Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v03750

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 11KB | 198 lines

03753
 #30,31 There were other signs and proofs of our Lord's
 resurrection, but these were committed to writing, that all
 might believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour
 of sinners, and the Son of God; that, by this faith, they might
 obtain eternal life, by his mercy, truth, and power. May we
 believe that Jesus is the Christ, and believing may we have life
 through his name.
03755
 * Christ appears to his disciples. (1-14) His discourse with
 Peter. (15-19) Christ's declaration concerning John. (20-24) The
 conclusion. (25)

 #1-14 Christ makes himself known to his people, usually in his
 ordinances; but sometimes by his Spirit he visits them when
 employed in their business. It is good for the disciples of
 Christ to be together in common conversation, and common
 business. The hour for their entering upon action was not come.
 They would help to maintain themselves, and not be burdensome to
 any. Christ's time of making himself known to his people, is
 when they are most at a loss. He knows the temporal wants of his
 people, and has promised them not only grace sufficient, but
 food convenient. Divine Providence extends itself to things most
 minute, and those are happy who acknowledge God in all their
 ways. Those who are humble, diligent, and patient, though their
 labours may be crossed, shall be crowned; they sometimes live to
 see their affairs take a happy turn, after many struggles. And
 there is nothing lost by observing Christ's orders; it is
 casting the net on the right side of the ship. Jesus manifests
 himself to his people by doing that for them which none else can
 do, and things which they looked not for. He would take care
 that those who left all for him, should not want any good thing.
 And latter favours are to bring to mind former favours, that
 eaten bread may not be forgotten. He whom Jesus loved was the
 first that said, It is the Lord. John had cleaved most closely
 to his Master in his sufferings, and knew him soonest. Peter was
 the most zealous, and reached Christ the first. How variously
 God dispenses his gifts, and what difference there may be
 between some believers and others in the way of their honouring
 Christ, yet they all may be accepted of him! Others continue in
 the ship, drag the net, and bring the fish to shore, and such
 persons ought not to be blamed as worldly; for they, in their
 places, are as truly serving Christ as the others. The Lord
 Jesus had provision ready for them. We need not be curious in
 inquiring whence this came; but we may be comforted at Christ's
 care for his disciples. Although there were so many, and such
 great fishes, yet they lost none, nor damaged their net. The net
 of the gospel has enclosed multitudes, yet it is as strong as
 ever to bring souls to God.

03769
 #15-19 Our Lord addressed Peter by his original name, as if he
 had forfeited that of Peter through his denying him. He now
 answered, Thou knowest that I love thee; but without professing
 to love Jesus more than others. We must not be surprised to have
 our sincerity called into question, when we ourselves have done
 that which makes it doubtful. Every remembrance of past sins,
 even pardoned sins, renews the sorrow of a true penitent.
 Conscious of integrity, Peter solemnly appealed to Christ, as
 knowing all things, even the secrets of his heart. It is well
 when our falls and mistakes make us more humble and watchful.
 The sincerity of our love to God must be brought to the test;
 and it behooves us to inquire with earnest, preserving prayer to
 the heart-searching God, to examine and prove us, whether we are
 able to stand this test. No one can be qualified to feed the
 sheep and lambs of Christ, who does not love the good Shepherd
 more than any earthly advantage or object. It is the great
 concern of every good man, whatever death he dies, to glorify
 God in it; for what is our chief end but this, to die to the
 Lord, at the word of the Lord?

03774
 #20-24 Sufferings, pains, and death, will appear formidable even
 to the experienced Christian; but in the hope to glorify God, to
 leave a sinful world, and to be present with his Lord, he
 becomes ready to obey the Redeemer's call, and to follow Him
 through death to glory. It is the will of Christ that his
 disciples should mind their own duty, and not be curious about
 future events, either as to themselves or others. Many things we
 are apt to be anxious about, which are nothing to us. Other
 people's affairs are nothing to us, to intermeddle in; we must
 quietly work, and mind our own business. Many curious questions
 are put about the counsels of God, and the state of the unseen
 world, as to which we may say, What is this to us? And if we
 attend to the duty of following Christ, we shall find neither
 heart nor time to meddle with that which does not belong to us.
 How little are any unwritten traditions to be relied upon! Let
 the Scripture be its own interpreter, and explain itself; as it
 is, in a great measure, its own evidence, and proves itself, for
 it is light. See the easy setting right such mistakes by the
 word of Christ. Scripture language is the safest channel for
 Scripture truth; the words which the Holy Ghost teaches, #1Co
 2:13|. Those who cannot agree in the same terms of art, and the
 application of them, may yet agree in the same Scripture terms,
 and to love one another.

03779
 #25 Only a small part of the actions of Jesus had been written.
 But let us bless God for all that is in the Scriptures, and be
 thankful that there is so much in so small a space. Enough is
 recorded to direct our faith, and regulate our practice; more
 would have been unnecessary. Much of what is written is
 overlooked, much forgotten, and much made the matter of doubtful
 disputes. We may, however, look forward to the joy we shall
 receive in heaven, from a more complete knowledge of all Jesus
 did and said, as well as of the conduct of his providence and
 grace in his dealings with each of us. May this be our
 happiness. These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is
 the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have
 life through his name, ch. #20:31|.
03780
 ** This book unites the Gospels to the Epistles. It contains
 many particulars concerning the apostles Peter and Paul, and of
 the Christian church from the ascension of our Saviour to the
 arrival of St. Paul at Rome, a space of about thirty years. St.
 Luke was the writer of this book; he was present at many of the
 events he relates, and attended Paul to Rome. But the narrative
 does not afford a complete history of the church during the time
 to which it refers, nor even of St. Paul's life. The object of
 the book has been considered to be, 1. To relate in what manner
 the gifts of the Holy Spirit were communicated on the day of
 Pentecost, and the miracles performed by the apostles, to
 confirm the truth of Christianity, as showing that Christ's
 declarations were really fulfilled. 2. To prove the claim of the
 Gentiles to be admitted into the church of Christ. This is shown
 by much of the contents of the book. A large portion of the Acts
 is occupied by the discourses or sermons of various persons, the
 language and manner of which differ, and all of which will be
 found according to the persons by whom they were delivered, and
 the occasions on which they were spoken. It seems that most of
 these discourses are only the substance of what was actually
 delivered. They relate nevertheless fully to Jesus as the
 Christ, the anointed Messiah.

 * Proofs of Christ's resurrection. (1-5) Christ's ascension.
 (6-11) The apostles unite in prayer. (12-14) Matthias chosen in
 the place of Judas. (15-26)

 #1-5 Our Lord told the disciples the work they were to do. The
 apostles met together at Jerusalem; Christ having ordered them
 not to depart thence, but to wait for the pouring out of the
 Holy Spirit. This would be a baptism by the Holy Ghost, giving
 them power to work miracles, and enlightening and sanctifying
 their souls. This confirms the Divine promise, and encourages us
 to depend upon it, that we have heard it from Christ; for in Him
 all the promises of God are yea and amen.

03785
 #6-11 They were earnest in asking about that which their Master
 never had directed or encouraged them to seek. Our Lord knew
 that his ascension and the teaching of the Holy Spirit would
 soon end these expectations, and therefore only gave them a
 rebuke; but it is a caution to his church in all ages, to take
 heed of a desire of forbidden knowledge. He had given his
 disciples instructions for the discharge of their duty, both
 before his death and since his resurrection, and this knowledge
 is enough for a Christian. It is enough that He has engaged to
 give believers strength equal to their trials and services; that
 under the influence of the Holy Spirit they may, in one way or
 other, be witnesses for Christ on earth, while in heaven he
 manages their concerns with perfect wisdom, truth, and love.
 When we stand gazing and trifling, the thoughts of our Master's
 second coming should quicken and awaken us: when we stand gazing
 and trembling, they should comfort and encourage us. May our
 expectation of it be stedfast and joyful, giving diligence to be
 found of him blameless.

03791
 #12-14 God can find hiding-places for his people. They made
 supplication. All God's people are praying people. It was now a
 time of trouble and danger with the disciples of Christ; but if
 any is afflicted, let him pray; that will silence cares and
 fears. They had now a great work to do, and before they entered
 upon it, they were earnest in prayer to God for his presence.
 They were waiting for the descent of the Spirit, and abounded in
 prayer. Those are in the best frame to receive spiritual
 blessings, who are in a praying frame. Christ had promised
 shortly to send the Holy Ghost; that promise was not to do away
 prayer, but to quicken and encourage it. A little company united
 in love, exemplary in their conduct, fervent in prayer, and
 wisely zealous to promote the cause of Christ, are likely to
 increase rapidly.

03794
 #15-26 The great thing the apostles were to attest to the world,
 was, Christ's resurrection; for that was the great proof of his
 being the Messiah, and the foundation of our hope in him. The
 apostles were ordained, not to worldly dignity and dominion, but
 to preach Christ, and the power of his resurrection. An appeal
 was made to God; "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all
 men," which we do not; and better than they know their own. It
 is fit that God should choose his own servants; and so far as
 he, by the disposals of his providence, or the gifts of his
 Spirit, shows whom he was chosen, or what he has chosen for us,
 we ought to fall in with his will. Let us own his hand in the
 determining everything which befalls us, especially in those by
 which any trust may be committed to us.