Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-11-06
pgpRoyED UuHFoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSGIOOL
LESSON
LESSON FoR NOVEMBER 9
PErER,s GREAT CONFESSION.
CBy REV. =. b. FlTZWATt3R. ID. d..
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible institute of Chicago.)
(copyrieh1. 1918. western Newspaper UniOn)

LESSON TExT-Matt. I6:lS-2a.
GOLDEN TExT-Thou are the Christ,
the son u the living God.-Matt. 1915.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI-Mark ST.
%; Luke s:1s-2s; John s:6s-es.
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR ToPIc-what
Peter confessed.
INTERMEDIARY TOPIC -whatIt
e confess Christ.
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIC-The
M~essiahahip Of Jesus.
The Tine has now come for the King
to take account of his ministry.
This confession In some sense marks
the turning point In Chrlst's ministry.
Hereafter II IS more restricted to his
disciples Two reasons are Dhficient
Why this should be wv. Jy121: ~
The Pharisees and Sadddcees show
their attitude towards him in their de-
mand for a sign. His answer Is that
none shall be given save that of his
death and resurrection. as symbolized
IN the experiences OF the Prophet
Jonah. co The disciples show their
inability to understand the spiritual
nature Of his teaching. When he
warned them of the leaven Of the
Pharisees and Sadducees they under
stood him 10 refer to bread, when he
meant their doctrine. It was at this
crisis when Christ turned from the
nation which had rejected him, that
Peter made this great confession. It
was made in the borders Of Caesarea-
Phillppl. practically Gentle territory.
!. Peters Confession wv. 1870.
Two questions of Christ provoked
this confession:
l. The question as to the opinion Of
the people concerning him.
They recognized him as a teacher or
a prophet Of more than human author
ity and power. Today, as then, there
Is a diversity Of opinion among the
people as to Jesus Christ. Some think
he Is only q man; others. that he is a
great teacher. but nothing more. Had
he been content with this he would
not have been molested in Jerusalem,
for the Jews willingly acknowledged
him as more than a human teacher.
II was his persistent claim to be the
Goldman. the Son of God, that sent
him to the cross.
2. The second question involved the
personal opinion of disciples con-
cerning him. To be able to tell what
others think Of Jesus is not enough
tAere must be definite. correct. and
personal belief In him.
u. The New Body, the Church, An
reunced wv. 17-20).
~ Peter had made a noble confession
Of Christ, so now Christ confesses him,
If we confess Christ he will confess us
Matt 10 :32, 33). Christ declared his
intention of bringing into existence a
new body to the members of which he
will give eternal life, and to whose
hands he win entrust the keys of the
Kingdom. Peter vas to have a dis,
tinguished place in this body. The
keys entrusted to him were used or
the day of Pentecost, and again in the
case of Cornelius. Association in this
new body cannot be broken by death
for the gates of hades shall not prevail
against 1t. This body, the church, is OF
a heavenly origin, a heavenly calling
and a heavenly inheritance.
III. The Cross the Way to tn,
Throne wv. 21-33).
This was. no doubt. startling to tn,
disciples. They did not realize that re
demption vas to be accomplished
through the passion of the cross. 81
unwelcome was this announcement
that Peter cried, This shall not b,
unto thee" Peter later saw through
this darkness to the glory on the hill
top beyond. A new hope then fllet
his breast q Peter 1:3, A.. Victor,
through death is yet the stumblin,
block of many. Many are stumblin;
over the doctrine Of salvation and re
demption through the suffering of thu
cross. All such are under the contro
Of the devil ". 23). Salvation b.
| blood, the devil hates.
~. The Cost Of Discipleship wv. "a
27).
To follow Christ means suffering. T,
! follow him is to turn ones back upol
theAworld. Life can only be saved b,
losing it. II we are going to be Chris
tians We must share Christ's suffering
We cannot go to heaven on flower,
beds of ease.
/. There gust be denial of self "
pay. ThereTs a wide difference be
tween self-denal and denial Of sell
Self-denial Is %pr2cticed everywhere b,
all people. but tnly the disciples o
Christ or Christi&1 people deny sell
Christ takes the phce of self.
2. Take up his cpss." This eros
Is qhe suffering and Name which Ii
in the path Of loyalty 70 God. To d
our duty will mean SURFING e TIN
3:12).
8. Follow Christ. Thu can /
have the mind Of Christ. NO do "
Christ. All such shall barewarde
when Christ comes In glory.I