The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-09-12
Sunday, Sept. 10.

sunday, sept. l3.q, ill .
Read Acts 15:1-35; Galatians 2.
Study Acts Is :22-29; Galatians
2:1, 2, 9, 10.
The Question. After PauTs first
missionary journey a great mis-
sion problem came uD for discus
sion. 1t originated in Judea and
concerned vitality the entire work
lately projected among the non
Jewish nations. Rather in the form
of an ultimatum was it delivered
to the disciples al Antioch by the
first Judaizing teachers emanat-
ing from Jerusalem: This is what
they taught: Except We be cir.
eumcised after the custom OF
Moses, We cannot be saved! y
Against such doctrines which
would drag the whole of Hebrew
ceremonialism in upon the Chris
tian system, Paul and Barnabas
took their stand. Probably at
their stand. Probably at their sug-
gestion, they with other brethren,
were sent to Jerusalem to confer
with the apostles and elders there
about this question. ~. -...
The Discussion. Apparently, the
presiding officer of the council
was James, the brother of the
Lord. After there had been much
discussion, Peter made a speech
in which he argued that those to
whom God had given the Holy
Spirit, whether Jew or Gentle.
ought not to be put under the
bondage of the ceremonial law.
After he had spoken there was
tense silence on the part Of the
multitude anxious. to hear while
Barnabas and Paul told what
signs and wonders God had
wrought among the Gentiles thru
them" Thrilling must have been
the story of their experiences in
Cyprus and Asia Minor.
The Decision. James approved
the opinion expressed by Peter,
quoted Scripture in support of the
view, and declared in effect that
Gentiles are not required to be-
come Jews before thy can become
Christians. However, G tt e
Christians should in the interest
of purity abstain from idalatrous
associations and unchastity, both
of which were common GENTLE
sins, and in the interest of peace
thew should abstain from eating
strangled animals and blood, both
of which were abhorrent to the
Jewish mind. Thus vexing ques-
ton was settled by one of the
most far-reaching deliverances IN
the history of Christianity.
THE DECREE OF THE
COUNCIL (Acts 15)
The Charter of Christian Free
dom was granted under divine i'm
pulse by the council at Jerusalem.
The DEGREES of the council were
embodied in a letter, probably
from the pen of James, and sent
by two leading men as messengers
Judas (surnamed Barnabasl
and Silas-who accompanied Paul
and Barnabas on the return trip
to Antioch. When the company
reached that city and called the
church together, the epistle was
delivered by Judas and Silas who
confirmed it's contents by elaDo-
rating upon it and exhorting the
hratbr Naturally there was
great rejoicing in a church that
had now mixed membership OF
Jews and Gentiles and had been
led by Paul and Barfnabas into
the liberties of the gospel.
THE COMMENT OF PAUL
Galatians y No.
TIE Cause of Christian Free,
dom had in Paul an example ana
advocate. In his eDistle to the
churches in Galatia he reported
this visit to Jerusalem after an
absence of IA years, evidently re-
ferring to the council OF JeruSa-
lem. He was accompanied 6y
Barnabas, his companion on the
first missionary journey, and oy
Titus, a Greek convert who haa
never adopted the Jewish faith
and forms. By divine revelation
he had made the trip and person.
allv his purpose was to present
first privately and then publicly
his gospel both in it's content na9 a
propagation in the GENTLE "oiiu
With a view to migrating it with
Judean Christianity. The result
was altogether favorable to PAU 5
point of view. The reputed pillars s
of the church-James the Lore 5
brother, Peter the frequenII
spokesman for the Twelve, anu
John the beloved apostle-saW up
on PauPs ministry the grace ~ ~,
God. They therefore gave MN n
the right hand of fellowship o,s as
Apostle to the Gentiles while tney