that the Gentiles who have turned to God were not to be disturbed by being told that they must add something to what they had done in receiving Christ by faith alone for salvation. They were not to be put under the bondage of the law. The Pauline message of salvation by grace alone was to be preached and lived by. However, a word of exhorta tion concerning the importance of holy living was included in the sentence. All Christians need that. They are to be a separated people. James Reveals Inconsistency Gal. 2:9-12 In view of the decision of the council at Jerusalem, it seems as though the matter of the relation between grace and law should have been settled. But evidently it was not. For when James learned that Peter had been eating with Gentiles some of the meats forbidden by the Mosaic law he sent a committee to investigate. Whereupon Peter ceased eating with the Gentiles as he had done before, thus revealing a spirit of vacil lation. This sort of thing stirred up trouble and tended to make a difference between Jew and Gentile, whereas, in this dispensation both are one (Gal. 3:26- 28). In this incident both James and Peter show to disadvantage, Paul to advantage because he stands like a rock for “ the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Gal. 5:1). Memory Verse: “ Be ye doers o f the word and not hearers only” (James 1:22). James, the brother of the Lord Jesus, refused to believe that his Brother was the Son of God. Ancient stories tell us that he refused to eat bread from the day of the betrayal until he saw Jesus alive again, for he refused to believe that Jesus could arise from the dead. James did see his Brother, the Son of God, alive again after the crucifixion. John makes special note of this in his letter to the Corinthian Christians: “ After this he [Jesus] was seen of James, then of all the apostles.” After Jesus’ ascension, James became one of the great leaders of the church at Jeru salem. James was one of the three church leaders who sent Paul and Bar nabas forth on their missionary journeys. After the Gentiles as well as the Jews began to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, there was a discussion in the church about making the Gentiles obey parts of the Jewish law. James suggested that the Gentiles should not be made to obey the law, but that they should write a letter unto these Gentiles and suggest certain things which should be true in their lives as new Christians. The other church leaders in Jerusalem agreed that James’ suggestion was the correct solution to their problem. As James looked back to how he had felt toward his Brother and how he had treated Him, doubtless there was sorrow in his heart. So often we do not see the worth of those who live nearest to us. We are always looking to another A U G U S T , 1 9 5 0 Helps for the Children James, the Brother o f Jesus Mark 3:31-35; 6:3; 1 Cor. 15:7; Gal. 2:9-12: Acts 15
church or another town to supply “ tal ent” of various types for use in our Lord’s work. Let us look in our own families and our own churches to find those whom the Lord can use richly for His glory. Sept. 24, 1950 PAUL, WORLD EVANGELIST Acts 26:9-20 Pointers on the Lesson In Paul’s experience, recounted for us in today’s lesson, we have a perfect illus tration of the meaning of conversion. The word “ convert” means to turn from one belief or course to another. This definition admirably fits Paul’s case. The Damascus road experience brought about a complete right-about-face in both his beliefs and his actions, After this he was a different man, a trans formed man. Anything less than this is not true conversion. In the portion of Paul’s address to King Agrippa, there are several out standing things to note.. Paul’s Sincerity 9-11 In these verses it is perfectly clear that what Paul did before he became a Christian in persecuting the saints he did with a clear conscience. He did it all in absolute sincerity. But it is equally clear that he was sincerely wrong. There are folks today who think that if they are sincere in what they are doing or in the attitudes they assume that that is all that is necessary. Such as these need to learn a lesson from Paul. It is very possible to be sincerely wrong. A man may be sincere in his belief that he is on the right road to a certain destination only to find too late that he was on the wrong road. So it is in spir itual matters. Be absolutely sure you are sincerely right. Paul’s Experience with the Light 12,13 In his business of persecuting Chris tians, Paul was on the way to Damascus, when suddenly a strange light arrested the journey. Some think it was a sun stroke which Paul experienced. But this was a light “above the brightness of the sun.” It was the Sun of righteousness shining down upon the scene. One might truly say that Paul experienced a Son stroke! He came in contact with Jesus Christ on this occasion in a way he had never contacted Him before. This was the beginning of the expulsion of spir itual darkness from his sinful soul. Every one must meet the Lord Jesus Christ before there can be spiritual light in the life. He is the Light of the world. Paul’s Experience with the Voice 14,15 The voice Paul heard upon this occa sion was the voice of Jesus. Its strains were mighty, yet tender. It spoke di rectly to Paul’s own heart—“ Saul, Saul.” It brought him face to face with his sin: “Why persecutest thou me?” Paul recognized that the One who spoke was
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