Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-02-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson vIi.-Sirst Quarter, For
Feb. 10, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Luke In, ~.
Memory Verses. t6. 17--0olden Text.
Matt. i'll, 2-commentary Prepared
bv Rev o. AZ Ske,rp.

Inc nrst two verses OF our lesson in
troduce Us To seven men who were. in
q certain sense. great men. but only
one was truly great Caesar, PLATE
Herod and Philip were great in the
eyes OF the world OF politics as earth
rulers Annals and Caiaphas as high
priests were great In the eyes OF re
ligious people. but only OF John could
II be truly said great in the eyes Of
the Lord. mot a greater prophet than
John the Baptist luke 1. 10: vii. Isl
he was also flied with the Holy Spirit
from his birth. so he must have spent
his time I'm tho wilderness with God in
very special way.
We read seven times in Mum iv
that thc priests began their ministry
when about thirty years OF age. 50 we
Judge from verse 23 OF our lesson chap
ter that John. as well as Jesus. began
their public ministry at that age lie
knew when 10 come forth aud begin
because The word Of God came unto
him" So the word OF the Lord came
unto him in whose spirit and power
be went forth Il Kings xvii. . 81.
From Gen XIV. l. where we read that
the word OF the Lord came unto
Abram." how many times we lind this
statement and how much IL means OF
definite commission from heaven. How
very strong 1t is In Eek. 1. 3, where
We read. THE word Of the Lord came
expressly unto Ezekiel. the priest"
Unless we each for ourselves hear His
voice in His word His book Is not to
us what IL might be. This gospel may
be said TO begin and end with repent
ance and remission OF sins" (verse 3:
1. a.; xiv. AZ. The gospel that does not
proclaim the remission of sins by the
blood of Jesus Is not the gospel OF the
grace Of God. but a perversion OF the
gospel Of Christ gal. /. 8. y. Every
truly penitent soul. having received the
Lord Jesus Christ and thus having
been made a child OF God and received
the forgiveness Of sins. Is commission
cd to say TO every unsaved person.
Through this man is proclaimed unto
you the forgiveness Of sins" Il John If.
IL; John 1. L.: Rev. xii. 16: Acts kill.
IS. 39J.
The herald OF the Messiah was pre-
dicted in Isa- xl. 8: Nal fl I. but in
both places in connection with great
blessing upon Israel. John said OF
himself that he was neither the Mes
s.ah nor Elijah. but just the voice OF
which Isaiah had spoken TO prepare
the way OF the Lord John 4. 1929.
Both John and Jesus Christ suffered at
the hands OF those who should have
received them Matt. xvii. 11-l3l, so
the kingdom that was at hand and
would have come if the Messiah had
been received did not come and still
awaits the return OF the King % bless
Israel. and not till then shall all flesh
see the salvation OF God 1t is after
the Lord shall have comforted Jerusa-
lem. when He shall be reigning in
Zion. that all the ends Of the earth
shall see the salvation OF our God Osn.
xix. q; III. 1-10l This is the age OF
worldwide cvangelization that from all
nations the elect church may be gath
cred and prepared TO administer with
Him as joint heirs the Affairs OF the
kingdom. In every age true repent
ance must be followed by fruits meet
for repentance. We must prove TO peo-
pie by our works the reality OF our
faith God reads the heart. but peo-
pie read the illustrations In our lives.
The illustrations in some books are so
poor that they do not help the story.
1t Is even SO in our lives. Not every
one that saith. but he tim
doeth." our Lord said. And elsewher.
it is written that faith without works
Is dead" (Aiatt- VII. 81; Jas. Il. 2O).
A Hn!f he
come without any works Of ours. but
wholly through Jesus. the Son OF God.
raised from the dead q Thess l. 1OJ.
Yet. AZ a tree is known by its fruit, so
the believer should -hs known by his
actions. If We are new creatures in
Christ we should walk in newness of
life. manifesting the fruit Of the Spirit
(Rom. vi. %: Gal. v. 22). The dues-
tons OF verses 10. IL and IA. What
shall we dor remind us of the cues
ton In John vi. %. What shall we do
that we might work the works of
God?" Our Lord replied. This is the
work OF God. TINT ye believe on Him
whom He hath sent" Thus only can
salvation come TO any one. Being
saved. what then? do Justly, love
mercy and humble thyself TO walk
with God" (Aiic. vi. g. marginl. Show
sincerity by love to Others as opportu-
nifty offers and as God gives the abili-
ty. To the people, the publicans. the
soldiers. He gave separate answer
suited to their circumstances We are
not to look around and consider what
Others are doing. but each for himself
ask lord what Wilt 'rhou have ,na
to do?' Concerning our looking at or
thinking OF what others are doing. we
need the Lords word to Peter. What