The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1920-02-13

GOLDEN TEXT-The same Loru oVeE
all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom. 1912.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Acts TO-
lbs; Gal 2:1-2l.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's Love for Ev-
erybody
JUNIOR ToPIC-Peter Wins Roman
Captain
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Overcoming of Prejudice.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Significance of the Conversion OF COR
nelius.
The conversion of Cornelius broke
down the middle watl of partition
between ,;the Jews and GentileS (Eph.
2:N.
I. Cornelius wv. l, p.
L. His official position ". ~. He
was Roman officer over company
| of 100 soldiers, perhaps of about the
same rank as a captain in the Ameri-
can army.
2. His character ". p. O de-
yout, pious man. His heart was filled
with godly fear (2) He was pray
| ing man. he observed the Jewish hour
of prayer. (3) He was charitable; ne
gave much aims. (4) He was respect
ed by his family.
The Lord chose Cornelius for the
| transition of the Gospel to the Cen
tiles because of his character and po-
sition. No Jew could find any fault
| with him. He was good man, but
not a saved man.
II. The Supernatural Preparation
| for the Transition of the Gospel to the
GentiIes wv. 3-33).
l. Two visions were given. % Inc
| vision of Cornelius wv. 3-S). Whlle
engaged in prayer an angel OF Goa
instructed him to send to Joppa' for
Peter, who would tell him what to
do. The angel told him that Peter
lodged with Simon, tanner, to snow
Cornelius that Peter was not the
strictest Jew. The calling of tan
ner was regarded as unclean by the
strict Jews, and the tanners were COM
manded to dwell apart. Cornelius sent
at once for Peter. He was living up
TO the best light he had, so he received
more. (2) The vision of Peter wv
9-16). This took place while Peter
was praying ". 81. If one would re-
ceive visions from God, let him pray
TO God: for the heavens are open to
those who pray. He saw a certain
vessel containing clean and unclean
animals let down from heaven, ana
heard the command: Rise, Peter;
kill. and eat" Peter protested that
he had never eaten any unclean thing
God replied: What God hath
cleansed, call not thou common" This
vessel let down from heaven and TAX
en- back indicated that both Jew and
Gentle were accepted on high.
2. Messengers from Cornelius wv.
17-22). Peter was greatly perplexed
over what he had seen, but not for
long: for messengers from Cornelius
made inquiry at the gate for him. The
spirit informed Peter of the matter
and babe him go, nothing doubling.
3. The meeting of Cornelius and Pc
ter wv. 23-33). ~ Peter took six
witnesses along ". 23). He had the
good judgment to know that on a mat
ter of so great Importance he must
have witnesses. This was proved at
the Jerusalem council in the consider
alton of the question of the reception
of the Gentiles into the church I'll l.
1S). co Cornelius waiting for Peter
w. 24). He called together his klns-
men and near friends. (3) Cornelius
Dotop (UU Dh ZHl.
Peter repudiated this act and protest
ed that he was but man. The true
man of God not only dislikes, but re-
fuses to be worshiped. (Q The re-
ciprocal explanation wv. 27-33). Pe-
ter explained to him how God had
taken from him his Jewish prejudice
and asked that Cornelius state the
purpose of his having sent for him.
Cornelius explained how God had APP
peared unto him and instructed him
to send for Peter.
III. Peters Sermon wv. 34-43).
1. The introduction wv. "a, 35). He
! showed that God is no respecter OF
persons, but that in every nation those
who fear God and work righteousness
are accepted of him.
2. The discourse wv. 36-43). In the
discourse he touches briefly upon the
mission of Jesus, showing that by
means of his baptism and amounting
with the Holy Spirit he was quail
fed for his work as mediator. He
then exhibited the work Of Christ III
in his life wv. 5000. (2) In his death
". 39). (3) In his resurrection tVV
40, 4D.
~. The Holy Spirit Poured Out