Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-05-21

Nv, 11-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ
stearns.
/. Except ye be circumcised after the
manner of Moses, We cannot be saved"
While Paul and Barnabas abode at Antioch
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, ~ certain
men came down from Judea and taught
rs 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.
2. 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, TO- and then see how
clear are Paul's words in Rom. iv, IL, con-
corning circumcision, "a seal of the
righteousness of the faith which he had,
yet being uncircumcised
8. Declaring the conversion of the gen
tiles, they caused great JOY unto all the
brethren. This was as they iourneyed to
Jerusalem, for so 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 were troubling the people about cir
cumcision.
3. "Needful to circumcise them and to
command them to keep the law of Moses "
This was the teaching of some of the Phar-
isecs 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
Peter was the first speaker oversees Z to ~
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 Barnabas4
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
80. Greeting unto the brethren which
are of the gentiles," To hear jews greet
ing uncircumcised gentiies as bfcctths.rftiA
simply because they had received Christ
was great advance in grace over chapters
x, 2S; xi, 2, g. Even 1 have heard a 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, lone is your Master even
Christ, and all We are brethren" (Math.
|
"a Certain which went out from us
have troubled you with words, subverting
your souls. All who would putanything
between the penitent sinner and the Saw
Jour are troubles and perverters AS help
less and hopeless as the impotent man at
Bethesda, as the palsied man let through
the roof, rs 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, 26. "Men that have hazartled their
lives for the name of our Lord Jesus
| Christ. Some men can teach and argue
and dispute, 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 more
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-
en- 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 Inercies and God of all
comfort, and comforts as only n mother
can Oh Cor i, 8; Isa. Xvi, 49, If He
brings us into trial, it is that He may
more fully reveal Himself to us as our
comforter, that we may know Him better
20. ut scc;--?d good 70 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 it is for us to be so fully I'M
der His control that all the work and all
the words shall be, 1.-THE Holy Ghost and
u.s." our part being simply that of YES
sells or instruments in which He can ac-
complish that which He desires for He
knoweth the will of God. am sure that
1t is the greatest thing on earth TO be a
person under the complete and constant
control of the Holy Spirit of God for the
service and glory of God.
20. Not one thing but the reception of
, | Christ is essential IN calvatiOn II "a