The Republican., 1935-09-19
Lesson for September q
JAMES "a GREAT CHRISTIAN
LEADER)

LEADER)
LESSON TEXT-Acts 15:1-21; James
1:1-17.
GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed is the man
that endureth temptation; for when he
hath been approved he shall receive
the crown Of life, which the Lord prom
ised to them that love him.-James 1872
PRIMARY TOPIC-What James Tells
Us to Do.
JUNIOR ToPIC-James' Motto for
Juniors.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
'iC-How to Meet Lifes Tests.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Message of James for Today
Three individuals by the name of
James are mentioned in the New Tes-
lament. In all probability this James
was the brother of the Lord and the
writer OF the Epistle which bears his
name.
|. James Presiding at a Church
Council (Acts Is :1-2D.
1. The controversy In the church at
Antioch wv. 1-5). A most difficult
problem confronted the church, threat
ening its disruption into a Jewish and
Gentle division. 1t was not a ques-
tion of the admission of the Gentiles
into the church. That had been set
tied some years before when Peter re-
ceived Cornelius and his household.
The question now was, on what ground
could they be received? Should Gen
tile believers be required to keep the
Mosaic law as a condition Of saliva
ton? In order to settle the matter,
Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jeru-
salem for the decision of the mother
church.
IL. The DeIberation of the Council
wv. 6-2D.
1. Peter speaks wv. GID. 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. Since God had not put a diff
ference, it would be folly for them to
do so.
.. Paul and Barnabas rehearsed their
experience ". 12). They told how that
God had set his seal of approval on
the preaching of salvation by grace
through faith.
3. The argument of James wv. IL
2D. He took the fact declared by
Peter and showed how it harmonized
with prophecy (Amos 9:11-15). He
showed that the reception of the Cen
tiles was not in conflict, but in har-
mony with Gods plan. He made clear
Gods plan as follows:
a. To take out from among the Gen
tiles a people for his name ". 14).
This is what is now being done by the
calling out Of the church
b. After the church is completed,
Israel will be converted and restored
TO their land by the Lord himself at
his return wv. 16, 10.
c. This will be followed by the con-
version of the world through the agen-
cy of converted Israel ". II; CT. ROM
II :15). Having shown that there was
no conflict with the Scriptures rightly
divided, he gave his judgment that the
Gentiles should not be troubled with
the things that are Jewish, but should
be warned against the perils Of heath
enism, such as meat offered to idols,
fornication, and blood.
4. The decision wv. 22-29). The
} mother church unanimously endorsed
James recommendation. They sent a
letter stating the decision of the con-
ference. This decision was duly de-
livered to the church at Antioch and
was received with rejoicing.
Il. James Giving Counsel to Chris
tians (James 1:1-1O.
/. Concerning trials wv. 2-17).
a. The Christians attitude toward
them wv. 2-4). They were to meet
them joyfully because of their bene-
licial effects. Trials reveal fidelity, and
by their effects develop the grace of
patience.
b. The Christians supreme need In
these trials (vv. 5-S). 1t is wisdom to
meet them intelligently. He makes
clear that the source of this wisdom is
in God and that the means of gaining
it is asking in faith, and the very liber-
ality of God is the guarantee that the
needed supply will be provided
c. The rich and the poor are sharers
alike in affliction wv. Old. Frequent
ly the poor man thinks that the rich
are free from testings. whereas they
are usually more severely tested.
d. The blessed reward of enduring
the testing ". 12). The one who
faithfully endures the temptation shall
be awarded the crown of life.
e. The source of temptation wv. 49,
40. Temptations spring out of human
desire. They do not come from God.
Sin is not necessarily the desire, but
the gratifying of 1t improperly When
one is thus led away by his natural
DESIRES sin is conceived which brings
forth death. In such case, sin Is the
qualification Of right desire In
wrong way.