Tradition must give way to the clear statements of the Scripture

Apostles’ Council Apostles’ Council The main topic of the Apostles’ Council was whether circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses were necessary for believers. Meanwhile at Jerusalem some years passed away before the barrier of Judaism was assailed. The Apostles still observed the Mosaic ritual ; they still confined their preaching to Jews by birth , or Jews by adoption, the proselytes of the covenant. At length a breach was made, and the assailants as might be expected were Hellenists. Appointment of Hellenist Officers The first step towards the creation of an organized ministry was also the first step towards the emancipation of the Church.  The Jews of Judea, ‘Hebrews of the Hebrews,’ had ever regarded their Hellenist brethren with suspicion and distrust; and this estrangement reproduced itself in the Christian Church. The interests of the Hellenist widows had been neglected in the daily distribution of alms. Hence ‘arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrew...

This message came to me concerning Edom: Someone from Edom keeps calling to me, “Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?” The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but night will soon return (1 Thess. 5:1, 2, 5, 6). If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.” Isaiah 21:11–12   The Bible unanimously declares that now is the time of salvation. In the Old Testament, on the basis of Israel’s redemption from Egypt, every succeeding generation was to respond in loving obedience to the laws issued at Sinai by God their Savior (Deut. 11; Ps. 95:7–8). The injunction “it is time to seek the LORD” (Hos. 10:12) was to be Israel’s perpetual desire.  In the New Testament, Jesus’ coming as the Messiah inaugurated “ the year of the Lord’s favor ” (Luke 4:19, 21). The time interval between the incarnation and the second coming appears symbolically as a jubilee year (Luke 4:19/Isa. 61:1–2; cf. Lev. 25:10), a time...

For Thou, O God, didst widen my heart,                but they straiten it with affliction                and hedge me about with darkness.            I eat the bread of wailing                and drink unceasing tears;            truly, my eyes are dimmed by grief,                and my soul by daily bitterness.            [Groaning] and sorrow encompass me                and ignominy covers my face.            My bread is turned into an adversary                and my drink into an accuser;            it has entered into my bones                causing my spirit ...