The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-10-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson M.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. 8, 1916.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

UOxv OF SnO IOooOup NoSo XIV SV.3Se
Memory Verses, ~, 1s-oeIdsn Text,
Acts xiv. 1e-cemmsntary Prepared
BY Rev. o. M. 8tsarns.
This chapter gives 10 Paul's testi-
mony before the high priest and the
elders from Jerusalem, at Caesarea. In,
the presence Of the governor Felix. and
also some account Of one Of Paul's
talks with Felix and his wife Dru-
silla. The prosecutors from Jerusalem
brought with them IN orator who.
with flattery for Felix, did a largo
amount Of lying against Paul. which
the Jews Endorsed, saying that these
things were SO oversees 1-9). Paul de-
MED their accusations and defied them
to prove what they said and then stat
ed the case %truthfully oversees 1913.
His confession that he believed all
things which are written In the law
and in the prophets (verse 14) reminds
us that our Lord said that the two
with whom He-'wafked to Emmaas
were foolish in not doing 80. and also
that He expounded from Moses and
the prophets and the psalms the things
concerning Himself, saying that all
must be fulfilled Duke xiv, 1921. AZ.
1t is counted heresy even now by
many supposedly orthodox preachers
to look for a literal Israel to occupy
the land given to Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, and a literal kingdom Of God
on earth with Israel as a center, who
shall, as a nation made righteous by
receiving Jesus Christ as their Mes
siah when he shall come In His glory.
then bring blessing to all nations. I
have been told to my face by a teach;
er of large Bible classes that the Jews
were no more to God than the Indians
Of our country, but I am still believing
God and standing with u Lord and
with Paul and expect SO to continue by
His grace. AS to the resurrection Of
the dead, both Of the just and unjust.
when understood in the light of all
Scripture. that also is most simple and
helpful.
All the dead shall rise; that Is clear
not only from lesson verse -. but also
from our Lords own words in John
v, %. 20, with Dan. xii. 2. That the
hour Of John '. %. may, and will, COW
err a thousand years is easy from the
fact that the hour of John v, 25, has
already covered nearly 1900 years.
In Luke xiv, IA, the resurrection of the
just Is spoken Of as a time of reward
for the righteous, and I Cor. XIV. %.
says 'They that are Christ's at His
coming" In Rev. Xxx, s. 6, It is writ
ten that those who do not take part in
the first resurrection will not rise till
the end Of the thousand years. There
is no foundation in the Scriptures for
the thought that our resurrection takes
place when we die or for the use Of the
words at a funeral "he is not here.
he is risen," for those words were
used Of the literal resurrection body
of our Lord. There is no foundation
for the thought Of a general resurrec-
ton Of all, good and bad, at what is
called the last day.
II this sounds strange to any who
read, please do not turn away from it.
as l once did, but look into 1t humbly
and prayerfully. with a real desire to
know the mind of the Lord. and He
will surely teach you. Let us cult
vate a conscience void Of o6ense to-
ward God first and then toward men
(verse 49,. Felix, having heard both
sides and seeing through some things.
decided that the matter be deferred
until Lysias, the chief captain. could
come and advise him more fully.
Meantime he treated Paul we'll as q
prisoner, giving him liberty and allow
ing his ac%quaintances to see him and
minister to him verses %. 23). As
we think Of Philip and his household
and all who heard the word in the
home OF Cornelius. It is possible that
Paul was made as comfortable as a
prisoner could lie, and, no doubt. he
used every opportunity to preach
Christ cruciied, risen and returning
to set up His kingdom.
We may infer from verse 81 that the
case was deferred for at least W
years so that Paul must have had
much rest and many opportunities. We
cannot think as well of Felix as We
would like to. for he was evidently
an up to date CRATER and a man
pleaser, often sending for Paul to hear
him talk. trembling a little sometimes
under his searching words, but always
hoping that Paul would offer him mon
ey to set him free, and keeping Paul
a prisoner to please the Jews oversees
24-2O. What we call graft, or. as in
the Bible, taking brides. Is a very old
story, and was forbidden by the law
Of Moses. Samuel was free from 1t,
but not so his son (Deut. xvi. 10; I
Sam. viii, 8; XII, 81.
We must not confuse this with the
saying Of our. Lord, az some do. that
the Spirit win convince the world of
sin, and Of righteousness, and Of judg-
ment (John XVI, Z. g.. Our first need
a. sinners Is q righteousness which
will enable US to appear unashamed
before God. and this we cannot obtain,
by any good works Of DUR own Yet
there are many going about seeking
to establish their own Righteousness.
not knowing that in Gods sight all IL
a. filthy rags. and apart from Jesus
Christ there IL none righteous-no, not
one (Isa. Xiv. 6: Rom. iii. 10. 1924;
81