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are essentially the same in principle. The legalists of the first Century were as out spoken and active and troublesome as the legalists of the twentieth century. The dis cussion caused “no small dissension and questioning,” and it was decided at last to send to headquarters and have the ques tion settled. As Paul'and Barnabas jour neyed to Jerusalem on this mission they and their companions held meetings along the way, and thus what the devil'intended for the hindering of the gospel really led to its advancement. As they passed through the cities of Phoenicia and Samaria they caused great joy unto all the brethren by reciting the story of God’s converting grace among the Gentiles. There are few things more gladdening to a real believer than to hear of the real progress of God’s Word among other peoples. Paul and Barnabas received a cordial welcome from the church, Apostles and ’elders at Jerusalem but the legalizing Christians again asserted their doctored up gospel, that it was “need ful to circumcise them, and to charge them to1keep the law of Moses,” This seemed unfortunate, but it was really, as we shall see in the outcome, a good thing; for it led to the final settlement of the question for all coming time. Thus God makes the wrath of men to praise Him (Ps. 76:10), and makes all things work together for good for those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). Saturday, January 27 . /lets 15 : 6 - 11 . -The question as to whether it was neces sary for a believer to keep the law of Moses was not decided hastily, but deliberately and in the Holy Spirit, and was settled for ever for all who accept the authority of God’s Word, which many who profess great loyalty to it do not do. Peter brought forward the conclusive argument that God Himself had settled the question already by giving the Holy Ghost, the seal of His acceptance, to the uncircumcised as truly as to themselves. This was undeniable and there was no answering this argument. Paul uses a similar argument in his epistle to the Galatians (Gal. 3:2), which treats on
the same general theme. God has settled the seventh day question in a similar way in our day. He undeniably gives the Holy Spirit to those who keep the first day. Indeed, many of those who keep the first day give far more evidence of having received the Holy Spirit than the legalists who keep the seventh day. The Seventh Day Adventists, though a very earnest and conscientious people' have never mani fested much power in the salvation of the lost, though they are untiring in proselyting those who are already believers. Peter went on to call their attention to the fact that God’s way of cleansing the heart is by faith. Some in our day do not even think it is possible to have a clean heart, but the Holy Ghost through Peter here teaches that it is, and the way to obtain a clean heart is by faith. Peter went on still further to tell them that they had not themselves been able to bear the yoke of the law and that though they had been cir cumcised they themselves were, not saved by being circumcised, nor by keeping the law in any respect, but through grace in just the same manner as the Gentiles. And so all today who are seeking to please God by their seventh day Sabbath keeping or their legal strivings will not be saved by their law keeping, but only and altogether “through the grace of the Lord Jesus.” Sunday, January 28 . Acts 15 : 12 - 18 . Peter having closed his argument that God had born the Gentiles witness by giv ing them the Holy Spirit even without their being circumcised, Barnabas and Paul brought forward the second argument, viz., that God had wrought signs and-wonders among the Gentiles through them, and had thus set His seal upon their preaching of salvation by faith, apart from the works of the law. In other words, God had endorsed their doctrine that men are Justified by faith” entirely “apart from the works of the law,” by doing through them things that God only could do. This argument too was unanswerable. How dare men oppose a doctrine that God had
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