SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:1-21
OBSERVATION:
A constant problem in the church, people telling some believers that they are not good enough, do not measure up.
The old covenant revealed through Moses was in effect until Jesus came (Galatians 3:19-23), it not longer is binding as a religious code (its moral claims are universal, still applying today, like “you shall not murder”).
This debate required a major meeting of all the apostles and elders.
Peter speaks for the new covenant and shows that God accepts all people and gives His Spirit by grace, not by obeying the law.
God’s concern has ALWAYS been to bless all nations (Genesis 12:1-2).
The law is described as a difficult yoke, in fact its purpose was to show us how impossible it is for us to save ourselves.
Why the few exceptions re. food polluted by idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals and from blood (see Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:10-12) – an odd set of exceptions.
Obviously there was a reason why these few exceptions are mentioned, most likely because of their strong tie in with pagan idol worship.
APPLICATION:
Where are we still guilty of adding religious extras in order to see people as acceptable to God (no tattoos, no drinking, dressing up for church, being baptized either as infant or adult, working on Sunday, etc).
This passage shows that while some things might be permissible, they may not be beneficial (1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23).
Paul speaks later about eating meat that was sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 10:23-33), saying that it is OK so long as it doesn’t cause someone to stumble in their faith.
I hear in this passage again a reminder that we need to do whatever we can to remove unnecessary obstacles to non-Christians and new-Christians.
Where am I guilt of consciously or unconsciously putting unnecessary barriers between people and God (for example, does a “dress code” or “in-house” religious language become a barrier to people outside the church)?
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to be very concerned about helping non- and new-Christians find You, and not imposing unnecessary burdens on them. Give me a loving, compassionate heart for the weak and needy. Amen.