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The Council at Jerusalem (faith versus works) Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 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. In chapter 15 the infant church called a council to deal with a controversy that had arisen. Some believing Jews from the sect of the Pharisees, known as Judaizers , were demanding that gentile converts submit to circumcision and keeping the law of Moses, to obtain salvation. The council determined that this was not correct. The gentiles were simply to avoid fornication and things offered to idols. Faith and faith alone would be the determining factor to determine one's salvation (Acts 15:6-11). The Christian church has had to deal with this mindset in one form or another from the very beginning. Some would add to the work of Jesus on the cross by counting the number of repetitious prayers that they make or the number of doors that they knock,etc. etc. Even today we have many who would return to the law of Moses. Paul dealt with this very thing in many of his writings. In Romans 7:6 he stated that we do not serve God in the oldness of the letter but rather in the newness of the Spirit. In Romans 8:2-4 he sets forth the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that has set us free from the law of sin and death. There were many in the Galatian church who desired to return to keeping the law and Paul talks rather sternly to them. He marveled that some had perverted the original gospel of Christ and desired to be under the law. He declared that there was only one gospel and that anyone who preached anything else should be considered accursed (Gal. 1:6-9). Paul goes on in chapter 2 to state that he himself had excelled in the Jew’s religion, but that it had pleased God to reveal Jesus in him (Gal. 1:14-16). Although he had excelled in the practice of the law he now realized that it was all for naught. A man could never be justified by the works of the law, only by believing in and exercising faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 2:16). My conclusion of all this is: If I set other requirements for a person's salvation than what God's word spells out, I will be guilty of adding to His word and I will answer for it in judgment (Rev. 22:18). If I add legalistic requirements for another to follow, I will be guilty of diminishing the value of the blood of Jesus. If I set a code of conduct for another that differs from God'’s word, I am setting at naught the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2). It is good to have a spiritual regimen in study, fasting and prayer, good works, etc. However, if I use this as added insurance of my salvation, then I am relying on my own works rather than the grace of God. Whatever good works I have must be as a result of Jesus living His life through me (Gal. 2:20). But if I boast of my works, I am exalting myself and Jesus said that if I do so, I will be abased (Mat. 23:12). The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is inscribed on our hearts by the Holy Ghost (Jer. 31:33) who brings all of Christ's commandments to our remembrance (John 14:26). We will then delight in the law of God after our inward man (Rom. 7:22). Our freedom will not allow for loose living because our consuming desire is to be found pleasing to the one who purchased us with His blood (Acts 20:28; I Peter 1:18-19). Our constant prayer is, "not my will but thy will be done." "Yeah, I do!" a biker says, standing up. "What about it?" "Well, I think my Chihuahua just killed him..." "What are you talkin' about?!" the biker says, disbelievingly. "How could your little runt kill my Rottweiler? " "Well, it seems he got stuck in your dog's throat." Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
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