Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1944-04-27

tnTOuBu our LOIu JESUS OLulsL.-1tOiuahs
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Problems and differences Of opin-
ion need not be harmful If they
are properly met and honestly set
tied. In the church al Antioch a
question had arisen which had to
be answered, authoritatively, and
once for all.
The early converts Of the church
were naturally from among the
Jews, and they carried with them
into their new-found faith the ira
ditions of their religion. Some of
them did not recognize that the sal
walton they had In Christ was en-
tirely by grace apart from any
works Of the law. They not only
felt that they must observe the law.
but insisted that the Gentle believ-
ers must also fulfill the Jewish rite
Of circumcision. This promptly
raised the question whether Christ
alone could save, or If men were
saved by grace plus works.
To settle this matter, Paul and
Barnabas went up to the church at
jerusalem, and there a great coun-
Gil discussed 1t freely, and came to
a decision which was then trans
mitted by letter and q committee.
We find
I. Fundamental Principle Estab-
lished-SalvatiOn by Grace (Acts IS:
23b-29).
The believers at Antioch were to
abstain from those things which
would hinder their spiritual prog
ress and harm their testimony. That
was important and right. but 1t must
not be allowed to confuse them re-
garding the basis Of their salvation.
They were not saved by works, no.
not even by the most commendable.
Salvation is by grace. through
faith. not Of works. lest any man
should boast (Eph. 2:s, 81. That
principle, which il absolutely foun-
dational In all Christian thinking,
was established then, and is valid
and blessedly true for all time.
Is 1t not strange, then, that all
through the church's history there
has been a determined effort on
the part Of some in the church to
add something to Gods redeeming
grace as a ground for salvation?
One would think that sll the peoples
Of the world would rejoice In such
a gloriously simple and altogether
divine redemption.
1t is well worth our attention to
observe how the matter was han
died. Observe the plain rebuke CIV
en- to the teachers of error in verse
"a. It is no light matter to trouble
and mislead the souls of men, by
injecting our worldly wisdom or our
opinions, when we should be teach
ing the truth Of Gods Word.
Note that there was fine courtesy
In sending the message to the
church at Antioch by messengers
who were men Of distinction and
great spiritual courage. It was not
q case Of abruptly telling this new
church what to do, and end 1t there,
but Of using this trying situation as
a means Of drawing the churches
together In fellowship and mutual
faith.
II. Sound Practice Observed
Walking by Faith (Gal. al, 2. o. 10.
20, 2D.
The life of grace Is not Just some
thing to be written or talked about,
or to glory in, although 1t is all Of
these. 1t Is to show forth In the
daily walk Of the Christian.
Paul in Galatians 2 tells Of his
experience In Jerusalem, of his
meeting and discussion with the
brethren. It was all of vital impor-
lance to him and to the cause of
Christ, but 1t is not the record of an
academic argument, or the vaunt-
ing Of personal victory which he
presents.
He rises to the high point of Chris
tian experience, the realization Of
the fact that believer has died 10
self. He is crucified with Christ
and yet he lives.
Yes, he lives in q newness of life
which is not his own, but Christ liv-
ing In him. There is the secret of
real Christian living-a complete &C.
ceptance Of all that Christ is, In and
for the believer.
This truth is at once deeply spir-
itual and completely practical.
Again we say, 1t is not something
about which one theories. II is an
Notwithstanding which Chris
tians can and do live out in daily
experience. 1t is ''the life which l
now live" of which Paul speaks,
and that Is by 1.-THE faith Of the Son
of God" who loved US and gave
Himself for us. -
To fail to receive and appropriate
this grace by seeking to be made
righteous through the deeds of the
law is to deny the need of the death
Of Christ in fact to make 1t a vain
thing.
Some may feel that all this is too
deeply theological for them, but It
really is not, for God does not expect
Us to explain 1t. but only to accept
It. This Is His work. and 1t Is in
deed wonderful In our sight Cps.