God's Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

Two Different Strategies

The first part The first part of the council covered that period when the believ ers sought a solution through conventional human procedures. Pre sent were those who were strongly committed to the retention of the ceremonial system. They were prepared to fight tenaciously for what they sincerely believed to be right. There were also a few whose eyes had been opened to the truth as God sees it and had therefore ceased to observe the sacrificial services. Others were perplexed by the con troversy and were undecided about which was correct. To follow the usual human procedure involved different courses of action for all three parties. Those who were strongly for retain ing the ceremonial law were there to stick determinedly to their ar gument. Nothing would satisfy them short of their position being accepted. Those who had seen the truth on the subject would have prayer fully and humbly argued for their position, deeply concerned lest the church be held back in darkness when there was such freedom and light available to it. Finally, the undecided would have listened to the arguments propounded by each side, and would have attempted to reach a de cision on the basis of what they heard from these human sources. The divine plan for all the believers to be closely unified could never be achieved under this system, for the simple reason that the one body would have many heads, each directing according to its own ideas. The second part The second part of the meeting was initiated when, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter argued that they were fol lowing wrong procedures. He declared that there was no need to debate the question. It was God’s responsibility to announce what He wanted and all they had to do was listen. In fact, the Holy Spirit had already revealed the divine answer. The deep sincerity and earnest consecration of those believers was demonstrated by their willingness to accept this counsel. An immediate change took place. All disputing ceased, as one and