Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-12-09


DRY Verses, s-iI-Goiden Text. Acts
XIV. ii-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
stearns.
H. This verse introduces us to a gather
ing Of the church at Jerusalem with the
apostles and elders. Paul and Barnabas
also being present and declaring before
them all the wonders which God had
wrought among the Gentiles by them
The first part Of the chapter tells why the
apostles had left Antioch and the cause of
this council at Jerusalem. The principal
point of dispute was: Can Genties be saved
by faith in Christ. or must they also be
circumcised before they can be savedi
Peter told what he had seen of the gift of
God upon the uncircumcised, and now
Paul and Barnabas tell what they have
seen of the same grace
49, James now sums up the evidence
and gives his decision. James, the brother
of John, had been slain xii, 81 so this
must be James the son of Alpheus (Math
X. 81. the author of the epistle of James.
H. In verses IA to IS we have a complete
and concise summary of the purpose of
God with the church, the Jews and the
Gentiles. The purpose of the present dis
pensation is not the conversion Of the
world. but, rs it is written here, to take
out of the nations people for His name.
Is. And to this agree the words of the
prophets" While the gathering of one
body out of Jews and Gentiles on equal
terms is not clearly revealed in the Old
Testament, as Paul testifies in Rom. xvi,
q. 26; Eph. iii, 5, 6, the purpose of God to
bless all nations through the nation of Is
Al iu ri, LODI. IL to, al
written in this connection, Surely the
Lord God will do nothing but He reveal
eth His secret unto His servants. the
prophets (Amos iii, y.
l6. After this | will return, and will
build again the tabernacle Of David"
The restoration here spoken of has never
yet taken place, for the prophet says that
when it does take place Israel shall be
planted in their land and never be pulled
up any more amos tx, ll-l5). Before this
regathering of Israel as a nation the elect
church must be completed.
II. After the conversion of Israel as a
Saton. then shall all nations be converted,
for the time will come when all kings shall
fall down before Him, all nations shall
serve Him Cps. Xxi, ~. AS one has said,
it is now some Jews and some Gentiles
(the elect church), then it will be all the
Jews lisa. TX, 1922, Jer XXI, 80. 3D. and
after that all the Gentiles lisa. Tx, 1-3. II
| l2).
| IS. There is no surprise to God in any
thing that comes to pass, and He does
nothing that from all eternity He did not
see that He would do.
10. Understanding the purpose of God
James law that the present election was
not to be by any special connection with
Jewish rites but by simple faith in Jesus,
and by His grace whatsoever will, without
respect to persons, may be saved oversees
I'D.
20 He advised writing to the Gentle
converts that having received Jesus, and
therefore being saved they should abstain
from all defilements of idolatry and I'M
cleanness, and observe in their eating such
portions of the ceremonial law as would be
for their health and prove them to be sep
arate from the heather about them (II Cor
vi, l6; vii. y.
81. 1t was customary to read from Moses
and the prophets in the synagogue every
Sabbath day xiii, Is, 2O, and Jesus Him
self had testified that Moses wrote of II i'm
that all Scripture referred to Him, and
that He had come not to destroy, but TO
fulfill John V. 46; Luke xiv. 81, a.; Math.
v, ~.
%. Having come to this decision it
pleased the apostles and elders of the
church at Jerusalem to send to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas such chief men
as Barsabas and Silas, that not only might
the Christians at Antioch learn the de
cision of the council by letter, but also by
the testimony of these brethren.
%. Listen now to the letter and hear
leading Jews at Jerusalem addressing
Gentle believers as brethren. Behold the
grace of God and the love of the Holy
Spirit. What contrast to the old saying
that the Jews have no dealings with the
Samaritansl | myself have heard minis
ter of the Gospel object to the term "breth
rem" saying that he felt like knocking a
man down who called him brother. Such
was not the spirit of the apostles.
"a. Such troublers and subverters still
live, and pervert the word of God and mys
tify the grace of God, going SO far as te
say that unless we believe as they do OF
join their communion we cannot be saved
Others saying that even though we believe
we have something to do before we can bt
saved, and yet Others insist that we cannot
know whether we are saved till we die
20. The letter testifies to the love of the
church toward Barnabas and Paul, to the
unity of the church at Jerusalem in thi,
matter, and to their great interest In the
Gentle brethren at Antioch. All true be
levers are members of the one body.
20. Barnabas and Paul are honorably
mentioned because of their sufferings fo
Christ's sake Some of these were men
TONED in last lesson. See full list in r
Cor XII. 1928. And yet hear Paul say
None of these things move me-" anc
THE sufferirgs of this present time ar,
not worthy to be compared with the GLORY
which shall be revealed in us" (Acts XXX
"a; Rom. viii, 49,
q. Written sermons are good sometimes
and letters are often very helpful, but
testimony by word OF mouth right from
the heart is best of all. In this case the,
have both the written and the spoken ties
timony.
rs. Observe the partnership of the Hol!
Spirit and the church and compare chap
ter xiii, 2. Every one who receives Jesu
receives also the Holy Spirit, and the bod,
becomes His temple, every whit Of which