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Text of the Lesson, Acts XIV, 1-35.
Memory Verses, 80, 33-Golden
Text, Gal. v, documentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. Nj. Stearns.

Ing that faith In Jesus Christ was not
enough TO save any one unless they
were also circumcised These people
are spoken Of as "Pharisees who be-
)ieved" oversees i, 81. The Lord Jesus
did not believe In all who said that
they believed In Him, for He knew all
men Uohn ii. 23-25). Any one who
does not see a full salvation In the
finished work of the Lord Jesus for
all who receive Him, apart from any
works OF ours. does not understand
Gods way Of saving people and can
not be true believer. Ever since the
Svil taught Cain that the best he
could do or bring was sufficient with
out any sacrifice or shedding OF blood
he has continued so TO teach. or else
that the blood of Christ is not suffi-
cient without some works Of ours, as
Sunday school superintendent once told
me that he could not know that he
was saved till he had done his part
From the day that the devil lied to
Eve and made God a liar he has been
on the same line 10 the present time.
The argument in Rom. iv is full and
clear--that salvation Is wholly apart
from any works Of ours and that Abra-
ham was a righteous man before God,
apart from circumcision, and the
teaching is the same In all the epistles.
Yet the false teachers continue to this
day.
We might think that the testimony
Of Paul and Barnabas as TO what they
had seen the Lord do in the way of
saving uncircumcised gentiles would
silence these disturbers at Antioch. but
the devil is very persistent and can
make a lot of trouble, and the Antioch
believers decided TO refer the matter
to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem
by sending Paul and Barnabas as their
committee. See how along the way as,
they journeyed they caused great joy
unto the brethren as they declared all
things that God had done with them
oversees 3, A., and thus this seemingly
unnecessary journey was made TO glori-
fly God. Rom. viii. 2S is always help
full
When they appeared before the
council at Jerusalem there was much
disputing there also, so 1t would seem
that the false teachers had not all left
the city When Peter found his oppor-
tunity he told. or reminded them, how
God had sent His Spirit upon the I'M
circumcised company gathered In the
home of Cornelius oversees Gil; Acts K,
344S) Then Paul and Barnabas de-
clared what they had seen along SINH
lar lines In their missionary tour, tell
ing Of the wonders and miracles God
had wrought among the gentles by
them Verse ~. We may imagine
how profound the silence was as the
council listened to the record of what
we have been recently studying in
chapters Kill and xiv. Then James,
who seemed to be presiding at the
council. summed up the matter and
gave the decision that the believers
among the gentlles must not be trou-
bled about circumcision or anything
unnecessary for them. but prove, by
life separated from all idolatry, that
they were true followers OF Jesus
Christ. This was Endorsed by the
apostles and elders and by the whole
church and sent by Paul and Barna-
bas and two of the chief men among
the brethren. Judas and Sllas. to the
believing gentiles in Antioch. Syria
and Cilicia oversees 90. 23).
Notice in verse % that the Holy
Spirit was really the presiding one at
the council and led them to their right
decision and thus brought Joy and
comfort TO the brethren at Antioch
(verse 81. I am often impressed with
the fact that the Spirit seems to make
so little of voyage or journey, as
to the time occupied or the incidents
by the way or the places visited or
passed through. Note In verse 80 they
were dismissed from Jerusalem and
came TO Antioch, and so 1t is always,
as a rule. no matter how long the
voyage or the journey. Time and dis
lance and many things that get much
attention here seem not TO be noticed
in heaven whence the angels come and
return as fash OF lightning and
where 1000 years are but as yester-
day when 1t is past or as a watch In
the night Ezek. 1. IA; Ps. &c, A.. The
speech Of James gives most concise
summary Of the purpose Of God in
this present age and In the age to
come.
Now, God is gathering out from all
nations people for His name, His
church. the called out ones, the body
and bride of Christ, who shall reign
with Him when He sets up His king
dom on the earth. His church being
completed and caught up to Him in
the air. He will return with them to
restore TO Israel all that the prophets
have foretold and TO occupy the throne
OF David: then shall all nations be
won TO Christ through Israel, who
shall be the first righteous nation upon
earth. for Israel shall blossom and bud
and oil the face OF the earth with |