The citizen., 1912-04-04

ST. Paul may not mako direct re-
ference TO the virgin birth OF our
Lord. though he certainly knew Of the
prophecy that a VIRGIN shall con-
ceive," lisa. 40. but what does "
matter? IL IL not greater miracle to
be born than TO rise triumphant over
death. That Paul assumes the fact
is evident from this lesson. Literally
he begins by saying. Now | make
known the gospel which ! preached
unto you at Corinth, whereby you arc
saved and what you must always re-
member, that Christ. who came full
filling all that was promised In the
Scripture, died for cur sins aud rose
again" Paul goes on to tell ex-
plicitly OF many who had seen Jesus
after the resurrection and, most I'm
portant OF ell. how he, himself. had
seen the Christ.
Last OF all he was seen Of me
also. Though | am least OF all the
saints in that prosecuted the church.
yet am what am, and hie grace was
not bestowed upon me in vain" Paul
was not such a bad man" from the
accepted moral standards Of his time,
yet he felt the truth Of what Christ
said. viz. that the essence OF sin is
that they believe not on me.
The fact OF the resurrection OF Je.
sus Christ is the best proven fact OF
history. In the first place the dis
ciples themselves did not expect Je-
sus TO die John 1880. hence, Of
course. they never even thought OF
the resurrection MARK s:i0). In the
third place when on that Easter morn
Mary reported the empty tomb and Of
having seen the Lord. the apostles
thought Il idle talk" U.uke 2t:lD.
when the women reported having ac.
tually seen him. the men and how
many men IKE 20 take instruction
from a woman. were unconvinced
and rather dorbted those who had
conversed with him on the road 20
Emmaus
Again. when seen by the ten. Thorn
as would not accept the report TIL
he had seen his hands and bis feet
Arguments Based on unbellef.
All arguments 20 convince us that
Jesus did not rise are based upon UNI
belief and the answer OF countless
millions throughout nearly twenty
centuries has been the words Of Paul
(verse 20l but Now is Christ risen
from the dead" To deny Is TO be lost
h. rnagbfnfy vain and
we have no ground OF faith. See
verses 1874 To accept is To place a
firm foundation underneath our
whole Christian scheme. 10 set the
seal OF authority and purity upon the
life OF him whom all men. Jew and
Gentle alike. say was good. and opens
a vista OF hope for all who die In tho
Lord
Paul goes on to show that the res
direction OF Jesus is the beginning Of
a plan whereby all the human race
who are related 10 Christ shan like
wise be resurrected Even as through
the transgression OF one man sin
came upon the whole human race. IN
like manner by the perfect life OF
obedience upon the part OF one man
We may all be made alive.
Paul makes a strong contrast be-
tween the death OF tho believer and
that OF the non-believer. III fight
with beasts at Ephesus what advan.
tage does that have? Let us eat and
drink. for tomorrow we die" Not so.
however. with the Christian. hence he
exhorts the Christians 10 be awake
10 Righteousness and to sin rot.
Only Friends Saw Him.
For the younger classes this story
Of the first Easter is most fascinat.
Ing one. dramatic tender. Inspiring.
For the older pupils We may well dis
russ, How Easter would be observ.
I'd. Have We fully realized that we
IRE risen with Christi" Remember
he showed himself only TO his friends.
not to PLATE nor to the Sanhedrim.
Are you his friend? Have you seen
he risen Lord? A description OF
Holy Fire" OF the Greek Christians
Who gathered each with his taper In
he church at Jerusalem on Easter
sabbath, and how each passes the fire
IN TO another or carries Il sacredly
back to his home church. would be
In order to illustrate the
act that each one OF us must ap-
'ropriate Christ in his resurrection
'ower, and having Appropriated his
lie we are In duty bound TO pass on
his knowledge to others. Paul show.
d his gratitude by 'laborng more
II might bo we'll for us 10 draw at
ention TO the fact that the commun.
on service Shows forth his death tin
e come again." and baptism is sym.
ole OF his death and resurrection
Rom. $50. wherein we are to walk
newness OF life. and that nj his
oming again all enemies shall be
ubject TO the Christ. That these are
reat truths We all know. yet even
De least" may have a part in telling
De glorious Easter story and that We
eed not dwell at the cross but pass
n and behold an empty tomb and
lorship a risen Christ who ever liy.
ID ald maketh intercessions for uA