THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - PART 344

Reading from Acts chapter 15, we see that the Word contained therein was sent to all assemblies of believers, thereby diverting any possible divisions among the people as a result of Peter’s misdirected words and conduct toward the Gentile believers.

What we need to recognize is that this same Word -- and the resulting directives from the Word -- were also sent to us today. In other words, the resulting message coming forth from the assembled group in Acts 15 (a group which consisted of apostles, prophets, and elders with the people - not apart from the people) was that the Gentile believers were not commanded to be circumcised or to keep the law but rather to adhere to that which is written.

"Wherefore my sentence is, that we do not trouble them which from among the Gentiles are turned to God. But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollution of idols and from fornication and from things strangled and from blood. For it pleased the apostles and elders with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company Judas and Silas to accompany Paul and Barnabas.

And they wrote letters after this manner. The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, for as much as we have heard that certain persons, which unfortunately 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."

It seemed good to us being assembled with one accord to send chosen men unto you accompanied with our beloved Barnabas and Paul -- men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord JESUS the Christ

We have sent therefore of our own company Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things -- that you abstain from meats offered to idols and from blood and from things that have been strangled to death and from fornication from which if you keep yourselves you shall do well. Fare ye well,

So when the assembled group were dismissed those chosen went on there way to Antioch. At Antioch they gathered the multitude together, delivering to the people the written contents of the letters, which when the believers read, the believers rejoiced for the consolation."

These afore mentioned necessary things existed prior to the Law. Then these four things passed through the law, And now these four things remain intact today.

In the next presentation, we will examine the verses that tell us keep ourselves from idols and from blood. In the interim, remember that “it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us. Let God be true!

Stand in the offering plate.