Acts 4:18-31 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.… I. WHAT WE CONCEIVE TO BE BELIEVING THE GOSPEL. 1. Entertaining it in the mind, so as for the judgment to approve, from a conviction of its importance. 2. Yielding to it, as God's method of acceptance. 3. So feeling its influence as that the character shall be changed. This faith, generally speaking, comes by listening to Divine truth. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." II. WHAT WE INCLUDE IN MAKING THE GOSPEL KNOWN. 1. Imparting spiritual knowledge to those with whom we are acquainted — husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, etc. 2. Giving Christian education. We commend the cultivation of the mind, but let us not neglect the sanctification of the heart. 3. Distribution of religious tracts, of books, such as "Baxter's Call," Romaine's "Walk of Faith," etc., but especially of the sacred Scriptures, which are able to make wise to salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ. 4. The preaching of the gospel. 5. Deportment becoming the gospel. III. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO. Where there is a real spiritual reception of the gospel there will be a publication of it arising from the following considerations. 1. Sympathy with the distressed. 2. Love to the Redeemer. 3. Anxiety for the cause will induce this. 4. The happiness to be possessed here and hereafter. 5. The glory that will be secured to God. (W. Lucy.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.WEB: They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. |
    |