Acts 15:19 - "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,…" NASU
Acts 15:1-2 - Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. Acts 15:5 - But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses." NASU Did you notice what that verse said? Some PHARISEES who had BELIEVED. WOW! The group that was antagonistic towards Jesus and His ministry now has some believers. BUT they were teaching in order for the Gentiles to become followers of Jesus Christ they must first become converts to Judaism. This would mean every Gentile male would have to be circumcised. Oh yeah, that is going to be really painful. Then they must observe all 600 plus laws of the Old Testament. Paul and Barnabas were trying to teach the Pharisees this isn't correct. The Gentiles don't have to become Jewish. They will be accepted by Jesus without circumcision and without obeying all of the Jewish laws. So both groups travel to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles and see who is right.
Peter says the Gentiles don't have to become Jewish to be SAVED. Peter says God made no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. The cleansing of their (Gentiles) hearts would come by FAITH. What would their "faith" have been in? Their faith would have been in the fact Jesus Christ resurrected after His death. Our faith is to be in this same fact, Jesus Christ rose from the grave, He has exited the tomb and He is now reigning from Heaven.
Don't trouble people who are turning to God.
I also pray for you my readers to help people come to faith in Jesus Christ and not add any laws to God's Perfect Plan. Think On This: God Still Speaks To Those Who Take Time To Listen. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2024
AuthorGary A Serago. Categories
All
|