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The Acts of the Apostles
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.”
1 Corinthians 14:32, 33
. With Peter, he taught that all united in church
capacity should be “subject one to another.”
1 Peter 5:5
.
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