Acts 15:13-16
"And after they (the Hebrews) had held their peace, James (the half brother of Jesus) answered, (you would think that Peter was the moderator, but it looks like James was) saying Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14. Simon (Peter) hath
declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of
them a people for his name. 15. And to this agree the words of the
prophets; as it is written, 16. After this (after calling out a people for His name) 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:" Referring to His second physical coming after the tribulation period. And now let's skip all the way down to verse 19.
Acts 15:19-21
"Wherefore (in light of all that has just taken place) my sentence (or decision as the moderator)
is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned
to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollution
of idols (this is a true bone of contention as many don't understand just what this means and is all things not acceptable to God are idols as it is put above the knowledge of God), and from fornication and from things strangled, (things not killed properly) and from blood." Now
we see in a way it's amazing that these things were repeated and in
another way it isn't because we see these things still hold true today.
God still has never given the human race permission to do any of these
things. Idols are those things which replace in any degree the true
knowledge of God and are held as true and exceptionable by Him. They are
contrivances of mans mind or intellect or are of the imagination of
fallen man. These things are still anathema to Him, and we'll show you
why. Verse 21 gives the reason.
Acts 15:21
"For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day." In
other words James is saying, "Now look, if you're going to go out into
the Gentile world and preach this Gospel of Grace that's well and good
but for the sake of the Hebrews who are in those pagan communities at
least make your converts understand that some of these things are still
fundamental going all the way back to the Law of Moses." And that of
course Paul agreed with, and we're sure that he taught it as such. But
within the limits which the Holy Spirit required because we see this in
Romans chapters 5 through 8 and here in Galatians and in the Epistle to
the Hebrews. The release of the believing Hebrews from the corral or
yoke of bondage under the Levitical Law with its statutes, and the 613
ordinances imposed by man. Those written by the scribes, Pharisees and
Sadducee as additions just as our Constitutions has been added to and
the Laws of the land have been and continue to be added too. Now verse
22.
Acts 15:22-23
"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:
23. and they wrote letters 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:" Now go to
verse 29 and the Holy Spirit has seen fit to repeat it. This is part of
that written agreement that went to from the Jerusalem church up to
Antioch.
Acts 15:29
"That ye abstain from meats offered to idols (now meats are not necessarily that which is eaten but may be a figure of speech used for the practice of simply doing a thing),
and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from
which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." Now
for a moment let's go back to the Old Testament and see what they were
referring to. That would be in Leviticus chapter 17 and 18. Even though
this was part of the Law yet it was such that God could sanction it's
going right on through the Gospel of Grace. And as you know we firmly
believe that we're not under Law but rather Grace, but God is still
holding us accountable for not doing any of these things in a
ritualistic practice or continuation of an old from of religion by way
of ignorance of God's intended purpose. Now it's interesting that for
those who get involved in Satan's worship this is where they begin. This
is usually part of their initiation process, that they drink blood and
become immoral and all the rest of it and here's the reason in this
chapter.
Leviticus 17:10-11
"And
whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers
that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set
my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from
among his people. (now this is God speaking) 11. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: (this is why the Blood had to be sacrificed for the remission of sin. It was death for life.) and
I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your
souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Now
we're going to make a point. What had to happen to the blood in the Old
Testament sacrifices, as well as Christ's Blood for the atonement of
sin? It had to be applied. It had to be sprinkled on the altar, it had
to be sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant's mercy seat, and Christ also
had to present His Blood remember where? The Holy of Holiest in heaven.
So it follows all the way through and for this reason God still demands
that even under Grace we do not partake of these things. For the
shedding and sprinkling of Christ Blood is the total satisfaction of all
requirements and put an end to them. Now the other point was not to
practice fornication or immorality. Now we know we have to read it
carefully because it's rather graphic, but when we get into chapter 18
and God explicitly lays down these various immoral sins that believers
are to have nothing to do with. Why? Because as we'll see in verse 3.
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