Acts 15:1-21
English
Standard Version (ESV)
15 But
some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are
circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And
after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and
Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the
apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent
on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria,
describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to
all the brothers.[a] 4 When they came to
Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders,
and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some
believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is
necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders were
gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there
had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that
in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles
should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who
knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as
he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them,
having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why
are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples
that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But
we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as
they will.”
12 And all the assembly fell silent, and
they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God
had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they
finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon
has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for
his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree,
just as it is written,
16 “‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant[b] of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant[b] of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should
not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but
should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual
immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For
from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him,
for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
I have to wonder
today if we place unnecessary burdens on people today in order for them prove
their salvation. Much like a secret
society where people have to earn their right to enter. Then there are times that we say, “you should
not judge” yet James is clear when he speaks that they must not live their
lives in blatant sin. So, where is the
line between not judging and hold one accountable.
If the act of
circumcision was what saved the people from their sins, no woman could ever be
saved. Maybe that is why women were
viewed less important than the man. Yet,
the Holy Spirit fell on both male and female and people of all races, proving
that circumcision was not the way to salvation.
There are no boundaries when it comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus
Christ our Lord. Yet, we must live our
lives in accordance with His will and His way.
We can only do that through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is not by our works that we gain access to
the throne but it is because of our access to the throne that we do works.
If our brother
or sister is living a life that does not glorify Him but rather defiles Him, we
should confront. But, if by their
culture they have a manmade physical change in their body we should not make
them alter that. If they come from a
different race we should not condemn them but rather embrace that God’s grace
is big enough for all of us.
As you seek Him
today may you find that His love is abounding.
Reach out to those who may not be like you but who are of God’s creation
and need to see and know His love.
Seeking Him with
all my heart,
Sheila
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