Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1946-11-02

astray. A question had arisen at An
tioch which had to be answered au-
thoritatively, 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 tradl-
tons of their religion. Some OF them
did not recognize that the salvation
they had in Christ was entirely by
grace, apart from any works OF the
law. They not only felt that they
must observe the law, but insisted
that the Gentle believers must also
fulfill the Jewish rite of circumci-
sion. 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 great coun-
Gil discussed it freely, and came
to a decision which was then trans
mitted by letter and committee.
That decision established an eter-
nal
I. Observation-Disclosures Are Free
from the Law (Acts 15:23b-20.
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 it
must not be allowed to confuse them
regarding the basis of their saliva
ton. They were not saved by
works, not even though they were
most commendable.
Salvation is by grace, through
faith, mot of works, lest any man
should boast" (Eph. 2:8, 81. That
principle, which is absolutely foun-
dational in all Christian thinking,
was established then, and is valid
and blessedly true for all time.
Is it 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 redeem1ng
grace as a ground for salvation?
Observe the plain rebuke given
to teachers of error in verse "a.
It is no light matter to trouble and
rnislead the souls of men by inject
ing our worldly wisdom or our
opinions, when we should be teach
ing the truth of Gods Word.
Salvation by grace and freedom
from the law does not bring the be-
lever into a place of license, but OF
liberty-and a liberty controlled by
new factor in his life. We note
that in
III. observation-disclosures Are Bound
by Love Gal. 5:13-15).
The one who turns to Christ by
faith is indwelt by the Holy Spirit
and finds that, far from failing tc
keep the high moral principles o.
Gods law, he is given grace to keeI
them more perfectly. This he does
not in order to be saved, but be
cause he is saved.
He comes out of bondage II
legalism, which he could not bear
into a new bondage to the law o
love, which his new nature in Chris
delights to bear and in which /
finds the fulfllment of its highes
and hottest desires.
Note that this shows itself IN thu
church and in the world in loving
service to others in the absence o
strife; in a word, in the practice o
the admonition: Thou shalt low
thy neighbor as thyself" ". IA; Lev
1919.
No one faces that life responsible
ity without realizing that he is evi
IDENTIFY not able for it. God has pre-
vided for that need, for we not
next that there is
iii. POwer-Believers Are Led b
the Spirit (Gal 5:16-10).
Being saved does not set us fire
from the conflict with sin, for tn
old nature declares itself at enmit
with the Spirit. We find it often
be in our hearts to do right, and
the decisive moment we find tn
flesh taking control and we cannt
do the things we would ". I'D.
What is the solution of that pro-
lem? An about attack on sin ar
sinful desires? That is commen
able. but it somehow doesn't wor
We need a superior power to VOL
in and through us.
That's it! There is power In
and ready to work through us-u
matchless, victorious power OF Il
Holy Spirit. He dwells in the hea
of every believer Il Cor. SID al
only awaits our yielding to him tn
he may take control of our lives.
Walking in the Spirit ". 16)
simply giving him the liberty to
rect our lives after the will of &C
day by day and moment by m
ment. This puts us in the way
victory, for as we walk in the Lore
wav we may call on him for r
only his grace, but also his streng1
Saved by grace to a life OF l
ertv and power-such is the I'M
Unable privilege of the Christi;
Are we, are you, living up to it?