“Sharp Dispute”

Acts 15:1-11 

1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Prank

A video was posted on-line showing an upset bridegroom who cancelled their wedding ceremony after his bride arrived.

It was intended to be a humorous prank when the bride had a facial make-up with wrinkles and gray hair that made her looked very old.

Activities or anything included in a wedding ceremony should be agreed upon by both parties; personal preferences like pranks invite unwarranted circumstances. Wedding ceremonies are a glorious occasion to the bride and groom that’s why they wear formal outfits to show dignity, decency, decorum, and self-respect.

Likewise, should not Christians show dignity, decency, decorum, and self-respect when they are attending godly occasions like worship services?

In God’s kingdom, personal preferences have unavoidable consequences.

1.  Human Standard

1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

Those who required circumcision were identified with the group of the Pharisees. They were very zealous about the Law of Moses as standards for Christian living. They have much respect, demand dignity and proper decorum on how to live as God’s people but their interpretation of the Law of Moses was out of context.

The Law of Moses does not teach that circumcision will save anyone. Circumcision was actually given to Abraham as a sign of covenant between God and Abraham and his descendants.

In Genesis 17:7, 10, 11, God told Abraham, I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 

11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

The Pharisees teach the Law of Moses according to their personal interpretation. While Christians may not necessarily follow all requirements in the Law of Moses, there are particular Laws in the Old Testament that believers should practice. Observance of the Old Testament Law cannot save anyone but it practically manifests the presence of God’s Spirit at work in the believer’s life.

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus

The book, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, has expounded what Jesus told the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

In Luke 24:25-27, 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

The Lord Jesus explained to the disciples that the Old Testament [from the Law of Moses to the Prophets] teaches and prophesied about Christ-the Messiah. Christ Jesus quoted the Old Testament when He teaches the disciples-which affirmed that the Old Testament is as indispensable as the New Testament.

Actually, the Lord who spoke to Moses and the Prophets was Christ Himself.

In Matthew 22:29, 29Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

The New Testament was written many years after Christ was taken up into heaven, therefore, the Scriptures that Jesus referred to was the Old Testament. The Old Testament helps us distinguish human standards from God’s standards.

2.  God’s Standard

God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Salvation is by God’s grace because human standards fall short of God’s standards. Bible scholars call them “Jerusalem Council,” the Apostles and the elders gathered in Jerusalem–who have agreed that salvation is by God’s grace only. The Old Testament circumcision is irrelevant to salvation whether Jew or Gentile. It is by God’s grace that we are saved, nevertheless, most churches incorporated many Old Testament practices that are practically applicable to Christianity.

The Ten Commandments or giving God’s tithes and our offerings are but a few of the many Old Testament commands that believers observe. We observe the Old Testament commands not because we want to be saved but as our bases or weighing scale of godly standards for Christian living.

How could you distinguish which part of the Old Testament is applicable to Christianity and which is not? Which among the Old Testament Laws should be implemented in Christian life?

Child Discipline

The Old Testament practice on child discipline has attracted arguments. In Proverbs 13:24 it says, 24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Most angry parents justify their action using this proverb but they have not carefully paid attention to it nor clearly understood it. In their anger, they justify the use of the rod but their anger does not express love, instead, it’s a failure to observe the phrase—careful to discipline.

What does the phrase careful to discipline imply or suggest?

Careful to discipline is not related to physical and rigid military training discipline. It is more of diligent and earnest instruction; not one time but on consistent basis. It entails great considerations, thoughtfulness, recommendations, or prayerfulness. It covers: respect the law of the land, understand generation gap, consider the physical and mental capacity, seek help from experts and, pray for God’s guidance.

Parenting is a common spiritual battle ground between parents and children.

In the church setting, there are a number of disputes and misunderstanding because genuine believers are magnets to spiritual warfare.

Decision-making, may it personal, family, or church concern, Christ should be allowed to perform His lordship over us. Christ Jesus has been given all authorities in heaven and on earth and no human problem is too difficult for Him to solve.

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