PT-1 "The Decision" (Acts 15:19-29)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/30/2018 7:58 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  PT-1 The Decision

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 15:19-29

            Message of the verses:  “19 "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath."  22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas-Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, 23  and they sent this letter by them,

"The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. 24 “Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 25 it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 “Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.’”

            We can ask a question about the first word, “therefore” in verse 19, and that is what is the therefore, there for?  And the answer is that since all of the speakers have spoken and all came to the same conclusion that salvation is by grace alone.  Keeping the law and observing rituals were not requirements for salvation.  The Judaizers were to be forbidden to trouble the Gentiles by teaching otherwise.

            No that this major doctrinal issue resolved, James, who I have mentioned before was the head of the Jerusalem church; he then turned to practical matters of fellowship.  The apostles were concerned not only that the Jews not trouble the Gentiles believers, but that the Gentile believers not trouble the Jews.  MacArthur goes on to say “The danger was that the Gentiles, reveling in their freedom in Christ, would pressure the Jewish believers to exercise that same liberty and violate their consciences.  To forestall that, James proposed that they write a letter to the Gentiles ordering them to abstain from four practices:  ‘things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.’  Those were violations of the law of Moses, who ‘from ancient generations has in every city those preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.’  To needlessly violate the Mosaic sanctions would destroy the church’s credibility with unbelieving Jews and also offend believing ones.  It would be an abuse of the freedoms in Christ believers enjoy (cf. 1 Peter 2:16).”  “18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.”

            We will be looking at these four practices that we are to abstain from that are mentioned above in our next few Spiritual Diaries beginning with “Things contaminated by idols.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Today we celebrate “Good Friday” and as I look back at the salvation by grace we have been studying over the last few days it could not have happened without what Christ went through as He hung on the cross to pay for my sins.  He did that because of His great love for me and for all who will turn to Him for salvation by grace alone.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to think of that great love that Christ has for me, demonstrated by what He did for me, and to be committed to tell others of it.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “A house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who said ‘"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”

Answer in our next SD.

3/30/2018 8:24 AM