The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-01-14
INTERNATIONAL
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS. Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course OF the Moody
Bible Institute of ChicaGo.O
LESSON FOR JANUARY is
PETERS SERMON At PENrEcosr.

AUS ISL
Comparing verse one Or. w with
the last clause of verse Is, we con-
clude that this was one early morning
meeting which drew a crowd.
In this crowd wv. 9. 100 and on this
occasion we see in miniature the
evangelism Of the world. What Peter
hoped to accomplish is an interesting
speculation and is answered by his
and mode of testimony. His
famous sermon" consists of II verses.
and the balance in quotations from
Joel. Psalms. etc.
l. The Empowered Witness, w. ~
SO. % Peter testified hat Jesus is
alive. (a) These men. speaking by
the power Of the Spirit. are not drunk
en-. but are speaking in soberness OF
a great fact. (b) This that they hear
lis that" prophecied by Joel t2:2s.
2S). This Jesus Of whom they have
been speaking had fulfilled this proph-
ecy by mighty deeds ". 22). by hav-
ing risen from the dead ". 23) and
Of this the disciples were all witnesses
". 32): he had also been exalted
". $50. and his glory Peter had wit
messed upon the mount OH Peter L:
1919. CD Peter asserts that whose
ever believes in Jesus as Lord and
Christ, the Amounted One, the Messiah.
shall be saved wv. 81, 36). (a) He
shall be saved from sin and misery in
this world; (b) saved unto a life eter-
nal; (c) he shall receive this same
| power the disciples had received. Pc
ter's witnessing is the same as Jesus
has a right to expect of US, the testi-
mony of personal experience, backed
up by the word of God. Jesus vas in
dorsed by his miracles, the testimony
of those who had seen him as the
risen Lord and by his fulfillment OF
Messianic prophecy.
He was also exalted in the testi-
mony given in all tongues by the N
towering spirit.
II. The Powerful Result, ~. 3742.
The truth Of Peters words was car
ried home by h Holy Spirit produc-
ing deep conviction of sin. Cd Con
version. The question Of verse 81
was a result. They had seen the
place of Jesus in the plan Of prophecy
Of God. They saw the boldness OF
these disciples n they also saw
their sin. CD Confession. Peters an
swer to their question was plain and
simple. (a) Repent" i. e., change
their minds n their attitude towards
Jesus, from hat which had caused
his crucifixion. to one Of absolute sur
render, Of repentance and remuneration
of sin; the surrender of the will to
Jesus as Lord. (2) BE baptized.
Outward water baptism is involved.
but it is the symbol Of the inward
change of heart. of the remuneration
Of sin, death to self (Rom. 6:4) and
the putting on of ChSist (Gal. 1926, 2O.
60 Continuance ". 42). Having &C.
copied and confessed Christ. they were
to teach others, 10 have fellowship
with believers in prayer and in break
ing of bread, to continue lin the way"
III. Added Evidence Of Power, W..
43-47. This passage is not a brief for
communism. 1t is interesting to note
that this communism was among be-
levers ". 44). 1t was for a special
occasion, for they had 'tarried at Je-
rusalem" many days, and beyond
S doubt had not provided for a long
visit. 1t was according as each had
need" It was purely voluntary (5:
4, 81. The Holy Spirit, however. does
bring unity and altruism among be-
levers which Expresses itself in social
relations and service There is a
q difference between the gift of the Holy
Spirit and the Holy Spirits gifts q
= Cor. 12). The baptism of the Holy
Spirit or "the gift Of the Holy Ghost
is always dependent upon real re
pentance and is accompanied by re
-,;cr,or 80 cinc This oynpripnpp ic
the blood-bought right OF every be
lever in the Lord Jesus Christ. TIC
receive is to take or to claim, and
; by simple prayer and faith that to
which we have a right (Acts 4:31; 8;
; Is, 16; Luke 11:13; 1 John STA, 49,
n By making Jesus Lord and Christ we
shall receive the promise ". 39) which
Peter declared, was for Jewish be
levers. their children for coming gen
erations. and "all that are afar OF
even as many as the Lord our Coo
shall CALL" /. e., gentiles Of ever.
coming century.
o In other words. Pentecost was bu
% an episode which Nshered in an age
the age of the Holy Spirit, and h
y Is for every child of God. Jewish ant
GENTLE. in every age and in ever.
r church.
s The result is not necessarily som
q spectacular demonstration; there wa
none with Timothy or with Lydia, bu
the individual must enter into tn
experience alone. Believers who hav
thus been baptized will find FELLOWSHIP
=, with other believers, will have powe
:, in testimony and will produce result
- upon the community in which they liv
- tGal. 5:22).
- During that apostolic g every ne'
a. manifestation of the spirit through 1t
10 accompanying addition to b nun
lie Der of beIievers-"The Lord added da
IN by day those that were saved .
or many believers; believers were tn
ne more added multitudes {
be both men and women . . tn
word of God increased; a great con
pany of the priests were obedient I
the faith"
These and similar references ind
In cate the steady and rapid progress
the Spirit-filled church.