Acts 15

Thanks for posting about such an interesting subject and interesting chapter of Acts.

I agree with what you've said here, your interpretation of Acts 15. But what I wonder is, does this particular rule that the apostles came up with in Jerusalem apply in all places at all times to all Christians? Are Christians forever banned from consuming food with blood because of a decision by a council that was primarily concerned with issues between Jewish and Gentile converts? Or does that rule go away once its purpose has been served? And who has the authority to revoke the rule?

Can a council be called today to look at whether its time to reconsider those rules? And who would be the "fathers of the council" in the place of Peter, James, and Paul from the Jerusalem council?

 

No, but NO, "Gentiles" or Jews or Christians EVER, since Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead, are "REQUIRED TBSERVE TORAH LAW".

The very idea is contra-Gospel freedom as well as contra-Gospel LAW.

By the way, the 'specifications' of things to ABSTAIN from – mark well, not to do – are not 'Torah Law'. They used to be and still are, pagan, idolatrous 'OBSERVANCES'.

In the end the council did not give finality to the very question of its convening, namely, circumcision! Rather the outcome of the council for all future of the Christian faith was, in one word, Let the status quo go on!

And that status quo completely depended – among other and weightier fundamentals – upon a REGULAR, FREE and NATURAL, observance of Sabbath Day the Seventh Day of the week.

Undeniable!

Who would dare deny Sabbath-observance was the taken-for-granted and totally UNQUESTIONED and SPONTANEOUS A PRIORI of, and virtually exclusive OPPORTUNITY for, to announce and administer the council's decisions to the CHRISTIAN Church?

And who would dare suggest that Sunday observance was put forth by the council as replacement for Sabbath keeping?

LOL!

 

This, Acts 15 and the Jerusalem council, and Colossians 2:12-19 and _Christian_ Sabbath observance, are the TWO examples par excellence of CHRISTIAN, FREE, and ON CHRIST'S RESURRECTION RELIANT "FEAST OF SABBATHS’, whether of (occasional) month's, or of (Institutional and customary) SABBATHS' ", occurrence.

“DO NOT YOU LET YOURSELVES BE CONDEMNED BY ANYONE IN THE WORLD WITH REGARD TO EATING AND DRINKING OF ... SABBATHS' FEAST!"

... IS IT WRITTEN ...

... in _NEW_ Testament, WRIT!

Yes we NEED the Torah-Law to enlighten us further on the matter. But the Law written on "HEARTS of stone" – 'Torah Law’ –, has now been written upon "HEARTS of flesh"— Christ's Law … Paul, “consoling” the Believers-in-Christ, “coraised-together-in / with HIM” Colossians 2:2.

 

GE:

Historically INCORRECT!

What are your indicators for your assumption?

Already the minority opinion since about that time while Paul wrote Galatians 4 yes-- a minority backsliders obviously OUSTED through the labours of Paul;

and by no majority at all before perhaps the third century AD.

 

ACTS 15 [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.

Pollution of idols {V 20}.

LEVITICUS 19 [3] Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and KEEP MY SABBATHS: I am the Lord your God. [4] TURN YE NOT UNTO IDOLS, NOR MAKE TO YOURSELVES MOLTEN GODS: I am the Lord your God.

LEVITICUS 26 [1]Ye shall MAKE YOU NO IDOLS NOR GRAVEN IMAGE, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. [2] YE SHALL KEEP MY SABBATHS, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.

EZEKIEL 20 [16]Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, BUT POLLUTED MY SABBATHS: FOR THEIR HEART WENT AFTER THEIR IDOLS.

Seems to somethin to do with the keeping of Gods sabbath

 

They are not required to keep the Torah law at all! Those things listed are for the sake of the gospel ministry among them so that the bearers of the gospel don't offend them unnecessarily:

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

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

The purpose for abstaining from these things was not obligation to the Torah law as the Torah law included much more than this. These were the mininal things necessary not to unnecessarily offend Jews and keep them from hearing the gospel.

We are no longer under the Old Covenant Law or its seal and sign the seventh day Sabbath.

 

This passage is speaking of circumcision. Thats all. Not the 10 commandments.

 

EPHES. 2 [11] Wherefore remember, that ye being IN TIME PAST GENTILES in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; [12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, having no hope, and without God in the world: [13] BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

It was for Israel only. Was. We were once strangers from Gods covenants of promise, having no hope. BUT NOW in Christ, should we take hold of those covenants, we have hope

ISAIAH 56 [6] Also the sons of THE STRANGER, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one THAT KEEPETH THE SABBATH from polluting it, and TAKETH HOLD OF MY COVENANT; [7] EVEN THEM WILL I BRING TO MY HOLY MOUNTAIN, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for ALL PEOPLE.

Even them (us gentile strangers mentioned in Ephes.2)

 

If you dont talk to strangers...how about the others

JOHN 10 [14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And OTHER SHEEP I HAVE, WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD: THEM ALSO I MUST BRING, and THEY SHALL HEAR MY VOICE; and there shall be ONE FOLD, and ONE SHEPHERD.

OTHER SHEEP I HAVE.....Bring where? These “other sheep” are the gentile believers

ISAIAH 56 [1] Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for MY SALVATION IS NEAR to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. [2] Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. [3] Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. [4] For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; [5] Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. [6] Also THE SONS OF THE STRANGER, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one THAT KEEPETH THE SABBATH from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; [7] EVEN THEM WILL I BRING TO MY HOLY MOUNTAIN, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. [8] The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, YET WILL I GATHER OTHERS TO HIM, beside those that are gathered unto him.

YET WILL I GATHER OTHERS. Jesus BRINGS THEM to His Holy Mountain. The 1000 yr period of rest. Yes, the “others” are the gentiles. As plain as the nose on my face, these “others” are keeping Gods sabbath day. They have taken hold of His covenant. No way around it. So, have “many” come in the name of Jesus and decieved many as the bible said would happen? I reckon so. You must be keeping the sabbath in order to be saved to the kingdom. No doubt about it.

 

JER. 16 [19] O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.[20] Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?[21] Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD

Here ya find an old testament scripture telling gentiles to stop making those graven images. Stop comin up with a song and dance as to why they think its ok to make these things

 

Theres really no need. Ive seen all the rationalizations. Such as...are pictures of my children graven images?

LEVITICUS 9 [2]And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the Lord.

Here a young calf was used as a sin offering

DEUT. 9 [16]And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the Lord your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the Lord had commanded you.

And as Moses went up the mount to receive the 10 commandments the people below made a graven image that resembled that sin offering. They made a molten calf. God was not happy with these people. I wonder if some of them made the claim that it was not really a graven image, only a likeness of the sin offering. Now of course the crucified Jesus is our offering for sin. And now people are doing the same.

 

Alls ya really got to do is accept the writings in Jer.16. Is that scripture true about the gentiles. Go from there

 

No Greys anatamy is not acceptable. NCIS and Castle are much better