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The Church: Its Organization, Order and Discipline - Contents
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    A Church Council, How Composed

    When matters came up of interest to the entire body of the early church, we learn by reading the record of the council held at Jerusalem over the question of circumcision (recorded in Acts 15), how they proceeded. There were certain men which came down from Judea, who “taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye can not be saved.... And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.” Acts 15:1-6.COOD 69.2

    “The apostles and elders at Jerusalem acted as counselors, in a manner to give room for the Holy Ghost to act as judge. Christ came into that assembly by his Spirit, and found the apostles, elders, and brethren in a teachable frame of mind, and at once led them out of their difficulties. In this case at an early date in the Christian church the true doctrine of the leadership of Christ and the equality of the ministerial brotherhood stands the test.”-Elder James White, note in Testimony No. 25, pamphlet edition of 1875.COOD 69.3

    In this council different ones freely expressed their minds. The true state of things was presented,-how the Lord was working by his Spirit with the uncircumcised Gentiles,-after which a decision was stated in these words: “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Acts 15:28, 29.COOD 70.1

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