The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-09-17
Lesson for September 20
THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM
LESSON TEXT-Acts 1915.

LESSON TEXT-Acts 1915.
GOLDEN TEXT-Fo:, brethren, We
have been called unto liberty; only use
not liberty for an occasion to the flesh,
but by love serve one another.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Christians Work.
ing Together.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The First Mission
airy Convention.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Christian Freedom.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
Ic-Christianity at the Crossroads.
I. The Controversy in the Church
at Antioch wv. 1-5).
This difficulty was a most serious
one, for it threatened the disruption
of the church into Jewish and Gentle
divisions. 1t was not question OF
the admission of the Gentiles into the
Church; that had been settled some
years before when Peter received Cor
nelius and his household. The ques-
ton now was, On what ground could
they be received? Should Gentle con-
verts he required to keep the Mosaic
Law as a condition Of salvation? This
issue was brought on by the coming
Of certain men from Jerusalem who
declared, Except We be circumcized
after the manner of Moses, We cannot
be saved" ". ~. The question was
80 difficult that Paul and Barnabas
were unable to put them to silence.
These Jewish legalists had the letter
of the Scripture on their side. They
could point to the command enjoining
this rite upon the male children Of
the covenant people (Gen. II 1919.
Paul could not point to any scripture
where this obligation had been abro-
gated. If Paul should plead that
Abraham was justified before he was
circumcized, his antagonist could an
swer, Eyes, but after justification the
rite was divinely imposed" The
brethren at Antioch decided to refer
the matter to the mother church at
Jerusalem. Accordingly, Paul and
Barnabas and others were sent as
deputation to Jerusalem.
II. The Deliberations of the Council
wv. 6-21).
1. Peters speech wv. 6-11). He ar
gued that God had borne witness to
the acceptance Of the Gentiles by Civ
ing the Holy Spirit to them as unto
the Jews (Acts 10:34-47). Since,
therefore, God had not put differ
ence, it would be folly for them TO
to do so.
2. Paul and Barnabas rehearsed
their experience ". 12). They told
how that God had set his seal Of ap-
proval on their preaching of salvation
by grace through faith apart from the
works of the law by the working Of
signs and wonders through them.
8. The argument Of James wv.
14-21). 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 recep-
tion of the Gentiles was not in con-
fiict but in strict harmony with Gods
plan. AS set forth in the speech of
James, Gods plan is as follows:
a. To take out from among the
Gentiles people for his name w. 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.
b. After the Church is completed
and removed, the Israelitish nation
will be converted and restored to their
land and privileges by the Lord him.
self at his return wv. 16, 10.
c. Following this will be the con-
version of the world through the
agency of converted Israel ". II ct.
Rom. II :15-17). He showed that there
is no conflict when the Scriptures are
rightly divided.
III. The Decision of the Council
(vv. 22-29).
The mother church came to
unanimous agreement and accented
the resolution offered by James. They
not only sent letter stating the de-
cision of the conference, but took the
wise precaution to send influential
men along with Paul and Barnabas to
UCnI Iuc SAINT lcSllulOuN Dy WOEu OI
mouth. This letter denied the au-
thority of the Judaizing teachers
". 24) and declared the method by
which this decision had been reached
wv. 25-27). They put the Holy Spirit.
first. They were positively instructed
TO abstain from meats offered to idols,
from blood, and from things stran-
gled, and from fornication.
w. The Decision Delivered to the
Church wv. 30-35).
Upon their return to Antioch, the
church was called together to hear the
report. Its reading brought great re-
joicing. Judas and Silas, who had
been sent as confirmatory witnesses,
being prophets, now exhorted the
brethren with many words, confirming
the decision of the Jerusalem church.
Abiding in Christ
Abiding in Christ does not mean that