Oxford eagle., 1916-01-13

comparing verse one Or, W with
the last clause Of verse Is. we con-
ciude that this was one early morning
prayer meeting which drew a crowd.
In this crowd tvv. .. 1o) 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 II verses.
and the balance In quotations from
Joel, Psalms. etc.
l. The Empowered Witness, wv. fA.
se. ~ Peter testified that Jesus is
alive. (al These men. speaking by
the power Of the Spirit. are not drunk.
en-. but are speaking In soberness of
great fact (bl This that they hear
10 that" prophecied by Joel t2:2s,
zs). 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 Gil Peter 1:
lSls). (2) Peter asserts that whose
ever believes in Jesus as Lord and
Christ. the Anointed One, the Messiah,
shall be saved wv. 81, 36). (a) He
shall be saved from sin and misery In
this world; (b) saved unto q life eter-
nal; tcl he shall receive this same
power the disciples had received. Pc
ters witnessing Is the same as Jesus
has q 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 fulnIlment Of
hessianic prophecy.
He was also exalted In the testi-
mony given in all tongues BY the en-
povering spirit
u. The Powerful Result, w. s74z.
The truth Of Peters words was car
ried home by the Holy Spirit produc-
ing deep conviction OF sin. (l) Coz
verslon. The question OF verse 81
was q result They had seen the
place Of Jesus in the plan OF prophecy
or God They saw the boldness of
these disciples and they also saw
their sin (2l Confession. Peters an
swer to their question was plain and
simple. (a) Repent" L e., change
their minds and their attitude towards
Jesus. from that which had caused
his crucifxion. to one Of absolute sur
render, Of repentance and renunciation
of sin; the surrender OF the will to
Jesus as Lord. t2) BE baptized"
Outward water baptism is involved,
but II 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 1926. 2D.
(3) Continuance ". az. Having &C
eepted 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
Iii. Added Evidence Of Power, w.
43-<7. This passage is not brief for |
II is interesting to note |
that this communism was among be- |
levers ". 44l. II was for . special |
for they had ''tarried at Je-
rusalem" many days. and beyond |
doubt had not provided for q long |
visit It was according as each had |
need" II was purely voluntary Is: |
4. -. 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 Il |
Cor. I2l. 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
mission Of sins This experiences 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 a right (Acts 4:sl; .: |
is, I6; Luke 11:13; John STA, 15). !
By making Jesus Lord and Christ We
shall receive the promise ". 3sl 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" /. e., 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 belieyers--The Lord added day
by day those that were saved y.
many believers; believers were the
more added multitudes OF
both men and women the
word of God increased; q great conn
,any Of the priests were obcdient to
he faith"
Peters sermon honors the Scripture,
Christ and the Holy Spirit. The spirit
an and does use the living word
n preparing men TOR the kingdom OF
iod.