Eoghan
Puritan Board Senior
As I came to the setting aside of Barnabus and Paul by the Antioch church it struck me that this was a list of Jewish leaders.
My first reaction was to label them as Jewish to "legitimise" the sending of Paul and Barnabus.
My second reaction was to realise that the "church" was little more than twelve months old (acts 11:26). Perhaps one of the reasons that Paul and Barnabus did not move on after establishing churches is that they could not appoint elders straight away.
The reformed doctrine of election assumes a mixed "harvest" and it requires time not only to build up the new converts but to look for fruit and to see those who will endure (Parable of the sower).
Would you agree that the perseverance of the saints requires a little time to sort out those likely to endure?
My first reaction was to label them as Jewish to "legitimise" the sending of Paul and Barnabus.
My second reaction was to realise that the "church" was little more than twelve months old (acts 11:26). Perhaps one of the reasons that Paul and Barnabus did not move on after establishing churches is that they could not appoint elders straight away.
The reformed doctrine of election assumes a mixed "harvest" and it requires time not only to build up the new converts but to look for fruit and to see those who will endure (Parable of the sower).
Would you agree that the perseverance of the saints requires a little time to sort out those likely to endure?