The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-12-28
Lessen for December 81
THE LIFE OF PAUL

THE LIFE OF PAUL
LESSON TEXT-Philippians 3:1-14.
GOLDEN TEXT have fought a
good fight, have finished my course
have kept the faith. II Timothy Az.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Stories of Paul
JUNIOR TOPIC-In Sight of the
Goal
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Aiming High.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Our Debt to Paul.
In order to grasp the meaning of
this lesson it is necessary to under
stand the entire letter to the Philip
plans. The occasion for writing to the
Philippians was the receipt of much
needed contribution from the hand of
Epaphroditus for Paul's support while
in prison Phil 4 :10-1S). The church
was perhaps small and certainly poor
III Cor. 9:1-3), yet it repeatedly sent
gifts to him OI Cor. II 3. 81. 1t is
therefore a letter of a grateful mis-
siOnary to the church which sent
means for his support.
!. The True Israelite. wv. 1-3).
Certain Judaistic teachers had per-
sistently logged the steps c. Paul.
Against such he issues the warning,
Beware of dogs; "beware of evil
workers.; beware of the concision."
The true Israelite is the one who wor-
ships God in the spirit, rejoicing in
Christ Jesus, having no confidence in
the flesh.
II. Paups Ground of Confidence.
wv. 4-6).
Paul had everything in which true
Jew might glory.
1. "Circumcised the eighth day"
". 81. This was the literal require
ment of the law for those born under
the Abrahamic covenant. His being
circumcised showed his true upbring-
ing.
.. "Of the stock of Israel" ". 81.
He was of the chosen nation by blood
and birth.
3. "Of the tribe of Benjamin" ".
81. The first king Of Israel, whose
name he bore. was Benjaminite. The
tribe of Benjamin, though small. had
remained loyal to national customs.
4. "a Hebrew of the Hebrews" ".
81. This showed he was of Hebrew
parentage and not proselyte.
5. Touching the law, Pharisee"
". 81. The Pharisees were Of the
sect most jealous for the rites and
ceremonies Of Judaism.
6. Concerning zeal, prosecuting the
church" ". g.. He proved his zeal by
his positive effort to stamp out that
which was threatening Judaism.
z. Touching the righteousness
which is in the law, blameless" ". g..
So exactly had he conformed to this
requirement of the law that he was
consciously blameless.
III. PauTs Estimate Of Himself
wv 7-9).
If any man had right to conf
dence on the ground Of inheritance
and accomplishment. Paul had. The
vision of Christ and his merits gave
him the true perspective Of values. In
this light he saw the utter worthless
ness of the things he priced most. He
counted all things but loss for Christ,
even regarding them as refuse in COM
parison with what he had gained
~. PauPs Transcendent Aim wv.
10. 1D.
/. THAT / may know him" ". 10Y.
Personal acquaintance with the Lord
Jesus Christ was his supreme desire.
Q. 1.-The power of his resurrection"
w. 10Y. This is an advance over per-
sonal acquaintance with the Lord. It
is the expression Of the life Of Christ
through the apostle.
3. 1.-The fellowship of his suffer-
ings" ". 10). 1t Is suffering for
righteousness sake, the common ex-
perience of all who will follow the
Lord.
4. Attain unto the resurrection of
the dead" ". 11). 1t is not only to be
resurrected but to have part in the
first resurrection, that is, the resur-
rection from among the dead, when
the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to
the earth Il Thess. 4:16, ~.
v. Paul Presses Toward the Goal
wv. 12-14).
Paul clearly grasped the meaning
of his perfection in Christ, yet he was
keenly conscious of his personal limi-
tation. Herein is expressed the true
law of progress in the spiritual life
/. Conscious limitations ". 12).
mot as though had already attained,
either were already perfect"
.. Conscious of a transcendent
goal w. 13). The Christian life is an
upward calling. One must know of
heights before he will make any eff
fort to attain unto them.
3. A resolute determination to
reach the goal ". 14. He declares
'This one thing | do" The pri-
mary concern of life is not the stage
of progress made. but the effort to at
tain thereto.