The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-01-17
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON ~, FIRST QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JAN. 10.


Acts ~. 47-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. ID. M. stearns.
copyright 1901. by American Press Association
81. "Men and brethren, what shall we
dor This was the cry OF those who,
having heard the gospel preached by Pc
ter. were by the Spirit convinced Of their
sin, the sin OF rejecting Christ. Compare
the cry OF Saul and of the jailer In chap
tiers tx, 6; xvi, 80, when they, too, were
convinced OF sin. This is the work of the
Holy Spirit. as the Lord Jesus said,
"When He is come, He will convince the
world Of SIM because they believe not on
Me" John xvi, s, o.. Peter in the pow
or OF the Spirit, or the Spirit through
Peter, had preached Christ from Joel Ii,
Ps. xvi and OK. Ii might be said that he
gave a Bible reading from OF an EXPOSE
ton OF these passages from the Old Testa-
ment
3S. There was only one thing for them
10 do and that was TO receive Him whom
they had rejected and confess it by being
baptized IN Ills name, and they would
thus receive the forgiveness of sins and
the gift of tLe Holy Spirit. They had
thought that Jesus of Nazareth was an
impostor and a deceiver, but they must
change ,her mind about Him that is re-
pentance) and receive and honor Him as
Israel's Messiah. the Christ of God, the
only Saviour of sinners. See how Peter,
by the Spirit. makes prominent the remis-
sion Of sins. As Jesus had commanded in
Luke xiv. A. The gospel that does not
proclaim the forgiveness Of sins is not the
gospel of God concerning Jesus Christ,
but another gospel concerning which Paul
says, Let the preacher be accursed'
(Gal. i. 3, .; II Cor. XII, II.
80 Our Lord had said, Him that com
eth unto Me | will in nowise cast out"
John vi. 30, and He had prayed for the
soldiers who nailed Him to the cross.
Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do" and He had said to the
penitent thief, To-day shalt thou be with
Me in paradise" luke XIII, 81, 43). So
Peter encouraged these whom he had ac-
cused OF killing Christ Verse 23) 10 turn
TO Him, that they might obtain His for
giveness. The call is TO every one, how
ever far off and dead in sin, to come, for
Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, and whOsoever believeth in Him
shall not be ashamed II Tim. i, 10; Rom.
TX, SO; X, IL.
40. AS the Spirit gave him utterance he
set before them the grace OF God in Christ
Jesus, urging them TO come out from the
unbelieving and show themselves for
Christ. He did not expect that all who
heard would believe, for he had been
taught by the Lord Jesus that, while
some seed would fall on good ground,
some would also fall OH the hard beaten
ground, some on rocky and some on
thorny soil.
Al. Three thousand, or about that num-
Der, received Christ by receiving the truth
concerning or by believing the testimony
that Peter gave Of Jesus Christ as the
promised Messiah who by the sacrifice Of
Himself made atonement for sin, who,
having by Himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand OF the Majesty on
high Heb. i. y and sent the Holy Spirit,
who now brought these truths home TO
their hearts. Faith cometh by hearing
the word of God. not by any enticing
words OF mans wisdom (Rom X, II; |
Cor, i. II; ii, A.. and as the word OF God
is declared the spirit OF God works. Tn
less God works nothing is accomplished,
for even Christ could DO nothing of Him
self John V. 80; viii, 2S).
~, 43. This great ingathering was, no
doubt one Of the greater works" Of
which Christ had spoken John xiv, ~,
and they proved their sincerity by con-
tinuing steadfastly in the doctrine, in fell
lowship and in prayer tJohn viii, Sd.
This was a genuine work OF the Holy
Spirit IA work of God in the name of the
Lord Jesus, and through one OF the weak
est OF earthcn vessels: there was nothing
OF man in il. The wonders and signs
were the Lord working with them and
the word with signs following"
Mark xvi 20). The great resurrection
chapter concludes with the exhortation
to be "steadfast, unmovable, always
Astounding i'm the work of the Lord" II
Cor. XIV, so, and it is our privilege to say
with John, Truly our fellowship Is with
the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ Il John i. -. Patient continu-
ance in well doing" Rom. ii, y is very
good summary OF the believers daily life.
A, As. And all that believed were to-
gether and had all things common" In
his first gathering of the redeemed from
among the Jews out Of all nations Verse
- the Spirit seems TO have so fully con-
trolled them that they manifested the
spirit OF their Lord and Master in so low
ng each other that they counted nothing
heir own. but wrought and lived that
hey might have to give to him that need
eth (Eph. iv. 2S). The leaven, always
of evil Lev. xiii, 16, 10,
soon began to work and TO appear, and
Ill sought their own. not the things which
ire Jesus Christ's. And many turned
away and loved this present world or
sought pre-eminence in the church instead
If honoring Christ as pre-eminent in all
Kings phil. ii, 81; III Tim. /, 10; Nv, 10;
III John 8; Col. !, 1S).
46. Continuing daily with one accord"
Whether In the temple or at home. there
was true fellowship and gladness and
ingleness of heart. They were servants
II Christ indeed, doing the will Of God
rom the heart, acceptable to God and
approved of men (Eph. vi, @; Rom. xiv,
lS). This was not their manner of life
'ne day In the week only, but every day
BY the grace of God. They were filled
with and constantly manifesting these
features of the observation-disclosures
and peace and JOY in the Holy Ghost
Rom. xiv, 10, and God was glorified in
hem before the people.
AZ. THE Lord added 10 the church
daily such as should be saved" In the
A. ssoL.. l.