03/07/2003 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Last week we discussed the blessedness of walking in victory

Tonight I would like to clarify an issue among many as to what we are supposed to be actually walking in victory over

We all agree that we should be walking in victory over sin

But what is sin?

Some say that sin is one thing for the Jews and another for the Gentiles

Some say that the Jews have certain laws they should keep, but they aren't "binding" on Gentiles

Much of the confusion is over what is found in the book of Acts, chapter 15

But let's examine this chapter....did the Jerusalem Council meeting in Acts 15 free the Gentile believers from having to be obedient to Yahweh's law?

Most modern teachers of scripture say that Paul never taught Gentiles to keep the law of Yahweh. But if Paul is an apostle (And I know he was)... Then he would have needed to teach that we should keep His commandments.

Let us remember Isaiah 8:20:

Isaiah 8:20 - To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

But Paul never taught anything like that

Now let's examine Acts 15:

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.

This is what the 'men from Judea'. (likely the Pharisees) taught the brethren...that 'you cannot be saved' unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses.

As we also seen in the book of Galatians, some of the Jews believed that when you were circumcised, you were then considered a son of Abraham and therefore, you are among Israel and only then are you "saved".

This also becomes evident when we read what John the Baptist said to them:

Matthew 3:7 - But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Matthew 3:8 - Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Matthew 3:9 - And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that YAHWEH is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Matthew 3:10 - And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

John 8:31 - Then said Yahushua to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:33 - They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Yahushua said:

John 8:34 - Yahushua answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

John 8:35 - And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

John 8:36 - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

So we see that John pointed out that it was false doctrine, Yahshua pointed out that it was false doctrine and we will see that Paul and the apostles at Jerusalem also conclude that it is false doctrine.

It is by His grace that we are 'saved' and are made sons of Abraham.

As we will see, salvation was always the issue in Acts 15. Peter even repeated this in verse 11.

The issue was what a person needed to do to be saved.

Continuing in Acts..

Acts 15:2 - 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.

Acts 15:3 - And being brought on their way by the assembly, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

It seems that this triggered a response from among the Pharisees:

Acts 15:4 - And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the assembly, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that YAHWEH had done with them.

Acts 15:5 - 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.

This is what they were claiming in verse 1 and we will see that this was the issue in a coming verse

Acts 15:6 - And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

Acts 15:7 - And when there had been much disputing, Kepha rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago YAHWEH made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Acts 15:8 - And YAHWEH, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;

Acts 15:9 - And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Peter is referring to a situation back in Acts 10:45 where the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles:

Acts 10:43 - To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 10:44 - While Kepha yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word.

Acts 10:45 - And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Kepha, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Later in Acts 10, some of the Jews were quite upset until Peter explained the vision and how Yahweh had shown that they were accepted in spite of their lineage.

Pardon, that was acts 11

So we see that the Gentiles received the Spirit and spoke in tongues. Then they agreed with him when Peter concluded:

Acts 11:16 - Then remembered I the word of Yahushua, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 11:17 - Forasmuch then as YAHWEH gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on Yahushua the Messiah; what was I, that I could withstand YAHWEH?

Acts 11:18 - When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified YAHWEH, saying, Then hath YAHWEH also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Now, reading Peter/Kepha's comments in Acts 15 again in context..

Acts 15:7 - And when there had been much disputing, Kepha rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago YAHWEH made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Acts 15:8 - And YAHWEH, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;

Acts 15:9 - And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Acts 15:10 - Now therefore why tempt ye YAHWEH, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Acts 15:11 - But we believe that through the favor of Yahushua the Messiah we shall be saved, even as they.

Note carefully in verse 11 that Kepha/Peter is referring to what is needed for a person to be saved

This confirms what we mentioned earlier as to the context of this entire ruling

So from the context we see the Pharisees are suggesting that we must be circumcised and keep the law to be saved but we all know that NO MAN has ever kept the law (except Yahushua).

The law cannot save us. It can only condemn us.

The only way it could save us would be if we had kept it perfectly. None of us will be able to stand before Yahweh in the day of judgment and declare that we kept His commandments perfectly

Therefore, we cannot be saved by it

So the Fathers certainly couldn't bear the yoke of observing the Torah for salvation and neither could the Gentiles..especially the Gentiles.

What do we need to have salvation? Kepha said:

Acts 15:11 - But we believe that through the favor of Yahushua the Messiah we shall be saved, even as they.

Peter was never suggesting that they not observe the law at all. This wasn't what they ultimately decided either

These Pharisees were teaching: Obedience and circumcision first, then salvation.

Yahweh teaches: Repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit and you are saved

The Repent involves an inner decision to change direction

If these Gentiles could not be saved unless they kept the law of Yahweh, then both the Gentiles and the Jews alike are all lost forever because all have broken the commandments.

But we also know that once we have been given salvation, Yahweh desires us to walk in obedience because we love Him

The final decision in Acts was not to tell them "Hey, the law of Yahweh is done away with now, you are free!" but to give them something to start with.

Peter walked with Yahushua during His ministry. He knew Yahushua's teaching on the Pharisees. The Pharisees were always wanting to lay a yoke on men but it is Yahushua's yoke that we really need!

Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:30 - For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Acts 15:12 - Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders YAHWEH had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Perhaps this was the "second witness" that James was looking for so then he spoke up with his decision:

Acts 15:13 - And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Acts 15:14 - Simeon hath declared how YAHWEH at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Acts 15:15 - And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Acts 15:16 - 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:

Acts 15:17 - That the residue of men might seek after YAHWEH, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith YAHWEH, who doeth all these things.

Acts 15:18 - Known unto YAHWEH are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Acts 15:19 - Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to YAHWEH:

Acts 15:19 Wherefore I judge, not to trouble those who from the nations (who are) turning to Yahweh

The "turning" is a key point

Those from among the Gentiles that are "turning" to Yahweh

James was very specific in his edict in that he judged that they should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to Yahweh

So he isn't speaking of Gentiles that have for a long time been believers but he is speaking of those from among the Gentiles who are turning to Yahweh. This was the subject at hand.

Also, the word that is translated "turning" here is translated "converting" when James spoke in his own epistle (James 5:19,20). Therefore James is speaking of not troubling those from among the new Gentile converts by telling them that they aren't saved unless they are circumcised or have kept the law first.

As we have seen, this is the context of the entire meeting up to this point. Not even the children of Israel were circumcised while in the wilderness, but they were circumcised just before they entered the promised land.

(Compare Joshua 5:2-5)

Joshua 5:2 - At that time YAHWEH said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.

Joshua 5:3 - And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

Joshua 5:4 - And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.

Joshua 5:5 - Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.

But it was apparently one of the highest things on the list among certain Pharisees

There are more important things that Yahweh needs to deal with first before even worrying about circumcision

Important things like what James lists in the coming verses:

Acts 15:19 - Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to YAHWEH:

Acts 15:20 - But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

He wanted them to be keeping commandments concerning not eating things offered to idols (Exodus 34:14,15).

Keeping oneself from sexual immorality as commanded in all of Leviticus chapter 18:1-20 as well as Exodus 20, Deut. 5 and other places.

Keeping from things strangled and blood as commanded in Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 3:17 7:23-27 and 17:10-14, Deuteronomy 12:16,23-25 14:21 and 15:23.

Now James states his reasons for only requiring these "necessary things." Let's look again:

Acts 15:19 Wherefore I judge, not to trouble those who from the nations (who are) turning to Yahweh

Acts 15:20 - But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Acts 15:21 - For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Now if the Gentiles weren't already keeping the Sabbath and hearing the Torah, the reason for his ruling would have been without support

But it was the knowledge that they would be learning the Torah every Sabbath that was the reason why He only gave the four necessary things

Here then was an excellent opportunity for the Gentiles to learn the law of Yahweh and let the Spirit lead them into keeping the things that they learn. The Spirit was something that they obviously had, per the testimony of Peter/Kepha & Paul

You see, not all the Gentiles had the advantages that we have today. We need only just go down to our local bookstore and pick up a copy of the scriptures. With no printing press available, it was certain that the law would be at least available in the synagogues AND it would be read to them.

A crucial point in this chapter is that James did not forbid anyone from teaching them the law, nor was he saying they ought not observe it. In fact, he left a provision for them to learn the Torah!

In fact, he gave them Torah precepts to start keeping! If it was forbidden, why did he allow them to ever go to the synagogue? The issue was whether or not the Gentiles had salvation and how to get them started into obedience.

If James believed the law was abolished or if he believed that observing the law wasn't necessary, why didn't He just say "Hey...we are free from the law now.... why is this even an issue!? Gentiles, you are free..Free...FREE!"

Instead he declared that they would call on them to be obedient to Yahweh's law, but they certainly would not throw the whole load on them at one time, especially as a prerequisite to salvation. Let the SPIRIT lead...they obviously had it!

Acts 15:22 - Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole assembly, 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:

Acts 15:23 - And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Acts 15:24 - Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Therefore it should read...

"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls to whom we gave no such commandment:"

I am not a proponent of the NIV but I'm glad that they weren't biased against Yahweh's law for once. The NIV scholars apparently were so convinced, that they didn't include this part that I demonstrated that was added and they didn't even include a textual note showing a variant reading!

Usually you will see something like "Some manuscripts say..."

But the NIV reads in verse 24:

"We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said"

James judges that we not trouble their minds by saying (as in verse 1) " "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." This is what those from Judea had taught the brethren according to verse 1. According to James, it (understandably) troubled and disturbed those who thought that Yahweh had accepted them.

Continuing in Acts 15:

Acts 15:25 - It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Acts 15:26 - Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Master Yahushua the Messiah.

Acts 15:27 - We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Acts 15:28 - For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Acts 15:29 - 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.

Acts 15:30 - So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

Acts 15:31 - Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

We certainly cannot conclude that the list given in Acts 15 of things to observe is a complete list.

Some are under the impression that those are the only requirements for Gentiles

The writings of the apostle's mention many other things that was expected of them (and all of us).

As the assemblies grew, we read:

1Corinthians 6:9 - Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of YAHWEH? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1Corinthians 6:10 - Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of YAHWEH.

Ephesians 5:5 - For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and YAHWEH.

Galatians 5:19 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

Galatians 5:20 - idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

Galatians 5:21 - envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of YAHWEH.

Surely no

If one were to take the Acts 15 ruling the wrong way, they could conclude that it is okay to steal, get drunk, be unclean, engage in hatred, contentions, jealousies, etc

But all of these things are contrary to the Torah

In conclusion, I see that the Apostles agree with Yahushua and John. Being circumcised/observing the law cannot be a prerequisite to Yahweh saving us. What Yahweh looks at is a repentant heart.. that eventually produces the fruits worthy of repentance

The fruits that we bear are obedience to Yahweh, because we love Him.

John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1John 2:4 - He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1John 2:5 - But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of YAHWEH is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

May Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all!