March, 1939
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
103
I N T E R N A T I O N A L L E S S O N Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Childrens Division Golden Text Illustration Object Lesson B y B . B . S u t c l if f e B y G r etc h bn S ib le y B y H e le n G a iley B y A lan S . P earce B y E lmer L. W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain
APRIL 2, 1939 SAUL BECOMES A NEW MAN A cts 9:1-30
III. T he R ecognized B rother (17-19)
Ananias saluted him with the words, “Brother Saul.” Here is a striking illustra tion of the truth that “Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him” (1 John 5 :1 ). The fear of the enemy was swallowed up in love of the brethren, and Anemias became the first to welcome Saul into the family of be lievers. The emphatic words, “The Lord, even Jesus” (v. 17), would deepen the impression on Saul’s mind that the One whom he had persecuted was indeed the Christ of whom the prophets had spoken. The scales fell from his eyes, the hatred departed from his heart, and he arose and was baptized. Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, Saul of Tarsus for the first time obeyed the first and great commandment of the law. Having been converted by and to the Lord, he was received and recognized by the other Christians at Damascus. While they were as yet ignorant of the truth con cerning the Body of Christ and its unity, nevertheless they had the guidance of the Holy Spirit and were taught of Him. Per haps, if Christians today were subjected to more persecution from the world, they would be less ready to attack those who, while differing from them in some things, are the subjects of the same grace by which all are saved. Points and Problems 1. “Suddenly there shined round about him a light [rom h eav en ’ (Acts 9 :3 ). This light must have been a phenomenon of amazing brilliance, for in Paul’s verbatim accounts we are told that it took place “about noon” (22:6) at "midday,” and also that the light was “above the bright ness of the sun” (26:13). Any one who knows anything about the brightness of a noonday sun in desert country such as around Damascus will appreciate the force of this comparison. The light Paul saw was something supernatural, far above the sun in its brightness, and it struck him with lit eral blindness. It was the glory of the eter nal God Himself. 2. “W ho art thou. Lord?" (9 :5 ). This is the most significant word in the whole story. The blazing forth of that incredible Light convinced Paul instantly that he was in the presence of God Himself. There is no other satisfactory explanation of his use of the term “Lord.” Now Saul knew per fectly well that Jesus of Nazareth had claimed to be the “Lord,” a claim that Saul had been resisting with all his soul, even to the extent of killing those who confessed Jesus as “Lord.” But now in the presence of the "Light,” perhaps for the first time, a feeling of uncertainty enters his mind. He asks bimself, Can it be that Jesus is what He claimed to be? And that my whole ca reer thus far has been one vast mistake?
Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing^ out threat- enings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of( this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damas cus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: , 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him. Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Da mascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damas cus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and in quire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that ap peared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forth with, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. Lesson Text: Acts 9:1-12,17-19. Golden Text: "If any man be In Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Devotional Reading: Rom. 8:1-11 Outline and Exposition I. T he R eligious S inner (Acts 9:1, 2) S AUL of Tarsus represented the blind ness, unbelief, and wickedness of his nation. His bitter hatred of the Chris tians was an evidence of disobedience to the law which he claimed he upheld. The Christians were still his neighbors (Matt. 22:39), but he would drive them out from Jerusalem, from the nation, and from the earth if he could. [These lessons are developed from out lines prepared by the Committee on Im proved Uniform Lessons o[ the Interna tional Council. T he outlines are copy righted by the International Council o[ Religious Education and used by permis sion. The Scripture portions quoted are from the King James Version unless other wise stated. ]
On the road to Damascus, he had no proper sense of his sinfulness, and less real ization of his need of Christ. But as he went breathing out threatening and slaugh ter, the Lord was following him with love and grace. Saul thought he had great zeal for God, and that he was blameless before thé law. But in reality, he was against God, because he was against Christ. He was religious, but his religion was the worst thing about him; and he was sincere, but his sincerity was his greatest hindrance to knowing the truth. II. T he S ufficient G race (3-12) The record reveals what grace can do and what legalism cannot do. To use the language of the redeemed Paul: in God’s sight, he was once the worst, or the chief, of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), while at that same time, in man’s sight, he was the best, or the chief, of legalists (Phil. 3:4-6). He manifested in himself the limit of human wickedness and the height of human right eousness. To obtain salvation, his guilt was no hindrance, and his goodness like wise was no help, for all human righteous nesses are as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). God’s grace as it touched the life of Saul, was sudden, arresting him in his mad ness; it was mysterious, substituting humil ity for pride; and it was far-reaching, af fecting his whole nature. By grace, Saul was changed from a desperate enemy into an obedient servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He learned that when he was persecuting the Christians, he actually was persecuting the Lord—Jesus of Nazareth. In like man ner, modem persecutors of Jews will find that they who evilly treat that ancient peo ple are touching the apple of God’s eye, and that God Himself is still afflicted in His people’s afflictions (cf. Zech. 2:8; Isa. 63:9). The power of grace is seen in the atti tude of Ananias. It must have been a tre mendous shock to Ananias to be told to go to the man who carried authority to put all the Christians into jail, but as a true servant of the Lord, he did not demur. BLACKBOARD LESSON 'THEREFORE IF Finn lTIFin BE in CHRIST, HE 15FI nEUJ CREFITURE: OLD THIFIGS ARE PASSED FIUURH; BEHOLD RLLTHinGS R RE BECOrriE fiE U J \# % 200R.5-.I7
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