Gods Sabbath

D ISPUTE R ESOLUTION

437

den than these necessary things: that you abstain from things of fered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexu al immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” Acts 15:22–29 (NKJV). We can see how, at this council, there was a marvelous liber ation from traditional ideas and theories. God’s people took a gi ant step out of Babylon. The usual human way, in which the de pendant receiver assumes the position of director, problem solv er, plan maker, and burden bearer, was discarded in favor of God’s way. A marked advancement in God’s cause immediately followed. A flood of new light was received, the gospel penetrat ed new regions, and thousands were added to the movement. The church began to enter into the Sabbath rest promised it, and was well into the process of fulfilling God’s work for it. The believers had been set on to the correct course and they were safe while they faithfully guarded against any reversion. In a comment on this important event in history we read: “Among those present at this meeting, were some who had se verely criticized the methods of labor followed by the apostles upon whom rested the chief burden of carrying the gospel to the Gentile world. But during the council their views of God’s pur pose had broadened, and they had united with their brethren in making wise decisions which made possible the unification of the entire body of believers.” The Acts of the Apostles , 401.1. God did not wait for the early Christians to be completely con verted away from Babylon’s ways before endowing them with the Holy Spirit and establishing them as His movement. To the ex tent they had given Him His rightful place as Plan Maker, God was able to work wondrously through them. His purpose was to lead them on until His ways were fully established among them and they had made a total separation from Babylon, after which it was their sacred responsibility to ensure that there were no re versions. To achieve this He used the opportunity afforded Him in the council and in Peter’s willingness to be His spokesman. On that occasion, the believers learned the lesson well. But, the tragic aftermath was that when they had the least ex cuse to revert to their own ways again, they did, and, in doing so, changed the course of history from a divine victory to the sure de velopment of the papacy and the long delay in Christ’s return.