LEGALISM ADDRESSED, ACTS 15

Legalism Addressed      (Acts 15: 1-31)                          June 17, 2011

Acts 15: 1-2, "And certain men came down from Judea and taught
the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to customs of
Moses, you cannot be saved.'  Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas
had no small dissension and dispute  with them, they  determined
that  Paul and Barnabas  and certain others of  them should go up 
to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders about this question."  (vs.
10,) "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the 
neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to 
bear?"  vs. 11, "But we  believe that  through the grace of our Lord 
Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." 

Verses 1 - 6, The problem brought to the attention of the Apostles;  
Certain Jewish converts were trying to convince  Believers  of  the 
gentiles  to submit to circumcision and  to keep the law of  Moses.
It not only entailed circumcision,  but other ceremonial aspects of 
the law as well.  Keeping  the Sabbath:  As  the   Church began  to 
worship on  the first  day of  the  week, Sabbath restrictions  were 
viewed  differently,  and  although  some  continued  Seventh  Day 
worship most also met on the First day of the week.  As you know,
there are some groups, to this day,  who continue to  observe Sab-
bath worship on the Seventh Day;  they  also continue to  observe
rituals of  Judaism,  but  their observance   does  not resemble the
the Jewish observance.   

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2013/01/there-remains-rest.html

Other ceremonial aspects and  temple sacrifice were  discarded, as 
well  as a  multitude  of  extra-Biblical rules created  by  leaders  in 
Judaism over  the years.  These  new Believers were to use as their 
rule of  practice,  the life of our Lord Jesus Christ,  but were also to 
be mindful of the conscience of Godly Jewish believers.  They were 
and  we  are  "...not under  law,  but under  grace."  Rom 6: 14.  The 
dietary restrictions applied  to Jews were not applicable to the New 
Testament  believers.  Although  there  are health benefits to eating 
Kosher, it  is  no longer a  matter of "law " and  failing to eat such a 
diet  does not  preclude one from  fellowship with fellow  believers 
nor is it  detrimental to our relationship to our Heavenly Father.            
Whatever your  diet, kosher, vegetarian, vegan, all out  meat eater, 
it does not in any way adversely affect fellowship or ones relation-
ship to our Heavenly Father.

   THE LAW; A "SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US TO GRACE."
   Verses 7-12, The Apostles who had been involved in discipleship 
of the new gentile converts  are given an opportunity to witness to 
the fact that the Lord  God  made no difference in Jewish converts 
(Believers) and Gentile converts. The Holy Spirit had born witness 
of this in every instance.  There was apparent  great latitude given 
these new believers,  since they had no benefit of Jewish tradition 
and infrastructure.  

Verses 19 - 31,  The Apostles, along with the Council at Jerusalem 
all agreed there  should  be nothing required  of  gentile Believers 
but this: 
1. Refrain from worship of idols or traffic in them.  2.Abstain from 
fornication.  3. Abstain  from  eating  animals that were strangled.  
4. Abstain  from  the ingestion  of  blood.  Finally:  When this was 
announced  to the council there was  much  rejoicing  and  similar 
results were experienced as word was taken to gentile Believers.

Note: Jewish  leaders,  prior  to and  during the  time of Christ on   
earth,  required  adherents  of  that  religion to  follow man  made
rules and standards not required under the law. In much the same  
way, leaders  of  some  protestant  denominations  and cults have,

over  the years,  created  standards and  rules of  practice that are
inconsistent.  You and I have responsibility to "lead from the back 
of the pack," with the Scripture and refuse  to go  along  with any
teaching and requirements from our assemblies, church "leaders,"
that  conflict with the plain  teaching of Scripture.  When a Pastor 
or teacher ever inserts manmade "doctrine,"  we must inform our-
selves from  the  Scripture  and  with  the leadership of  the Spirit
raise questions about the practice.   Remember to entreat respect-
fully as a son to a father.

What does this passage of  Scripture have to say to us?
1. Follow Christ.
2. Don't get caught up in anything not Scriptural.
3.Ceremonial and dietary laws of the "Old" Testament do not apply.
  Eating a Kosher diet and other aspects of the ceremonial law have
   benefits and make sense.
4.If we attempt to return to the keeping of the Law of Moses for our 
   Salvation we are no longer under Grace and are required to keep 
   the whole law.
5.Expecting one to adhere to moral principle as taught in the New
  Testament is not legalism...
6. No one was ever made righteous by keeping the law.
                            It was always grace...
               "...God's unmerited favor."

                                                                                   donporter  10.6.12