The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-01-26
PETER COMPOSING.
FIFTH LESSON OF THE lNTERNA-
TIoNAL S. s. SERIES, JAN. 20, 1883.

x
FIFTH LESSEN OF THE lNTERNA-
TIONAL S. S. SERIES, JAN. 90, 1888.
Comments by Rev. William Newton, d. d.
Text of Lesson. Matt. xvi, 1s-2s-Go1dcn
Text, Matt. y 32-Memo,ize Verses
24-2S.
[From Lesson Helper Quarterly by permission Of
e. s. Hoffman. Philadelphia, publisherl
Notes-Cesarea Philippi, or Pancas, for
merly dedicated to Pan, and supposed to be
the same as the ancient Leshem It was en-
larged and beautifed by Philip, the tetrarch,
and by him named Cesarea, in honor of
Caesar Tiberius. 1t was called Philippi to
distinguish it from Cesarea Palestine. The
Son of Man, l. g., the Second Adam, the title
by which Jesus always speaks of himself.
Bar-Jonah, i. e., son of Jonas. This rock, or
this truth, concerning myself. Gates of hell.
i e., the place OF departed spirits especially
evil spirits. Savorest not, i. e., dost not rel
ish or desire Come after me- or be nv dis
ciple. Profted, or what shall he gain by it.
Own soul, l. e., his own true life.
V. 13. We 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, II, so this commences with a similar
attestation OF the part of one of his apostles
Up to this time ne sash declaration appears
on the part OF the. Sple or OF his disciples.
And ii came IN sIflsNe4. to his own question.
Jesus asked his disciples what the people said
about hims Whom did they take him to bea
V. II. 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 high position;
while, probably, the popular Judgment was
much lowered by the opposition of the Scribes
and Pharisees to belief in his Messiahship.
V. Is. But Jesus would not rest here. At
once he made a personal matter. "Who say
ye that arng' 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. is. And Peter, moved with sudden in
spiration, at once replies: ''Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God" 1t was a
glorious confession; radiant with the bright
est beam of the truth and instinct with its
mightiest power Through the ages it has
aoated, 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.,
l. Its positiveness There was no halting
in the march of Peters thought; no uncer-
tainty in its tone; no reservation in it's state
ment. It was clear, bold and ringing There
was no paltering with it in double sense.
''Thou art the Christi It was simple and
unqualified truth,
Y. 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 be wrought it out by process OF
his own mind. It was given him from above.
MY father which is in heavenn hath showed
it unto thee.
l. The title Jesus gives the church. 1t is
''My Church" 1t is SO in every regard. The
idea of it is mine 1t was with me before
the world began. In the silence of eternity
it was with me. I saw it, and knew it, and
loved it from everlasting. The purchase OF
1t was mine. gave myself for it. bought il
with my blood. 81 will build up my church.
Every living stone laid upon the true founda
tion is my work. And the keeping of it i.
mine Unseen my hand shall be upon it, and
81 will keep it night and day." It is all
mine
2. The foundation Of it. t'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 a foundt.tion, a stone. a tried
stone, precious corner stone, sure founda
tion," Is xviii, Is, and Pet. ii, ~.
8 The builder of it. II will build,n etc
He is both the foundation of his church an6
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 6
| holy temple in the Lord. With his own hand
by his own spirit, ne imparts to each his OWL
| life, and of all he says, Because 1 live, ye
shall live also"
4 The safety Of it. ''The gates of he'll
| shall not prevail against itn How can they
If the church is his, if he is the foundation Of
it and the builder of it, if he keep it, how car
| it be otherwise than safes He'll is hades, OF
| the place of departed spirits-espe here
| of evil spirits. Gates were the place iI
ancient cities where counsel was taken and
public measures determined on. "The gate!
of he'll, !" therefore, mean all that the power:
of evil can devise and execute against my
| church. In the midst of it all the church i
safe evermore
| V. 20. Jesus would not have his enemie:
oused into undue activity against him be
| fore the time; but would have every ques
ton concerning himself to be worked out by
them under the quiet influence of his Owl
| life. They must judge from that in the ligh'
of their own Scriptures.
| V. 21-23 In these verses we have:
Our Lords prediction of his death;
Peters protest against it; and
| Our Lords rebuke of Peter.
| Y. "a. Here follows the universal law O
the Kingdom. Peter did not want to adni
the thoughts of God about the Gross, I'll
had much pleasanter thoughts and scheme
of his own. And SO he must deny himself
And SO must every one who would be tn
Lords disciple.
| Y. 1928. We must remember that as ou
Lord spoke them, 'lifen and ''soup are on
| and the same word That ''life" is used il
two senses-a higher and lower; bodil..
and spiritual sense--and that our true lif
OF soul may be lost. And what will every
thing else profit us if that is dones Wha
shall we give in exchange for It'll For tina
| will survive when the Master comes again
And what will compensate for a lost soult
GENERAL LESSONS
l. The need of right views about Christ
Everything turns on this. As John Newto
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.
2. The ineffable mystery of the Gospel
just the inevitable necessity of the Gospe
For, unless Jesus were man, he could not ge
into the place of the Saviour. And if he wei
not at the same time God, he could not say
US if he were there.
8. The soul is the equivalent of man
self. Luke, therefore, points the equivaler
thus--''gain the whole world and lose hin
self or be cast away" Luke tx, 25. For tt
SOUL or the true life, carries the body with
and determines the state and destiny of th
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