Acts 15: Keep and DO The Old Testament Laws PLUS Faith in Christ?

Church problems.. Acts 15: The Feasts, Sabbaths, Dietary Laws, Tithing, and other Matters..
Should WE be Observing Them?

-rory moore

-according to the Jewish apostles and the Holy Spirit.

Let's define a problem encountered in the Acts Congregations.

Question:
  In the New Testament, are the churches instructed or commanded to observe the Jewish feasts, sabbaths, ordinances, circumcision, or dietary laws, which were given to Israel in the Old Testament?
It may surprise you to know that this became a HOT, hot topic in the early years of the church.

The apostles and others were confronted by this burning question as the Good News spread across Asia.
Antioch was having a big revival, MANY souls saved, in Acts 12, and the Jews in Jerusalem heard, so the believing strict-law observant Pharisee Christians went to Antioch and began preaching the law to gentiles.

Let's see the Jewish apostles and what they did or did not write in the New Testament scriptures for us to believe and do.

In Christ's Will, i.e. his Testament, we are directly instructed, commands, to be baptized, assemble ourselves, work, love, to pray, and given instructions that are “written”.

One instruction is that we are "NOT go beyond that which is written”. -1Cor. 6:4.

Thus Paul wrote Timothy to deliver commands to the churches, but there is no mention of dietary laws, Sabbaths, feasts, or even tithing.

Paul said in 1Timothy 4:11  These things command and teach.
So we need to read what he wrote "these things" were, and those commands to be taught are in the preceding passages.

Because today we encounter many among us that want to bring us back under the laws and ordinances of the First Covenant that Christ never gave as commandments through the apostles to the church.

ACTS 15.. trouble trouble
The problem of the law and grace in the church became a controversy as they transitioned the covenants and began to live New Testament life.

The Jewish  APOSTLES and ELDERS were forced to deal with this question of the OLD Covenant law and NEW Covenant disciples, in Acts 15 specifically.

5)  But there rose up certain of the *sect of the Pharisees who believed

     saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and  order them to keep the law of Moses.

- This caused a BIG problem early in the NT church.
Non-Jewish saints were being added to the body of Christ by the the thousands as the gospel went into the whole world.

How did they resolve this controversy with the law as an issue and debate among the churches?
The apostle (Luke) wrote about this important meeting:

6)  And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter. (following Moses' law)
7) …   Peter rose up, and said to them, Brethren, you know that a good while ago God made choice
            among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

 Peter points out that non-Jewish gentiles were now partakers of the gospel through faith.

8)  And God, who knows the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit,
     even as he did to us ( Jews)

9)  and He made *no distinction between us and them*

              -->   cleansing their hearts by faith. <--

Let's continue to see if the Jewish apostles instruct the churches to be cleansed by faith AND keep points of law from the OLD Covenant.

10)      Now therefore why make a trial of God,
that you (vs 4, the Pharisees that believed and sought to make the gentiles keep the law of Moses in vs.5)
that you should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples
which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

 What "yoke" were they talking about?

-it was the LAW of the OLD Covenant of course,  remember verse 5?
“certain of the *sect of the Pharisees who believed*,
      saying, It is needful to circumcise them,
     and to charge them to keep the law of Moses

11) But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.

Did you see that?
“WE (Jews) shall be saved … in LIKE MANNER as THEY (the gentiles)”.

Was Peter  out of the boat again and needed correction, as Paul did with Peter as Peter reverted to a law observance in Galatians 2?

Witness James, another apostle,  the brother of Jesus speaks to the assembly:

13)   And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, give ear to me…
(skipping down)
19)  Therefore my judgment is that we (Jews)  *trouble not*  them from among the Gentiles turn to God…

What kind of "trouble" was he referring to?

It is written right in the passage:
24)   For as much as we have heard that certain who went out from us have
        --->  troubled you with words,
        --->  subverting your souls;
        --->  to whom we (Jewish apostles) gave no commandment;

Now hold it right there!
The apostle James, one of the Jews who were given “the commandments of the Lord”,
said to the  assembly regarding people who were “troubling” the disciples, and “subverting”  their souls, he went on to say about the people bringing Christians back under law:
"to whom we gave NO SUCH COMMANDMENT"?

Again, what was the problem?

-remember, verse 5?
“ certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying,
   It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."

So the Jewish apostles and elders there in the heart of law-observant Israel,  who gave us the commands of the Lord in the New Covenant said:

20) .... that we write to them, that they abstain from the pollution of idols and from fornication,
           and from what is strangled, and from blood.

so they WROTE DECREES TO THE CHURCHES:

23) and they wrote this to them,
     The apostles and the elders, brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch
     and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
For as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, *subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; (*subvert means to trouble, upset. Evidently gentiles became alarmed by the legalists imposing the many laws, ordinances, and commands for the Law of Moses)

Here is what the apostles who gave us the New Testament  "wrote the churches":

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

29)   that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled,
        and from fornication; from which if you keep yourselves,  it shall be well with you.
        Fare you well.

"NO GREATER BURDEN"
from all the laws, ordinances, commands, and statutes from the Law of Moses where we find the feast laws, tithing laws, Sabbath laws, stoning law breakers, circumcision, animal sacrifices, and more????

Dear Reader, this was THE place and time to either affirm matters of the law or free the disciples from them!  
And letters in writing were sent out to the churches with the "decrees" of the apostles and elders from Jerusalem.

If you are a bit shaken, go back to Acts 15:5 one more time to see what the problem was.
Then go forward to verses 28-29 to conclude what the HOLY SPIRIT, the Spirit-filled apostles and elders wrote.

What is significant is what they purposely left out.
Flesh circumcision omitted.

Tithing omitted.
Sabbath observance was left out.
Mandatory feast observances according to the law were abolished,
-especially the three required feasts to be kept in Jerusalem, and not somewhere else.
- the complex dietary laws were dropped (except blood). ‎
-the forbidding of men to shave their beards omitted.
- nor did they tell the churches they had to learn the Hebrew names or language!

Now when the apostles delivered the "decrees" from the Holy Spirit to the churches,
 there was no more debate. 
The saints did not argue, contend for the law, or accuse Paul of being a heretic.
Here was their reaction:

31) And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.

After those days, the issue of keeping the laws continued to trouble the churches and Paul wrote regarding these same matters of the law warning them.

He warned them of being "bewitched" by those that would compel you to observe what the apostles of the NEW Covenant church had already set in order regarding the OLD Covenant laws, statutes, commands, and ordinances, which "troubled" and "subverted" the souls of the disciples:

Gal 5:9   A little leaven (from the law) leavens the whole lump.

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:
                for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written
                in the book of the law to do them.

After Acts 15, we never, never read where Sabbath laws, the feasts of Israel, tithing, circumcision, or the ban on beard shaving was given to any church or saint. 
Even so, there are still many today who would “trouble” the disciples and “subvert your souls”,  and teach contrary to what the Jewish apostles wrote “as seemed good to the Holy Spirit”.

Galatians 1: 6)
     I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ
     unto a different gospel;
7)  which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you,
      and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Heb 7:18 For there is VERILY (indeed-truly) A DISANNULLING OF THE COMMANDMENT
               going before  the weakness and un-profitableness thereof,

          19)  for the law MADE NOTHING PERFECT, but the bringing in OF a BETTER HOPE,
       by which we draw nigh unto God

Please, do not let them "subvert" your soul, or "bewitch" you into thinking we have commandment to observe laws which are IMPOSSIBLE to keep.

In addition to what the Holy Spirit directed in Acts 15, Peter, Paul, James, and John
never wrote a command to keep Jewish feasts, sabbaths, dietary laws,
circumcision, tithing, or the many matters of the 613 ordinances in the Old Covenant law.

They DID write:

Col. 2:14
having blotted out the bond written in ordinances  that was against us,
which was contrary to us: and He has taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;

And they did write the commandments of Jesus to the mixed Jewish gentile church at Ephesus:

Eph. 2:15
     having *abolished* in the flesh the enmity,
     even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
     that he might create in himself of the two  (Jews and gentiles)
     one new man,  (in Christ)
     so making peace

 Acts 16:4   And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep,
                  that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

Fare ye well.

WHICH Sabbath For a Nice Rest?

Putting the Sabbath to Rest
by Rory Moore

  

To-day we have a wonderful  sabbath rest to enjoy!

Would you like to see a revelation of a New Testament sabbath we all could use, near the end of this post there one that is overlooked.

Backround:
The sabbath laws and other commands were first given as part of the body of the law from the Old Covenant.  
  

1. The Old Covenant law required "DO ALL" many, many times.
Thus in Gal. 4:21 "Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?"

and he said 

" I testify again to every man that received circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  
You are severed from Christ, you (who) would be *justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.  "

*justify: to render innocent, justify, be righteous.

So where was sabbath commanded?
-In the Old Covenant law, of course.

 "The law" included every sabbath law and command:   

please, give close attention to sabbath law:

Exodus 31:14 You shall keep the sabbath, 
it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death...  

Keep "Do ALL" in mind when you read what the disagreeing readers say.

It is very clear. "DO ALL..." means you can't go in and "diminish ought" from the parts your religion tells you that you cannot do such as keeping the sabbath upon penalty of death or keeping the feasts of the Lord IN Jerusalem 3 times a year, as God commanded.)

 >>>>> a reader who disagreed wrote:
"First I see you lumping together all of the Sabbaths, but it is only the seventh day Sabbath that was included in the 10 commandments <<<<<
My response is that God is the One who "lumped" all of His commands, statutes, and ordinances into the body of the whole law with the caveat to "DO ALL..".)

But the law is where God defined how it was to be kept.
It was not just only one day a week. 
-Plus a cyclical mid week sabbath on Passover.
-Plus there was a year long sabbath every 7th year. 

-Plus on "every Sabbath" there is to be a burnt offering:

"On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering" (Num. 28:9,10).

Yet we all know these are an offense to Jesus' sacrifice.
Those who insist they are keeping the sabbath, and insist that others keep it  have a huge problem.
By the verse above we can see according to the letter, they have already broken the sabbath law.

>>>>> a reader who disagreed said: 

"We can all have different ways to keep the Sabbath, but who cares, as long as we are keeping the Sabbath and honoring God." <<<<<

My answer to "different ways to keep the sabbath" is:
God cares and was He very specific on how to keep the sabbaths. (there was more than just the one on the 7th day of the week). 
Keeping a partial sabbath your own way is dishonoring God who told them how to keep the sabbath. 

Notice the sabbath year:

Leviticus 25:4 But the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land, a sabbath for the LORD 

2.   Where do you find the 10 Commandments? 
They are given in Exodus 20, and again in Deuteronomy 5 to Israel.
Dt.5: 31 ... and I will speak to you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. (BTW, we do not live in that land.)

(please read the article about the sabbath laws and the parts they never told you about or excused for not doing) 

3.    Let's be honest. You want to keep this law or that one, a feast here, a sabbath there. A dietary law or two, a tithe. 

Notice: 
Psalms 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth...
We learn from the New Testament for the "sum" total regarding the truth, or else we are "diminishing" from the WHOLE Word of God. 

When did this "rest" begin to be fulfilled?
This promise was also mentioned by Isaiah, a prophecy of a future "rest" Isa 28:11 .. 
Fulfilled:

It began on Pentecost in Acts 2 and continued as God gave the Holy Spirit to them that believed. (Mark 16:18, Luke 24;47-49: Acts 1:8, etc.):
Acts 3:19 Repent and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.
Thus the prophesied "rest and refreshing" came with the baptism of the Holy Spirit as Isaiah prophesied.

4.   Was the sabbath ever given as an ordinance to gentile churches through the apostles?

 If so, where is that instruction to any church or saint in the epistles and especially in Acts 15?When I searched I could not find any)

Note Acts 15 an important alert,
In a hot debate over the law and what to tell the churches, the Jewish apostles and elders did NOT tell the gentile churches to observe the sabbath!

-if it was to be observed as a universal ordinance, this was The time and place to decree sabbath keeping because they were debating which laws to have the churches observe..

5.  What was the Jewish apostle Paul referring to in these next verses written to Christians: 

Galatians 4:10  You observe days, and months, and times, and years. 
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore condemn you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ???

Why was no one to judge or condemn the Colossians in regard to sabbath observances?
Simply because they were never commanded to observe the sabbath! 

Consistent with this is that in all the book of Acts through Revelation, there is not one reminder to keep a literal sabbath, circumcision, sacrifices, tithes, or feasts.... 

6.  We are in the NEW Covenant. 
That should be obvious, the old covenant has been "changed", "dis-annulled",  "blotted out", "abolished",  even "nailing it to the cross".
Thus: Hebrews 7:12

the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change also of the law.

Thus a change: per col. 2:14

having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;

And so Galatians 5:18  if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.

In Hebrews, speaking to those who had known the Law, the writer speaks of the "rest" God had given.

The "rest" on the sabbath day and all the sabbaths were spiritual figures of something coming later through a "better covenant":

Hebrews 10:1
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things... 
Hebrews 8:6 But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Let's look at a few SABBATH things here:

Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.

SABBATH changes.
Have you ever noticed the word "to-day" in this passage about the sabbath in Hebrews???
Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, 

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another  day by day, 
so long as it is called To-day; ....

How is "day by day" called "today"?  

Hebrews 3:15 while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 

Hebrews 4:7 He again defines a certain day,
 <calling it>   To-day,  saying in David, so long a time afterward, 
                 To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.

.7. Have you gotten the revelation for the "to-day" sabbath?

Did Jesus promise a rest for only the 7th day? 

-or is there a "rest" remaining to the people of God for "TO-DAY"?
"TO-DAY if you hear His voice..."

The "rest" is for "today", i.e., for the sons of God to enter into our NT promises by faith, as by believing they have received. (Mark 11:23-24)

Heb.4:3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest,
(i.e. a spiritual Sabbath rest in Christ).

There remains therefore a sabbath rest, (literally "a keeping of rest") for the people of God. This constant "keeping of rest" every day ("to-day") through the past tense promises is our New Testament spiritual Sabbath.

(10) For he that is entered into his rest has ... rested from his works, as God did from his. 

Our faith in Christ for each of these promises brings us into more of the rest. 

For example, if we believe that "by his stripes you were healed," then we will not keep seeking a healing but will rest accepting that it was accomplished at the cross.
This is real restful faith and pleases the Father when we trust HIM to meet our need.

Through believing the promises (salvation, healing, deliverance, provision) we enter into the on-going "sabbath" rest from our own works.

To-day the promise of rest is when we believe and become partakers of Christ (His health, holiness, and blessing), "if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end".
-i.e. resting in faith He will do for us what He said in His word!

THIS is "the rest" that the sabbath foreshadowed, as we cease from our own efforts and works and we "rest" in God's salvation to save, heal, deliver, and provide for us.


Is it a certain day we enter in to His rest for these promises? 
Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, 

To-day if ye shall hear his voice, 

"To-day"?
We have found the secret place of rest, because every day is "to-day"! 

He no longer limits a certain day (the 7th), but now in the New Covenant gives us the foreshadowed type from the old sabbath to our  EVERY DAY  rest.

That  is what "to-day" is! 

So what's the point? -just some more Bible knowledge to fuss over, another do and don't?

Here is the profound point of sabbath rest. The REAL Rest.

It is when we "rest" in Christ and have peace over the cares, worries, and struggles of life.

When we are not entering into His Rest, we worry, are anxious, fearful, stressed, oppressed, even to the point of sickness.

When casting cares upon Him leaving them in His hands, we rest as He works for us.

Praise the Lord Jesus who sets us free from obligatory observances.

 Scripture Notes:

* the curse: as given in detail by God and described in Deuteronomy 28.
** "to-day" as given in Hebrews as relating to the rest:
Strongs 2250 defines:
-the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset
-Any part of a day is counted as a whole day, hence the expression "three days and three nights" does not mean literally three whole days, but at least one whole day plus part of two other days.
-used of time in general

***past tense promises: we who believe "rest" in: 

"By His stripes ye WERE healed" 
1Peter 1:18 knowing that ye were redeemed
Mat 5:31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these shall be added to you.

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering said to them, Have faith in God.
23 Verily I say to you, Whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith come to pass; he shall have it.
24 Therefore I say to you, All whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

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