The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-06-05


GOLDEN TENT.--Stnnd fast there
fore in the liberty Whcrewith Christ
hnth mndc us frcc.-Gal. 5:I.
| OUTLINE or SCRPTTRAL SECTION.
An important question suhmitted.;....;:.; -
The question debated. Act. l5:G-2I
The question decided 10: 30 -
| TIME-A. -. ~.
I PLACE-Jerusalem
Jews.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The Great QueStion.-The Jews vel
coined proselytes from other nations
upon the condition that they should
become obedient to the laws of Moses.
When the Jews became disciples of
Christ they did not consider those
laws of less binding obligation upon
themselves. Hence it was natural for
them to think that Gentiles should
take the same steps to become Chris
tians as to become proselytes OF the
faith But Paul saw more clearly, and
raised the issue that Genties might
not be forced into bondage to the cere-
monial law in order to be recognized as
Chris tians. The question was vital
one, and fortunately for mankind was
| V.
Had the decision been the other way,
Christianity must have been mere
sect of the Jews.
The Question Submit ed.-The dis
cussion which made so much trouble
seems to us to have been about very
small matters, but the issue was really
important, for a Christianity that
pract iced all thc Jewish ceremonies
could never have won the world.-The
argument of the Jewish teachers at
Antioch probably depended on the fact
that the Jewish religion was COM
manded by God, and so must be OBJ
served by all who obeyed God-The
messengers of the church in Antioch
were frankly on one side Of the ques-
tion that was to be decided, but the
story they had to tell won them great
| favor all along the way.
The Question Debated.-This was
one of the few occasions important
enough to call all the leaders of the
church together.-The Questioning"
of verse was the discussion among
those who took sides in the natter
Peters speech pronounced for the
greatest freedom, pointing out that
the Holy Spirit had borne witness to
| the Gcntiles. and that the strictest
! Jews depended upon Gods grace
| Paul and BarnabaS added'tO the effect
of this speech by telling what they
| had seen: and then James gave the
final word as presiding officer. The
things he insisted on seemed to him a
matter of simple decency.
The Question Decided.-The whole
church took the final action with APP
parent unanimity, though neither the
Jewish teachers nor Paul abode strict
ly by the decision. 1t was com
promise to which they felt ". 2s) that
the Holy Spirit had guided them. We
know nothing about Judas, but Sias
was with Paul on the next missionary
| iourney-The letter first denies the
authority of the men who had insist
! ed on circumcision. 1t next intro
duces the messengers. complimenting
the zeal and courage of Paul and Bar
ma bas. Finally it lays down the points
on which the Jews insisted. To eat
things sacrificed to idols was like TAX
ing part in the sacrifice; yet Paul with
| in few years upheld Christian liberty
in this matter (Rom. 14:13-15; ! Cor.
S:1-s). "Blood" was sometimes used
| directly as food, and the Jews were
careful to have all blood removed from
meat before it was eaten; while
.things strangled" were forbidden,
because the blood was left in the body.
Fornication, as distinguished from
adultery, was considered no special
disgrace. This last point is the only
one Of those mentioned on which
Christian morality now insists.-The
question had been so troublesome that
its decision brought great Joy to the
church in Antioch.-The omission of
verse "a makes it appear that Silas
went to Jerusalem to report and then
returned to Antioch.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
Learn to be contented, and you
will know how to be rich.
The more conscientious men are,
| the more likely IL is that differences
will arise among them.
One should learn to be yielding in
matters of minor Importance, though
firm as q mountain rock on essen
tials.
Care should be taken not to disfel-
lowship those whom the Lord has ac-
cepted and acknowledged.
When any form is discovered to be
] a CALLING yoke it had better be
0roken. -.-,.-..1...41.4ss44, 4,4.s.asasss