The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 206
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200 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES place of revealed truth. The advance of the gospel message must not be hindered by the prejudices and preferences of men, whatever might be their position in the church. Paul had dedicated himself and all his powers to the service of God. He had received the truths of the gospel direct from heaven, and throughout his ministry he maintained a vital connection with heavenly agencies. He had been taught by God regarding the binding of unnecessary burdens upon the Gentile Christians; thus when the Judaizing believers introduced into the Antioch church the question of circumcision, Paul knew the mind of the Spirit of God concerning such teaching, and took a firm and unyielding position which brought to the churches freedom from Jewish rites and ceremonies. • Notwithstanding the fact that Paul was personally taught by God, he had no strained ideas of individual responsibility. While looking to God for direct guidance, he was ever ready to recognize the authority vested in the body of believers united in church fellowship. He felt the need of counsel; and when matters of importance arose, he was glad to lay these before the church, and to unite with his brethren in seeking God for wisdom to make right decisions. Even ''the spirits of the prophets," he declared, ''are subject to the prophets. For God is not the- author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. ' ' ' With Peter, he taught that all united in church capacity should be "subject one to another. " ' « 1 Cor. 14 : 32, 33. ' 1 Peter 5 : 5.