The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-01-17
Iprepared by II. G. LensngGn.l
THE LESSON TEXT.

thsrs were added unto them about lhree
thousand souls.
al And they continued steadfastly in the
apostles doctrine and fellowship. and in
breaking OF bread. and In prayers.
A. And fear came upon every soul: and
many wonders and signs were done by the
apostles.
a. And all that believed were toge.hsr.
ana had all things common;
- And sold their possessions and goods.
and parted them to all men. every man
had need.
". And they. continuing daily with one
accord In the temple. and breaking bread
from house TO house. did eat their meat
with gadness and singleness OF heart
q, Praising God, and having favor with
an the people. And the Lord added 10 the
church daily such as should be saved
GOLDEN T.xT.-The Lord added To
the church daily such ms should be
.nsed.-Acts 2:i..
NOTES AND COMMENTS
lhe lesson to be studied is Peters
sermon. Acts 2:i4-40. and the results in
the great increase in the number OF
fsc.ples. Peters sermon had three
min divisions:
60 Prophecy fulfilled. VS. 1921
C) Jesus the Christ. VI, 22-36.
Co The call to repentance. VS.. 37-4o.
he first two of these we considered
III ihe lesson Of last week This week
we take up the third. the call to re-
pentance. After recalling that a Nes-
siah had been promised and show.ag
that Jesus was the Messiah, Peer
showed that salvation should thence
forth come only through faith in tie
risen Christ. Peter put the truth in
the strongest possible way in which
Id could be put. lie was speaking to
many who had been present when
plate had offered TO release Jesus.
They had cried out: Cruelty Him,
give us Barrabas." Most had sympa-
ihized with the sentiment whether
present to speak IL or not. There
FORE" said Peter, act all the house OF
Israel know assuredly. that Gcd hath
made that same Jesus. whom We have
crucified, both Lord and Christ"
"Whom We crucified." That echoed
IN their ears "Men and brethren"
they cried. "what shall we do?'' Then
Peter pointed out the way. Note the
steps: GD repent, (2) be baptized. CD
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
Repentance Is not mere sorrow for
sn. Many a man has been sorry for
b. sin. but has not then put his back
10 il. Repentance is a turning away
from sin toward God.
BE baptized, This for two reasons:
G) because Il is in imitation TO the ac:
Of Jesus Christ, whom we are TO ss~ve.
and f2) because OF the remission Of
our sins. Christ forgives sins. and II is
in His name that disciples are bap-
tiled. Emphasis should be put upon
the word remission" II you have re-
pentcd and your sins have been for
given. forget them. You will have 10
go for forgiveness for other sins. but
do not allow yourself 70 be burdened
with the old forgiven sin. IL has been
RENTED.
Received The Gift Of the Holy Ghost
This shows the essential democracy Of
the kingdom or Heaven. The gift Of
the spirit OF Christ is not alone for
those who receive II on Pentecost. but
unto you and to your children IL
means the gift OF power TO resist evil
and to help others to resist.
The result of the sermon was the
conversion OF 5000 men and women.
There had been 500 followers before.
In one day it had increased skiold.
This was the beginning of the church
OF Christ. Jesus had been jew. the
apostles were Jews, most of the new
converts, IL not all. were doubtless
Jews. vet here was now body Of peo-
pie who continued steadfastly in the
apostles doctrine and fellowship, and
IN breaking OF bread. and in prayers.
They were still Jews. for they met
daily in the temple, but they were
Christian Jews. Notice the "gladness
and singleness Of heart" verse 46. The
Christian life should be full of joy. II
is the complex things Of this world
that bring sorrow and perplexity. The
Christian life is one OF singleness o.
purpose Therefore is he glad. An
other thing worth noting is that the,
had flavor with all the people" No
all Christians are popular. All of thu
apostles suffered from persecution
Christ Himself. true. pure and holy ~
no other man has been. was houndes
70 death by His enemies. Yet IL re
mains true that the world admires |
virtuors man. A man will gain moth
ing from the world by skulking behin'
his conviction. and will lose all in tn
spiritual realm for his apostacy.