KEEPING LAW OR LIVING IN GRACE...

              

     The Old Testament (first 39 books) and the New 
 Testament, (remaining 27 books) of  Scripture are
equally inspired by the Lord God.

 II Timothy 3: 16-17:   All  Scripture  is  given  by 
inspiration of  God and  is profitable for doctrine, 

for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righ-
teousness: That  the man of  God may  be  perfect, 
(mature) throughly furnished unto all good works.

      "And with this the words of the prophet agree.
       just as it is  written: 'After  this  I  will return
       and,  will  rebuild  the  tabernacle  of  David, 
      which has fallen down: I will rebuild it's ruins,
      and I will set it up, So that the rest of mankind
      may  see the  Lord, even  all  the Gentiles who
      are called  by My name,  says  the  Lord,  who 
      does all these things." 

                                                      Acts 15: 15-17.

      "On  that day I will raise up the Tabernacle  of
       David, which has fallen  down, and  repair it's
       damages; I will raise up it's ruins, and rebuild
       it as in  the days of old; that  they may possess
       the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who
       are called by my name." 
                                          Amos 9: 11,12.

   The apostles, early on, became aware of  the dif-
ference in what the Lord required of Gentile belie-
vers and what He had required, under the law, of
His people Israel.  In the verses following; 
Acts 15: 18-22, we find this: "Known to God from
eternity are  all His works.  Therefore I judge that
we should  not trouble those from among the Gen-
tiles who are  turning to God,  for that we write to
them  to  abstain  from   things  polluted  by  idols,
from  sexual  immorality,  from  things  strangled,
and  from blood.  For Moses has  had  throughout
many generations, those who preach him in every
city, being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath"

(This was discussed in Jerusalem among all the
Apostles who agreed  totally and  sent letters to 
this effect to the brethren in Antioch, Syria and
Cilicia.
     Since I have become aware of the matter,  it
has been a concern to me that some Bible belie-
vers  try  to live  according to  a watered  down
version of the Law in this day of grace.
     It is clear as we look into this practice; their
efforts to keep the Law in no way can be recon-
ciled with the Law as given to Moses from God
at Sinai.  This refers only to  that  part given in
Exodus,  beginning  in  Chapter 20 through 23,
not  to mention the chapters that  follow, in the
rest of Exodus and  in  Leviticus. Do  you know
of  anyone,  Jewish  and Gentile  alike  who are
in any way attempting to observe the Law given
to Moses?     
So, referring to Acts 15:8-11 we find Peter say-
ing in reference to Gentile converts; (that's  us)
"And God, which knoweth the hearts bare them
witness, giving  them  the Holy Ghost,  even as
he did unto us: and  put no  difference between 
us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.   
Now  therefore, why  tempt  ye  God, to  put a  
yoke  upon  the  neck  of  the  disciples, which 
neither our Fathers nor we were able to bear?"

But we believe that through the grace of the 
Lord, Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as
they."  (You might also choose to read vs. 5-7)

  This above and other texts in Acts shows how
our  Lord dealt  with Gentile  believers in  that
transitional era, after Jesus Christ arose, then
ascended to the Father.  From that  time there
came a body of literature from the Apostles to
believers, the  Church, detailing how it would
work, in  what is called the "New Testament,"
or Covenant.  Here we find how this was to be
applied in  the life of  a new believer in Christ.
This revelation  did not annul any  part of the
Law given to Moses at Sinai.  The new revela-
tion became part of the "Word of God," incor-
porated therein. There is much Godly wisdom
in  both  the  Old and New Covenants  (Testa-
ments that applies to living above reproach in
the power (Name) of Jesus Christ.
    We understand the Old Testament was writ-
ten  to Israel with  the Church in mind.  Many  
prophecies in  the Old Covenant  refer  to  the
Church of Jesus Christ, but were hidden at the
time, to be understood by reading the New Tes-
tament.  The  Old Testament  builds  our  faith,
giving a valuable heritage as we learn how our
Lord  dealt with  his people, Israel.  This gives
parallels  as  to  how He  might  deal with this 
new  entity in a given situation. There is much 
wisdom to be gleaned from careful reading of 
the  Old  and  New Testaments.  An important 
part of this is the deep reverence  or awe held 
by the Patriarchs in a time when we  take very
lightly the things of  the Lord and  His church 
With that in mind; the following Scripture rela-
ting to the Liberty of the Child of God in Jesus 
Christ:  
     "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
        Because the Lord has annointed me
         to preach good tidings to the poor;
          He has sent Me to heal the broken
          hearted, to proclaim liberty to the 
            captives."
     Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18 (Psalm 42:7) 
          (Luke 7:22) 

          "Pure and undefiled religion before 
           God and the Father is this; to visit 
          orphans and widows in their trouble, 
           and to keep oneself unspotted from 
             the world,"        James 1:27

       "You see then that a man is justified 
         by works and not by faith only." 
                                             James 2:24
  Reconciling the Law given to Moses and
Grace offered to us through faith in Jesus
Christ, is  not difficult, as we have seen in
James 1:27 and in the Acts of the Apostles
Chapter 15.  As  was noted in the writings
of the Apostle Paul;Grace does not expect
 the "Gentile" believer to keep the Law as
given to Moses in the same way as expec-
ted of Israel.  One other thing to keep  in
mind;  The new believer is expected to be
considerate of believing Jews, who might
have difficulty separating Law and grace
because of their traditions.  
The Jews I know today, are  not  strict in
their keeping of  the traditions and  laws
of  Judaism, therefore  are not  apt to be
offended if we observe the Law of Liber-
ty in Christ Jesus as seen in James 1:27.

   I  have a  Jewish  friend, who  has great
respect  for the Church of Jesus Christ,  is
married to a believer and they have a dau-
ghter who is  a  Gospel singer.  He and  I
have had discussions about this and I find
he  may, at some  future  time, be open  to 
the Gospel of  Christ.  We  must, in  every
case, live above reproach and avoid criti-
cism or offensive  conversation with those
who hold somewhat, different beliefs from 
ours.                       (Read Romans 2 & 3)

donporter,sr   12.09.13;   edited 7.15.16