Ok, this may take some understanding, and cause some misunderstanding..........please read with a loving Christian heart....and know that these are JUST MY THOUGHTS.......not to be taken as THUS SAYETH THE LORD.
The ApostlesWere Still Human
I know this may go without saying, but sometimes I think we forget that the Apostles were still human, and as such, were subject to all the things we believers today are subject to. They made mistakes, they strayed towards the “flesh” from time to time just as we believers today do. I think it is good for us to understand this because as we search for unity among believers, it is important to know that the Apostles, and the early Church struggled with many of the same things that we today struggle with.
Acts 15:1) And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 .) When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 .) 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.
4 .) 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.
5 .) But there rose 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.
6 .) And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
[Here we can see that there was division among the Apostles, the elders, and members of the Church at Jerusalem as to what they should be teaching. Certain members insisted that the Law of Moses must still be taught, even unto circumcision in order for new believersto be saved. Paul and Barnabas did not agree with this and disputed this teaching, and notice what happened. ]
[ Vs. 6)And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter
[Clearly there was disagreement among them,and the fact that they actually came together to “consider” this matter shows that they gave some credit to the idea of continuing to teach the Law of Moses unto salvation.]
Then Peter rose to speak, and said the following:
7 .)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.
8 .) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 .) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 .) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 .) But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
[Here Peter(in my opinion) is saying that they should be teaching the Gospel of JesusChrist and not the Law of Moses for neither their fathers nor the apostles themselves could bear the “yoke” of the Law of Moses unto salvation. Rather it is “through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” that they will receive salvation.
Then Paul and Barnabas gave testimony of what God had done among the Gentiles through them…….as shown in[
vs. 12) 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.
[Then James(who many believe to have been the Pastor of the Jerusalem Church) rose tospeak:]
13) And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 .) Simeon 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 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:
17 .) That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 .) Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 .) Wherefore my sentence 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 pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 .) For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
[Notice what James did here (for I believe it to be important to understand). He considered the desires of those who insisted that the Law of Moses still be taught, and considered the desires of those who only wanted to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation; AND HE REACHED A COMPRAMISE. He suggested that they only teach part of theLaw of Moses, and specified which should be taught, but that they were to“trouble not” the new believers among the Gentiles with more than this from the Law of Moses]
.
[ 20) .) But that we write unto them,that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. ]
The actual message delivered is found in
vs. 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.
[Even though this appeared to have settled what would be taught, there remained those who still insisted on circumcision, for in following Chapters of Acts we see itspoken of….
There were also “disputes” between the Apostles which many of us today can relate to I would think. They certainly had their own “personal” belief as to the meaning of the Gospel of Jesus and how it should be taught. The dispute between Paul and Peter is one of the most known as it is recorded in Galatians.]
Galatians2:11) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 .) For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 .) And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 .) But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 .) We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 .) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of JesusChrist, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[Consider that Paul actually charged Peter with hypocrisy in this exchange between them……and given that Peter was one of the original 12 disciples, this was nosmall thing!
Yet, Paul himself fell to the “flesh” when his dispute with Barnabas led to their division of ministry……..]
vs. 36) And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
37 .) And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 .) But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia,and went not with them to the work.
39 .) And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 .) And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 .) And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
[We could ask: Who was right, or who was wrong? Who was walking in the Spirit, or who was walking in the flesh? What we do know is that the two had such a great dispute between them that they parted ways, and given what God had accomplished through their joint ministry before this, it is no small thing that they did part ways in my opinion.
By his own admission, Paul himself was far from perfect as he states in]
2[SUP]nd[/SUP]Corinthians 12:6) For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 .) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 .) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 .) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 .)Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
[I write allthis to say that we should not expect ourselves or others to have “perfect understanding,” or to walk the perfect Christ like walk, but rather to know that we are human, and as such, we will at times falter, stumble, argue, speak sharply towards one another, and in all of this, we will have to seek forgiveness from God and from our brothers and sisters in Christ. If those who “walked shoulder to shoulder”with Jesus Christ were mere mortals, and subject to all that I have stated, how can we expect ourselves or others to rise above them? What we can expect is to love one another as He loved us………..and, if we do this, I think we will do well. God bless…………..]
The ApostlesWere Still Human
I know this may go without saying, but sometimes I think we forget that the Apostles were still human, and as such, were subject to all the things we believers today are subject to. They made mistakes, they strayed towards the “flesh” from time to time just as we believers today do. I think it is good for us to understand this because as we search for unity among believers, it is important to know that the Apostles, and the early Church struggled with many of the same things that we today struggle with.
Acts 15:1) And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 .) When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 .) 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.
4 .) 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.
5 .) But there rose 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.
6 .) And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
[Here we can see that there was division among the Apostles, the elders, and members of the Church at Jerusalem as to what they should be teaching. Certain members insisted that the Law of Moses must still be taught, even unto circumcision in order for new believersto be saved. Paul and Barnabas did not agree with this and disputed this teaching, and notice what happened. ]
[ Vs. 6)And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter
[Clearly there was disagreement among them,and the fact that they actually came together to “consider” this matter shows that they gave some credit to the idea of continuing to teach the Law of Moses unto salvation.]
Then Peter rose to speak, and said the following:
7 .)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.
8 .) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 .) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 .) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 .) But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
[Here Peter(in my opinion) is saying that they should be teaching the Gospel of JesusChrist and not the Law of Moses for neither their fathers nor the apostles themselves could bear the “yoke” of the Law of Moses unto salvation. Rather it is “through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” that they will receive salvation.
Then Paul and Barnabas gave testimony of what God had done among the Gentiles through them…….as shown in[
vs. 12) 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.
[Then James(who many believe to have been the Pastor of the Jerusalem Church) rose tospeak:]
13) And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 .) Simeon 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 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:
17 .) That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 .) Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 .) Wherefore my sentence 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 pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 .) For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
[Notice what James did here (for I believe it to be important to understand). He considered the desires of those who insisted that the Law of Moses still be taught, and considered the desires of those who only wanted to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation; AND HE REACHED A COMPRAMISE. He suggested that they only teach part of theLaw of Moses, and specified which should be taught, but that they were to“trouble not” the new believers among the Gentiles with more than this from the Law of Moses]
.
[ 20) .) But that we write unto them,that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. ]
The actual message delivered is found in
vs. 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.
[Even though this appeared to have settled what would be taught, there remained those who still insisted on circumcision, for in following Chapters of Acts we see itspoken of….
There were also “disputes” between the Apostles which many of us today can relate to I would think. They certainly had their own “personal” belief as to the meaning of the Gospel of Jesus and how it should be taught. The dispute between Paul and Peter is one of the most known as it is recorded in Galatians.]
Galatians2:11) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 .) For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 .) And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 .) But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 .) We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 .) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of JesusChrist, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[Consider that Paul actually charged Peter with hypocrisy in this exchange between them……and given that Peter was one of the original 12 disciples, this was nosmall thing!
Yet, Paul himself fell to the “flesh” when his dispute with Barnabas led to their division of ministry……..]
vs. 36) And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
37 .) And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 .) But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia,and went not with them to the work.
39 .) And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 .) And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 .) And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
[We could ask: Who was right, or who was wrong? Who was walking in the Spirit, or who was walking in the flesh? What we do know is that the two had such a great dispute between them that they parted ways, and given what God had accomplished through their joint ministry before this, it is no small thing that they did part ways in my opinion.
By his own admission, Paul himself was far from perfect as he states in]
2[SUP]nd[/SUP]Corinthians 12:6) For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 .) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 .) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 .) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 .)Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
[I write allthis to say that we should not expect ourselves or others to have “perfect understanding,” or to walk the perfect Christ like walk, but rather to know that we are human, and as such, we will at times falter, stumble, argue, speak sharply towards one another, and in all of this, we will have to seek forgiveness from God and from our brothers and sisters in Christ. If those who “walked shoulder to shoulder”with Jesus Christ were mere mortals, and subject to all that I have stated, how can we expect ourselves or others to rise above them? What we can expect is to love one another as He loved us………..and, if we do this, I think we will do well. God bless…………..]
