International S. S. Lessons.
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."—Neh. 8:8. LESSON XII.—DECEMBER 18, 1892.
[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.] NOTE.—Instead of the regular Sunday school lesson, which is a review, we give this week a supplementary lesson to that of last week, which we believe will be of more profit to the pupil. It presents true freedom in Christ. MEMORY VERSE.—With freedom did Christ set us free; stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. Gal. 5:1.
Golden Text.—If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36. 1. What was the cause of the trouble that arose while Paul was preaching in Antioch?
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Acts 15:1. Note 1. 2. Tell what steps were taken to settle the dispute.
And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Acts 15:2. 4. What effect was their teaching having?
Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment. Acts 15:24. 5. Did Paul regard circumcision as a sin?
And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess which believed; but his father was a Greek. The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Acts 16:1-3.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. 1 Cor. 7:19.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love. Gal. 5:6.
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Gal. 6:15. 6. Then why did he so strenuously oppose the teaching of those men?
And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses. Acts 15:2, 5.
To whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Gal. 2:5. Note 2. 7. What was that really saying of the sacrifice of Christ?
I do not make void the grace of God; for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for naught. Gal. 2:21. Note 3. 8. When only is circumcision profitable?
For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law; but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. Rom. 2:25. 9. What is real circumcision?
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Rom. 2:29.
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Phil. 3:3. 10. Of what was circumcision a sign?
For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law; but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision? And shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law? Rom. 2:25-27.
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them. Rom. 4:11. 11. Where must righteousness be of any value?
Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thine heart. Deut. 6:4-6.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Ps. 51:6. 12. Who only can put righteousness in the heart?
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jer. 31:33. 13. Then from whom alone must true circumcision come?
And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deut. 30:6.
In whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ. Col. 2:11. 14. Of what could circumcision in the flesh only, performed by man, be the sign? Ans.—Of the righteousness of the flesh. 15. What is the righteousness of the flesh?
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be; and they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom. 8:5-8.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, heresies, envyings, drunkenness, revelings, and such like; of the which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they which practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:19-21. 16. Therefore, what is done for men when they are led to trust in circumcision, or works of obedience, for salvation?
Now therefore why tempt ye God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? Acts 15:10. Note 3. 17. Was the service which God required of his people grievous or burdensome?
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3.
And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the Lord. And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord; for there he offered the burnt offering, and the meal offering, and the fat of the peace offerings; because the brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offering, and the meal offering, and the fat of the peace offerings. So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had showed unto David his servant, and to Israel his people. 1 Kings 8:62-66.
O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, the son of thine handmaid; thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. Ps. 116:16, 17. 18. Who only are in bondage?
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bond servant of sin. John 8:34.
For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. Rom. 7:14. 19. As the Jews had perverted the religion of the Lord, what did their zeal for the law result in?
And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? This people honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. Matt. 15:3, 8, 9.
Thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written. Rom. 2:23, 24.
And he said, Woe unto you lawyers also! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Luke 11:46. Note 4. 20. What does Christ give?
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:28.
If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. Rom. 8:2. 1. Except . . . ye cannot be saved.—That is ever the cry of the gospel of self. With these Jews it was, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved," not realizing in their selfishness that in thus saying they declared that Christ was not sufficient. The real cause of the trouble was that another gospel was being preached, which was not the gospel, but which made of none effect the gospel. It is just as true of anything else which comes in as a matter of justification; it makes Christ of none effect, and as Christ is the only Saviour from sin, it therefore leaves man in bondage. 2. Needful to circumcise.—It was circumcision as a condition of salvation that Paul objected to. For the simple act itself he cared nothing one way or the other. Circumcision was a sign of righteousness. Rom. 4:11. But there can be no real righteousness except that which comes by faith. See Rom. 9:30-32; 10:1-4, 10; Phil. 3:9; Heb. 11:6; Rom. 14:23; John 6:29. Therefore the man who had no faith had no righteousness, and consequently his circumcision was a sham. The sign of circumcision was given to Abraham, not to make him righteous,—not as a condition of salvation,—but as a sign of the righteousness which he already had by faith, as a token of the saved condition in which he already was. The Jews who broke the law were uncircumcised, while the Galatians who, through faith, kept the law were circumcised. See Rom. 2:25, 29; Phil. 3:2, 3; Acts 7:51-53. To say to the disciples, "You must be circumcised—or you cannot be saved," was to teach them that they must trust in the law for righteousness, and that was to say that Christ had died in vain. 3. Then Christ died for naught.—When the false brethren said to the disciples, "Except ye be circumcised, ye cannot be saved," they were teaching them that their faith in Christ was not sufficient for salvation. That same teaching is common even to this day. Many who profess faith in Christ still say, "It is all right to believe in Christ, but that alone will not save you; you must keep the commandments too." Let us see what this really means. It is a fact that faith in Christ brings him into the heart and life. Eph. 3:17; Gal. 2:20. Therefore, when one says that in addition to believing on Christ we must keep the commandments, he virtually says that Christ's life is not in harmony with God's law. He really, although unconsciously, accuses Christ of sin. It is a dangerous position for one to take to presume to add to God's word, which says that men are saved by faith, and that Christians are wholly the workmanship of God. Eph. 2:8-10. Faith works by love, and love is the fulfilling of the law; therefore he who has faith in Christ keeps the law of God; he walks even as Christ walked, for it is by Christ's obedience that he is made righteous. Rom. 5:19. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." But he who thinks that he must keep the law in addition to faith in Christ, thereby shows that he does not have faith in Christ's righteousness. The obedience which he proposes to add to his faith is the obedience that comes from self-righteousness, or sin. But sin is bondage. Rom. 7:14. Therefore the teaching of false brethren was leading souls into bondage—putting a grievous yoke upon them. See Rev. 3:17. 4. Transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition.—It should not be forgotten that "the Jews' religion" (Gal. 1:13, 14) was vastly different from the religion of God, as given through Moses. It consisted of traditions. Those traditions were the invention of the "fathers" (not Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), to insure that the law should not be broken. Trusting for salvation only in the law, and knowing that the law required perfect obedience in every detail, they naturally set themselves to find out the utmost details of the law. So they kept adding burdensome ceremony to burdensome ceremony, until it took a lifetime even to know what the traditions were. But all this was to no purpose, for their fine-spun traditions concerning the law were only the product of their own sinful minds; their most scrupulous service was only the service of the flesh, without the Spirit of God, and hence was sin. Thus they made void the law of God by their traditions. While trusting in the law, they broke the law. From all such slavish services Christ delivers us. See Rom. 7:6. He gives rest to the heavy laden, and makes the soul free indeed.