Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-05-22
THE COUNCIL AT
JERUSALEM
Sunday School Lesson fer May d, 1903
Specially Arranged for mis- Paper

verses q. %
GOLDEN TEXT.-"we believe that
through the grace Of the Lord we shall
b saved. even as they."-Acts l5-ll.
TINfE.-About so A. T.. as IS commonly
0greed though various scholars place 10
PLACE.-Anuoch in Syria. and Jerusa
tem.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Y. /. Certain men," perhaps those
sent by James (GaL 2: 12) came
down from Judea." The Bezan text
says that these visitors were Phari-
sees, members Of the strictest sect Of
the Jews. Perhaps they came % in
vestigate rumors of laxity in the
church; AZ any rate. they taught the
brethren" (the verb is In the imper-
feet implying continued action they
kept teaching. and said. Except ye
be cirCumCised We cannot DE
saved" "A very different doctrine
from st. PauTs' Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved
acts 1881. Rackham
The Importance OF the Question -
The Christian church during its first
90 years. had spread over Palestine.
and South Galatia Goa Asia Minor ~
was rapidly growing especially among
the Gcutles. The difference that mad
arisen set on against each other the
two great Centers OF growth. Jerusa-
Ina and Antioch. 10 threatened 90 di-
vide the Christian churches into two
contending and irrecoucilable fac
tions 10 that happened SO would
probably be the deathblov 60 the
young religion. the destruction OF the
hopes OF the world through Christ
Could any matter be more momen
tous7
w. They C"the brethren" ". ID
determined that Paul and Bauabas
and certain other Of them lincuding
Titus. Gal ? /. afterward PauTs com
panion, a Greek. a man OF much abil-
ity. who would serve as a specimen
OF the Gentle converts). should 40 uD
20 Jerusalem 600 miles away about
this question" Paul went "by revela-
ton" (Gal. 2. -. which is entirely
consistent with the statement that the
church sent him.
After much debate. that everyone
might express his views. as is proper
in a democratic assembly such as all
Christian gatherings should be. Peter
spoke up. His nearness 10 Christ and
his strong character combined 10
make him leader Moreover. I'm this
case he had had personal experience
which placed him on Paurs side-the
divine revelation bidding him go 20
the Gentle Cornelius. and the outpour-
ing OF the Spirit upon that convert
and his household. IL was precisely
such witness TO the right OF the Cen
tiles to enter the church without cir
cumcision as Paul himself described
from his missionary experience Peter
insisted upon IL with characteristic
vigor. closing with the pointed Ques-
uon, why put a yoke upon
the neck OF the (Gentile) disciples.
which neither our fathers nor we
were able 20 bear?"-the yoke being
the minute oppressive rites OF Juda-
ism. with the Pharisaic additions. i'm
posed as a condition OF salvation.
There is only one condition OF saliva.
ton. said Peter IN conclusion the
grace (ths free gift. unbought by any
deed OF ours) Of the Lord Jesus
Christ" AS Peter sat down, Paul
must have clapped his hands,
The decision embodied IN a Letter.
% To clarity and unity judgment in
the preparation OF II: C2) to guard
against slips OF memory on the part
OF the ENJOYS: CD 70 prevent misun.
derstandings; Cd to preserve for fu-
ture occasions the results OF the con
ference. Capt. Cuttle's advice. When
found. make a note on" applies to all
weighty matters.
The reasons for the restrictions:
I. The 'pOllutions OF idols" ". 2O).
explained as meats offered to idols"
". 29), came 10 be sore trouble In
the church, and liberty to eat such
meat (the meat commonly sold had
nearly ali formed part OF sacrihces)
was at later time claimed for Chris
tians very strenuously by Paul But
until the Gentle churches were con
firmed In their new separation from
idolatry. IL was wise TO require them
10 abstain from whatever might tempt
them with memories OF the licentious
revels which heathenism celebrated
In the name OF religion.
?. Foundation" however. was the
great sin Of idolatry. which "glorified
sexual vice with the halo OF a sacred
sanction "-Schan. Courtezans were
the priestesses Of the temples OF We
nus, and crowds OF abandoned women
gathered around most OF these so
called holy shTlnes. To this day. sex
ual immortality is the terrible sin OF
idolatry, as the missionary annals OF
Africa. India. China, Japan and the
South seas most abundantly show.
3. Things strangIed," meant the
flesh Of such animals as were killed in
snares. and whose blood was not
poured forth. "-Gloag. The Jews were
forbidden to eat these. as coming IN
der the larger restriction that follows:
4. BLOOD" was forbidden the Jews
as an article OF diet Qnductive Study
y because blood was a symbol OF life.
which was to be held sacred, and of
sacrifice. which was TO be revered. II
was the holy token Of the remission
OF sin (Reb. g: 22). Their most pre-