Evening star., 1925-07-11
Sunday School Lesson

fulness. has always provided for the
good of His people. this series culmi-
mating in the gift of His SON.
The plan of his sermon was admira-
bly, adapted for his purpose Speak
ing to Jews. he dealt sympathetically
with both them and their faith. He
takes his stand upon the ground of
the old covenant and proceeds to
prove that Jesus is the divinely APP
pointed seed of David. He proves this
by historical argument based upon
the Old Testament records. He point
ed out that God chose and exalted
the people. He delivered them from
Egypt. He gave them country. He
provided judges All their request He
gave them a king. After removing
him he raised up David, a man after
His own heart, From this seed sprang
Jesus"
He sought to establish that Jesus
was the promised deliverer as his sec
ond point. Just as the kings succeed
ed the judges, SO the son of David has
,Succeeded the kings and has inaugu-
rated a new kingship. The last of the
sprophets, John the Baptist, recognized
Him as the Messiah. He met the OBJ
lection concerning His ignominious
death by showing that His very death
was in fulfillment of the prophecies
concerning Him. Every Sabbath, in
every synagogue, the prophetic ora
cles declaring it are read. And he
claimed that His resurrection, which
had been witnessed by eyeWitnesses-
that this glorious fact was in accord
ance with prophecy and was pledge
Of the fulff1lment of Gods promises.
In his closing appeal Paul pro-
claimed for the first time the impo-
tence of Judaism. and preached saliva
ton through faith alone by Him, >"
he says, "all that believe are justified
from all things which they could not
be justified by the law of Moses"
Having encouraged them to believe
and trust the risen Christ as their
personal Savior, he warned them of
the awfulness of their responsibility
by quoting from the prophets.
Effect Of the Sermon
There was a spiritual power about
his i.lysSage that moved men. His ser
mon made deep Impression and Gre
ated a division. His words were well
coined by the Gentle hearers and Gre
ated murmuring of indignation
among the Jews. The next Sunday the
synagogue was crowded to hear Paul
preach. Evidently he had used the
week to do some effective missionary
work. He furnished his countrymen
an opportunity to vindicate themselves
from the charges that rested upon
them, which they refused to accept.
Their attitude was such that Paul and
Barnabas were filed with indignation
to such an extent Paul opened up a
new chapter in religious history by his
decision, ''Lo, we turn to the Gen
tiles.
Their decision aroused a feeling of
gratitude among the Gentiles, who ac-
cepted the Gospel in great numbers.
On the other hand. while the number
of conversions were multiplying a
persecution, stirred up by his remarks
in reference to the Jews broke out n
fury. Paul was reapine something Of
what he had SoWn years before. They
were compelled TO leave, and as they
departed they symbolized the breach
between the synagogue and the church
by shaking dust off their feet. They
succeeded in securing the support of
the Roman governmental officials. but
on what ground the officials aided the
persecution is not stated The fact
that certain prominent female prose
E1ytes ngaged in the movement against
the missionaries of the cross shows
that. though the converts to Judaism
furnished the best soil for the prono-
cation of the Gospel, they were not
all carried away from Judaism to the
new faith by the efforts of Paul anC
his associates. The Gospel continues
to divide people into two classes-the
friends of Christ and those who reject
Him.