The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-14
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR JULY 25.

Subject: Paul's Second Missionary
Journey-Athens, Acts 17:16-S4
Golden Text: John 4:24-
Commit Verse 29-Commentary.
TME.-A. D. So. PLACE
Athens, Mars Hill.
EXPOSITION.-I. The Unknown
God Made Known, 22-20. Paul had
improved such opportunities of
preaching the Gospel as were open to
him-the synagogue and the market
place ". 1O-and now he is brought
before this celebrated gathering of
philosophers and university profess
sors of Athens. He has no new Cos
pei for this distinguished throng. but
with divinely given tact he introduces
itfin a new way Tvs. "a, rs, 2S). Paul
begins with what appears like words
of approval, not with words of criti-
cism. (See Am. R. W. He would
win the favor and attention of his au-
dience before calling them to repent.
People will listen patiently to the
sharpest rebukes and sternest calls to
repentance If you first win their conf
dence and favor by words Of kindness
and praise. ITO an unknown God"
There is something very pathetic and
touching in this. There are many to-
day who are reaching out blindly to-
ward a God Of whose existence they
have a vague apprehension, but of
whose name, character and person
they have little clear knowledge. But
there Is no need that God be unknown
(Jno. 1:18; 1 Jno. 500; Jno. 1879;
Cor. 4:6). It Is of the highest i'm
portance that we know God (Jno. IT:
81. 1t is our own fault If we do not
know Him (Rom. 1902, %; 2 Cor.
4:4). It was an apt stroke upon
Paul's part to begin with this we'll
| known object in their own streets,
and thus to lead on tothe great truths
with which his soul was filled. God
that made the world and all things
therein" etc. Paul would carry with
him the philosophers in his audience,
and at the same time bring in new
and higher thoughts about God, and
step by step lead them face to face
with God Himself, and make them
feel their personal responsibility to
Him. He would lead them to see that
God was not a mere philosophical
conception, but a person against
! whom they had sinned, and who was
now calling, Repent" The very life
we live, the breath we breathe, abso.
lutely all we have, is His gift. Every
thing thus given should be used for
Him. We should draw every breath for
Him. He made Of n every nation
of men" Do we believe this? Do we
really believe it? Do we believe In
our kinship to the negro, the China
man, the Hindoo? "That they should,
seek God" This was Gods great and
| gracious purpose in the making OF the
nations and appointing their seasons,
and the bounds of their habitation.
How little the nations have fallen in
with this benevolent purpose of God
from. 1929. 1t Is of the highest i'm
p%ortance to men that they should seek
God (Amos ga, 6; Err. S:22; Prov.
2S:5; 2 Chron. 1855; Ps. 34:4, 10;
Ps. 69:32; l Chron. 1910; Lam. 3:
25; Heb. 11:6; Ps. 1922. He is
not difficult to find for those who seek
Him with the whole heart (Jer. 20:
13). HE IS not far from every n
of u.s." How absolute is our depend
ence upon God. No life, nc motion,
no existence outside Of Him. This
being so, there can be no peace In our
souls until our wills are absolutely
surrendered to Him and u affections
absolutely centred in Him. Paul ap-
proves the sentiment Of the Greek
poet, Aratus. But while all men are
Gods offspring, they are not all truly
children (Jno. S:44, At; 1 Jno. 1910;
Matt. 1898; Gal. 4:4-6; Heb. 1878;
Eph. 2:3). Those only are children
of God who receive Jesus Christ (Jno.
1:12. R. W.. Those who are led by
His Spirit are sons Of God from. 8:
IA: Gal. 1926, R. w..
II. Gods Command to All Men
Everywhere, Repent, 1884. Paul is
now reaching the point toward which
all this time he has been so skilfully
steering. It was an unexpected CHI
max to these theorizers. Many OF
them had been delighted with the
sublimity of Paul's conceptions, with
the deftness of his logic, with the apt
ness of his quotation. They were all
ears; their guard was down, and he
struck a stunning blow just at the
right moment. Gods one.call Is re
pent" comp. CHI. 2:3S; 3:19; 20:21;
1920; Matt. 3:2: All; Luke 1875;
1880; 24:47). This was Gods n
cry also, through Old Testament pro-
phets, turn ye." This same cry
needs to ring out to-day. Men are an
apostate race. Notice whom God
commands to repent, "all men every
where" Notice when He commands
it, Now" Notice why, Because He
hath appointed a day in which He will
Judge the world" etc. There is a
Judgment coming. People mock at
this truth to-day, but God has given
assurance of it unto all men by the
resurrection of Christ from the dead.
It is impossible for any candid seeker
after truth to examine the evidence
for the resurrection of Christ without
being satisfied that Jesus really did
arise as recorded in the Gospels. But
the resurrection of Christ Jesus in the
past points with unerring finger to a
Judgment by Christ Jesus in the fut-
ure. when they heard of the resur-
rection of the dead some Knocked" A
very common way Of trying to dis
pose Of unpalatable truth. But 1t
never works, and truth is eve any
the less true because yon sheer at it.
Many are trying to m%odernize a
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