Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-01-13
LESSON FOR JANUARY is
PETERS SERMON AT pENTEcosT

LESSON TExT-Acts 2:f4-47
GOLDEN TExT-Whosoever shall call
on the name of the Lord shall be saved
Acts 2:2l
Comparing verse one (R. w with
the last clause Of verse is. we con-
clude that this was one early morning
prayer meeting which drew crowd
In this crowd wv. 8, 10) 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
manner and mode of testimony. His
famous sermon" consists OF IL verses,
ana the balance in quotations from
Joel, Psalms, etc.
I. The Empowered Witness, w.t.
36. (1) Peter testified that Jesus is
alive. (a) These men, speaking by
the power of the Spirit, are not drunk
an, but are speaking in soberness of
great fact. (b) This that they hear
rs that prophecied by Joel (22S,
29). 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"
". 33). and his glory Peter had wit
messed upon the mount (II Peter /.
1919. ca 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 life eter-
nal; (c) he shall receive this same
power the disciples had received. Pc
ter's witnessing is the same as Jesus
has right to expect of us, the testi-
mony of personal experience, backed
up by the word of God. Jesus was in
dorsed by his miracles, the testimony
Of those who had seen him as the
risen Lord ana by his fulfillment OF
Messianic prophecy.
He was also exalted in the testi-
mony given In all tongues by the en-
powering spirit.
~. The Powerful Result, w. 37-42.
The truth of Peters words was car
ried home by the Holy Spirit produc-
ing deep conviction of sin. "a Con-
version. The question of verse 81
was q result. They had seen the
place of Jesus in the plan of prophecy
Of God They saw the holiness of
these disciples and they also saw
their sin. (2) Confession. Peters an
swer to their question was plain and
simple. (a) Repent" /. o., change
their Eainds and their attitude towards
Jesus, from that 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 1t is the symbol OF the inward
change of neart, of the renunciation
Of sin, death to self from. 6:4) and
the putting on Of Christ (Gal. 1925, I'D.
(3) Continuance ". AZ. Having &C.
cepted and confessed Christ, they were
to teach others, to have fellowship
with believers in prayer and in break
ing of bread, to continue "in the way
NJ. Added Evidence Of Power, w.
43-47. This passage is not brief for
communism. 1t is Interesting to note
that this communism was among be-
levers ". Az. It was for a special
occasion, for they had ''tarried at Je-
rusalem" many days, and beyond
doubt had not provided for a long
visit. 1t was according as each had
need" 1t was purely voluntary Is.
A, 81. The Holy Spirit, however, does
bring unity and altruism among be-
levers which expresses itself in social
relations and service. There is a
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 Ia accompanied by re-
mission Of sins. This experience is
the blood-bought right Of every be-
lever in the Lord Jesus Christ. To
receive is to take or to claim, and
by simple prayer and faith that to
which we have right fActs 4:31; 8:
Is. 16; Luke 11:13; John 5.14, 16).
BY making Jesus Lord and Christ we
shall receive the promise ". a9) which.
Peter declared, was for Jewish be-
levers, their children for coming gen.
erations, and "all that are afar on,
even as many as the Lord our God
shall CALL" i. g., gentiles OF every
coming century.
In other words, Pentecost was but
an episode which ushered in an age,
the age OF the Holy Spirit, and he
is for every child of God, Jewish and
gentle. in every age and in every
church.
During that apostolic age every new
Of the spirit through its
accompanying addition to the num-
Der Of believers-"The Lord added day
by day those that were saved i
many believers: believers were the
more added multstudes OF
both men and women the
- ~