Lesson 2770

(Lesson 2770)(07-25-19) Acts 15:12-29
    “Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 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.”

    In today’s quote, James, on behalf of the church leadership in Jerusalem, finally made the ruling that all Gentile proselytes should NOT be forced to circumcision, but WOULD be required to observe some other portions of the Law of Moses. The Gentiles would be required to do; “these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication”.
    Because the rules that James imposed on the Gentiles were taken directly from the Law and were never a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul reluctantly agreed but never put the rules into practice as a part of his teaching.
    As time passed, and as history reflects, there were more and more ritualistic requirements erroneously placed, by some, upon those who sought eternal salvation through God’s amazing grace.
    It is my opinion that the gospel of Jesus Christ, as it was taught by Jesus Himself, NEVER required ANYTHING other that faith as a requisite for eternal life. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) ~