Act 15:1-31 KJV 1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 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. 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. 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. 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. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 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. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 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? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 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. 22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

When one discusses almost a full year about the laws of the Old Testament, one needs really to include this chapter with it. Did God change his laws. I do not think God ever changed certain laws, especially when it comes to faith and the requirement to believe in order to receive salvation, or the need for repentance to receive forgiveness. Yet what about laws of new believers that never heard the Old Testament, and only know about Jesus. If one grows up in the church world, no one thinks about the outsiders that come to faith, and the legalism in the church world. The miss do's and don'ts because of some religious or social ettiquette. We talking perhaps a group of people that may of worshipped God not based on the laws of Moses. Cornelius one Peter witness too, had knowledge of the traditions of God. He was a gentile man. Gentiles and Jews were consider different based on religion. In Old Testament it taught to put idols, and yet many leaders in the Jewish faith politically had embraced idols and even idols of foreign wives. Ruth came with here mother in law into Jewish faith and land, as believer in the God of Naomi. She was of gentile origin. I am sure Ruth got education about traditions when she slept at Boaz's feet, when she needed a kinsmen redeemer to take her to be his wife. Culture and the law of so important to the Jews during certain generation especially when they were governing themselves. Worldly traditions crept in during the time of exile, and up to Roman rule. Worldly laws that did not always match religious law. Yet in Jewish city and towns the law of Moses would be obeyed. In fact so much so that it would cause apostles to be stoned and persecuted by the Jewish and Roman law. The ways of the apostles different from Jews and people of Rome. The uniqueness of God's church was spreading through persecution. Yet as Christian organized and a head council set up to discuss issue that would come up, the issue of what should the leaders tell new converts as far as legalism and religious practice. Christianity at its purest form was being established in chapter 15 of Acts. The council deciding issues of even religious law. How was it to train people about there new christian faith especially those that were Gentiles. Gentiles were not trained necessarily in the ways of Moses. They were without the law but not always without faith in God. In others words they obey God without the law of God has known to the Jews. Difference between religious law and social law. Social law is often effected by religious law, but religious law or laws of faith were effected by God alone. It is those laws taught by the Holy Spirit. Taught to all believers. Not just Jews. The issue arose what do you teach these new people of faith in God and his Son. Teaching men and women of faith would occurred once assembled. The one law of God that is effected in worship and alliance to God is the worship of idols. God cast Eve and Adam out when they fell prey to the serpent. They listen to the serpent and not Him. Christians take heed, we can not worship another god in order to be saved. Our salvation is rooted in Christ alone, built upon the principals of God's design. Our faith is establish in Christ and not by works of our own design. Our faith is not establish in the eating of idol sacrifices. One must remember Jews Christians might of worshipped and ate at the temple. In doing so they would of eaten of any traditional sacrifice designed to feed the people assembled. This would not of been idol sacrifices. In fact this would of been not a sin, but maintained the ability to still witness in the temple. Gentiles however were not allowed in the temple, but in the gentile court of the temple to worship. They would not be allowed in the holy of holies. A place in jewish law of the most holy place within the temple and only concencrated Jewish religious leaders were allowed within. Christians had no temple as far assembly as the Jews did. They meet in houses, and other buildings as the group grew. They had no inner court that separated them from God. They had no separations of Jew and Gentile, beyond what was caused by social tradition of separation. The Christians Elders decided the as long as they substain from worship of idols, and anything to do with idol sacrifice to not worry about relgious law of Moses by tradtion, because it would burden people not use to the laws of Moses. It was burden to the Jews to perform the laws to the letter it was written. If our nation obeyed all legal laws all the time, the laws of our government could be taxing. What I mean is there always has been leniciency to the laws of our land. Maybe so much that lack of enforcement as caused worse crimes. Yet it not something to dwell on, but except that most recognize laws as guidelines to follow. How could anyone enforce God's law beyond obstaining from idols, if God by the Holy Spirit already sanctified these men by their ability to receive the Holy Spirit as the disciples had upon belief. Our land is riddle with ungodly gods. What can we do but sustain from them like the early gentiles. What do we teach a new generation about faith in Christ who never heard the Gospel. Teach them to not worship another God and allow God to lead them by His Spirit. Teach them to obey the laws of our nation that go not against God. To follow after God's Spirit in the ways He directs and not by the ways directed by religious legalism of religious society. Christians would learn to follow after the instructions of God by His Spirit. To learn to walk in purity of faith in absents of idols. Dear Heavenly Father teach your children not follow false gods or to have anything to do with idols, but to follow after your Spirit. Because you have marked us by your Spirit. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:Romans 8:1-5 KJV 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. http://www.turtle30cshell.com