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Hello MacBestus,
Acts 15:20 was in answer to the Pharisee group who were claiming that the Gentile believers had to be circumcised and made to observe the law of Moses. The answer to that was "No!" We are saved by grace through faith apart from works. Believers in Christ have died to the law, including the food law. For the law is what gives sin its power and the powers of darkness their ammunition against us. For the law brings wrath and condemnation when it is broken. Where there is no law, there can be no transgression of it. Those who are in Christ are not under the written code and regulations of the law, but follow Christ and are led by the Spirit of God. But we should use this freedom for righteousness sake, to glorify God.
Acts 15:20 was in answer to the Pharisee group who were claiming that the Gentile believers had to be circumcised and made to observe the law of Moses. The answer to that was "No!" We are saved by grace through faith apart from works. Believers in Christ have died to the law, including the food law. For the law is what gives sin its power and the powers of darkness their ammunition against us. For the law brings wrath and condemnation when it is broken. Where there is no law, there can be no transgression of it. Those who are in Christ are not under the written code and regulations of the law, but follow Christ and are led by the Spirit of God. But we should use this freedom for righteousness sake, to glorify God.
Hello back at you!
I'm going to put quotes around what you said so we can have a conversation. The quote system is beyond my big old fingers and my phones small screen. I hope you don't mind.
You said:
"Acts 15:20 was in answer to the Pharisee group who were claiming that the Gentile believers had to be circumcised and made to observe the law of Moses. The answer to that was "No!" "
Your statement is partially accurate. The circumcision party was a group in the first century who believed that new believers needed to be circumcised to fellowship and be saved. They also felt the need to hold them to Jewish Law (talmud) which Messiah spoke against. And also the law of Moses. In that order.
The fact that they were Pharisees shows they thought the Talmud outranked the Torah. The groups of Observant Jews today that claim Pharisee Origin make the same claim. As does the Talmud itself.
These are the Judaizers who pushed the religion of the Jews over YHWH's laws.
In the Jerusalem Council this was all hashed out and the conclusions reached have served to stand as the rules for all new Converts to Messiah since that time. Galatia was the place of question. But the question was answered for all new believers. Not just the Galatians.
If we look at Acts 15 this is plainly explained.
Acts 15:*17**That the residue of men might seek after*יהוה, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith*יהוה, who doeth all these things.
(This is to all the Gentiles called to Messiah. Not just the Ones in this incident)
*18**Known unto*יהוה*are all his works from the beginning of the world.
(YHWH knows what he has said and done since the dawn of time)
*19**Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to*יהוה:
(Therefore the judgement of the apostles was not to give them too much right out of the box. Set them up for failure. Imagine showing up at a new church and being told circumcision was needed to enter...
Plenty of folks would have laughed and walked away and never learned the Masters teaching.)
*20**But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
(These four rules are handed to new believers to begin fellowshipping note dietary rules are included. And remember we re told these are for all new believers a couple verses back.)
*21**For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.
(The new believers will pick up the rest of Torah listening to the readings on Shabbat.)
I know most churches today don't hold to all this. But the apostles did. And they recorded it. For us to follow.
you said:
"We are saved by grace through faith apart from works"
HalleluYah! This is true. Completely. No man can buy his way into Salvation. And I have never met a Torah keeping follower of Messiah who taught differently.
Messianics and HRM are Grace doctrines. Salvation is a free gift. We do not follow Torah to be saved but because we are saved.
1 John 3:4**Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law
Romans 6:1**What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound?
*2**By no means. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Or as Messiah put it:
Matthew 5:16**Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
*17**Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
*18**For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
*19**Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Salvation is by Grace. But reward is by merit.
Faith without works is dead.
So we seek to glorify our father as Messiah instructed. We seek to walk the way he and the apostles walked and instructed.
We know we cannot live a sin free life, but we try. So that we bring Glory to HIM. But we are thankful for Messiahs Grace when we inevitably fail.
This belief is summed up best by Messiah when he spoke to the woman taken in adultety.
John 8:9**And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Yahushua was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
*10**When Yahushua had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
*11**She said, No man, Sir. And Yahushua said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
That is the Messiahs Grace teaching.
I Forgive you. Go forth and sin no more.