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THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
(6) To be almost a Christian is to be hopelessly lost. (7) To be a true Christian is the high est attainment of the human soul. v. 19. N ot disobedient to th e heavenly vision. Obedience is the one condition under which the will of God is accom plished in o u r COMMENTS FROM l i v e s and our MANY SOURCES spiritual prosper- K e ith L . B ro o k s ity secured. “ If ye be w illing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the lan d .” !—F arr. v. 20. Repent and tu rn to God. This was the substance of P a u l’s message to both Jew and Gentile. To repent is to radically change on e’s mind about sin and especially about Christ.fe-Torrey. - v. 22. Obtained help of God. The apostle tells us the seeret of his con tinuance. Obtainment is the seeret of at~ tairiment. M ark th a t he obtained his help for a specific object—th a t he m ight w it ness of the things in th e Scriptures.— Marsh. Continue w itnessing. Paul is a model w itness of Gospel tru th . . (1) Through whom does he w itness? Through the Lord whose strength is perfected in weakness. , (2) Before whom ,does he w it ness? Small and great, all who have ears to hear. (3) Of whom does he w itness? Of Christ, promised, manifested, crucified, raised, preached.'—Gerok. Small and great. DcJn’t be ashamed of the Gospel in any company.:—Cole, Unto th is day. The apostle has in mind th e many attem pts to cas.t him down during his m issionary jour neys. He has been rescued in many ways and is still standing there safe and Sound through thé help God had sent him. He does not forget human agency, bu t this, whatever it was, was all sent of God.—- Camb. Bible. v. 23. Should be th e first. The Revised Version gives a b etter representation of the original, thus: “ and how th a t he first, by th e resurrection of the dead, should proclaim. ’’—Lumby. Show light. Christ, by His resurrection, had brought light to both Jew s and Gentiles: (1) Upon the personality of Christ Himself, showing Him to be both Messiah and Son of God ( Rom. 1:4). ( 2 ) 'Upon the purpose and plan of salvation which had ever been througfi grace and by fa ith (Rom. 3:24-26). (3) Upon the character and value of C h rist’s death which was thereby declared to have been an atonem ent for sin (Rom. 4:25). (4) Upon the reality of a resurrection to
be a Saviour of the Jews. There is a difference of opinion concern ing the meaning of A g ripp a’s reply, as to whether the word ‘‘almost ’’ was spoken in scorn or in earnest. We are foreed to believe th a t Agrippa was under th e con victing power of the Spirit. P aul had used God’s Word in a m asterful manner, and it must have cut him like a sword (Hob. 4:12). The fervor of P a u l’s reply is proof th a t th e th ru st had gone home. He seizes the opportunity to make his appeal to the l^ing and to the whole company. “ I would ,to God” or “ I would th a t God” (for only H e could touch such hearts as those before him) “ th a t not only thou, bu t all th a t hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” W hat did Paul have th a t he so gloried in? No worldly w ealth; no honor from men; no ease or comfort; no earthly crown; bu t he did have treasures in heaven (Mark 10:21); the smile of God (2 Cor. joy and peace of soul (Gal. 5:22, 23); a erown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4 :8 ); a M aster who was K ing of kings (Rev. 19: 16) and possessions th a t would outlast the crash of worlds (Rom. 8:32). Agrippa and Festus vindicated Paul and would have set him a t liberty, bu t God had ordained th a t be should go to Rome, and he was safer in th e hands of the R om ans.than he would have been in the hands of the Jews. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Personal experience is an adjunct to the testimony of the Word. (2) You cannot teach th a t which, you do not know experimentally. S trive for a rich experience. (3) The vision of the risen Lord, the voice of H is Word, and the life of victory, make a fu ll life. (4) The center of the Gospel is Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ comihg and Christ reigning. (5) There is no madness comparable to the madness of neglecting and rejecting the Gospel.
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