The Coolidge examiner., 1939-04-20
PAUL WINS RECOGNITION
FOR GENTLE CHRISTIANS

LESSON TEXT-Acts 15:23-29; Gala
tians 2:l, 2. 9. 10.
GOLDEN TEXT-A man is not justi-
fed by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ-Galatians 2:l6.
Persecution from outside was
soon followed by what was even
more serious-difficulty within the
Church. If Satan cannot destroy
Gods work in one way, he cum
ningly tries another plan. Although
the first council at Jerusalem (Acts
I'D had decided that ito the Cen
tiles also hath God granted repent
ance unto life" the question did not
stay settled, for there were persist
ent Judaizing teachers who now
contended that even though the
Gentiles could be saved, they had
to come into the Church by way Of
Judaism and first fulfill the Jewish
rite Of circumcision.
I. A Serious Difference of Opinion
Grace Versus Law
The story of how this vital and
fundamental question came up is
found in the early verses of Acts
Is. The entire future of the gospel
ministry was in a sense dependent
on the solution of this problem.
Christianity is the only religious
faith in the world that presents
justification by grace as the way
Of redemption; all others follow
(more or leSs) the path of salvation
by works. The question now was:
Shall works of the law be mingled
with grace-can Jesus Christ alone
save men, or is salvation through
Jesus Christ plus something else?
How was such a serious question to
be settled? Should argument and
strife be permitted to go on until
the stronger party prevailed? Bet
ter judgment indicated the desira-
bility of
ii. A Christian Method of Settle
ment--COuncil not Controversy
There may be times when it be-
comes the duty of the Christian
worker to take an uncompromising
stand for the truth of God and re-
fuse to be moved, come what may.
But certainly there should be no
such spirit in dealing with differing
interpretations of Scripture on the
part of sincere and earnest Chris
tian brethren. How much would
be gained in the Church today if.
instead of magnifying differences
and permitting personal desires
and ambitions to intervene, men
were willing to sit down in the spirit
of Christ around the tables of Chris
tian council and brotherhood, pre-
sided over and directed by the Holy
Spirit (see Acts 1929.
The whole question was honestly
and carefully considered by the Sec
ond council at Jerusalem, with the
result that there was a vindication
of the preachers of Gods grace.
After presenting plain disavowal
of those who had troubled them and
subvarted their souls (What Seri-
Gus thing it is to teach error con-
cerning Gods WordD, the council
being of one accord, gave recogni-
tion to Paul and Barnabas as men
who had "hazarded their lives for
the name of the Lord Jesus" and
were worthy of confidence and sup
port.
No man should think more highly
of himself than he ought. Humility
is a Christian grace which well be-
fits a sinner saved by grace. But
the Bible abounds with admonitionS
to honor one another, to recognize
the laborer as being worthy of his
hire, to give recognition to those
who are over us in the Lord. The
brethren at Jerusalem were
thoughtful and courteous enough to
so honor and encourage Paul and
Barnabas. We could well follow
their example in recognition of
faithful servants of Christ in our
own church or Community.
Ill. A MOmentOus Decision-Sal-
vation by Grace
The final decision of the council
is sent not only by Paul and Barna-
bas, but also by a committee from
Jerusalem, a gracious gesture of
fellowship. Courtesy is not out of
place in dealing with even such diff
ficult things as controversies on
Christian doctrine-in fact it should
be most in place in such situation.
AS a matter of record "a wise
procedure in such a case), letter
was sent which, after addressing
the Gentiles as ''brethren,' re-
viewed the history of the matter
and then, without mentioning cir
cumcision at all, puts upon the Cen
tiles mo greater burden than the
necessary things" And what were
these? Those things which relate
to purity of life as those who were
enjoying Christian liberty. The law
of Moses need not be kept as
ground of salvation. They were
saved by grace. But grace can
never be the cloak of careless liv-
ing, nor can liberty in Christ be
interpreted as license to live in sin.
We are set free in Christ, not that
we may sin, but that we may "go