The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-22
THE SUNBAV.SCHOOL.
International LessODs-fsy Henry N. circuit.
ID. D.-Mareh * -PsE4 yindicated.-Acts


International LessoDs-fsy Henry N. circuit.
ID. D.-Hfareh ~ -PsE4 yindicated.-Acts
&c: 1921
GoLDsS TEXT -Esving therefore Obtained help
OF God. continue unto tEts day.-AcIs 26:22.
Paul has not yet finished bis speech before.
Festus and, Agrippa. Agripps il will be re-
membered, has expressed desire to hear
him 10 his own defense, perhaps from idle
curiosity, and perhaps from some genuine
interest in the leader Of q new aud growing
sect in religion. Fsstus who would have
something TO report concerning him to the
R1man Empire, gladly iayors the hearing
But Paul has rather turned the defense into
a sermon. And lis sermon is mainly in the
form of story Of his own conversion. He
was not pre1isposed to the change he bad ex-
perienced. He do not seek it. To him Je-
SUI OF Nazareth was hated name. He was
bitter against it; and was on persecuting
journey when the change came, And IL
came by direct intervention from heaven:
beginning with G sudden arrest in his steps,
and ending with q commission to a life-WOrk
of which he had never dreamed. Il is az
this poins in bis narrative that We new fnd
hiIu And here We have
I. A true converts Treatment OF
heavenly vision 19l-Wbat Paul Gales
he heard, the admonition he received, and
his summons to & new life. 1t was all a real
anifestation; a vision, and not a dream.
| He saw and beard.
And how did he treat the admonition aud
. sumpons2 az was not disobedient unto the
| heavenly vision. There is something note.
worthy III the form OF words employed. He
does I OF say II obeyed;" but Il was not
disobedient." This suggests that he might
! have disobeyed. No gracious purpose
/ OF God, or interposition from heayen, can
make Us new creatures in Chris. Jesus
/ apart from our consent and agency. Wis
/ ions. ever so bright and seraphlc or soleran
al awful, could accomplish nothing to this
end save We obey the divins voice. 1t is
possible to Withstand al God seeks 10 do for
/ our pesce and good. Divine grace is not
! irresistible; il is an awful thought shat
| time may come in the life of every man and
woman, when the last promptings of the
| Spirit of the Lord may be queDched."
2. The message and testimony OF true
evangelist 20 23)-Three things are named
as the burden OF PauPs message. 1t was
everywhere showing 10 men that they
should repent and turn 10 God, and do
| works meet for repentance" This was the
necessity aud dEiy he set before Gentiles and
Jews, small and great. And it has been OBJ
| served Paul here Indicates accurately the
| three stages of genuine Christian life: %
| ContritiOn for past slIS as acts OF disoOedl-
ence to God; (2) turning unto God which
| includes faith and earnest desire TO do His
| will; and ~ al upright Christian life, Civ
| ing evidence by deeds that the heart has
| truly repented and turned unto Goo - Can
any man account himself a true messenger
of the Gospel who does not insist ever and
to all upon these thir Is?
But little further On we discover by what
consideration he enforced the duty he urged:
'TestifyiDg (snd finding full warrant for Sd
DOR in the Prophets and MOses) how that
hoE or fer h.,xu I'm ha frat
by the resurrection OF the dead should pro
claim light to the people ar to the gentiles."
That is, he held up to view suffering and
risen Savior. There is no other view so fitted
as this 10 convince men of sin. to melt the
heart into contrtion, to encourage trust and
to incite to holy living. 50 to the Corinth-
JAMS Paul preached nothing save Christ and
| Him crucifed. 1t is such gospel this
which is 1.-The power OF God unto salvation"
3. The strength and safety of the disciples
and servants of Christ (2l, 22)-"Having
therefore obtained help of God, / continue
unto this day." The labors and perils of
Psul had been many; and be had survi we'd
them all. God had been his helper. How
often would he have failed utterly but for
such help. And is 1t not permitted to all to
take courage from his experience?
4. The superiority over all others OF the
Christians choice (2426).-Paul was in the
midst of his story when the Roman Governor
suddenly and rudeIy interrupted him. The
truths he uttered seemed incredible, and the
vision he had described the result of wild
imagination. Festus charged him with
madness. He fancied that long porting oyer
ancient writings had turned his head.
So many now think. There are people
who make boast OF being common sense
people, we'll balanced. too clesr-headed to be
caught by fancies, who look upon an in
tensely earnest Christian as little better than
rgviDg fan attic. But Psups calm response
was one which any true Christian might re-
turn to such charge. After all. truth aud
tOberDess" are not on the side OF the world.
liDgs who forget God and put off suffering
and risen Savior. In the great emergencies
of life, when earthly fortunes and friends
fail, men do not go for cheer and help 10 in-
fdels and scoffers. Their sober thought turns
rather TO those who can tell them Of the cross
Of Christ and the welcoming arms OF a risen
Redeemer. The trouble with most goddess
men is that they are not given as they should
be, TO tober thought Of thin Rs that relate 10
the soui's needs and welfare.
3 Different pleas OF re- ecters OF Christ
and his gospel (24-2S) The substance OF the
plea implied in the words OF Festus was that
the religion OF Christ is irrational; TO accept
1t ould be madness; Christians are entha-
siasts, fanatics. But Agrippa's respo use 10
Paufs question indicated a different temper.
There has been great debate over the right
rendering of his words. IL Wa take that
OF the Revised Version, then his
answer was perhaps a sarcastic eva
SOD. he could not say he was uncon-
WINGED. He dared not DENY that the pro phets
pointed 10 suffering Christ. His heart was
moved. But be would conceal his emotion
while he put of acceptance OF the gospel.
And 80 be responded: You would make
me Christian by a short process indeed y
That was 10 aay. II would be rash in me 10
surrender 10 soon. The one seems to say,
Religion is enthusiasm and folly; the other.
/ must have time, 10 decide at once is un.
| reasonable And SO 1t is that men now ex-
cuse themselves from that change to which
the gospel invites them. Naughty pride and
ignorance moved Fsstus to q contemptuous
sneer. His slavery to lust and TO sinful ass
Citations prompted Agripps's scornful eva.
sion. But whichever o. whatever ii is, the
sinners plea is in every case the rejection
eff the grestesi good within human reach.
| g. What it il which makes one the truly
happy man go 32) There is. % nethng most
| gIandlY ohla In Panrs resnQnsa o A grinna.