The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-16
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LIE SSON FOR
NOVEMBER 90.
Lesson Text: "Paul's First Missionary
Sermon" Acts kill, 26-43-
Golden Text: Actsx ill.,,
26-Commentary. ......


&c. Paul and Barnabas on their first mig.
sionary journey having arrived at Antioch
IN flsidla are found In the synagogue on the
Sabbath day, and being invited to speak
Paul begins at the exodus Of Israel from
Egypt and briefly reviews the nations his
tory up to David. and then passes at once
to the Sc promised to David, even Jesus,
the Saviour Of Israel. mentioning John the
Baptist and his preaching as the herald of
Jesus. Our lesson opens by his saying that
this salvation is especially for Israel.
"a. He then testifies that the rulers at Jer-
usalem, not believing the prophets, al
though read In the synagogue every Sab
bath day, had done just as the prophets had
foretold, and condemned their deiiverer to
death. Zee Ps- xii, 1918; lsa. liii., 8, z,
and compare Acts w., 81, 90. =.
28. He confirms the threetold testimony
OF P1late TINT there was no fault In Jesus
John xviii, 3S; xix, 4. o.. He knew no sin.
He did no sin. He was holy, harmless, uude-
hIed and separate from sinners III Cor. ".
H;i Pet. H., %; Heb. vii. 28). Even Judas
testified that He was an innocent man
(Math. xvii, n. 'E,.'
: 20. All things are known to God from the
beginning Acts xv., 49,, and the Holy Spirit
had written beforehand in the Old Testament
every detail of.the sufferings, death and re
surrection of Christ, all of which was liter
ally fulfilled even to the casting lots upon
His vesture and His being buried in the tomb
OF rich man.
80. But God raised Him from the dead y
God has sworn to David concerning his seed
that He would establish the throne Of His
kingdom for ever III Sam. vii, II, 1S. Isaiah
also had said that the Wonderful Counselor
should have His kingdom established upon
the throne OF David forever lisa. X, g. q.
But this implied an immortal man. man
because he would be David's seed, immortal
because he would rsign forever.
81. The witnesses to His resurrection were
very many, not less than 500, and he was
seen ten times at least during q period Of
forty days, aud was always speaking of this
kingdom, the kingdom to be restored to Is
rael at His comingagain In glory Il Cor. xv.,
6; Acts l., 3, g; Iii, 2l).
81. I'VE declare unto You glad tidings."
The Gospel Is always glad tidings, whether
1t be the Gospel Of the grace Of God or the
Gospel Of the glory OF God (Acts XIX, "a; I
Tim. j., II, r. w, and when received it in
variably makes glad those who receive II. It
is high honor to be privileged to declare
these glad tidings, and yet this honor is
freely conferred upon every believer (Acts
viii. :, 4; Rev. xii, IL.
30. The New Testament opens with tho
statement that 1t is about Jesus Christ, the
son Of David the son Of Abraham, implying
that all that was promised to both David and
Abraham will be made good to and In Jesus
Christ. All the promises of God In Him are
yea, and in Him amen III Cor. j., 20. The
resurrection OF Christ is the pledge Of the
fulflllment of every promise
"a. Having quoted Ps. IL, 7, as referring
to theresurrection Of Christ, he now quotes
lisa. w., 8, as referring to the same great
event. II those'who make wills could live to
see them executed there would not be 50 much
breaking of wills, but the one who makes
the will must first die In order to make the
will Of force (Heo. IL, 10, IN: Jesus died,
but Jesus is alive forevermore. having all
power, and will surely see to the full carry
ing out Of every provision In his will tRev.
j., 49,. -...
IS. Yet another quotation does Paul make
in this sermon, and all to prove that Jesus
was the one spoken of In the prophets and In
the Psalms This time the reference is TO
Ps xvi, 10. How much more like Bible
readings rather than like the ordinary SER
mons Of to-day are the discourses of Peter
and Paul and Stephen. Compare with this
chapters ii. and vii.
SO. David could not have written Of him
self in Ps. xvi, for his body saw corruption,
and although some say that Jesus Is now on
David's throne in heaven, they fail to tell us
where it is written that David ever bad q
throne in heaven, and seem to forget that 1t
is written david is not ascended into the
heavens" (Acts IL, 34.
81. ''But BE, whom God raised again. saw
no nocorruption. His life was not taken from
Him, but He laid it down OF Bis own ac-
cord and by His own power he took 1t
again John <, 1S). This Is our Re1eemer,
the Great Head Of the church, the King OF
Israel and King Of Nations; and to us who
are In Him will He give immortal, iucorrup-
tible bodies like His own Il Cor. xv., 81:
Phil. Ill. 20, 21).
3s. In oroer to enjoy this redemption and
share His glory we must first obtain the for
o1yencss OF sins. This is true Of Jew or Gen.
tile, individual or Nation. Sin Is the great
barrier between man and God lisa. lix., y,
but Jesus has stepped in between, and the
Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity OF US all
lisa. liiI., o.. 90. ~ =.
SO. Fully has he made atonement, and
freely Goes He offer to every believer all
the benefits Of that great redemption. The
law cannot save, but Christ is the end OF the
law for righteousness to every one that be-
iieveth rom. viii, 8. 4; T., 4: i'll, ~. JUS
tified is more than forgiveness; 1t Is such Q
destroying OF the record that was against US
that there Is nothing left Of it (Col. H., LAY
40, Al. These verses are from lsa. XXX
%, 16; Hab. l., S. In connection with state
ments to this effect that God Is OF purer eyes
than to behold evil and cannot look on in
iquity, and that He sees the hearts Of those
who draw near with their mouth and honor
Him with their lips, while they have more
respect for men than for Him. A salvation
so fully provided and so freely offered must
be honestly received with true penitence and
humility, or it would be better for US never
to have heard than to have heard 1t and
made light Of 1t or despisei 1t.
AZ. The Gospel Of the grace Of God always
makes people want to hear more OF 1t. Its
never old or unattractive 1t Is Gods own
good news for the soul Of man and finds
response in the heart. It makes people for
get the ipclemency Of the weather and the
WEAKNESS of the body and brings them TO-
gether to hear more.
4S. Continue in the grace Of God" This
is summary Of the advice Of the apostles
to the new converts, and it is the best posi-.
BILE advice for every believer. 1t sets aside
all thoughts of our own goodness, and keeps
US humble and grateful at the feet of Jesus.
See Rom. ill.,, "a; v, 2; Eoh. H., 8; Tim. j,
II; Cor. xv., 10.-Lesson Helper.
In the little city of Ottawa, capi.