Newport daily independent., 1918-07-06
LESSON FOR JULY '
BEGINNING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LESSON TExT-Acts 16:13-34. 1 GOLDEN TEXT-Whosoever will. le, 1 him take the water of life freely.-Reve T.
 tion 22:17.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
 TEACHERS-Acts 2:37-47; S:26-40; Romans I 6:1-11.
 PRIMARY TOPIC-Loving and trusting | Jesus.-John 135-51.
 MEMORY vERSE-We love because he | first loved us.-I John 4:19. |. How Lydia Began the Christian
 Life (vv. 13-15). Lydia was the first convert to l Christ in Europe. Hers was typical conversion. Note the steps therein: I. Attendance at the place of pray CT (v. 13).
 The accustomed place here was at the river side. The accustomed place 1 today is in church. God can and does save men and women without any seeming connection with places of es- 1 tablished worship, but he appears to most people at such places. The very 1 fact that he has established and suS- ! tains churches here and there is an l urgent call to all men and women to place themselves in the way of saliva l tion. While no one can save himself, yet all can put themselves in the way of salvation by attending church, read l ing the Bible, etc.
 ] 2. Listening to the preaching of the l Word of God (vv. 13, 14). l Paul took advantage of the oppor- I tunity which was given him by the assemblage of this group of devoted women to preach Christ to them. He was alert for and prized highly the op- portunity to tell the people about <Christ. He knew also how perilous 1 it was to neglect to witness for Christ at time when unsaved people are together. The opportunity is Gods
 call to preach Christ.
 g. Her heart was opened by the Lord (v. IA.
 The individual may place himself in the way of salvation by coming near to the means of grace, and the preacher may preach the Word of God, but there is no hope of salvation until the heart is opened by the Lord tJohn l6:44, 45). While the salvation of every one is dependent upon this sov- ereign act of the Lord, yet We can be sure that he is willing at all times to ! do this for those who, like Lydia, place themselves in the way of his saving grace.
 4. She was baptized. (v. 15).
 This ordinaree follows belief in ] Christ. The inyariable rule in the early church was for believers to be l baptized While there is no salvation in the water of baptism, yet hearty obedience should be rendered in this respect (Acts 2 :3S-41; S:12 Mark 16: l 16). Lydia brought her household to l Christ. This is as it should be. She showed signs of the new life, in that she expressed gratitude toward those 1 who had been instrumental in her con- version (v. 15) by constraining them to share the hospitality of her home. ! II. How the PhiIippian JaiIer Be- gan the Christian Life (vv. 25-34). 1. The occasion (vv. 25, 26). The casting out of the spirit of di- vination from the damsel landed Paul and Silas in prison. The pain of bleed- 1 ing backs and of feet in stocks, kept them from sleeping; but not from l praying and singing. The Lord heard l their prayers and sent an earthquake !! which shook the jail, opened the doors of the prison, and loosed the bonds l from tho nriSonerS' hands | 2 The method (vv. 27-34). (D Visitation of the supernatural | (vv. 27-29). The jailer was awakened from his sleep by the earthquake. This earthquake was unusual in that ii loosed the bonds from the prisoners hands. In his desperation the jailer was about to commit suicide. This was averted by Pauls assurance that all were safe. The fact that the doors and yet no one escaped, showed him that something unusual had occurred. Therefore, he came trembling and prostrated himself before Paul and Silas.
 (2) The great question (v. 30). In the presence of the supernatural he cried out, "What must I do to be saw ed?' Ones salvation is not far off when he utters this cry with sincerity. (3) The vital answer (vv. 31, 32).
 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" is the only way to be saved. (Acts 4:12). Though the way of salvation is restricted, it is simple and easy. No one who has believed on Christ has failed to receive it. The jailer's faith was not blind faith, for they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. They were taught the meaning of be. lief in Christ.
 (4) The evidence of transformed life (vv. 33, 34).
 (a) He was baptized (v. 33). As