform. II. The Christian’s Self-Control (I Cor. 9:19-27). The true way to get people to be free from intemperance is to help them gain self-control. 1. Paul’s own life and example (vv. 19-23). Though free from all men, he made himself servant unto all. 2. The Isthmian games (vv. 24-27). Paul uses these popular games to illustrate the need of self-control. a. Life is a race (vv. 24-25). In order to win a prize there must be selfdenial and definite exertion. The Christian obtains life by contact with Jesus Christ through faith (John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24)., This he must possess before he can begin the race. b. It is a fight (vv. 26, 27). The Christian has a real antagonist--his carnal nature. III. The Christian Life and Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 6:1-10). Those who are freely justified in Christ will live and walk as follows: 1. Restore the sinning brother (v. 1). “Restore” is a surgical term which means the placing back of a dislocated member to its place. We are members of the body of Christ and the sinning of a brother ought as really to give us pain as the dislocation of a member of our body. 2. Bear one another’s burdens. 3. Bear our own burdens (v. 5). 4. Support teachers of God’s Word (vv. 6-8). It is incumbent upon those who are taught In the Word of God to give of their means for the support of the teacher (I Cor. 9:14). 5. Be not weary in well doing (v. 9). Some fail of the reward because they quit even when the goal is near. 6. Work for the good of all men. IV. The Christian’s Behavior as a Sojourner and Citizen (I Peter 2:1117). 1. As a sojourner or pilgrim (vv. 11, 12). Christians are pilgrims on the earth. They are journeying to their eternal home in the heavens. Such citizenship demands a. That they abstain from fleshly lusts (v. 11). b. Behave so as to glorify God before the world (v. 12). The word “conversation” means behavior. 2. Behavior ns citizens (vv. 13-17). He has a responsibility as a citizen on the earth. As such he should a. Obey all requirements of civil rulers (v. 13). His duties as a citizen he performs as the Lord’s free man, not through servile fear. b. Honor all men (v. 17). We should see in every man the image of God, and in that sense give honor to him. c. Love the brotherhood (v. 17). The brotherhood is composed of those who are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. d. Fear God (v. 17). e. Honor the King (v. 17). This has a peculiar significance because in all probability the wicked Nero was then reigning as emperor.