The Tupelo journal., 1905-03-10
The Slavery
of Sin
Sunday School Lesson for Mar. IL. 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

CULLEN L En- L. nOSpcNtf oliliuie
teth sin is the servant of sin. John S:A.
TIME.-The Feast of Tabernacles, the
same occasion as last lesson.
PLACE.-Jerusalem, in the Temple.
NOTE FOR THE TEACHER.-"The
teacher must aim TO make the lesson so
interesting that the scholars will wish I"
be present every time he leads the class.
Pupils are fond of a teacher who stimulates
thought. Let us be on guard against
preaching. By preaching, | mean telling
pupils what they ought to do; trying to
MAKE an impression. Give the truth a
chance. 1t will make an impression II we
set it forth in proper attire. Let us teach.
The application may be soon made II the
truth be attractively presented. Often the
application will be made by the pupils
themselves, even before you finish teaching
before you begin to preach. 1t is possible
to teach so that teaching breaches. This
is the ideal way to preach. After all, then,
we recommend preaching, but 1t is the
preaching of the true teacher-to teach
properly is to preach effectively. PROF.
w. w. White.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. The
power of sin: Rom. Z and s; Deut. ~2S:15-67;
| Prov. 1:24-32; Gal. 81, II; Rom, 6:16-23; Jas.
1926.
Liberty in Christ Jesus: Rom. S:14-21;
Luke AIS, 10; lisa. Gil; Rom. 6:22; | Pet. ZIG;
Gal. "a; 81; 2 Cor. 3:17; l Cor. 1923. Com
pare John $50 with 1887.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. 81. Jews which believed on Him"
Not all of them accepted Jesus as their
Saviour and Friend, but merely be-
lieved that His claims were well found
ed, and tried to reconcile what He said
with their own ideas about an earthly
kingdom. Continue in my word" Try
to understand what l tell you, and let
your life be guided by My teach
ingS and example. my disciples" A
disciple is a learner. The most clear
evidence to ones self and others that
one is truly a disciple of Jesus, is given
by loving all men John 10: 53).
V. 80. The truth" Jesus is the
Truth. AS we continue His disciples
we shall more and more see things as
He sees them-as they really are and
in their right relations to n another.
Truth shall make you free" When in
ignorance or doubt We are under bond
age. but when we know the truth we
are freed from anxiety, from uncer-
tainty, from the desire to do wrong.
V. SO. They answered Him" Their
answer shows that they entirely mis-
understood the spiritual meaning Of
His words. "Abraham's seed" De-
s~cendants of Abraham. Were never in
bondage" Jews were very proud, and
pride is a peculiarly binding sin.
V. "a. "Whosoever committeth sin is
the servant of sin" Every one who
is living a life of sin is the bond-slave
of Satan. Each separate sin is like a
chain binding him to a sinful life. Bad
habits prevent him from doing what he
knows to be right and often longs to
do. No demon of evil binds with
stronger or more CALLING chains than
does the demon of strong drink. The
drunkard is the most abject slave.
V. 80. The bondservant abideth not"
Grew. Ver.) No servant has the claim
upon the masters home or property
that a son has upon what belongs to
his father.
V. Sc. The Son" Jesus. Shall
make you free" AS the Son of God,
He has power to release from servitude
and make us His own friends" John
10. 10J anu CuiluIeI VI GOu.
V. 81. 81 know We are Abraham's
seed" Jesus confirms their statement
that, according to the flesh, they are
descendants of Abraham, but goes on
to show that in a spiritual sense they
are strangers to their great ancestor,
hence do not belong to the kingdom of
God, which is spiritual.
V. %. Il speak with My
Father" From eternity, Jesus, the Son,
had been with the Father, and hence
had brought to earth true report of
Heaven and heavenly things. eye do
heard from your father" Will
ingly, or unwillingly. every son., to
some degree, repeats the characteristics
of his father. Jesus proved himself
Son of God by being Godlike in every
particular. Israelites proved by their
devilish purposes and deeds that they
were animated by the spirit of the evil
one (See V. 44).
V. 80. "They answered" Jesus
hearers either cannot, or will not, un-
derstand, but go back to their old cry,
abraham is our father" Perhaps
some to-day are making the same sad
mistake, and, because they have cody
parents or are accounted members of
a good church. fancy that they are
Christians, though their lives are un-
godly and their hearts are strangers to
God. eff We would DO" IL
you were in spirit like Abraham, your
lives would show it.
V. 40. Now We seek to kill me-"
You. as a race, are doing directly con
trary to what Abraham would do were
he here. Abraham would have well
coined even a man who brought him
a message from God, but these who
claimed descent from Abraham were
fierce to kill Gods own Son. At a
later day. Jesus taught this by parable
and the chief priests and Pharisees I'M
derstood it. yet not ever then did they
turn from their evil purpose Matt. 81:
33-40).
Practical Points.
V. 81. If ones belief in Christ does
not lead him to a righteous life, it is
not a saving faith. Thou believes,
there is a Gou; thou doest well;
but faith without works is dead."-Jas
2: 10, 20.
v. "a. Unless Christ now dwells with
us. we cannot dwell with Him here
after. Father, l will that they also
who Thou hast given mi be with mt
where / am."-John II: "a.
V. 81. None but God himself can sat