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I can understand why there are so many denominations. When some people will take scripture out of context. As I said before, these scriptures are dealing with Israel. About the original post, have you really read acts chapter 15. I didn't add anything to this. It's what the conference was about whether the Gentiles are under law. It's not my interpretation. It's what the Scripture says.
Circumcision was a sign of the covenant that predates the Mosaic law, and is also part of the law. It was a sign of the covenant between Abraham (Abram) and God. Jeremiah in the old testament is the first to say that physical circumcision without a circumcision of the heart does not please God.
"25"Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised--
26Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and (BF)all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart."
Note that this is written in Jeremiah before Jesus came to earth.
I believe this passage in Acts is talking about how our hearts are circumcised as a sign of the covenant we have with God, in much the same way that His law is now written on the hearts of men and not just in physical form.
Note also that Paul says in Romans 6 "15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
Grace is freedom from judgement for sin, not the absence of a standard for what is sin. We live in grace because our sins are not counted against us.
Circumcision was a sign of the covenant that predates the Mosaic law, and is also part of the law. It was a sign of the covenant between Abraham (Abram) and God. Jeremiah in the old testament is the first to say that physical circumcision without a circumcision of the heart does not please God.
"25"Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised--
26Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and (BF)all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart."
Note that this is written in Jeremiah before Jesus came to earth.
I believe this passage in Acts is talking about how our hearts are circumcised as a sign of the covenant we have with God, in much the same way that His law is now written on the hearts of men and not just in physical form.
Note also that Paul says in Romans 6 "15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
Grace is freedom from judgement for sin, not the absence of a standard for what is sin. We live in grace because our sins are not counted against us.
Hi Hsvbulldawg
So do you say that we as Gentiles do not live under the Mosaic law, because we have the law in our heart?
It's important to remember that we are saved by faith not works, but we will produce fruit (works) if we are saved. The works aren't what saves us, but at the same time, we are not under grace to lawlessness. Also, God and His standards do not change. If they did, what was the point of Jesus' death? Why wouldn't God just change His standards? It's important to remember His standards and to remember His grace and mercy. Both are important.
You do know the Kupps have shared this same thing and were concemned for their words.
We do not have the power to keep the Law. Without Jesus, we can do NOTHING. The Kupps nullify our Savior. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Act 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10 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?
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Act 15:12 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.
Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Act 15:16 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:
Act 15:17 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.
Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Act 15:22 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:
Act 15:23 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:
Act 15:24 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:
Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29 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.
The book of acts is a transition from law to grace.
Peter is talking about a Gentile by the name of Cornelius.
The question of law was settled at this meeting that you and I are not under law, because we are Gentiles under grace.
I just hope you realize the freedom we have in Christ through faith plus nothing. Not to live our lives in Sin but to give glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By doing good works after we are saved.
Born again, Jerry
Two apostles give us proof that the Jerusalem decree did not eliminate The Sabbath Commandment. Let's listen to these unimpeachable witnesses who attended the meeting at Jerusalem:
PAUL:
"Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing,
but {what matters is}
THE KEEPING OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD."
Cor 7:19 NAS)
JAMES:
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."
James 2:10-12 (KJV)
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