The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-21
STUDIES in THE BOOK OF ACTS.
FOR MARCH y. 1909.
INTRODUCTION.

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INTRODUCTION. 35
In tho last lesson We hnd an account
Of tho mob rnised by Dcmotrlus ut
lcphesls. (Aots, XIX: 2O-4O). an attempt
TO overthrow tho Christian church Ill
harmed In tho excitement, continued
their labors with much SUCCESS, and
passed on to the other cltlos. About Six
years after In rulfllnent Of III enrncst
desire long cherished Qsom., !; 1b) nc
visited Rome and wis there confined IN
u prison. While thus shut In, deprived
| OF Intercourse with tho brethren Whoin
q religious teacher by the only method .,,
opened to him. that OF letter writing. The
book from which ,wo study to-day was
wrltton at that time. 1t has been highly
priced by scholars Of nll Bchools, us
containing valuable instruction suited 70 I
believers Of all time. The verses ap-
pointed for our present lesson treat
three great topics showing tho Ephcs-
inns what they had bcen what they ma
become, and how the change occurred.
TII11 FORMER STATE
DEAD-(yerse 1) Spiritual death Is
tho torn frequently employed in scrip
ture. tTlm., v: 81, to Indicate tho state
Of man by nature. It signifies tho pa
| ralysls OF tho moral und religious facul-&
ties that relate him to God, 80 that he
Is unable to rcndor tho service which IS
due from tho creature to the creature.
| (Eph.. ~: 1917 The first man entered In
to this state. whom by IN act OF dlsobe-
lsdlence even after Divine warning, Gem.
| ii:1 ~. he became allenntcd from God and
wandered into sim The consequences
came upon the whole postcrlty OF Adam.
Iaom.. v: q, according to the opcratiolD
Of the law Of heredlty. Tho blacklist
! page In the history OF mankind covers
| the records OF the sin that has followNi.
Paul alludcs to this state as dead In
trespasses and sins, meaning that the
waywardness OF the Ephcsans like that
of all other men was due to their lapsed
and ruined condition.
| WALKED-(verscs and 81 HUvlng
declared that the inward had caused the
outward the apostle proceeded to show
more fully the deplorable conduct OF the
Ephesans in their former condition.
They walked, that is behaved, according
TO the course OF this world" having gu
preme regard to their Interests and de-
mands Of this earthly life. And this was
under the guidance and inspiration OF
| that foul spirit that works In the minds
and hearts of the dlsobedient. There can
be no doubt that reference IS here made
| to dlubolcal Influence excrtcd upon the
mass OF men. (Col.. Ill: g. AS u conse-
qucnce Of that influence the people fol-
|
and In that regard they differed In no re-
spcct from the great multitude about
them. Indeed they were q part OF that
| common humanity among whom they
had intercourse or whose ideals and prac-
tees were slavishly followed.
THE PRESENT STATE.
QuICKENED-(Ver 4 and 81 Over
1rplaces he state OF life into which the
/ Ephesians had entered. and this by ting
direct power Of God. they had been
quIckencd (Roln., vi: 4-5.) That new
life had been impartd In and through
Jesus Christ, Col. i'll: 4. so that forever
they must feel that their life was hid
| with Christ in God. (Col., III: 81 There Is
tween the believer and the Saviour.
acts xiv: 81, effected by faith resulting
| In a new experience. called tho new
birth. John, Ill: 81 This quickening did
not result from any reform, or indeed
from any good thought or act on the
part of the people, 1t was purely and
! solely caused by the act Of Cod And
that act was prompted only by his great
4 love wherewith he loved men, John,
4 xii: 1G), and not for any goodness and
| merit seen In them. God was not only
tho agent but also the source Of the new
i life.
4 RAISED-(Vcrse 81 Over against tho
old associations in the world the apostle
puts tho new and moro blessed assoca-
tions into which the Ephesians had en-
! tered They had been raised up or cle-
waited out OF the degradation OF the old
heather world, so great as to horrfy
i the philosophers Of that time, and they
had been brought into heavenly places.
into the company Of tho pure and holy
(IIeb., XII: 22) They are represented as
4 sitting down, an attitude assumed by
those who expect to remain. So these
1 people have come into that permanent
relation which Is profitable and delight
full The part OF the great family some
! of whom are living and some have passed
i on into the life beyond. noble company
Of martyrs. of prophets. OF apostles and
OF saints out Of all lands ind ages. And
! this Fellowship. so delightful and exalted,
Is declared by the apostle 70 DC N ana
through Christ Jesus, 1lo Is, thus rec1
| ognIzed as the center and bond OF the
new household. (Eph,. III: I'D
i THE DIVINE FAVOR.
! SIOyYN-(Verse ~ The change SO pro
duced In the Ephcsans-from dea IN 70
life from degradation TO exaltation-Was
/ MS Paul affirmed, by the good VIII 90
| Cod. In tho remainder Of the lesson no
lays emphasis upon the point. what Wus
i SO done was display OF "the exceeding
riches OF grace"-what could not pc
otherwise known had been shown ~ tn -
manner The depths OF the wonderla,! !.
goodness of God cannot be fatnol'te 81,
neither can It's bounds be explores, ~, ~ -
i by his acts In behalf Of sinners one a mry Z
eaten views q g Nor ths aenares tat
~, ~ mass away In the progress Of NJ.
man history. and other centuries a,e;re 'n al |
must succeed the 5uagem'en ejee anasni light
M e,; ling m Kindness Of God toward men,
tas ii Is Ths Is one ea, m ,e sa f ntsii.
By him % Or reG ca this therefore, explains
i ihe anthem anthem Of The angels TO the she :
herds her s at The advent Of Jesus lt1uRe' ~
14D MI, eo,,or 40
,,rnIaued was unmerlted. II was not
osis'asa Y sa% e soMs s e2sat wh sal
case ma, ,, t''ttnns or free. 1t came out
y, t Mas very heart Of the Almighty as tho
V; 5 ssss ar0 srss ss va
~. Nv 81 pe Az grace men are saYed-thnt
Word saved tells the whole story OF mans