LoveGodsWord
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“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.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:1). “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.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:5). “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” (Acts of the Apostles 15:24). 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." (Acts of the Apostles 15:28-29).
To have an interpretation of the scriptures that Gods’ 10 commandments are no longer a requirement for Christian living for gentile believers has Paul contradicting himself when he goes to the Corinthians believers after the Jerusalem meeting and says to them in 1 Corinthians 7:19 “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Acts of the Apostles 15:1-2 shows that the chapter context being discussed here is over the question “Is the “shadow law” of “circumcision” a requirement for salvation for new gentile believers. This was the question v2 says that Paul and Barnabas went to discuss in Jerusalem. Not if the 10 commandments are requirement for Christian living. Circumcision is not one of God’s 10 commandments. It is a “shadow law” from the book of Moses that points to a new heart by faith under the old covenant. It is a physical law pointing to the new covenant law of the Spirit as shown in Romans 2:28-29
What are these shadow laws of circumcision foretold in the old and new testament scriptures?
Deuteronomy 10:16 [16] CIRCUMCISE THERFORE THE FORESKIN OF YOUR HEART, and be no more stiff-necked.
Deuteronomy 30:6 [6] And the LORD your God will CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEART AND THE HEART OF YOUR DECENDENCE, TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH YOU’RE YOUR SOUL, THAT YOU MAY LIVE.
Jeremiah 4:4 [4] CIRCUMCISE YOURSELF TO THE LORD, AND TAKE AWAY THE FORESKINS OF YOUR HEART, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
Note: new covenant fulfillment of the shadows of the ceremonial ordinance of circumcision pointing the circumcision of the heart through faith in Christ…
Romans 2:25-29 [25] For circumcision verily profits, if you keep the law: but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision. [26], Therefore if the uncircumcision keeps the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? [27], And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfils the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law? [28], FOR HE IS NOT A JEW, WHO IS ONE; NEITHER IS THAT CIRCUMCISION, WHICH IS OF THE OUTWARD FLESH: [29], BUT HE IS A JEW WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY; AND CIRCUMCISION IS THAT OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT IN THE LETTER; WHOSE PRAISE IS NOT OF MEN BUT OF GOD.
1 Corinthians 7:19 [19] CIRCUMCISION IS NOTHING, AND UNCIRCUMCISION IS NOTHING, BUT THE KEEPING OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.
This is the operation of GOD in the NEW COVENANT promise to Gods ISRAEL who are all those who through faith believe and follow God's Word…
Hebrews 8:10 [10], For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND WRITE THEM IN THEIR HEARTS [NOTE: THE SHADOW OF CIRCUMCSION]: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
……………
CONCLUSION; Circumcision is not one of God’s 10 commandments. Acts of the Apostles 15 was never over the question is the 10 commandments are requirement for Christian living but is the “shadow law” of “circumcision” a requirement for the salvation of new gentile believers. This is also confirmed by Paul latter after the decision of Jerusalem when he says to the Corinthian believers “circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, BUT THE KEEPING OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.” So these scriptures do no support a view that God’s 10 commandments are no longer a requirement for Christian living.
more to come...
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