THE HOPE OF ISRAEL - The Preterist Archive

226 The Hope of Israel: What Is It?
and the true exposition of the kingdom of Christ.
For here, in those gracious institutions of a remembered
and proclaimed covenant mercy, and
those thanksgivings of grateful love (poured out
in songs of praise), Messiah sits ruling in the
hearts of His people, dispensing truth, and hastening
them on to the attainment of righteousness."
Referring to the question brought up for decision
at Jerusalem, whereof an account is given in Acts 15,
Mr. Smith says:
"The decision of that question, so vitally important
to the rising Church, was formally referred
to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
Paul, Barnabas and others went from Antioch
to the Hebrew capital to take part in this important
discussion. Peter, Barnabas and Paul
recited the wonders wrought among the Gentiles
by the preaching of the Gospel.
But still
there was wanting some clear, pointed, poiverful,
Scriptural authority to effect the permanent
settlement of a question of such magnitude. And
it was supplied by James, who quoted the words
of the text (Amos 9:10, 11) as incontrovertible
evidence on the case. The question was, Must
the ritual law of Moses be obeyed by Christian
converts? To this the apostle replied, 'Certainly
not; for inspired prophecy declares that the
kingdom of Christ is not to be a revival and extension
of Mosaicism, but on the contrary a restoration
of the tabernacle of David. And since
in that sanctuary the Mosaic ritual had no place,
so it can have no claims in the Christian