The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-01-27
PETER CONFESSING.
FIFTH LESSON OF THE INTERNA-
TloNAL 8. 6. sERles, JAN. 20, 1889.

Comments by Rev. william Newton, ID. ID.
Te.t Of Lesson. Matt. xvi, 1s-as--DoIdcp
Test, Matt. Il. ss-Memorise Verses
s4-as.
tFrom Lesson Helper Quarterly, by permission Of
H. g. Hoffman, Philadelphia, publisher.l
Notes.-Cesarea Philippi, or Pancas, for
merly dedicated TO Pan, and supposed 10 be
the same as the ancient Leshem II was en-
larged and beautifed by Philip, the tetrarch,
and by him named Ccsarea, in honor Of
Cesar Tiberius. Il was called Pbilippi to
distinguish IL from Cesarea Palestine. The
Son Of Man, l. g., the Second Adam, the title
by which Jesus always speaks of himself
Bar-Jonah, l. e., son Of Jonas This rock, or
this truth, concerning myself Gates Of hell,
l. e., the place OF departed spirits-especially
evil spirits. Savorest not, l. e., dost not rel
ish or desire. Come after me, or be my dis
ciple. Profited, or what shall he gain by it.
Own soul, his own true life.
V. 13. w, are now entering the second
division Of the record Of the public ministry
Of Jesus. As the first commenced with the
attestation Of the father to his sonship, Matt.
Iii, IL, SO this commences with a similar
attestation on the part of one of his apostles.
Up to this time no such declaration appears
on the part Of the people or of his disciples.
Jesus asked his disciples what the people said
about bimf Whom did they take him to bel
" IA. And the answer was varied In its
tone. Some probably the Herodians said
John the Baptist. They held that he was
risen from the dead and SO accounted for the
mighty works which Jesus wrought. Others
said he was Elias, or Elijah, while yet others
said he was Jeremiah, or one of the other
prophets All gave him a high position;
while, probably, the popular judgment was
much lowered by the opposition of the Scribes
and Pharisees to belief in his Messiahship
V. 49, But Jesus would not rest here At
once he made personal matter. "Who say
ye that l amr thus pointing the great truth
that In every such question the individual
application is always the paramount concern.
In that line it is of small consequence to us
what others may think or say, but it is of in
finite moment to ourselves that we each one
think and speak the real truth about Christ
V. 10. And Peter, moved with a sudden in
spiration, at once replies: "Thou art the
Christ, the Son Of the living God.n 1t was
glorious confession; radiant with the bright
est beam of the truth and instinct with its
mightiest power. Through the ages it has
hoated, banner like, at the head of the army
Of the church, and underneath its folds the
battle has always waged with the most un-
yielding severity. We note two points in
this confession, i. e.,
1. Its positiveness. There was no hating
in the march of Peters thought; no uncer.
tainty in its tone; no reservation in its state
ment, 1t was clear, bold and ringing There
was no paltering with it in double sense
"Thou art the Christ" 1t was simple and
unqualified truth.
v. II. How clear, how distinctly lined it
was. 1t was not taught him by flesh and
blood. Man had not taught it to him;
neither had he wrought it out by process Of
his own mind. 1t was given him from above.
'My father which is in heaven" hath showed
1t unto thee.
!. The title Jesus gives the church. It is
"My Church, 1t is so in every regard. The
idea Of 1t is mine. 1t was with me before
the world began In the silence of eternity
it was with me- l saw it, and knew it, and
loved it from everlasting. The purchase of
it was mine. gave myself for it. bought it
with my blood. ~ will build up my church."
Every living stone laid upon the true founda-
tion is my work. And the keeping of it il
mine. Unseen my hand shall be upon it, and
~ will keep it night and day." 1t is all
mine.
2. The foundation of 1t. "This rock"
"Other foundation can no man lay than that
is laid, which is Christ Jesus" Cor. iii, IL.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, behold,
lay in Zion for foundation, stone, a tried
stone, precious corner stone, q sure founda-
tion," Is. xviii, 10, and Pet ii, ~.
8. The builder Of it ~ will build,n etc.
He is both the foundation Of his church and
the builder Of it. On himself, as the sure
foundation, he lays each believer There he
abides. Thence he receives the new life by
which as a living stone he grows up into
holy temple in the Lord. With his own hand,
by his own spirit, he imparts to each his own
life, and Of all he says, because live, ye
shall live also"
4. The safety of it. 1.-THE gates of hell
shall not prevail against it." How can theyi
II the church is his, if he is the foundation of
it and the builder Of it, il he keep it, how can
it be otherwise than safel He'll is hades, or
the place of departed spirits-especially here,
Of evil spirits. Gates were the place In
ancient cities where counsel was taken and
public measures determined on. "The gates
Of hell, therefore, mean all that the powers
of evil can devise and execute against my
church. In the midst Of it all the church II
safe evermore.
V. 90 Jesus would not have his enemies
reused into undue activity against him be-
fore the time; but would have every ques-
tion concerning himself to be worked out by
life. They must judge from that In the light
Of their own Scriptures.
V. 2l-23. In these verses we have:
Our Lords prediction of his death;
Peters protest against it; and
Our Lords rebuke of Peter.
v. "a. Here follows the universal law Of
the Kingdom. Peter did not want to admit
the thoughts Of God about the Cross He
had much pleasanter thoughts and schemes
of his own. And SO he must deny himself.
| And SO must every one who would be the
Lords disciple.
v. 1928. We must remember that, as our,
Lord spoke them, "life" and "souln are ons|
and the same word. That 'life" is used in
two senses-a higher and lower; bodily
and spiritual sense--and that our true life
or soul may be lost And what will every
thing else profit Us if that is donei What
| shall we give in exchange for iti For that
will survive when the Master comes again.
| And what will compensate for lost souli
| GENERAL LESSONS.
| /. The need Of right views about Christ
| Everything turns on this AS John Newton
says:
| "What think ye Of Christi" Is the test,
| To try both our state and our scheme;
We cannot be right in the rest,
Unless we think rightly OF him.
3. The ineffable mystery of the Gospel u
just the inevitable necessity of the Gospel
For, unless Jesus were man. he could not get
into the place of the Saviour. And If he were
not at the same time God, he could not save
us il he We're there.
3. The soul is the equivalent of mans
self. Luke, therefore, points the equivalent
| fhnS-Npain the vyhOla world and lOcn him.