To Whom We Gave No Such Commandment - Part 1310

Herein, a question. When we think of the traditions of men, and how certain ideas and often peculiarities have spanned generations, what immediately comes to mind? I was considering this idea yesterday, and how every other discipline known in the world revisits their original premises and foundation from time to time. These do so through questioning, investigation, research, and/or re-examination of their beliefs to ensure that the foundation, in which the house has been built is firm. That is, this quest for the absolute appears to include every kind of institution or belief system in the world with the exception of modern day religion.

For example, here we are centuries after the Reformation days, and we are still standing on doctrine and statements of faith developed during a time when there was very little scripture to correlate any of the teachings. It was a time when believers were heavily persecuted, and copies of translated scripture most minimal in its availability.

Foxes Book of Martyrs provides a glimpse of the atrocities against believers -- Protestant reformers that was taking place at that time, when those who were working diligently to translate the scriptures into English were being killed for doing so. I remember hearing how Protestant Christians chained both the Bible and Foxes Book of Martyrs to the pulpit so that we in our generation might understand the price that was paid for us to have the gospel, in English, and in its entirety. Anyone who reads this narrative quickly realizes that the book is much more than just a record of persecution.

But I digress from my original point. The main crux worth noting here is that believers today are not hindered from reading the Bible for fear of persecution, and death. Bibles are readily available in this day and age so that we/religion can ensure that the premise that led to creating a statement of faith centuries ago is still sound, and likewise, that the doctrines that we preach from the pulpits actually fully align with the Word of God. Remember, God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (I Corinthians 14:33)

Sadly, investigation does not appear to be high on the list in our modern day religious community. Rather, instead, there is a continuing effort (internationally) to form one church, whereby the Word of God is no longer heralded as the only authority, even when the Bible -- the one and only absolute -- is immediately available for review and examination by one and all. If this were the scientific community, or psychology, or education, or business, or another noteworthy discipline, a re-examination and reconfirmation of their premises would be highly expected -- and on a regular basis too.

It is for this reason that I draw your attention to Acts 15 -- whereby certain men were propagating a false teaching. The circumstance is telling. Herein, certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren that in order to be saved, one had to be circumcised after the manner of Moses. Indeed, these men preached, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." (Acts 15:1) Note that this is complete contrast to Peter's message (when he was standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost) where he told the first 3,000 souls saved to "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-47)

Of course, as noted in Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas "had no small dissension and disputation with them." (Acts 15:2) In their hearts, they knew this to be a false teaching that had to be clarified. In response, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 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.

"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. But there arose 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." (Acts 15:3-5)

What did the apostles and elders do? They came together for to consider of this matter. These examined the scriptures to determine the truth. Why? Because God is not the author of confusion.

Is this to suggest that there wasn't much disputing? Of course there was. Circumcision was a teaching and practice that had carried forward for generations -- the traditions of men -- that served to "add" legal requirements with no basis or foundation to the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His mercy. So, yes, the scriptures are clear on this point. There was "much" disputing.

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. And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [He did] unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we are able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." (Acts 15:6-11)

Did you catch that?

"Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we are able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." (Acts 15:10-11)

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.

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren,  hearken unto me. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written [in the old testament], "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; that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom My name is called," saith the Lord, "who does all these things." (Acts 15:13-17)

In other words, we are saved by grace and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are His ..." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

As a consequence, when we repent and are baptized/buried in the name of the Lord Jesus, we are clothed in His righteousness. "Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [Him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is free from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him; knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once, but in that He lives, He lives unto God." (Romans 6:1-10)

But Peter did not stop there. He continued by saying,  that "known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them -- that they abstain from pollution of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day." (Acts 15:21)

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. And they wrote letters [in fact, this letter] by them 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 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. It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore 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 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." (Acts 15:22-29)

When they were dismissed they delivered this epistle which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation, and Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words and confirmed [them]. And after they had tarried a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. (Acts 15:30-33)

Therefore, as you can see from the example of the apostles, there is a need to examine the scriptures for the truth. In this particular situation, it involved disputation among the disciples, as well as with those who taught that circumcision was necessary for salvation. But the dialogue also brought clarity. Not only to remind others that Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross for the Gentiles too, and that these had received the gift of the Holy Ghost, as did the Jews, but also to state that there would be no greater burden laid upon the Gentiles -- beyond these necessary things.

That is, to "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." (Acts 15:22-29)

Thus, if this re-examination of beliefs and doctrinal teachings were necessary in the early church to establish and [re]confirm the apostles' doctrine, shouldn't religious statements of faith in today's churches also be reviewed periodically to ensure these "keep His Word and does not deny His name?" (Revelation 3:8-9)

It is an interesting question, and one -- in many ways that is long overdue.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Stand in the offering plate.