Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-22
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

sion of the Master with apt quotation
of the Scripture. suited especially to his
audience. He preached to them q uni
versal gospel for all men, promising SAL
vation to "whosoever" believeth in His
name. He insisted that Christ's min
istry was in accordance with the teach
ings Of the prophets.
Peter pointed out that as the result
of the Lords life, death and resurrec-
ton the Master had commanded His
apostles and witnesses of His resurrec-
ton to preach two important truths
They were to make known that God had
made Jesus ito be Judge of the quick
and the dead" This Is a solemn truth
that all the future destiny of men and
nations has been placed In the hands
of our risen Christ When We consider
the problem of Judgment we are apt to
think Of the judge and the punishment
that He will infiict by banishing some
forever from the presence Of God. We
forget that judge can set free as well
as punish. This was the second fact
Peter emphasized that there was an
assurance Of remission of sins to who
soever should believe In His name. The
descent of the Holy Spirit upon Cor
nelius and his friends filled the Jewish
brethren with establishment. They had
supposed that the Holy Spirit would be
impaired only to members of their race
Peter recognized the fact-that the hum
Der present was larger than the number
upon whom the Spirit had come in the
upper room at Pentecost. He recor-
nized at once that there was now no
barrier to their becoming full and reg
ular members Of the church, SO he bap-
tixed them.
Jerusaiem's Approval Secured.
When the news reached Jerusalem
there was q stir among the conserva-
tive members, who considered that
Christianity was q distinctly Jewish
faith. When Peter learned of the discus
sion and division caused by his action
he took the six Jews who had gone to
Caesarea with him UP to Jerusalem,
where they confirmed his testimony.
They could not resist the logic of the
events and were filled with 10y over
the fact that the gospel had been given
to all men. Throughout the centuries
great religious truths have been ham
mered out upon the anvil of controversy.
The decision Of the Jerusalem church
was the basis of building o world
brotherhood, founded upon faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
The gospel is reaching men in all
stations Of life and In all lands.
Clough found that the Brahmins OBJ
jected to his welcoming the lower castles
into the church at Ongole. He was
convinced by the reading Of the Bible
that he should not shut them out. The
circle Of Christ's gospel includes every
body. Lloyd George has pointed out
World War, that would destroy modern
civilization. rests upon the churches.
who are now organizing for the purpose
Of developing the desire for peace
among all nations through the infiu-
ence OF the churches Of Jesus Christ
This Is goth century application Of
Peters welcoming the gentiles into the
fold Of the church at Cacsarea.
Every Christian has personal obi
cation to help establish q spirit of
hrotheriinesS among men Of every race
and nation. We must face our duty
and see to 1t that the Gospel Is preached
to the Chinese laundryman, tie Greek
restaurant man, the Polish farmer, the
Mexican toiler. the Japanese scientist.
the people of every land and nation
that we meet here in our country. We
are not only to contribute to sending
the Gospel to other countries. but we
have privilege given to few other
lands Of telling those who have come to
our shores the story Of the Lord Jesus.
The message that Peter gave to the
friends Of Cornelius is one that we
should teach to all we can reach. II we
are true to Christ, we will make it plain
that our God is no respector Of persons,
races or nations. BY His life, death
and resurrection, He has provided SAL
walton for all who will believe. He
has tntrusted US with the responsibility
TO preach the gospel to every creature.