Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-04-14

- ~SNt- ~ AtAS AAtN4uE 1QQ.
sus.
JUNIOR TOPIC = cenfessing our
Faith in Jesus
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR Top-
ic-Confessing Christ Openly.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
lC--What think we OF Christi
The disciples had been with the
Lord for several years. They had
heard His wonderful words and wit
messed His mighty works. Various
opinions were extant about Him. Since
Jesus was soon to so TO the cross Il
was necessary for the disciples to have
definite and true conception OF Him.
In order to help them into the right
conception. He provoked this confess
sion from Peter as the spokesman of
the group OF disciples.
I. Peters Confession wv. l8.le}.
/. How provoked
Two questions of Christ put TO the
disciples called forth this great con.
fession.
"a Whom do men say j, the Son
OF Man, am (v. 13l.
!, He first inquired for the opinion
OF the people concerning Him. AS 4
wise teacher He knew that this would
help crystalline the view of the dis
eiples. The people recognized Jesus
as teacher or prophet, with more
than human authority and power. To.
day, as then, there Is diversity Of
opinion among the people as TO Jesus
Christ The multitudes today recog-
nize Jesus as an unique personality
and as having been a great teacher,
but that which offends them is His
deity.
~ Whom say We that amp (v. 49,.
This question involved the personal
opinion OF the disciples concerning
Him. To be able to tell what others
think Of Jesus is not enough. There
must be definite, correct and personal
belief In Film. Personal belief is worth
Infinitely more than the knowledge OF
what others think, for upon personal
belief hinges character and destiny.
2. What Peters confession involved
". 16).
Two vital things, the Messlahship
and deity Of Jesus. That which Jesus
called forth from Peter is the burning
question of today. what think We OF
Christi is the question that must be
answered by everyone.
8. Christ's commentator OF Peter
". ~,
He pronounced him blessed. Truly
he was blessed for he both possessed
and confessed Christ
II. The New Body, the Church, An.
nounced by Christ wv. 1920.
Christ declared His intention of
bringing into existence new body, to
the members of which He will give
eternal life and into whose hands He
would entrust the keys Of the King
dom. Peter was TO have a distin-
guished place In this body. Christ de-
clared that Peter should be the founda.
ton stone IN His church Christ is
the chief corner stone upon which the
church Is built. Christ's person and
Messiahship were confessed by Peter
and on this rock (truth confessed) is
laid the foundation Of the apostles and
prophets (Eph. 2:20). All believers
are living stones OF this house Il Pet
2:5). The keys entrusted to Peter
were used on the day Of Pentecost and
again In the case of Cornelius.
III. The Cross the Way to the Throne
(vv. 21-23).
From that time Jesus began to show
unto the disciples how that He must
go unto Jerusalem and suffer many
things, be killed and raised again the
third day. This indeed startled the
disciples. They did not yet realize
that redemption was to be accom-.
plished through the passion Of the
cross SO unwelcome was this an
nouncement that Peter cried: "This
| shall not be- unto thee Peter later
saw through this darkness to this
glory Of the hillfops. A new hope then
! filed his heart II Pet. IS, A. Many
are yet stumbling over the doctrine
of salvation and redemption through
| the suffering Of the cross. Salvation
! by blood Is hated by the devil
w. The Cost of DiscipIeshIp (v. "a
TO follow Christ means to suffer. 1t
means to turn ones back upon the
! world.
j. There must be denial Of self.
There Is wide difference between
seIf-denial and the DENTAL OF self
2. Take up His cross.
This cross Is the suffering and
shame which lie IN the path of,Ioyalty
to God.
8. Follow Christ
This means 10 have the mind Of
Christ; to be like Christ Christ will
come In glory to reward all such
The Power of God