The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-05-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for May %. 1907
Paul Preaching to the Jews-Acts
13s26-:BD.


Acts 1888.
THE SECTION includes Paul's sermon
TO the Jews of Antioch, and It's effects.-l3:
1915.
TIME.-Probably summer of A. d. 40 or
PLACE.-Antioch In Pisidia. Asia Minor.
THE LESSON.
i. The Journey. If the apostles
started from Antioch early in March,
when navigation opened. they could
easily reach Perga in July. Then leav-
ing Perga without missionary labors
and Fastening TO the highlands, appar-
emily on account of Paups sickness
(Ramsay), or because many of the peo-
pie left the lowlands in the summer
(Cony and Howsoa), would lead
10 the same date.
ii. The Situation at Antioch. Anti
och was the chief city of Pisidia, in
southern Galatia. Greek was under
stood by the rulers, but among the
common people each tribe had it's own
language, though many could under
stand Greek. The entire peninsula was
given to idolatry, and the several COM
ponent states varied only in the par
ticular objects Of worship.
When the missionaries reached An
tioch their first work was to go TO the
Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath,
where, as distinguished strangers from
the more cultivated regions, they were
asked by the leaders to speak to the
people, as was the custom, after the
Scripture lessons of the day had been
read
III. Paul's Address. The report that
follows is doubtless only the summary
of what Paul said, giving the line of
his argument. 1t is worth while to
carefully follow Paups course of
thought.
SUBJECT: JESUS IS THE PROMISED
MESSIAH; ACCEPT HIM.
First. Look at your past history and
study the unfolding of Gods plans for his
kingdom, preparing for the Messiah and
Messianic times
God chose Israel for His people, by a
wonderful deliverance from Egypt ". I'D.
He trained them by 40 years OF discipline
in the wilderness ". 1S).
He gave them the promised land by means
Of great victories ". 49,
A long and patient development and disci-
pline, under the judges and King Saul Tvs.
20. 2D.
The kingdom established under David, a
man after his own heart, through whose
descendants was TO come the Messiah and
an everlasting kingdom Tvs. %. 23).
Second. The continuation Of this king
dom, the fulfilment Of the promises, the
Towering and frutage of Gods plans. was
through Jesus Christ, who is the promised
Messiah. The expected King has come.
Jesus is the Son of David, according to
the promise ". 49,.
He was heralded by John the Baptist,
who prepared the way before Him. as their
Scriptures had foretold of the Messiah Isa.
40:3. 4; Nal. BID.
PC. Men and brethren:" Brother men,
showing his affection and interest.
1.-THE stock of Abraham" True Jews,
and inheritors of the promises, as was
Paul himself. And whatsoever (not
Jews) feareth God" The Jews had not
been wholly wanting in missionary
work and in success. This salvation:"
The redemption sought for ages, which
we have prayed and longed for, is here
waiting for your acceptance.
An Objection. This cannot be, for
the authorities at Jerusalem, who have
studied the prophets, and saw and
heard Jesus, rejected Him.
81. "They that dwell at Jerusalem:"
The capital of the nation, the central
authority.
The Answer. True; but the reason
was that they knew Him not" Why?
Because they did not want to under
stand Him. They looked through
preiudiced and selfish eyes.
Another Objection. But this Jesus
is dead; how can He be the Messiah,
the everlasting King ". 2S)?
The Answer. He was innocent, as
were your prophets who were slain
By this very act.
20. "They had fulfilled all that was
written of Him." Only by dying and
making atonement could He be the Mes
siah. Your very objection is an argu-
ment in favor of His being the Messiah
For the prophets so pictured the Mes
siah.
But the complete answer is, that He
is not dead now. but is alive, for
30. God raised Him from the dead:"
God Himself answered the rulers.
Proof of the Resurrection of Jesus.
On this point hinges the whole argu-
ment, so that the rest of Pauls address
concerns the proof that Jesus rose from
the dead, and was living Savior.
Third. The Closing Appeal.-Vs. So
Al. The Promise.
80. Through this Man is preached"
Heralded. proclaimed. THE forgive
ness" or remission. "of sins"
The Need. The first great need of
each human being is the forgiveness of
sins. Unforgiven sin shuts us away
from God and Heaven.
The Salvation. 80. "All that believe
are justified:" Justification implies
both forgiveness and being made just
or righteous. from all things" every
kind of sin from all evils. could not
be justified by the law of Moses:"
Even under the old dispensation the
work of the law was not to justify. The
need is of a new heart. a life of love.
But faith in Christ does justify. ~
1t is the necessary condition of forgive
ness; (2) il implants n new heart and
new life; (3) il thus brings state Of
soul which renders it safe for God to
forgive, for otherwise forgiveness would
increase sin, not remove il.