Word for the Week...JULY 4-10/2005

"And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.(V.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.(v.3)And being brought on their way by the Church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles:and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.(v.4) And when they were come to Jerusalem,they were received of the Church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.(v.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.(v.6) And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (v.7) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, men and brethren , ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel,  and believe.(v.8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us.(v.9)And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.(v.10) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?(v.11) But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."                   

Throughout the History of the Church, there have fequently emerged those 'legalists' such as the Pharisees;whose rules, requirements and regulations attempt to rob one of the simplicity of 'saving faith'.The automobile manufacturer Henry Ford is reputed to have said...'You can have any colour you like, as long as it's black'!Sadly, there are many in the Church today who take a similar stance.There are conditions to be met, in their opinion, apart from faith! The yoke, however, shall be destroyed because of the annointing (Is.10:27), and the annointing comes by faith (Gal.3:14). Peter knew these things and he stood for salvation by grace through faith, as did Paul. In the Church today, we need to remain vigilant against both legalism and licence.The former;covert, the latter; overt, in their temptation to depart from 'the faith once delivered to the saints'(Jude 3).If these apostles could not please all men, the probability is that we won't either! Let's just seek to please The Lord! The plague of 'political correctness' has swept the earth more than once! There is nothing new under the sun; (Ecc.1:9). Those who are Christ's are the circumcision! by The Holy Spirit. (Phil.3:3;Col.2:11). Glory to God, how could we possibly keep the law of the O/T ??? Some years ago there was a film about a Scottish Highland warrior, who said 'There can only be One'!,(meaning one champion). Only One fulfilled the Law on our behalf...(Rom.10:4ff);Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; Champion over sin, hell and death! Praise His Name forever! May The Lord Bless you.

      

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