Arizona republican., 1916-05-27
International Sunday School Lesson
 for May 28
THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM
Golden Text.-"For freedom d

Goiden Text.-"For freedom did Christ set us free" Gal }: la Lesson Text.-Ac. 15: 1-35 Commit vs. 32, 33. ta) Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church to send chosen men of their own com pany to Antioch with Paul and Bar nabas namely. Judas, surnamed Bar sabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: (23) And they wrote let ters hy them after this manner: The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: (24 Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subVerting your souls, saying fe must be circumsised and keep the 1 fe must be circumcised, and keep the 1 mandment: (25) It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, l to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (26) Men that have hazarded their lives ! for the name of our Lord Jesus 1 Christ t2D We have sent therefore ! rttiSts anu NlidS. WHO SildIl also tell | you the same things by mouth (2S) ! For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; ! t29) That We abstain from meats of ! fered to idols. and from blood and from things stIangled and from for nication: from which if ye keep your : selves. Ve shall do well. Fare ye well. t3O So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: (3D Which when they had read, they reioiced for the consolation. (32) And Judas and Sllas, being prophets also themselves, eNhorted the brethren with many words. and confirmed them. (33) And after they had tarried there space they were let go in peace. from the re'hren unto the apostles
 Time.-5O-52 A. D. Plsces-Jern- salem. Antioch.
 Expositon-l The Decision of the Holy Ghost and the Apostles as to the Authority of the Mosaic Law over Gentile Christians. 22-29. The great
 
 whether a man is saved upon faith apart from works of the law. or 1 whether a man is saved upon faith and works of the law This is the great battle Paul fought. and. in a later day, Martin Luther. The old controversy has come up in our day in new form. IL is Sabbath keep ing, after the manner of Moses that is now insisted upon. Except ye keep the seventh day of the week as Sab hath, ye cannot be saved" is what many are saying today. Three argu ments were brought forward at tha council at Jerusalem. tc refute the .IuGaizers. First, Peters argument Goi hos borne them witness by giving the Holy Ghost to the uncircumcised as well as unto us and has put nC difference between us and them puri 1 flying their hearts hy faith (vs. s, 9 And God in a similar way today is hearing witness to those who do not keep the Jewish seventh day ab- hath. Second. Paul's argument: Goo has wrought signs and wonder. among the Gentiles by us. and thu. 0tt IlIS Ststi ullO1 puI IItdCUiilS O salvation by faith apart from work: Of the law tv. 12). Third. James argument: II is according to Old Tes- tonlent Scripture that God will talk, people for His name from among the uncircumcised Gentiles, as well a. from the law-keeping Jews Vs. 15-l7 Those arguments convinced the coun cil and the Mosaic law was not laiC upon the Gentle church. The apostles and elders and the whole church tool abundant precautions to guard agains any misrepresentation of their de cision being taken back 10 Antiocl by the legalizers. They knew th men they had to deal with. Thu Pa.l gained lis chosen companion O coming days (v 40). God has com out of the schemes of Paurs enemies The mode of address dsed in the let ter is full of significance, The breth rer which are of the Gentiles: "faitl in Christ makes all men kin. The, were bound together by a very ten der tie. that of faith in a commol savior. Many American Christian have not even yet reached the poin V utIS lntN ItSdIu every NpliNtl tt' Chinaman or African as brother The description of the Judaizers i very striking and suggestive, Ger tain which went out from us hay troubled you with words This kin of .roublers are not all dead yet. Me who creep in unawares and whisoe srecious, but false words to youn converts. subvertinG their soul There is no way in which tfe dev can more trouble believers tand es pecially young oonverts). or mor thoroughly unsettle tor subverD thei souls than by false words. Thes false words must be met by words ( trnth (Col. I: @. and above all. b the word of God c Tim. g. 13-15 The Apostles emphatically denied a responsibility (v 24) for this perm
 ciOus and subvertinG teaching, tn; men must keep the law of Moses order to be saved V. D. They la come to absolute unanimity about Il
 matter in question. Ii is gre
 thing when brethren who differ ca meet together and study the Scril
 lures together under the Holy Spirit
 guidance as did these early Christian
 and thus come to Cne accord
 There is surely no need of any di
 ferences on essential points amol
 fhoca tvbo hn,,, to tho autkoritV of fl