August 3, 2014
Evening Service

This morning we began the first council meeting of the church elders and apostles.  There were differences of opinions that were causing divisions within the church.  The main topic was the role of circumcision in salvation.  Was it required?  Could you be a Christian and not be lined up with the Law written for the Jews?

The problem now became whose opinion was right?  What really was the truth?  Who possessed the authority?  The fact that the questions were brought to the apostles and early church leadership shows us that they recognized the fact that they were the ones to settle this question.

 The real dilemma here was not only one of circumcision but what role would the Law of Moses play in the life of a Christian?  Are all new Christian, including Gentiles, required to follow the Law as a requirement to their salvation?  Peter, Paul and Barnabas declare what things they have seen and experienced.  Now James speaks with the authority he has been given as an apostle.

 

Act 15:13-21 And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men, brothers, listen to me.  (14)  Even as Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentles to take out of them a people for His name.  (15)  And the words of the Prophets agree to this; as it is written, (16)  "After this I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David which has fallen down; and I will build again its ruins, and I will set it up,  (17)  so those men who are left might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom My name has been called, says the Lord, who does all these things."  (18)  All His works are known to God from eternity.  (19)  Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those who have turned to God from among the nations, (20) but that we write to them that they should abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.  (21)  For Moses from ages past has those in every city proclaiming him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.

·         His argument was that God prophesied through Amos that this day would come (Gentiles salvation) and His plan was in full swing.  We are free from the Law of Moses and the burden of keeping it to perfection to “earn” our salvation.

·         Does that mean they are obsolete and have no meaning for us?  Certainly not!

 

Rom 7:12 So indeed the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.

·         The Law shows us God’s true heart.  We have a lot to learn from it and the lessons we learn are “holy, just, and good.”  We are not however obligated to follow these commands in order to gain our salvation (a right relationship with God).

 

Eph 2:8-16 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.  (10)  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.  (11)  Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;  (12)  and that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.  (13)  But now in Christ Jesus you who were once afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.  (14)  For He is our peace, He making us both one, and He has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, (15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity (the Law of commandments contained in ordinances) so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, making peace between them;  (16)  and so that He might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity in Himself.

·         We are saved by grace through faith.  We are not made right in God’s eyes by performing any amount of good works or following the Law to perfection.  All we are asked to do is believe with our heart and confess with our mouth (Rom 10).

·         He has broken down the wall the divided Gentiles and Jews which is the Law.  He done away with the Law it by fulfilling it (Matt 5:17).

·         Through God’s new and perfect plan of salvation we are brought into an equal plane with the Jewish people.  The Jews and Gentiles are now united in Christ as His one and only people, the church.

 

Eph 4:4-6  There is one body and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling,  (5)  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  (6)  one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.

 

Col 2:8-17  Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.  (9)  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  (10)  And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power, (11) in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,  (12)  buried with Him in baptism, in whom also you were raised through the faith of the working of God, raising Him from the dead.  (13)  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,  (14)  blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.  (15)  Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it.  (16)  Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths.  (17)  For these are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.

·         Paul tells us here that Christ is all we need.  We are complete in Him.  He has made us “alive together with Him and forgiven you all trespasses.  The “blotting out of the handwriting of ordinances that was against us” refers to doing away with all the OT laws and regulations.

·         The Law is no longer our salvation… He is!

·         We are longer following a religion of legalism with rules and regulations, but we are following our Savior motivated by our love for Him and our desire to please Him.  We have a relationship.

·         I follow Jesus not to earn my salvation, but I follow Him because of my salvation.

·         He has set me free to follow my heart as I yield it to the Holy Spirit’s control.

 

Gal 5:1-6  Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not again be held with the yoke of bondage.  (2)  Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.  (3)  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do all the Law,  (4)  you who are justified by Law are deprived of all effect from Christ; you fell from grace.  (5)  For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith.  (6)  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but faith working through love.

·         We are freed from the bondage and yoke of the OT rules and regulations and have been set free to find rest in Him.  Jesus has turned our yoke into joy.  It truly becomes that I don’t “have” to serve Him. I “want” to serve Him.

 

Mat 11:28-30  Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls.  (30)  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

 

Lord, may I ever serve you from the depths of my heart and not out of guilt or burden.