Evening star., 1925-09-26
Sunday School Lesson

not satisfied with enlisting men for
Christ by baptizing them, for with
true pastors heart he sought to
strengthen them in the faith by his
teaching and epistles, which were
written to correct conditions in the
churches that called for his sending
to them epistles, three of which we
studied during the quarter. Paul
never realized that they were to be-
come the molders of Christian
thinking for modern life. as they
have for the Christian centuries
which have passed. He followed the
leadership of the Holy Spirit In his
work and writings.
We saw in our first lesson how that
the church in Antioch had been moved
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
to enter sympathetically into the mis-
sionary work proposed by Paul. They
felt that they could not be true to the
divine call of fellowship with Christ
and act otherwise. Upon PauIs re-
turn to the Antioch church after the
first missionary enterprise, he found
that he had to face an anti-mission-
airy spirit with the membership of
the church that he had served as pas
tor and who had sent him forth
missionary of the cross with Barna-
bas, who. due to the presence of false
brethren from Jerusalem, had come
to believe that all Gentiles should en-
ter the church through the door of
Judaism. Paul showed his diplomacy
by suggesting that this problem be
referred to the Jerusalem church,
where he succeeded In obtaining a de-
cision that recognized Christianity's
worldwide mission.
The controversy was inevitable.
Pauls teaching of salvation by faith
was inconsistent with the teachings
of the Pharisaic party within the
church that insisted upon the full
hlling OF all the requirements Of the
Jewish law as essential to the saliva
ton of all Gentiles. The apostle,
through his own experience, had come
to realize that Judaism was the cradle
OF the Christian faith and to hold il
within the folds of Judaism meant
that 1t would be crippled IN its devel-
opment and growth. Paul saw that
men did not appear before God as
Hebrews, but as partakers Of
Moses, and even in the days before
Abraham. the one condition Of ac-
ceptance with God was faith in Him.
In the council at Jerusalem Paul
| won the battle of liberty for the Gen
tiles, freeing them from the neces-
sity Of keeping the Mosaic cere-
monies. This decision was the Magma
Charta Of religious liberty. 1t gave
the Christian faith place in the
sun. 1t freed 1t from "its shell and
nest on its Judean crag and set 1t
free TO take its flight over The world"
| with its message of a full salvation to
all through faith in Christ. The de-
clsion also recognized Pauls standing
as an apostle to the Gentiles.
The test Of the universally of Pauls
1alth came at Troas. when he heard
the call OF Macedonia's 8 need and de-
cided to carry the gospel into Europe
Many believe in the Wilderness of
Christ's gospel, but refuse TO be true
to their convictions. Paul responded
to the cry for help and carried the
seeds Of modern civilization into Eu-
rope. We have seen Paul with his
associates enter city after city, seek
ing to win the chief centers of com
merce, culture and cash for Christ by
his evangelistic and medical mission
work. We have seen them win souls
In community after community for
the Lord and establish churches by
preaching the gospel, whose spiritual
truths, when accepted, changed the
character of men and the destiny of
nations. Paul proved by his life, la
bors and letters the world wide char
acter of the gospel of Christ.
Our study of the epistle of James
showed the relationship that exists be-
tween faith and works. Paul called the
Galatians to be preservers of their
Christian liberty, he summoned the
Thessalonians to be faithful in their
faith and life as Christians, and he
sought to guide the Philippians in
Christian character and service Our
attitude toward missions will demon
strate our faith in the saving power
of Christ. One-third of the human
family are professed followers of
Christ; have we no duty and message
for the others. The Gospel of Jesus
contains the only hope for the world.
Let us pass IL on