The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-08-09
Lesson for August II
THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM

LESSON TEXT-Acts l5:1-35.
GOLDEN TENTH the Son shall
make you free ye shall be free indeed
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's Children
Refuse to Quarrel.
JUNIOR TOPIC--Christians Consult
ing Together.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Paul Opposes Religious PreJudices.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-Paul Stands for Christian Liberty.
l. The Controversy in the Church
at Antioch wv. 1-5).
This difficulty was most serious
one, for it threatened the disruption
of the church into Jewish and Cen
tile divisions. 1t was not question
of the admission of the Gentiles into
the church. That had been settled
some years before when Peter e.
ceived Cornelius and his household,
The question now was, on what
ground can they be received? Should
Gentle converts be required to keep
the Mosaic law as condition of sal
walton? This issue was brought on
by the coming of certain men from
Jerusalem, who declared, Except ye
be circumciseu after the manner +
question was so difficult that PA Il
and Barnabas were unable TO put
them to silence These Jewish legal
lists had the letter of the Scripture
on their side. They could point to
the command where this was enjOined
upor believers (Gen. 1910. Paul
could not point to any Scripture
where it lad been abrogated. If Paul
could plead that Abraham was JUST,
fed before he was circumcised, his
antagonists could answer, yes, but
after justification the rite was divine,
ly imposed" The brethren at Antioch
decided to refer the matter to the
church at Jerusalem. Accordingly
Paul and Barnabas and others were
sent as a deputatiOn to Jerusalem
II. The Deliberations of the Council
wv. CPD.
1. Peters speech wv. GID.
He argued that God had borne wit
ness to His acceptance of the Gen.
tiles by giving the Hoy Spirit tc
them as unto the Jews (Acts 10 "a
47). Since therefore, God had not put
a difference it would be folly for then
} do so.
2. Paul and Barnabas rehearsed
their experience ". 12).
They told how that God had set His
seal of approval on their preaching
of salvation by grace through faith
apart from works, by the working
of signs and wonders through them
3. The argument of James wv. II
,2D.
He took the fact declared by Peter
{and showed how it harmonized with
the prophecy of Amos (Amos 9:11-15)
He showed that the reception of the
Gentiles was not in conflict but ir
strict harmony with Gods plan. As
set forth in James speech. Gods
iplan is as follows:
ID To take out from among the
Genties people for His name ". 14)
This is what is now going on, the
preaching of the gospel to the ends
of the earth, and the calling out Of
the church.
(2j After the church is completed
and removed, the Israelitish nation
will be converted and restored to theiI
land and privileges by the Lord Him
self at His return wv. 16, 10.
(3) Following this will be the con
version of the world through the
lagency of converted Israel ". II, cf
Rom. HID. He showed that there
is no conflict when the Scriptures
are rightly divided. His judgment was
that the Gentiles should not be trou
ibled with things that are Jewish, but
should be warned to "abstain from
pollutions of idols, and from fornica
ton, and from things strangled, ant
from blood"
Ill. The Decision wv. 22-29).
The Jerusalem church came to
unanimous agreement and accepted
the resolution offered by James. They
mot only sent letter stating the de
!cision Of the conference, but took the
wise precaution of sending influential
men along with Paul and Barnabas
to bear the same testimony by word
of mouth. This letter denied the
authority of the Judaizing teachers
~ 24), and declared the method by
which this decision had been reached
wv. 25-2D. The Holy Spirit was to
be given first place, and the Gentle
believers were instructed to abstain
from meats offered to idols, from
blood, and from things strangled. and
from fornication.
w. The Decision Delivered to the
Church wv. 30-35).
The church was called together to
hear the report. Its reading brought
rejoicing. They were now free to