New Covenant Truth, Part 1

By Pastor J.D. Link

agf-blanco.com

    Acts 15:1, 5 says, "And going down from Judea, some taught the brothers, saying, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.  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.” As the preacher says in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun. Still today, there are those brethren who insist that one keep the law of Moses to be saved.  Oh, they may not say you absolutely must keep all of it; but they “encourage” those really spiritual Christians, who, if they really want to please God, to keep at least parts of it (because, of course, nobody could ever keep all of it - which is exactly why Jesus had to save us!)  Let’s dig into the Word of God.

    Essentially, we have here in Acts 15 the first officially handled doctrinal dispute.  This subject had actually come up before in Acts 11, based on what happened in Acts 10, when Peter preached to the Gentile Cornelius, and his whole household got born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, and baptized - all while uncircumcised and not keeping the law of Moses. While in Acts 11, they acknowledged thatGentiles could be saved based on Peter’s report; they didn’t address whether or not Gentiles had to become Jews or keep the law to be saved. Remember, Acts 10 happened about 10 years after Pentecost; and Acts 15 was about 10 years after that! 

    It took ten years for Jewish Christians to realize Gentiles could be saved, and another ten years to realize they didn’t have to keep the law of Moses to be saved!  These were the formational years of the church.  After all, Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, who came to the Jews.  Why wouldn’t they think that one would have to become a Jew, to receive the Messiah? Romans, Galatians - not even Hebrews - was written yet. They thought Christianity was just simply an extension of Judaism.  They didn’t comprehend that the Old Covenant was fulfilled and finished (Mt 5:17-18, Jn 19:30); and that it’s ordinances were about to pass away (Heb 8:13, Mt 24:1-2) a few years later in 70 A.D.  So, this caused the dispute in Acts 15.

    The events in Acts 15 are also described in Galatians 2:1-10. Here’s what happened: Paul is preaching the pure Gospel of grace down in Antioch.  People are being radically saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, healed, delivered, etc.  Paul is telling these Gentiles that they do not have to be circumcised, keep the Jewish Sabbath and feasts, the dietary laws, etc. to be saved.  They are saved simply through faith in Jesus.  They are full of joy and loving God - life is good.  After a while, some legalistic brothers from Jerusalem catch wind of what’s going on in Antioch.  So, they take it upon themselves to go up there and inform those Gentiles that they must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved. 

    This is what the book of Galatians is all about.  It is a stern rebuke and warning to Judaizers (those who teach salvation is a combo of law and grace), and to those who would listen to and follow those teachings.  Paul said twice that those who teach another Gospel should be accursed.  Also, let us not forget that Paul knew the law inside and out.  As far as Paul was concerned, this law teaching was no insignificant side issue; it was a heaven or hell, life or death issue.  If Paul took it that seriously, why don’t we?

    What we must remember, is what Paul asked the Galatians to remember: that we receive the Spirit, the miracles, the healing, the deliverance, the goodness and blessings of God - by faith (Gal 3:2, 5).  In other words, when God confirmed His Word through the salvations, the giving of the Holy Spirit, the working of miracles;  what was being preached?  Was law being preached, or grace and faith?  The law doesn’t give life - it kills (2Cor 3:6).  The Spirit gives life.  Peter didn’t preach the law to Cornelius; he preached faith in Christ.  What happened?  God confirmed His Word (Acts 10:44, Mk 16:20, Act 14:3, Heb 2:4).  God confirms the Gospel of Grace.  God confirms faith righteousness.  If we want to see the supernatural in our lives, we must receive it by faith, not try to earn it through works.  We must believe and receive the free gift.  By the works of the law, no man shall be justified (Gal 2:16).  Through faith in God’s grace, we receive His best. Until next time, rejoice in the Lord!

New Covenant Truth, Part 2

By Pastor J.D. Link

agf-blanco.com

    Acts 15:1, 5 says, "And going down from Judea, some taught the brothers, saying, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.  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.” Whom the Son makes free, is free indeed.  It was for freedom, He set us free.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  Not freedom to live sinfully, but freedom to live righteously.  Some Jewish Christians thought the Gentile Christians had to be circumcised and keep the law to be saved.  Was that true then?  Is it true now?  Let’s get into God’s Word.

    In Acts 15:15-17, the Apostle James, head of the church in Jerusalem, quoted Amos 9:11-12, which shows clearly that the Gentiles are included in God’s redemptive plan (see also Isa 2:2, 11:10, 60:3, 5, 66:12).  Then, he makes this statement: My sentence, or ruling, is, that we do not trouble (harass) the Gentiles who have turned to God (put faith in Jesus Christ) anymore.  Only write to them that they abstain from the pagan worship practices of idol worship, including fornication (Sex outside of marriage), and consuming strangled meat (because it retains the blood) {Act 15:20}.

    There you have it.  The official ruling from the head Apostle of the church at Jerusalem 2,ooo years ago.  Gentiles do not have to keep the law of Moses to be saved.  They do not have to be circumcised.  They do not have to keep the Sabbath. They do not have to keep the dietary laws.  They do not have to keep the feasts.  Essentially, they do not have to become Jews to be saved.  What did the official church ruling say? Tell the Gentile Christians to refrain from idol worship, and it’s associated practices (fornication, strangled meat, blood). 

    Why are so many Christians running around today, trying to overturn the ruling of the Apostles in the first century?  Do they know better than the Apostles? Do they know better than God?  Why do they test God (Act 15:10)? Why is the ruling of the first church council, headed up by the Apostles, not good enough?  Why did the Apostle Paul implore the Galatians to stand fast (persevere) in the liberty and freedom, where with Christ has made us free; and do not be entangled and ensnared with the yoke of bondage?  Because it seems people, like the Judaizers, are constantly trying to put a yoke of bondage on you.  So, you have to stand firm against it, as Paul said.  Legalism is a trap that can ensnare you and chain you like a slave.

    Lest anyone be confused, Paul was not saying that it was a sin to retain Jewish customs - as long as you didn’t do it to be saved, or to earn right standing with God.  If you want to blow a shofar, then blow it!  If you don’t want to eat pork, don’t eat it. If you want to go to church on Saturday, then go.  If you want to wear a prayer shawl, keep the feasts, get circumcised, or speak Hebrew - go right ahead. What we must remember is: 1. None of those things save you or make you right with God. 2. Do not judge your Brothers or Sisters who don’t do likewise. 

    What about the moral law?  Love fulfills the moral law (Rom 13:9-10).  The moral law is included in the law of love, the law liberty, thelaw of Christ. Murder, stealing, lying, covetousness, adultery, dishonoring parents, dishonoring God’s Name, worshipping anything but God - these are still sin in the New Covenant.  However, that does not make it the Old Covenant. You see, our covenant - the New Covenant - is a better covenant based on better promises.  Although it still retains some of the principles of the first covenant, it is a totally new and different covenant.  It is new wine.  It is new cloth (Lk 5:36-39). Motive - the heart - is what God looks upon.  We keep the moral law because we are saved - not to be saved.  We turn from sin because we are accepted by God - not to be accepted by God.  Our good works are fruits - not roots - of our salvation.  Faith alone in God in the flesh - Jesus Christ - saves us.  Yet true saving faith is never alone.  It manifests itself in actions (Eph 2:8-10, Jam 2:17-26)

Obviously, I’m not teaching that Christians should go live sinfully. However, the Apostle Paul was accused of teaching the same thing, so I would be in good company if that’s what you think.  No, I’m simply teaching the completeness of what Jesus did.  It is finished.  He saves to the uttermost.  Nothing lacking. Nothing insufficient.  No one needs to add to Jesus or His work.  It is perfect. It is complete.  I will explain this further next week, Lord willing.  Until next time, rejoice in the Lord!

New Covenant Truth, Part 3

By Pastor J.D. Link

agf-blanco.com

    Act 15:1,5 says, "And going down from Judea, some taught the brothers, saying, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.  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.” Over the past couple of weeks, we have learned that during the formational years of the church of Jesus Christ, doctrinal disputes arose that had to be settled by Apostolic councils - like this early one in Acts 15, which answered the question, “Do Gentiles, who receive Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior, have to keep the Law of Moses - or be circumcised- to be saved?”  The verdict arrived at by the Apostles of Jesus? No!

    We talked about the Law last week, but this week, I would like to closely examine what the Apostle Paul had to say about circumcision.  This was a major issue in the first century, and Paul addressed it thoroughly.  One might ask, “If the Apostle Paul already addressed this issue so thoroughly 2,000 years ago, then why are you bringing it up?”  Because the same spirit of legalism that made this such an issue back then, is still alive and well in the Church today.  So, let’s see what the Apostle said.

    First read Rom 4:8-12.  In these verses, Paul is making the point that Abraham was justified (made righteous, or right with God); not after he was circumcised, but before.  Abraham was the Patriarch - the Great Grandfather - of the 12 tribes, the Nation of Israel. God gave Abraham circumcision to be the sign of the covenant. However, Paul makes clear that it was his faith - not his circumcision - that made him right with God.  Abraham was justified by faith, not circumcision.  Therefore, he is the father of all those who put faith in His Word - not of those just physically circumcised (Gal 3:7-9).

Next, read Gal 5:1-4.  The Apostle Paul states clearly, that to be circumcised for any sense of obligation to the law, is to be entangled with the yoke of bondage.  If you get circumcised for the sake of the law, you are then obligated to keep the whole law. You put yourself under a curse (Gal 3:10).  Jesus Christ profits you absolutely nothing - you have fallen from grace. 

    Philp 3:2-3 says, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”  Who did Paul say are the truly circumcised? 1. Those whoworship God in spirit 2. Those who rejoice in Jesus Christ 3. Those who have no confidence (hope of salvation) in any fleshly act.  Obviously, Paul believed doing the physical act of circumcision had nothing to do with being truly circumcised.  What is true circumcision?

    Col 2:10-11 says, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.”  True circumcision is not made with man’s hands.  It is made in the heart when you surrender to the Lordship and Kingship of Jesus Christ, and enter through faith into the Kingdom of God, being born again.

Read Romans 2:24-29.  Paul again states in these verses that true circumcision is made in the heart and in the spirit - not in letter (or according to the Law of Moses).  Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established (2Cor 13:1).  Of course, the physical act of circumcision in itself is not evil or wrong in any way.  It is when it is done to obtain favor or right standing with God that it is wrong.  It will not save you.  It will not make you right with God.  It will not give you special status with God.  If your hope is in any way in it, you are deceived.

True Christianity is not faith plus works; it is faith equals works. It is not works to be made righteous; it is works because one has been made righteous.  It is not works to save; it is saved to work.  It is not, “I do, therefore I am saved”; it is, “I’m saved, therefore I do”.   We are saved by grace through faith, not of good works, but unto good works (Eph 2:8-9).  We would do well to heed the Apostle Paul when he says, “Beware of the concision (those trying to separate you and lead you astray through false doctrine).  You shall know a tree by it’s fruit (Mt 7:15-20).  Until next time, rejoice in the Lord!