The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-11-04
Sunday, Nov. 5, 1888.

Acts ISL, 2. 22-31.
Golden Text = "Where the
Spirit of the Lord is there is lib
erty."-II Corinthians 3:17.
After Paul's first missionary
journey a great mission problem
came up for discussion at Anti
och in Syria. 1t was referred to
the Council at Jerusalem which
rendered a decision memorable in
the annals of Christianity. The
report of it brought back by mes
sengers and letter to Antioch en-
phasized and inaugurated a new
era in missionary history.
THE QUESTION
Judaism: Salvation by Works.
That was the crux of the ques-
ton put before the council.
From Judea came down to
Antioch the first of the JUDAH
ing teachers bent on restricting
missionary work among the Gen
tiles. This is what they taught:
except we be circumsiced after
the custom Of Moses, we cannot
be saved" Such teaching was
at variance with the spirit Of
Christianity, teaching as it did
salvation by works and not by
grace and faith. Of course Paul
and Barnabas set themselves
squarely against such doctrines.
In consequence. there was no
small disturbance, for the false
teachers were contentious. 1t was
perhaps at the suggestion of Paul
and Barnabas that the question
at issue was referred to the
mother church at Jerusalem. 1t
might as well be settled once for
all, and of course Jerusalem the
very heart of judaism was the
place to settle it. The sugges-
ton was approved at Antioch
and several messengers including
Paul and Barnabas were appoint
ed.
Upon arrival at Jerusalem they
were most cordially received by
the church and alphabetically
heard by the apostles and elders.
In the report of their missionary
labors Paul and Barnabas of
course magnified their work
among the Gentiles. This aroused
certain believers who were yet
strict Pharisees and they rose up
in the assembly declaring that it
was needful to circumcise Gentle
Christians and charge them to
keep the law of Moses. Deep
was the determination and earn
est the effort to drag Jewish
cermonialism in upon the Chris
tian system. What will be the
outcome?
THE DECISION
Christianity: Salvation by
Grace. That was the gist of the
answer in the decree of the coun-
Gil.
At their early convenience the
apostles and elders came togeth-
err to consider the question. Many
members of the local church We're
doubtless present and particlpat-
ed. Tie question from Antioch
was presented and in the lengthy
discussion that followed there
were many arguments presented
on both sides. When the discussion
had gone on for some time Peter
arose and addressed the body.
First, he gave his own experience
at Joppa and Caesarea, resulting
in the conversion of Cornelius, a
Gentle, which convinced him
that God "made no distinction
between us and them, cleansing
their hearts by faith" His con-
clusion was that it would tempt
God to put the yoke of ceremon-
ialism upon Gentle believers. He
closed with the sublime declara-
ton that Jew and Gentle must
be saved on exactly the same
terms through the grace Of the
Lord Jesus.
There was tense silence on the
part of the multitude present
when Barnabas and Paul were
called upon to relate their mis-
sionary experience in the Gentle
world. Thrilling indeed must have
been their recital of the marvel
Gus things which God wrought
through them among the Gentiles.
Who in all the throng could have
been unmoved by their story! |
When they had concluded,
James, the brother of the Lord |
and probably the moderator of
the council, delivered his opinion.
He first called attention to the
experience of Simon Peter under
whom work among the Gentiles
was begun. He went on to quote
Scripture in support of this ex-
pansion of Christian privilege to
Gentle as well as Jew. He con-
cluded that Gentle believers
SHOULD not be troubled with He
brew ceremonies already fulfill
ed, and he suggested that a let
ter be written them asking that
in the interest of purity, as re-
lated to the heather, they abstain
from pollution of idols and from
fornication; and that in the in
5erest Of peace, as related to the
Jews. they abstain from things
'trangled and from blood, both
Of which were abhorrent to the
Jewish mind.
The experience of Peter, the
report of Barnabas and Paul, and
The opinion of James were ap-
proved by the apostles and elders
with the whole church. Two chief
men among the brethren Judas
Barsabbas and Silas) were APP
pointed messengers to the church
n Antioch and by them a letter
Ill.,. |