The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-01-15
SABBATH SCHOOL \
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FoR
JANUARY ~.
Lesson Text: "a Multitude Convefta y
Cd" Acts H., 32-47-Golden
Text: Acts H., 39-CeR:
mensary.

W. "ThiS Jesus main 6Ou faisou up
whereof We oil are witnesses" The man who
| had with oaths and curses so cowardly de-
| MED Him is the one who Is chosen by the
| Spirit to be HIS mouthpiece to this multitude
Being filled with the Spirit takes away ally
thought of self and all fear OF man. He first
quotes from Joelii., 1882. and says here Is a
fulhllment OF the words of that prophet. he
then speaks Of Jesus OF Nazareth and the
| wonders wrought by God through Him, and
openly charges them with His death. He
then quotes from the words OF David In Ps.
| xvi. concerning His resurrection and con-
tinues in the words Of this first verse OF our
| lesson.
33. Before He died He said that He was
going back to the Father who had sent Him.
and that He would send down from heaven
J .he Holy Spirit, whom they now saw and
heard in these disciples (John xvi, 6-S).
Here, then, was tho evidence that Jesus Of
! Nazareth was roally the one He professed to
be, and not an impostor or blasphemer.'
Here was the evidence that He whom they
| orucned was now alive from the dead and
| actually In heaven.
"a, IS. David did not rise from the dead.
! He did not speak OF his own resurrection In
Ps. XVII, but OF Him OF whom he said In Ps.
cx., l, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit
thou on My right tand until make thy foes
| thy footstool." David, as to his spirit, Is
certainly in glory. but his body still sleeps
| In the dust OF the earth.
Sc. Peter, therefore, by the Spirit. insists
J that tho very Same Jesus whom they cruci-
| lleu tOu mas rutSed from Iuo uehu anu tukcu
to His own right hand, thus making him
Lord and Christ and declaring Him to be the
| long promised Son OF David to sit on Davld's
| throne, aud the Son of Abraham In whom oil
the promises to the fathers are to be full
| filed.
81. The Spirit, by His words through
! Peter, took hold OF their hearts, convinced
them of their sin aud led them to cry out,
"Men and brethren, what shall We do?"
There was no urging on tho part OF Peter
| that fhav Qhonl1 forward TO the npnf.
| tent bench, or raise their hands for prayer.
| or sign q card declaring their intention to
lead new life. however helpful these meth
| DDS may sometimes be.
"What shall We dor" His answer was, "Be.
lieve on Him whom GOD hath sent" (John
vi, %, 29). Peter says, by the same Spirit.
Repent and be 6aptize which , is another the
Jesus was til sir Messiah would be complete
| change OF mind or repentance on their pnrt,
and to be baptized in His name would be the
| outward confession that they had received
| Him. To receive Him would secure the for
giveness Of oil their sins (John l., II; John
H.. 12).
81. The promise is to all who will come
that they shall iu no wise be cast out (John
| vi, SD. There were some illustrations Of
households being saved. rs in Gen. VIII, I,
xviii, 19; XIX, IL: Joshua H., 1S. He calls
all who hear and bids them come without
money nnd without price. The God who
sought out and restored Adam and Eve. who
sent angels to rescue Lot and his family, who
pleaded so earnestly with backsliding Israel
(Jer ILL.,, IS, ~, is our God and the same
Interchangeable Jehovah.
40. Perhaps some OF the "many other
words" He used might be found in Isa. l., 18;
kill, 25; w., G. 4: Ezok. xHxvi., &c, for those
are :he Spirits own words to sinuers. Peter
| did not think to save the generation or race
OF Jews. but He did expect. like Paul, to save
some OF them I Cor. ix., 22).
,l,a n.,>
and thus became children OF God Gohn l..
IL; vi, 63; xviii. 8; Jas. l., 2D. Being bap.
tized, they confessed Him aud had tho assur.
ance that He would confess them before tho
Father (Math. Y, 32). But think OF 5000
doing so! Would not some evangelists be
tempted to make \ emonstration over thatl
Whoever heard Of such a result from one SER
mon2 This was the Lords doing and must
have been marvellous in their eyes.
AZ. "They continued steadfastly. y."-that
is. they believed firmly, for there is no other
way to be established. Compare IL Chron.
xx., 20, with lsa. vli., 9. This verse seems
to say that they were instructed. They
talked with each other of these things, es-
pecially Of Him. They commcmcrn;ed His
death. They were much in prayer. How
sorry they would be that they had not re.
ceived Him sooner! How they would long
for His return. and With what zeal they
would testify OF Him!
| 43. The wonders and signs wrought by the
apostles would doubtless be on the line Of
Mark xvi, 1920, and being such rs He Him.
self wrought when Ho was on earth would
add to their testimony that He was still alive,
though invisible, and hnd all power In
heaven and on earth. 1t was the Lord works
ing with them and confirming the word with
signs following Mark xvi, 2r).
A. One great family bound together BY
His love to them, and their love to Him and
to each other, having great desire 20
please Him and that others might receive
Him too. They doubtless believed that all
He had was theirs and thus were drawn to
share all they had with each other. The
Spirit controlled all. and it was foretaste
OF heaven upon the earth.
As. Earthly possessions lost their attrac-
s tha" iy r% % M nS" v them
His who were in need. The Spirit OF Him
who though He was rich yet for our cakes
became poor, had taken hold OF them, and
they counted nothing so precious as His love,
and tho privilege Of showing some love to
Him. Tho first gave their own selves to
tho Lord II Cor. viii. 81, and then to each
other by the will OF God. Tho same spirit
to-day would III tho treasures Of the mis-.
sion boards and put many workers in The
field.
46. With one accord, with gladness and
singeness OF heart. This described thels
daily life Of service unto Him whom they
had received as Saviour aud coming King.
1t Is tho third time we have met the phrase
with one accord" See l., IA; ILL.
Al. Praising God is q good way to draw
people unto Him, and thus they will be added
to the church. In chapters ", II; H., "a, we
read OF people being added to the Lord, and
that Is tho only real addition that will stand
Thus they arc truly added to the church
which is tho body Of Christ. People may bs
added to the membership OF q church with.
out being added to the Lord, but IL they be.
come part OF Christ by faith in Him they
are then part OF the church, and 1t matters
little what denomination they belong to.
The Lord fill us with His Spirit TO serve Him
with gladness and singleness Of heart. Les.
son Helper.