The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 70.


lem," Acts 1v., 1-6, 22-29-Golden Text:
Acts xv., 11-Commentary on the Les
son Of the Day by Rev. d. NJ. Stearns.
/. 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 (vi., D certain men
came down from JudRa and taught as
above. The teaching of Scripture on oil
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.
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 30 plain that We wonder
how anyone could fail to see that Abraham
was righteous man before he received the
rite of circumcision. Compare Gen. xv., 6,
and xvii, 10, and then see how clear are
Paul's words in Rom. iv., II, concerning
circumcision, "a seal of the righteousness
Of the faith which he had, yet being un-
circumcised."
8. Declaring the conversion of the gen.
tiles, they caused great Joy unto all the
brethren" This was as they journeyed to
Jerusalem, for so did these Judean teach
ers stir the people that it was thought best
to send to tho-eDostles and elders at Jeru-
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. It 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 were troubling the people about Cir
cumcision.
s. "Needful to circumcise them and to
command them to keep the law Of Noses"
This was the teaching of some OF the Phar-
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
tifying 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.
g. "And the apostles and elders came to-
gether for to consider Of this matter"
Peter was the first speaker Oversees z to III
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 tes-
timony confirm to the brethren at Antioch
the decisions Of the council, and thus tend
more fully to comfort and establish them.
%. "Greater unto the brethren which are
Of the gentiles." To hear Jews greeting
uncircumcised gentiles as brethren simply
because they had received Christ was
great advance in grace over chapters L,
Is; XII, 2, 8. Even have heard 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, Zone is your Master, even Christ,
and all ye are brethren" (Math. xiii, 81.
What does all some ministers2
"a. "Certain which went out from US have
troubled you with words, subverting your
souls" All who would put anything be-
tween the penitent sinner and the saviour
are troubles and perverters. As helpless
and hopeless as the impotent man at Beth
esda, as the palsied man let through the
roof, as the poor leper, or as 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 He Is
and as many as receive Him become the
children of God John j., 12l.
Is, 26. "Men that have hazarded their
lives for the name Of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Some men can teach and argue and dis
1,,{, ,,o{ nn6nfa
hardness or lay down their lives for Christ.
The teaching Of those who suffer with Him
Is apt to be Of more weight than that OF
mere takers.
27. "We 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-
en- words Of Judas and Silas and the lives
of Paul and Barnabas oil 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 all
comfort, and comforts as only mother
can II Cor i, 8; lisa. Xvi, 13). IfHe brings
us into trial, it is that He may more fully
reveal Himself to US as our comforter, that
we may know Him better.
28. 1T seemed good to the Holy Ghost
and to us to lay upon you no greater Dur-
den than these necessary things" The
HOly Splr1C Is CQe great IedcueI dhu Sota-
forter and director Of all the affairs In the
church, and it is for US to be so fully under
His control that all the work and all the
words shall be, "The Holy Ghost and u.s."
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 it Is the greatest
thing on earth to be person under the
complete and constant control OF the Holy
Spirit Of God for the service and glory OF
God.
W29. Not one thing but the.'reception of
Christ is essential to salvation. 1t IS
wholly through the grace OF the LORD
Jesus Christ (verse ~, apart from any
works of ours (Eph. H., 8; Rom. iv., 5;
Titus ill.,, 81. But being saved freely by
His grace, it is, then, not matter OF cir
cumcision or of uncircumcision, but OF
new creature filed with faith which work
eth by love gel. v, 6; vi, 15), the love
which constrains US to let alone whatever
would grieve the Spirit or in any way MIN
der our fellowship with the Father and the
Son. Being fully justified by faith in Christ
(Acts xiii, SS, 80; Rom. v, y. 1t Is no longer,
nor ever again, question OF salvation,
but wholly one Of fellowship and service as
saved people, an easy yoke full OF comfort
if we are only willing to walk with Him.
The believers at Antioch were comforted,
Judas returned to Jerusalem, but Silas con-
tinued at Antioch with Paul and Barnabas,
teaching and preaching the word OF the
Lord oversees 81 35)-LeSSon Helper.