A Personal Savior

Acts 16:13-15; Romans 5:1-11

GOLDEN TEXT: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—Romans 5:1

THE first part of today’s lesson is connected with the introduction of the Gospel into Europe. After the conference at Jerusalem, described in the 15th chapter of Acts, Paul and Barnabas remained for a time at Antioch. But seeing that there were many laborers there and that a larger field was little worked, a second missionary journey was planned. Silas, otherwise known as Sylvanus, accompanied St. Paul and their course lay through Syria and Silesia, Derby and Lystra.

After good success in the mission up to this point the apostle had in mind a journey through Asia Minor, but apparently things went unfavorably until the apostle concluded that the Lord was hindering their efforts and in perplexity began to think of other fields of labor. His moment of uncertainty was the Lord’s opportunity for directing him. He dreamed that he saw a man dressed in the costume of the Macedonians beckoning to him and saying, “Come over and help us.”

The apostle accepted this as divine leading and promptly began the journey which took him into Europe. We have here an evidence of God’s supervision of all the interests of His church. He was not averse to permitting the message to go into Asia Minor, for it did go there later, possibly at a more opportune time. But this was the time for sending the message to Europe.

Philippi, one of the chief cities of Macedonia, in Greece, appears to have been the first place for the preaching of the good tidings in Europe. As usual, on the Sabbath Day the apostle and companions sought for some who worshipped God, who hoped for the Kingdom which God had promised, knowing that such would be the better prepared to receive the message he had to deliver. Apparently there was no synagogue in Philippi and matters may have looked very unfavorable to Paul and his companions. However they heard of a little religious meeting held every Sabbath by the riverside, outside the city gates. It was a prayer meeting principally, and place of divine fellowship.

This was a favorable opportunity to present the Gospel message and St. Paul spoke to those who resorted thither, commending the importance of their worshipful condition of heart and the importance of praise to the Giver of all good. Then he proceeded to declare the good tidings of the sacrifice of Jesus, of His death and resurrection, and His second coming in power and great glory. No doubt he also called attention to the invitation now being given for joint-heirship with Him in the Millennial Kingdom as members of His body, the church.

However many or few were at the meeting there was one present whose heart was in the right condition to receive the message—a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple. Not only did the truth open her heart, enlightening the eyes of her understanding, but she was prompt to obey it in full consecration; and prompt to symbolize that consecration in water baptism—“She and her household.”

It is not always that religious parents have religiously inclined children. Seven instances of the kind are mentioned in the Scriptures. Personal experiences teach us also that the parent who is earnestly consecrated to the Lord and guided by His Word has generally a good influence upon those nearest to him and directly under his care. Such an influence should be hoped for, prayed for, sought for, by every parent; but it cannot be attained except by carefulness, circumspection in word and deed, implying that the very thoughts of the heart are brought into captivity to the will of God in Christ.

Parents who have failed to discern the truth and recognize its responsibilities until their children have outgrown parental instruction, must not chide themselves unmercifully if their children do not respect them and their religious convictions. Rather, they should remember that the Lord is thoroughly acquainted with the situation, and will hold them accountable only for what they do or fail to do after they know Him and have an opportunity for understanding the instructions of His Word respecting their own lives and the training of their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The fact that Lydia’s household believed, implies that she was the mother of adult children. And these were so thoroughly under her influence that they worshiped with her the true God, neglecting the idolatry prevalent in Philippi. We may infer that she was a widow since her husband is not mentioned. Hence it was her right without conference with anyone, to invite the apostle and his companions to share the hospitality of her home. She seemed properly to have realized that, instead of honoring them, she was honoring herself and her home by having such guests—the ministers of God, the brethren of Christ—under her roof.

Note her language when inviting, “She besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us.” The latter statement implies that the apostle was not too ready to force himself upon anybody, that he did not urge that any service should be rendered to him and his companions. Rather the apostle made no reference to temporalities. Indeed, after the suggestion of Lydia had been made it was apparently not too quickly accepted, with the indication that the disciples of Jesus had no desire to intrude upon others. This is implied in the statement that they were constrained, gradually drawn or led to accept the invitation. How beautiful it is to see God’s children wisely exercised in such matters! How much is their influence upon one another for good!

The second section of our lesson, which includes our Golden Text, is a portion of St. Paul’s discussion of the Christian life, its blessings and privileges, in the fifth chapter of Romans. The justification which he there speaks of we receive through faith in Christ, and it becomes the basis of our new hope in Him, of becoming His disciples, and, if faithful, ultimately joint-heirs with Him in the Kingdom. This development of our faith and hope the apostle expresses in the words, “By whom also [additional to justification] we have access by faith into this grace [the privilege of adoption into God’s family] wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”—the hope of sharing God’s glory and Kingdom with our Lord and Head.

QUESTIONS:

What does it mean to have peace with God, as suggested in the Golden Text?

To what extent are consecrated parents responsible for the religious beliefs of their children?

What is there in the lesson to indicate that Paul did not solicit temporal support for the ministry?

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