The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-05-12

Subject: The Council at Jerusalem.
Acts 15:1-35- Golden Text:
Acts 15:11-Commit Verses %,
29-Commentary.
TIME.-50-52 A. D. PLACE
Antioch, Jerusalem.
EXPOSlTION.-I. Except We be
circumcised after the manner OF
Moses, ye cannot be saved, 10. The
church in Antioch was getting on fa-
mously, and the devil brought In
false teachers to upset the faith OF
the young converts. The main point
of doctrine with these false teachers
was that it was not enough to believe
on Jesus, one must also keep the law
of Moses. The great controversy IN
the early church was whether a man
was saved upon, faith alone apart
from works Of the law or whether g
man is saved upon faith and works OF
the law. The old controversy comes
up in u day in a new form. 1t IS
Sabbath-keeping latter the manner
of Moses that is 10 insisted upon.
Three arguments were brought for
ward at the council of Jerusalem TO-
refute the legalizers: Cd Peters AR
gument. God has borne them Wit
ness by giving the Holy Ghost to the
uncircumcised as we'll as unto us and
has put mo difference between us
and them, purifying their hearts by
faith" Tvs. 8, 81! God in a similar
way to-day Is bearing witness to those
who do not keep the Jewish seventh:
day Sabbath. (2) Paul's argument
God has wrought signs and wonders
among the Gentiles by US and thu
set His seal upon preaching OF
salvation by faith apart from works;
of the law ". 12). (3) James arr
gument. It is according to Old Tes-
lament Scripture that God will take q
people for His name from among the
uncircumcised Gentiles as well as tho
law-keeping Jews (vs. 13-17). the
teaching of the Judaizers caused end
less trouble in the Antioch church W.
p. IT was wisely decided to submit
the question to the apostles and eld-
,ers in Jerusalem. Paul and Barna-s
has made good use Of their time on
their journey to Jerusalem. All.
along the way they declared what
God had done among the Gentiles.
The story they told caused great JOY
unto all the brethren. Nothing causes
greater Joy among true brethren than
the story of how men are converted
from sin to Righteousness. ss
III. The Decision of the Holy Ghost
and the Apostles as to the Authority
of the Mosaic Law Over Gentle
Christians, 22.29. The apostles and
elders and the whole church took
abundant precautions to guard
against any Misrepresentation OF
their decision being taken back to-
Antioch by the legalizers. They
knew the men they had to deal with.
Thus Paul gained his chosen compan-s
ion of coming days ". 400. Good
had come out of the schemes Of Paul'sSs
enemies. The mode of address used
In the letter is full OF significance.
1.-THE brethren which are of the Gem.
tiles" Faith in Christ makes all men
kin. 7 LEY were bound together by 8
very tender tie, that OF faith In a.
common Saviour. Many American
Christians have not even yet reached
the point where they regard every
converted Chinaman or African as a.
brother. The description OF the Ju-s
daizers Is very striking and suggest
i've ". 24). There is NJ way in
which the devil can more trouble be-
levers (and especially young com
verts), or more thoroughly unsettle
Tor subvert) their souls, than by!
false words. These false words must
be. met by words Of truth (Col. 4:6),
and above all, by the word Of God 81
Tim. ~3:13-15). The apostles I'M
phatically denied all responsibility
for this pernicious and s~ubverting
teaching, that men must keep the law
OF Moses in order to be saved ". ID.
They had come to absolute unanimfty
about the matter in question. 1t is a
great thing when brethren who differ
can meet together and study the
Scriptures together under the Holy
Spirits guidance, as did these, early
Christians, and thus 'fcome to n ac-
cord" The apostles and the whole
church bestowed very lofty praise on
Paul and Barnabas. 1t was we'll de-
served e Cor. ~11:2S-27). OF how
many disciples to-day could 1t be
Justly said that they had hazarded
their lives for the name Of our Lord
Jesus CuTlSL. IL Woo LUZ SnSAA
decision on this great question that
they were sending; it was the Holy
Spirits decision. They were per-
fectly sure of this ~. 2S). 1t was
because they sought and obtained the
mind of the Spirit that they we're
able to come to one accord" 1t is,
because we seek the wisdom Of men,
rather than the mind of the Spirit,
that we are so often at variance with
one another. The one who insists
upon the binding authority OF the
Mosaic law upon Christians is oppos-
ing the Holy Ghost. Four points OF
the Mosaic law and no others were
adjudged necessary for the Geatiles.
There was great Joy in Antioch when
the troublesome question was settled
". 31). There were two reasons for
this Joy. Painful division had given
way to pleasant harmony, and, more
over, the irksome bondage of the law
had given way to the joyous liberty
of the Gospel. There is always JOY
when one comes out of the bondage
of legalism into the glorious liberty
of a son. Judas and Silas were much
used of God in other ways than mere
ly settling this question. They were
Spirit-filled men and gave much prof.
table exhortation and instruction,
confirming the believers in Antioch
in faith and life ". 32).