Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-07-06
INTERNATIONAL
NNMSQlO0L
LESSON
by r. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course In the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago.)
Copyright by Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR JULY 9
THE rHEssALeN,AN CHRISTIANS.

NSA@DIN iEhI-It we DeueVe Siid
Jesus died and rose again. even 80 then
also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will
God bring with him.-I Thess. Ala r. ".
This epistle is probably n Of the
earliest Of Paul's letters a.. D. 1888? J.
1t links itself closely with the seven.
teenth chapter of the Book of Acts
Driven from Berea, Paul goes to Ath'
n and later to Corinth, while Tim.
othy returns to Thessalonica and car
ries a report to Paul at Corinth,
Whereupon. perhaps within siz
months. Paul writes his epistle. A
study of the two letters addressed to
this church teaches us how Paul ad'
vised and instructed his Gentle con
verts. The first is a particularly cheer.
ful. positive and helpful e%xhortation,
!. Thanksgiving and Testimony Il:
100; 2:17-20). q) s~aiutatIon (1:1)
The phrase. "the church of the Thes.
salonians which is in God" is nowhere
else used. Some think 1t to be unique
because Paul had SO little to condemn
or to criticize. The deity Of Jesus
Christ and that grace and peace pro.
coed from God is clearly set forth.
(2) Thanksgiving wv. 2 and 81 (a)
For works Of faith; (b) for their
labor of love-" and (c) their pa.
thence" (endurance). That these
works were 'in the sight of God" 10
evidence Of their g%enuineness, and
such spiritual fruitage awakened
t3) knowledge in Paul's mind ". ~.
They were elected" to salvation. holt.
ness and likeness to Jesus wv. SO;
I Pet 1:2; Eph. Ia, s; Rom. 8:29).
"a Testimony wv. 6-10). Paul could
appeal to the known conduct of him.
self and his friends to substantiate. to
prove, the standing Of those candi.
dates for holiness who had been elect
ed" His words had not come to them
In mere exhortation and eloquence but
ALSO in power" which governed their
conduct. This al not to win ap-
but in his own case he labored
for their sakes ". 81 and in their
case they had received the word with
Joy" In the midst of affection to the
end that they became examples (pat-
terms or types; literally. like the far
echoing notes of a trumpet) ". u to
all that dwelt in the regions there
about. Their obedience. consistency
and missionary spirit wv. 8.10) sound
ed forth everywhere and all that
needed o,be done was to say. Behold
he church of Thessalonica!" (5) Paul's
glory and joy %(2:17-20). Paul sets
forth his character as a Christian
(2:1-16). Gay His physical
ooldness wv. l., p; (b) his faithful. i'm
teaching wv. 3-6). a~ffectionate-
y kind T,S), unselish, working for
ais own support ". 81, holy and con-
$3.50. No n had anything
IN him." and such a life dares to be
bold, though it is not free from per-
,ecution ". 15). co. Paul's desire
,2:17-20). He here sets forth why this
etter was written. Separated from
hem by persecution. he desires to
'eturn and supply the things they were
yet lacking and to e face to face
hose whom he loved. Satan pre-
". 1877 doubtless using the bit.
.er persecution stirred up against him.
He had therefore sent Timothy from
3erea to comfort them (3:15), who
lad made such a good report (3:1-10)
it urged Paul to greater prayer
wv. 11-13) on their behalf.
u. Ignorance Iiiumined 4:13.1S).
Paul rebukes certain sins (4:1-12), ex-
them to godlincss and to love
me another. He then touches upon a
which was n Of his
strongest reasons for writing to these
Thessalonians. The imminent return
II Christ had been strongly empha.
lied, but in the months OF Paul's ab-
ence some of their number had died,
led without seeing Christ's promised
.lory. Would those who remained
lave any advantage " the dead
ANTS when Christ should come? It fs
0 set their thinking Alright that Paul
This he does by outlining the
reat and blessed hope Of the church
its rapture" at Christ's coming.
his is more clearly set forth here
han anywhere else In the New Tesla.
1ent. Those who mourned over de-
arted loved ones are not to sorrow
8 those who had no hope" Jesus
he risen, everlasting Savior and king,
|, certainly coming again in his king.
ON Of glory, with a shout, with the
dice Of the archangel." Their sor. |
ow Is not that Of the world. for those
eparted are but sleeping" and will
ome back with Jesus when he comes.
'ogether they who sleep and we who
re alive shall be caught up TO meet
le Lord in the air." all to dwell TO-
ether iorevermore with the Lord, in
ne glorious company when his king.
ON is fully come and his will is COM
letely done on earth as well as In
eaven. Their bodies, risen from the
rave and reunited to their souls in a
condition, and we who re-
ain, the whole church or body Of
hrist caught up like Enoch Of old
Heb. 11) or Elijah-a glorious hope!
his is not alone Paul's word upon
lis question. but this he says ''by Tor
y the Word Of God" ". 15). No
then, that we should comfort
le another with these words" ".
y.
The Lord, who is now in heaven
Acts 1:9; Eph. 1920. shall himself
from heaven; not his spirit,
IT a great revival. army Of angels. or
'cial reconstruction Of society. but
,scend himself, personally, visibly
i'd bodily (Acts I'LL; Jno. 14:S; Heb.
90; Phil. $40, 21).
Paul's description Of the events OF
is second coming, this rapture Of
church, has not yet been fulfilled,