Good Thursday April thirtieth as we come to study from God’s Holy word.
Passing the responsibility-
Paul ended his third missionary journey leaving followers on their knees praying for him as he traveled to Jerusalem to meet with the elders of the faith. The gentiles had come to believe in the Good News, the news that all people are loved by God and are forgiven when they call upon the Lord’s name. Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is LORD,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Paul and Barnabas were given by this council, that Paul is again in front of, their letter addressing the issues or concerns by some who said gentiles needed to be circumcised and follow the traditions of Moses, or the Law, to be saved. Again James stood as the pillar of this council and all agreed that the traditions the customs were not necessary for salvation but the gentiles did need to know though that they needed to be good examples to the world. James began this conversation saying some groups have risen that are still troubled with you Paul that you are weakening the laws of Moses, maybe you can reason with them. Let’s read together from Acts 21:23-25 “Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” Christianity is the fulfillment of the promises and laws that God had asked man to follow in order to know God and be right before God. Romans 3:20 “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” Some believed Paul was not sharing about the laws of Moses given by God to obey and follow. We need to know what Jesus said about the law, Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Did you get that the gospel message is that Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the Law and that by faith, you and I will have fulfilled them through Christ, did I hear and amen, a thank you Lord? We are to love our God with all our heart mind souls and spirit then Jesus says this, “Matthew 22:39”And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Gentiles are our neighbor’s, right? James says Paul with the money you brought pay for these four young men to complete their Nasserite vow. Custom was the wealthier paid for those who’d leave work for some days, to take the vows. Why ask Paul, so the four, who were probably the most vocal, would know that Paul was not weakening the practices of the traditions, in other words, to win them over. Again James, how weak are you leaders, you are to lead with the word of truth, Jesus’ commands, but instead they throw Paul to the lions. Paul obeyed to keep the peace. Sometimes we need to reason but keep the truth. Are you keeping the truth? Remnant
