Middletown transcript., 1916-05-27
LESSON FOR MAY 28
THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM.
LESSON TEXT-Acts 15:1-25.

The events of this lesson are out
standing in Christian history. Pauls
| appeal to the Gentiles and the large
number of them who accepted the Cos
pei made most acute the question.
Must Gentle believers become Jew
ish proselytes upon accepting the
Christian faith and be governed by
! Jewish law and customs?" 1t would
be exceedingly interesting to divide
a class and let them debate this con-
troversy stated as follows: Resolved,
That the Mosaic law should not have
been imposed upon Gentle Chris
tians." The date of this council was
A. D. 90 or 81, and the scene is laid
first in Antioch of Syria and then in
Jerusalem.
|. A Division of Opinion wv. 1-6).
Luke does not name those who agi-
tated and precipitated this contrO-
versy, but clearly indicates how the
Holy Spirit dealt with the situation.
is a man justified by faith, or by the
works of the law?" is a similar ques-
ton with modern application. The
Holy Spirit, to avoid rupture in the
yet weak church, directs that Paul,
Barnabas, Titus (Gal. 2:D and or
tain others" who are not named,
should carry the question to the apos-
ties and elders in Jerusalem. Those
to whom they went were "of reputa-
ton (Gal 2:2), the pillars" Gal.
2:9) and they received the delegation
from Antioch in public (15:D, also
heard Paul in private (Gal. 2:2).
II. The Argument. wv. 6-18). It
will not do to be harsh in condemn
ing Paul's accusers. The Pharisees
felt deeply their position. AS Gods
chosen people they were marked by
| circumcision Jesus, the promised Mes
siah, was Jew. Social, religious,
and racial differences are hard to rec
oncile in one church today. But little
was asked of the Gentiles in contrast
with all they received. Entrance to
church membership would not be too
easy if circumcision were imposed as
a test of their sincerity. Peter brought
forward the plea before the council
that God had given the Holy Spirit to
the uncircumcized Christians, land put
no difference between US and them,
purifying their hearts by faith" (vv.
| 8, 81. God bears the same witness
today to those who refuse to be bound
| by Mosaic traditions as regards the
seventh day and other such details.
Paul's argument was that God had
wrought signs and wonders among
I the Gentiles and thus set his seal
upon his preaching of salvation as
apart from legalistic works ". 12).
| Read in this connection Gal. 2:16, I'll
tus 1920, S:3, 1914, and Phil. 3:9.
The apostle James presented the third
argument in connection with the YER
dict he pronounced. 1t was that it
is according to Old Testament Scrip
ture that God will take a people for
his name from among the uncircum-
sized Gentiles as we'll as from among
the law-keeping Jews Tvs. 1910.
! With Paul this was a vital question,
and we can at least imagine his feel
ings as he puts forth a life-and-death
struggle for the truth. AS Peter re-
minded the people of the occasion
when the Holy Spirit came upon Cor
nelius and his household" he caused
them to keep silence.
| III. A Wise Decision (vv. 1929. 1t
was James the Just, brother Of our
Lord, the writer of the epistle and
the bishop Overseer of the church at
Jerusalem, who rendered the decision.
In his argument Tvs. 1879 he saw
in these Gentle converts reported by
Barnabas and Saul a fulfllment of
| the prophecy of Amos, and to use the
| language Of today he made a mo-
tion," viz, that these Gentiles be not
disturbed except in such matters as
would tend to more fully separate
them from the heather idolatry they
| had just left, (a) Pollution of idols"
1. e.. flesh offered in the sacrifices {b)
from fornication," the immortality
| connected with the pagan worship of
| Aphrodite and Cybele which actually
consecrated vice, and (c) from things
strangled,' for the heather did not,
as the Jews did, look upon the blood
as life, the seat of the soul. The
church readily agreed to this motion
and took such precautions as were
needed that no misrepresentation of
their decision be carried back to Anti
och. This consisted of a spirited
| choice of messengers and in written
statement of their decision Tvs. %, 23).
! Their letter is interesting. (D They
saluted the Gentiles as brothers, for
| in Christ we are all kin. 1t is sad
to contemplate the unchristian separa-
ton of present-day professed followers
of Christ. Certain have trou-
bled you with Words" such are not
| dead yet-men who wrangle over
words or else whisper false words to
young converts, and who must be met
with truth (Col. 1852; Tim. 3:13:15).
There was absolute unanimity among
| those at Jerusalem, they were of one
accord" ". 24). There is surely no
need of differences and discord on
essential points among those who ac-
cept thN authority Of the Bible, who
ask God for wisdom (James 1:5-7) and
accept Jesus Christ as Savior and
Lord. If Christians sought more the
mind of the Spirit and looked less
on the wisdom of men they would not
be so often at variance with each
other.
Only four points Of the Mosaic law
were deemed necessary for the Cen
tiles and those who would today
bind upon us the full authority of
that law do so contrary to the Holy