The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-05-20
m slDBl1l-sCR0N LESSON
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY %.

Lesson Text: "The Conference OF .Jcrrsa-
lem." Acts xv., 10. a:-e0-- Golden Text:
Acts xv., 1l-Commentary ON the Les
son Of the Day by Rev. ID. NJ. ssearn..
I. Except ye be circumcised after the
manner OF Moses, ye cannot be saved"
While Paul and Barnabas abode at Antioch
| with the disciples after their return from
their first missionary tour, doubtless giving
themselves continually to prayer and to the
ministry OF the word wi, Al certain men
came down from JudGa and taught as
above. To teaching of Scripture on all
points that We need to know Is clear and
simple, bnt the perversions OF the devil
ever since his first work in Eden are fearful.
2. Paul and Barnabas had no small dis
sension and disputation with them" The
story OF Abraham and the giving of the rite
! OF circumcision Is so plain that we wonder
how anyone could fail to see that Abraham
was righteous man before he received the
rite OF circumcision. Compare Gen. Nv. 9,
| and xviii, 10, and then see how clear are
| Paurs words in Rom. iv., IL, concerning
circumcision, "A seal OF the righteousness
| OF the faith which he had, yet being un.
| circumcised."
3. Declaring the conversion Of tho gen.
! tiles, they caused great, Joy unto all the
brethren" This was as they journeyed to
Jerusalem, for so did these JudRan teach
| ers stir the people that 1t was thought best
| to send to the apostles and elders at Jeru-
| salem concerning II. The enemy had not
bargained for this quickening OF the breth-
rem along the road as they heard of tho
| wondrous work of God among the gentiles.
4. They declared all things that God
| had done with them" This was before the
apostles and elders at Jerusalem. II was
certainly more important to hear first what
God had done by His word and Spirit
through His servants than to hear OF tho
| disputings OF these teachers ut Antioch
who were troubling the people about cir
cumcision.
3. "Needful to circumcisc them and to
| command them to keep the law of Moses"
| This was the teaching Of some OF the rhar-
isees who believed. There are many OF
them to-day who teach that something be-
sides receiving Christ Is necessary to saliva
| tion. Baptism, joining the church, taking
the communion, doing good, praying, NOR
| tfying the flesh and such like are by some
| held to be essential to ones salvation. Such
| never can tell whether they are saved or
| not, for they cannot tell when they have
| done their part, as they say.
| q. And the apostles and elders came to.
| gcther for to consider of this matter"
| Peter was the first speaker oversees to lN
| OF any account. and they stopped dsputng
what they knew and of what he had artu-
| ally seen Of the grace of God. Then fol-
lowed Barnabas and Paul with their record
| OF the miracles and wonders which God
had wrought by them among the gentics,
| after which James very clearly decided in
favor OF salvation without the necessity OF
circumcision.
90. The council then decided TO send back
to Antioch with Pau! and Barnabas two
others, chief among the brethren, Judas
Barsabas and Silas who might by their ties.
timony confirm to the brethren Mt Antioch
the decisions OF the council, and thus tend
| more fully to comfort and establish them.
49, Greater unto the brethren which are
of the gentles." To hear Jews greeting
uncircumcised gentiles rs brethren simply
because they had received Christ was u
great advance in grace over chapters y.
2S; XII, 2, 8. Even have heard u minister
Of the gospel very decidedly object to being
called brother or to speaking OF other be-.
levers as brethren, although our Lord Him.
self said, "One is your Master, even Christ,
and all yc are brethren" (Math. xiii, 81.
What does oil some ministers?
"a. Certain which went out from us have
troubled you with words, subyerting your
souls" All who would put anything be.
tween the pentent sinner and the Saviour
are troubles and perverters. As helpless
and hopeless as the impotent man ut Beth
esda as the palsied man let through the
roof. as the poor leper, or rs Lazarus cor
rupting in the tomb, Is the condition OF
every sinner. But Christ comes to the sin
ner and gives Himself with all that Hc is
and as many aS receive Him become the
children of God (John l., l2l.
25 26., men that have hazarded their
lives for the name Of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Some men can teach and argue and dis
pute, but not so many are ready to endure
hardness or lay down their lives for Christ
The teaching OF those who suffer with Him
is apt to be of moro weight than that of
mere takers.
27. eve have sent, therefore, Judas and
Silas, who shall also tell YOU the same
things by mouth" They would therefore
have the letter from the apostles the spok
On words Of Judas and Silas and the lives
OF Paul and Barnabas all to comfort and
establish them. God does not trouble His
people, but ever seeks to comfort them.
He Is the Father OF mercies and God Of ali
comfort, and comforts rs only u mother
can (II Cor. |, 3: Isa. Xvi, l3). file brings
us into trial, 1t is that He may more fully
reveal Himself to us as our comforter, that
we may know Him better.
%. 1T seemed good to the Holy Ghost
and to us to lay upon you no greater bur
den than these necessary things" The
Holy Spirit is the great teacher and com
forter and director OF all the affairs in the
church. and 1t is for US to be so fully under
His control tnat all the WORK ana al the
words shall be, "The Holy Ghost and us"
our part being simply that OF vessels or in
struments in which He can accomplish that
which He desires, for He knoweth the will
OF God. am sure that II Is the greatest
thing on earth to be n person under the
complete and constant control OF the Holy
Spirit OF God for the service and glory OF
God.
I29. Not one thing but the, reception OF
Christ Is essential to salvation. 1t is
wholly Through the grace OF the Lord
Jesus Christ" (verse IL, apart from any
works OF ours Gph. H., 81 Rom. iv.. 5;
Titus ill.,, 81. Bdt being saved freely by
His grace, 1t Is, then, not matter OF cir.
cumcision or Of uncircumcision. but OF a
new creature filed with faith which work
eth by love (Gal. ", O; vi, l5). the love
which constrains US to let alone whatever
would grieve the Spirit or in any way hin.
der our fellowship with the Father and the
Son. Being fully justified by faith In Christ
(Acts kill, SO. SO; Rom. ", y. it Is no longer,
nor ever again, q question OF salvation,
but wholly one OF fellowship and service az
saved people, an easy yoke full Of comfort
II we are only willing to walk with Him.
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