The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-04-15
lHE SlBBA1H-SCRON LESSOR.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
APRIL IS.
Lesson Text: "The Resurrection" I
Cor. Ky. 1.-26-Golden Text.
Acts xi., 1S-Commen-
tary.

While for this week we turn from the reru.
tar lesson in the Acts to a special resurrec.
ton lesson, the connection OF thought is no,
broken. for in tho next lesson in order Acts
XII. 1920 the great number OF believers in
Antioch and elsewhere were won through the
preaching of Jesus and the resurrection, and
II was the power oil His resurrection that led
them TO send relief. every man according TO
his ability. to the brethren In Judna by the
hands Of Birnabas and Saul.
l.. 10. at there be no resurrection OF tho
dead, then is Christ not risen =" The Sad
ducees taught that there is no resurrection
neither angel nor spirit (Acts xii. 81. and
everywhere the apostles seemed to find tl,os.,
who hated the doctrine OF the resurrection
tActs w.. .; XVI, s; xviii. 32(. But it Is tn,
great fact which crowns all in the work OF
Christ. by 1t tie was with power declared
To be the Son Of God from. l., ~, and We
must believe in our hearts that God raised
Him from the dead CRom. ". o.; | Thess. iv.,
liN.
II. Is. "lf Christ be not risen, then is our
preaching vain. and your faith is also vain. ="
n all the apostles would be scored AS false
witnesses Tor preaching what was not true.
The resurrection Of Christ rom tho dead is
the assurance 10 all men that He is indeed
the Son OF David, the Messiah OF Israel ana
the Judge OF all men Acts H., 29-3l: xviii.
3D. As surety for US He was delivered for
our ~oGIenses. but if He is not raised from the
dead there Is no justification for tho sinner,
Tor the surety remains IN prison (Rom. iy..
25). Unless Christ is alive from the dead
here is no gospel TO preach, no glad tidings
Tor sinners, aud all preachers are fools and
liars.
IL, Il. at 1hrist he not raised, your faith
Is vain; yc are yet in your sins A dead
Christ has no power 70 save or To forgive
sins, and | think that iSthe force OF the yues-
ton in verse 30. Why haptize any ono in
The name Of n dead Christi Israel was bap-
Tied unto Moses as II living leader in the
cloud and in the sea | Cor. ", /, ~. our
Christ Is alive from the dead, an immortal
man, the God man, having all power in
heaven and on earth. Al Gods right hand
He is the assurance to every believer Of tho
forgiveness Of sins, for there could not b, mt
Gods right hand one on whom any sin WAS
resting.
Is. Then they also which are fallen
asleep in Christ aro perishcd." II Christ il
not ut Gods right hand. nlivo forrvernorc.
then stephen was deceived and lied when hn
suii. Il see the Son OF Man standing on the
right hand Of God' acts vii. 5Gl. Ananias
tied when he said To Saul. 'rh Lord Jesus
appeared unto thee in the way ~ thou cam
sst" acts ix., ~. and NIL Paul's testimony
~ TO tn dead being absent from the body
an present with the Lord Ol Cor. ". S;
Phil. l.. u, 23) is simply without foundation.
~. "lf in this life only we have hope in
Christ. we are Of all men most miserable"
The present life OF the believer Is set forth
by the Holy Spirit both in the gospels aud
the epistlcs ms n life of tribulation and ar'ic-
ton and suffering (John xvi. 80; Col. l., "a;
l Pet. H., 20, II; w.. ~, l3). Il life Of such
treatment from the world rs Christ Himself
rpgpiVpl Llphn w 10 ON hnt thn -, "
incs are not worthy to be compared with the
glory to be revealed. and we nre ever to con-
slider Christ aud His sufrerings lest we grow
weary and faint (ltom. viii, IS; Heb. xii. 3;
john xiv, y.
20. But now is Christ risen from the dead
and become the first fruits OF them that
slept" In verses 8 TO 8 Paul mentions six
d.1slent appearances of Christ after His
resurrection. and there IRE Mt least five
Others recorded. Thus He showed Himself
alive after His passion ny many infallible
proofs acts l., -, speaking much of the
kingdcm during those forty days between
His resurrection and visible ascension, the
kingdom which is associated with the resur-
recliOn OF the saints nj the second coming Of
Christ %lverses 50-5i; lsa. XIV. 3, .; Dan. Kill,
IL; Acts iii, 20. u; Math. XIV, 81, 32l.
Il, 22. For since 10y man came death. by
man came also the resurrection OF the dead,
Tor as in Adam all die. even so in Christ
shall all be made alive" In verse 40 Adam
and Christ are spoken OF as the frs, Adam
and the last Adam. Tho first brought sin
and death upon the race, but the last has
brought life md resurrection for all who
will accept Him. All are OF necessity in
Adam. the ono man ~ whom sin entered
the world (som. V, ~, Is, l9), all who
accept Chri,t are in Christ and enjoy tho
benefits OF His righteousness. which are
sufficient for all who will accept Him md
whosoever will may 0Eev. Nyli., ~.
%. But every man in his own order,
Christ the first fruits, aItcrward they that
are Chri-t's at His coming" In Col. l., Is.
and Rev. l., ), Christ is called tho frstborn
or first beSotten from the dead, for by virtue
OF His resurrection all resurrPctions nave
taken place or will take place. Both Just AMI
unjust shall rise from their graves acts
xiv, l5). but there shall be an interval Of
1000 years between them. Rev. Ky, 5, G,
is very plain upon this.
"a. "Then cometh the end, when He shall
have delivered up the kingdom TO God,
even the Father 1.-The afterward' Of the
previous verse was already covered over
1900 years since Christ rose from the dead.
then OF this verse will cover the thou
sand years Of the millennium, after which
Will come the new heavens and earth wherein
dwoIleth righteousness. when Goo shall be-
all in all oversees 2s. 20; II Pct. ill.,, l3(. In
asmrch as "He is able TO subiue all things
unto Himself" (Phii, ill.,. 2l) and will evpntu-
ally, why not trust Him even now to subdue
MS fully unto Himself and make us wholly
new creatures to His glory? (Rev. XXI, 81
20, &c. For He must reign till h hath |
put all enemies under His feet. The last |
enemy that shall be destroyed is death"
When He thus reigns and subdues, We are
TO reign WITH Him (Rev. ". 10; xy.; 4. g.. |
See also Ps. cxiiX. He is now at the Fathers |
right hand ON the Fathers throne waiting
for tie completion OF His body. the cnurcn, |
but after that He will sit on His own throne
TO Judge the nations and to rule the world
in righteousness. (NIath. xxxv., 81; Acts
xviii, 80. Then shall we TO manifested
Him (Col. ill.,, 4; i John ill.,, 2; also
Rev. Ill, 21.) SO a time will come when on
This earth there shall be no more death. |
neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall |
there be any more pain Grew. XXI, a.
let me know the power OF Thy resur-ec-
ton!
Oh, let me show Thy risen life in calm and
clear reflection!
Oh, let me soar where Thou, my Saviour,
Christ. art gone before!
La mind and heart lst me dwell ALWAYS on,y \
where Thou AIT.
Lesson Helper.