Evening star., 1925-07-25
Sunday School Lesson

gave him such rank that his name
heads the list of pillars who pri-
vately agreed to help him. solve the
problem of preserving both the lib
erty of the gospel and the authority
of the Scripture. In that private
conference the decision was reached
that caused the church to burst the
chains of Judaism under the influence
of Paul. who was an apostle of man.
kind rather than of a nation.
While the question which called for
the conference was circumcision, it
is not referred to in the decision made
by the church and confirmed by let
ter and special delegation appoint
ed to carry the decision to Antioch.
Peters speech, which is the last one
that we have of the great apostolic
leader, and that of James, who evi-
IDENTIFY was the leader among the
champions of Judaism, persuaded the
church to repudiate the activities of
those who had questioned Paurs au-
thority and teachings by their in
sisting that circumcision was essen
tial to salvation.
The Councils Decision.
The formal decision of the council
is given us verbatim. 1t was marked
by concession rather than compro-
ly unimportant points rather than
principles. 1t was based upon the
principle of love that calls for all
Christians TO be brotherly and help
full in fostering all fraternal and So
cial relations existing among the fol
lowers of the Lord Jesus. There was
an agreement that all, whether Jew
or gentle, were required to repent
of their sins and believe upon the
Lord Jesus as their risen Lord and
Savior as essential for personal sal
walton.
In an effort to produce harmony
among all the churches there was a
recognition that the gentiles could
assist in promoting the peace and
unity among their Jewish brethren
by considering their feelings. They
advised the gentle brethren along
lines, which have been variously in
terpreted, concerning the use of foods,
so that a strict Jewish Christian
could not be hindered from eating
with his gentle brethren blood in
this case being the same as meat that
was kosher, or as a warning against
immoral practices (blood here mean
ing murder). There was a general
recognition that the converts from
paganism, who had been trained in
the observance of the ten command
ments, needed to be instructed in the
elementary moral duties. The e"pil-
lars of the church" had faced the
facts with Paul and Barnabas, and.
under the leadership of the Holy
Spirit, reached a decision that helped
to remove the dissension and differ
ence existing among the Jewish and
gentle church. If we followed the
same method and used the spirit we
could remove all controversy that
arises among us due to differences in
training and temperament as well as
in education and experience.
Paul won the victory that was the
first Magma Charta of religious lib
erty ever secured. He had recognized
that II he permitted anything else
than faith to be brought in as essen
tial to unite men with Christ "and
make them partakers of salvation
faith was deposed from its place. -
He insisted that I'VE are saved
through the grace of the Lord
Jesus" and justified through personal
faith in Christ. Maclaren has we'll
said that history has proved that
anything whatever introduced as as
sociated with faith comes to be rec
The controversy started them is a
perennial one, and the church of
the present day needs PauI's exhorta-
ton, stand fast, therefore. in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made
you free, and be not entangled again
with the yoke of bondage"