Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-05
By REV. HUGH t. STEVENSON.

During the coming quarter the studies
concerning "Some Great Teachings OF
the Bible" are continued. Last quarter
the lessons presented the great spiritual
fundamentals of the Christian faith.
The subjects during the coming three
months will consider the social develop
ment Of Christianity or the practical
expression Of the religion Of Jesus in
the practices and polity of the apostolic
age. It is appropriate that upon the
Sunday that recalls the foundation of
the American nation that the course
for the quarter should open up with a
study of the church because America
was Graded in the church of Christ.
It was thought out and planned in the
atmosphere Of the Christian church.
The position, prestige and power of
the church in the history of America
and the other nations of the world. has
been due to thee fact that 1t is the only
organization among men that has had
divine founder. When Peter in answer
to the Masters question concerning
their belief in Him protested personal
faith in Jesus as the Messiah. the Christ,
the Son Of God, the Lord declared His
purpose to establish the church In words
that have since been the subject OF
much controversy. THAT thou art Peter,
and upon this rock l will build my
church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it." Many who have
been interested only In the controversial
elements in these words have neglected
to observe the fact that Jesus claimed
that He would build the church and
that the power Of the church was due
to the fact that the Master Builder
claimed the church as His own. While
the Lord only referred to the church
upon one other occasion, leaving to the
apostles the working out Of the details,
~k ~F A. 4
under the leadership OF the Holy Spirit.
yet history has never shown an organ
ization so ideally constituted. 1t has
not been put together at random, but
it. has been built in accordance with the
symmetrical specifications of the Divine
architect.
The brotherhood Of believers came
into being as a church at Pentecost.
The band of disciples. in obedience to
the command of the risen Lord, tarried
in Jerusalem until they were baptized
with the Holy Spirit. The manifestation
followers, Of Jesus transformed the
feeble friends of the Master, who had
cowardly denied and deserted Him dur
ing His trial and cruciflxion. into a
courageous and confident band who.
conscious Of their new privilege as sons
Of God, shouted aloud for gladness The
effect upon the unbelieving hearers of
the surprising revelation of the mys-
FERROUS utterance resulted in their mis-
understanding and misinterpreting the
praises Of the infant church, claiming
that these men are full Of new wine"
Peter was moved by the Holy Spirit
to preach the first gospel sermon. that
refuted the intoxication theory and fit
tinely explained the marvellous event.
which had filed them with wonder, and
established the Messiahship Of Jesus.
His sermon does not bear the earmarks
of ho q a n
arguments buttressed by texts of Scrip
ture and by appeals to facts. which he
unfolded with rare tact until he reached
his desired conclusion. which he pre-
sented with a force Of logic that was
used of the Holy Spirit to convict them
Of their sin.
The tremendous effect of Peters SER
mon is seen in the fact that 1900 be-
levers were added. upon their re-
pentance and baptism, to the new or
ganization, which as yet had not sepa-
rated from Judaism. but which because
of their faith in Christ Jesus was daily
drawing into closer fellowship through
ton Of the apostles. the breaking Of
bread and prayers. The sudden access
sion Of such a large number Of new
members to SO small a body Of believers
did not materially alter the character Of
the brotherhood. The Lord Jesus, who
build His church, had provided that they
should be united by the strongest bond
love for Him. In the fraternal unity
that the spiritual tie gave to them the
Master had protected the brethren from
the danger of division and provided for
the development of the society along the
lines that the circumstances of the
changing years and centuries would de-
mand.
The possible danger that the infant