the Sabbath
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Below is the instruction by the apostles in how to follow Jesus.
Acts 15:29
That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from acts of
sexual immorality; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.
Are you saying that we will not do well?
Will you deny the instruction of the Council of Jerusalem?
I am asking you a simple question?
Acts 15:29
That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from acts of
sexual immorality; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.
Are you saying that we will not do well?
Will you deny the instruction of the Council of Jerusalem?
I am asking you a simple question?
That was to instruct the gentile proselytes of the gate on how to behave themselves so they wouldn't get kicked out of the synagogues. It was nothing new because they already knew those rules. Those rules have nothing to do with Christians apart from that context. You can drink all of the blood you want and eat strangled animals if you have the faith to do so because nothing a person takes into their body can defile them
But, there was a Sabbath which was blessed by God at the creation:
[Gen 2:1-3 KJV] 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Do you think Abraham kept the Sabbath even though it isn’t specifically mentioned? Why would he create another day unless it served a purpose?
[Gen 2:1-3 KJV] 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Do you think Abraham kept the Sabbath even though it isn’t specifically mentioned? Why would he create another day unless it served a purpose?
Do you have any scripture backing these statements?
The Bible says that the Sabbath have always been important to God:
[Gen 2:1-3 KJV] 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
The Bible says that the Sabbath have always been important to God:
[Gen 2:1-3 KJV] 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:36-40
I don't think your correct in your summary, ChristRoseFromTheDead.
Synagogues do not proclaim the Christ rather synagogues proclaim the law of Moses.
Not the kind of place that any Gentile should enter.
Here is how Chat GPT explained Acts 15.
Below is the question I asked Chat GPT.
The instruction by the apostles and elders to the Gentile churches in Acts 15.
If the Gentiles follow the apostle's instruction will they do well?
How do you understand Acts 15?
ChatGPT said:
Acts 15 is a pivotal chapter in the New Testament that addresses a significant issue in the early church: whether Gentile (non-Jewish) converts to Christianity were required to follow the Mosaic Law, including practices like circumcision, to be fully accepted into the community of believers.
Context:
The Problem: Some Jewish believers argued that Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses (Acts 15:1, 5). This created tension in the early church, as Gentiles were coming to faith in large numbers.
The Council: The apostles and elders met in Jerusalem (the first "church council") to deliberate this matter (Acts 15:2-6). Key figures like Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James (the brother of Jesus) contributed to the discussion.
Key Points:
Peter’s Argument: Peter reminded the council that God had already shown His approval of the Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He had done for the Jews. He emphasized that salvation comes through grace, not the works of the law (Acts 15:7-11).
Paul and Barnabas’ Testimony: They shared how God had been working among the Gentiles through signs and wonders, demonstrating His acceptance of them (Acts 15:12).
James’ Conclusion: James, as the leader of the Jerusalem church, referenced Amos 9:11-12 to show that the inclusion of Gentiles was part of God’s plan. He proposed a practical solution: Gentiles should not be burdened with the full Mosaic Law but should follow a few specific instructions to maintain harmony with Jewish believers (Acts 15:13-21).
The Decision:
The council agreed to send a letter to the Gentile churches, instructing them to:
Abstain from food sacrificed to idols.
Avoid consuming blood.
Refrain from eating the meat of strangled animals.
Avoid sexual immorality.
These guidelines were meant to:
Promote unity between Jewish and Gentile believers by respecting Jewish sensitivities.
Encourage Gentiles to live in a way that reflected their new faith in Christ.
Understanding Acts 15:
Grace Over Law: Acts 15 underscores that salvation is by grace through faith, not adherence to the Mosaic Law. This was a defining moment in establishing the nature of the gospel.
Unity and Sensitivity: The instructions for Gentiles were not about earning salvation but about maintaining fellowship between diverse groups in the church. The council sought to remove barriers to unity while honoring cultural and spiritual convictions.
Practical Wisdom: The decision reflects a balance between doctrinal clarity (salvation by grace) and practical wisdom (guidelines for harmonious living).
Doing Well: The phrase "If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well" (Acts 15:29) suggests that these instructions were not exhaustive rules but a way for Gentiles to show respect for their Jewish brothers and sisters and live out their faith in a God-honoring way.
In summary, Acts 15 highlights the inclusive nature of the gospel and the importance of unity in the body of Christ, demonstrating that the church can address cultural and doctrinal challenges through prayerful discussion and reliance on the Holy Spirit.
Synagogues do not proclaim the Christ rather synagogues proclaim the law of Moses.
Not the kind of place that any Gentile should enter.
Here is how Chat GPT explained Acts 15.
Below is the question I asked Chat GPT.
The instruction by the apostles and elders to the Gentile churches in Acts 15.
If the Gentiles follow the apostle's instruction will they do well?
How do you understand Acts 15?
ChatGPT said:
Acts 15 is a pivotal chapter in the New Testament that addresses a significant issue in the early church: whether Gentile (non-Jewish) converts to Christianity were required to follow the Mosaic Law, including practices like circumcision, to be fully accepted into the community of believers.
Context:
The Problem: Some Jewish believers argued that Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses (Acts 15:1, 5). This created tension in the early church, as Gentiles were coming to faith in large numbers.
The Council: The apostles and elders met in Jerusalem (the first "church council") to deliberate this matter (Acts 15:2-6). Key figures like Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James (the brother of Jesus) contributed to the discussion.
Key Points:
Peter’s Argument: Peter reminded the council that God had already shown His approval of the Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He had done for the Jews. He emphasized that salvation comes through grace, not the works of the law (Acts 15:7-11).
Paul and Barnabas’ Testimony: They shared how God had been working among the Gentiles through signs and wonders, demonstrating His acceptance of them (Acts 15:12).
James’ Conclusion: James, as the leader of the Jerusalem church, referenced Amos 9:11-12 to show that the inclusion of Gentiles was part of God’s plan. He proposed a practical solution: Gentiles should not be burdened with the full Mosaic Law but should follow a few specific instructions to maintain harmony with Jewish believers (Acts 15:13-21).
The Decision:
The council agreed to send a letter to the Gentile churches, instructing them to:
Abstain from food sacrificed to idols.
Avoid consuming blood.
Refrain from eating the meat of strangled animals.
Avoid sexual immorality.
These guidelines were meant to:
Promote unity between Jewish and Gentile believers by respecting Jewish sensitivities.
Encourage Gentiles to live in a way that reflected their new faith in Christ.
Understanding Acts 15:
Grace Over Law: Acts 15 underscores that salvation is by grace through faith, not adherence to the Mosaic Law. This was a defining moment in establishing the nature of the gospel.
Unity and Sensitivity: The instructions for Gentiles were not about earning salvation but about maintaining fellowship between diverse groups in the church. The council sought to remove barriers to unity while honoring cultural and spiritual convictions.
Practical Wisdom: The decision reflects a balance between doctrinal clarity (salvation by grace) and practical wisdom (guidelines for harmonious living).
Doing Well: The phrase "If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well" (Acts 15:29) suggests that these instructions were not exhaustive rules but a way for Gentiles to show respect for their Jewish brothers and sisters and live out their faith in a God-honoring way.
In summary, Acts 15 highlights the inclusive nature of the gospel and the importance of unity in the body of Christ, demonstrating that the church can address cultural and doctrinal challenges through prayerful discussion and reliance on the Holy Spirit.