The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-05-04

ouDJccts Faul FIRST missionary
Journey Antioch in Pisidia---
Acts 13:13-52- Golden Text,
Acts 1S:49-Commentary.
TIME.-A. D. As. PLACE.-An-
tioch in Pisidia.
EXPOSITION.-I BY Him Every
One that BeIieveth is justified from
All Things, 1871. Missionary work
was too hard for John Mark, but the
day came when Mark did better (cf.
CHI. 1888, 80; Col. 4:10; 2 Tim.
AID. Paul always sought the syna-
gogue on the Sabbath Day ". 14).
1t was there he could meet the people
and preach Jesus to them. He put
himself in the way of opportunity and
the opportunity came. Paul, like Pc
ter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:l
14-34) and Stephen before the coun-
ell (Acts 7:2-49), began his sermon
with an exposition of Old Testament
Scriptures and Jewish history, but
uses all to lead up to Christ There
is one thing that he would have his
brethren know, viz, that through
Jesus is preached unto them the for
giveness of sins ". 38). Verses 38,
80, contain a marvelously full state
ment of the doctrine of justification.
Cd How men are justified "by
Him" (Greek, ''in Him") (2) Who
are justified p" Every one that be-
iieveth," r " (3) From what men
are justified From all things" (4lf
How no man can be justified--"By
the law of Moses (cf. Rom. 32O).
Cd When men are justifed-the mo-
ment they believe. This is wonder
full Gospel, but it lays a tremendous
responsibility on all who hear it, all
despisers shall wonder and perish"
III. Many Jewish Converts and
Much Opposition, 42-47. Paul made
it plain as day that Jesus is the Mes
siah and the Son of God (vs %, rs,
81. 29-31, SO, 81, IS, 36, 37), that
God raised Him from the dead and
thus fulfilled the promise made unto
the fathers Tvs. 80, 33), and that "by
Him every one that believeth is justi-
fed from all things" Tvs. 38, 39l.
The sermon produced immediate and
abundant fruit. The converts were
Of two classes, regular Jews and
proselytes. Paul and Barnabas tit is
no longer Barnabas and Paul) fol-
lowed up their work by words of pri-
yate instruction and exhortation. The
ouOoLdl1CC "a SA4lOl IdJlOu w oS " SICdQs
fast continuance (cf. Jno. 1871, 32;l
15:5-10; Acts 11:25; 14:22; Col Ii
23). The sphere of their steadfasI
continuance, "the grace of God" 1t
was pure grace that Paul taught Tvs.
3S, 3d. Ro. 1924; 11-6; Eph. 2:Sl.
and it is only in grace that one can
continue" or stand Gro. So; Gal.
81, ~. The word of God nightly
prevailed, the whole city was shaken
and almost the whole" city came to
hear What they heard was the
word of God" (cf. 2 I'll AZ; 1 Thess.
2:13), and that was what they came
to hear. Hearing, however, is not
believing and obeying (Luke $50.
1t is not always the city where there
are most hearers that there are the
most conversions. The great crowds
awakened the jealousy of the Jews
(cf 17:5). They were ALLIED with
jealousy" Human nature is pretty
much the same in all lands and all
ages. Let new preacher come t.
any city to-day and draw great crowds
Of eager hearers, where crowds have
been hitherto small and interest fee
ole, and somebody's jealousy is pref
ty sure, to be aroused. Opposition
lid not brighten Paul and Barnabas.
1t made them the more bold. The
word of God according to Gods order
must first be spoken" unto the Jew
(v. 90; Luke 24:47; Acts 1926; is.
5, 6; Ro. 1:16) But as they would
not have it, it was given to others
Gro. Hill, 12), (cf. Deut 1921,
Matt. 21:43). America and England
have 1.-THE word of God" to-day; if
they put it from them (as they
seem likely to do) it will be given to
others. A man settles his own des-
tiny by what he does with the word
Of God Ono. 5:40). The Lord had
commanded" Paul to go to the GEN
tiles. He had given him this COM
mandment before he left Jerusalem
(ch. 22:17-2D. This commandment
was also implied in o. t. prophecies
concerning the Messiah, which fore
told that He was to be for the Gem
tiles ". At; CT. lisa. 1870. In the
o. T. as we'll as the New the world
wide purpose of salvation was clearly
set forth. Unto the ends of the
EARTH the finger of God always
pointed and the grace of Cod always
strove (cf. CHI. 1:S; Matt 2S:1s).
III. Many Gentle Converts and
Bitter Persecution, 4S, 40. The Gen
tiles glorified the Word of God that
the Jews despised AS many as
were ordained to- eternal life be-
lieved" The practical evidence theR
that any one is ordained to eternal
life is that he believes (cf. Jno.
6:37) The Jews, in this lesson, adj
judged themselves unworthy of eter-
nal life by putting the Word of God
from them (v. 46) These Gentiles
adjudged themselves ordained to
eternal life by believing the Word OF
God What one does with the Word
decides his eternity THE word Of
the Lord" made great progress. 1T
was spread abroad throughout all the
region (cf. CHI. CT; 1919, 10, 26).
This awakened fierce opposition and
bitter persecution Notable success
of the Gospel always does. The devil
will not allow the Gospel to triumph
without a mighty fight (ch. Alb,
5:14-18; 6:8-14). The Jews, like
opposers of Gods Word in all ages,
took undetermined means to Inward
the WORK.
Free Fish For the Poor.