The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-05-20

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VIII, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATIONAL SERIES, MAY %.

While Paul and Barnabas abode at ntioch
with the disciples after their return from
their first missionary tour, doubtless Civ
ing themselves continually to prayer and
to the ministry of the word wi, A certain
men came down from Judsea and taught
as above. The teaching of Scripture on
all points that we need TO know is clear
and simple, but the perversions of the
devil ever since his first work in Eden are
fearful.
g paul and Barnabas had no small
dissension and disputation with them. .
The story of Abraham and the giving of
the rite of circumcision is so plain that we
wonder how any one could fail to see that
Abraham was a righteous man before he
received the rite of circumcision. Compare
Gen. XIV, 6, and xvii, 10, and then see how
clear are Paul's words in Rom. iv, II, con-
corning circumcision, ga seal of the
righteousness of the faith which he had,
yet being uncircuncised.
8. Declaring the conversion of the gen
tiles, they caused great joy unto all the
brethren. " This was as they journeyed to
Jerusalem, for 50 did these Judean teach
ers stir the people that it was thought best
to send to the apostles and elders at .Jeru-
salem concerning it. The enemy had not
bargained for this quickening of the breth-
rem along the road as they heard of the
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. 1t
was certainly more important to hear first
what God had done by His word and Spirit
through His servants than to hear of the
disputings of these teachers at Antioch
who We're troubling the people about cir
cumcision.
s. ''Needful to circumcise them and to
command them to keep the law of Moses. -
This was the teaching of some of the Phar
isees who believed There are many of
them today who teach that something be
sides receiving Christ is necessary to saliva
ton. Baptism, joining the church, taking
the communion, doing good, praying, NOR
tifying the flesh and such like are by
some held to be essential to ones saliva
ton. Such never can tell whether they
are saved or not, for they cannot tell when
they have done their part. as they say.
6. ''And the apostles and elders came
together for to consider of this matter. -
Peter was the first speaker oversees to ID
of any account, and they stopped disputing
to listen to his testimony He spoke of
what they knew and of what he had actu-
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 gentiles,
after which James very clearly decided in
favor of salvation without the necessity of
circumcision.
%. The council then decided to send
back to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas
two others, chief among the brethren,
Judas Barsabas and Silas, who might by
their testimony confirm to the brethren at
Antioch the decisions of the council, and
thus tend more fully to comfort and estab-
lish them.
23. Greeting unto the brethren which
are of the gentiles.' To hear Jews greet
Ing uncircumcised gentiles brethren
simply because they had received Christ
was a great advance in grace over chapters
X, %; xi, 2, 3. Even l have heard min
lister of the gospel very decidedly object to
| being called brother or to speaking of other
| believers as brethren, although our Lord
! Himself said, Zone is your Master, even
| Christ, and all ye are brethren (Math.
xiii 81 What docs all some ministers?
| "a. Certain which went out from us
| have troubled You with words, subverting
| your souls. - All who would put anything
| between the pcnitent sinner and the Say
! Jour are troubles and pcrycrters. AS help
| less and hopeless as the impotent man al
! Bethesda, as the palsied man let through
| the roof, as the poor leper, or as Lazarus
| corrupting in the tomb, is the condition OF
every sinner. But Christ comes to the sin
| ner and gives Himself with all that He is
| and as many as receive Him become the
| children of God (John i, 12)
| 25, &c. "Men that have hazartled theil
| lives for the name of our Lord J esu!
i Christ" Some men can teach and argue
| and dispute, but not SO many are ready t.
endure hardness or lay down their live
| for Christ. The teaching of those whC
suffer with Him is apt to be of NOR
| weight than that of mere takers.
81. eve have sent, therefore, Judas ant
Silas, who shall also tell you the sam
things by mouth They would therefor
have the letter from the apostles, the spok
en- words of Judas and Silas and the live
of Paul and Barnabas all to comfort an,
establish them. God does not trouble Hi
people, but ever seeks to comfort them
He is the Father of mercies and God of al
comfort, and comforts as only mothe
can Oh Cor. i, 3; Isa. Xvi, 13). If H
brings US into trial. it is that He ma
more fully reveal Himself to us as GU
comforter, that we may know Him better
| %. ut seemed good to the Holy Ghos
and to us to lay upon you no greater bun
den than these necessary things. TIL
Holy Spirit is the great teacher and com
forter and director of all the affairs in tn
church, and it is for US to be so fully u1
der His control that all the work and a,
the words shall be, THE Holy Ghost an
u.s. our part being simply that of We.
sells or instruments in which He can az
complish that which He desires, for q
knoweth the will of God am sure tina
it is the greatest thing on earth to be
person under the complete and constar
control of the Holy Spirit of God for til
service and glory of God.
20. Not one thing but the reception
Christ is essential to salvation. 1t
wholly through the grace of the Lor
Jesus Christ (verse ~, apart from an
works of ours (Eph. ii, 8; Rom. iv,
Titus iii, 81. But being saved freely b
His grace, it is, then, not d matter of eli
cumcision or of uncircumcision, but of
new creature filled with faith which worl
eth by love (Gal V, 6; vi, 15), the 10,
which ccnstrains us to let alone whatevs
would grieve the Spirit in any way hin
der our fellowship with the Father and tt
Son. Being fully justified by faith i
| Christ (Acts xiii, 3S, 80; Rom. V, ID, it
no longer, nor ever again, question
I salvation, but wholly one of fellowship an
service as saved people, an easy yoke flu
of comfort if we are only willing to wal
| with Him. The believers at Antioch we
comforted, Judas returned to Jerusalem
, but Silas continued at Antioch with Pal
: and Barnabas, teaching and preaching I'll
word of the Lord oversees "a, 35).
In the Wings.
IL ~