Hi All:
The Lord in no small terms has declared War against the harlot. Search yourself in Him to see where you stand!
Now the harlot wears many different garments. She can be found wearing the flashy $20,000 suit of a prosperity seeking television evangelist, or the modest conservative dress of a legalistic judgmentally dead church leader, but also know that she often wears the prayer shawl of the modern day Pharisee.
It seems that there is always much discussion of the various things that constantly revert back to the "burden" of the keeping of the Law.
The Gospel is really quite simple; far simpler that most of us know; it is man that makes it complicated.
In the Book of Acts we learn of the story of the founding of the Church. All thru the beginnings of the New Testament Church they were plagued with Jews who sought to force the followers of Jesus to keep certain laws of the Hebrews. There are numerous examples of the Jews seeking to force the Christians to keep the various tenets of the Law; especially the dietary laws and to force the circumcision of the new believers.
In the following portion of scripture we see Peter having a vision about the "unclean" animals of the Old Testament that were forbidden to be eaten, coming down from Heaven on a sheet, with the Lord commanding Peter to "Rise, Peter! Kill and eat!". And then the Lord says "What God has made clean, you do not call common." So not only was this interpreted to allow Christians to eat the previously "unclean foods", we also see Peter later understanding it to mean that the Gospel was to all men, regardless of wither they were Jews or not.
Acts 10:9-16 On the next day, as these went on the road, and drawing near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. (10) And he became very hungry and desired to eat. But while they made ready, an ecstasy fell on him. (11) And he saw the heaven opened and a certain vessel like a sheet coming down to him, being bound at the four corners and let down to the earth; (12) in which were all the four-footed animals of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the birds of the heaven. (13) And a voice came to him, saying, Rise, Peter! Kill and eat! (14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. (15) And the voice spoke to him again the second time, What God has made clean, you do not call common. (16) This happened three times, and the vessel was received up again into the heaven.
Now in Acts the 15th chapter, we find Paul preaching to the non-Jews and Peter preaching to the Jews. And the question comes up, what of the Old Testament Laws should the non-Jewish believers keep as many Jewish believers were pushing to force them to circumcise themselves.
Acts 15:1-2 And certain ones who came down from Judea taught the brothers, saying, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. (2) Therefore dissension and not a little disputation occurring by Paul and Barnabas, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 15:4-6 And arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders. And they declared all things that God had done with them. (5) But some of those from the sect of the Pharisees, having believed, rose up, saying, It was necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses. (6) And the apostles and elders were assembled to see about this matter.
The Apostles and Elders discussed and considered the matter of what portions of the Law of Moses should be kept.
Acts 15:23-27 And they wrote these things by their hand: The apostles and elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers, from the nations in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. (24) Because we have heard that certain ones who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, Be circumcised and keep the law! (to whom we gave no such command); (25) it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (26) men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (27) Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also announce to you the same things by word.
They then issued an answer to all the Churches of what of the Law is to be retained in the new faith. It is a very short and very precise list.
Acts 15:28-29 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things: (29) that you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which, if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Be prospered.
So we see a simple direction by the Apostles and the Elders in Jerusalem to maintain four "necessary things" from the Law of Moses:
1. Don't eat meats offered to idols.
2. Don't eat or drink blood.
3. Don't eat things that died by being strangled.
4. Do not fornicate.
Also note it comes with a promise "from which, if you keep yourselves, you shall do well."
It is a simple and precise answer as to what we are to keep of the law.
Now in the Book of Galatians, Paul comes against the Galatian Church for returning back to portions of the Law, saying that if they keep part of it they must keep all of it. He also refers to the Law as "the yoke of bondage".
Galatians 5:1-12 Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not again be held with the yoke of bondage. (2) Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (3) For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do all the Law, (4) you who are justified by Law are deprived of all effect from Christ; you fell from grace. (5) For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith. (6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but faith working through love. (7) You were running well. Who hindered you that you do not obey the truth? (8) This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. (9) A little leaven leavens all the lump. (10) I have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will think nothing else, but that he troubling you shall bear the judgment, whoever he may be. (11) And I, brothers, if I yet proclaim circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the offense of the Cross has ceased. (12) I wish that those causing you to doubt will cut themselves off.
The very next verses; speak truly of our relationship to the Law in Christ.
Galatians 5:13-26 For, brothers, you were called to liberty. Only do not use the liberty for an opening to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (14) For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (15) But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another. (16) I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another; lest whatever you may will, these things you do. (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. (19) Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies, (21) envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you before, as I also said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, (23) meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (24) But those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (26) Let us not become glory-seeking, provoking one another, envying one another.
Now in writing this I am not saying to throw out the study of the Law. I understand that there is much to be learned from the Biblical patterns, types and laws. I probably study the Law and the Prophets far more then most of you.
But, the Lord is bringing this matter to a sharp point. And part of that point, is that there are actually two Gospels.
In Galatians we see Paul repeatedly speaking of the Gospel of the uncircumcision (to the Non-Jews) and the Gospel of the circumcision (to the Jews through Peter).
Galatians 2:7-10 KJVA
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
So we see in verse 10 that Peter was only concerned that in the Gospel of the uncircumcision, that they remember the poor.
The Gospel of the uncircumcision is much simpler in that much of the New Testament is written to bring the Jew to salvation in Christ Jesus. The path for the non-Jew has simply less questions to be answered. Paul later speaks that is the way he came to Christ, and says frankly it would be easier for all Jews to come to Christ through that simpler path also.
Now remember again in Acts 15:28-29 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things: (29) that you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which, if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Be prospered."
The focus here by the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem was "to lay no other burden than these necessary things . . .". This should be our focus also!
That point in the simple Gospel is that we are to lay no other "burden" on others then those necessary things.
The problem is that today the harlot church brings the various pieces of the Law in as a "burden" to be added to the simple Gospel. And even some of what the church teaches today as Biblical Law is not even scriptural, but Jewish traditions.
This is important, so I will say it again: And even some of what the church teaches today as Biblical Law is not even scriptural, but Jewish traditions.
And understand that many of those traditions come not from the traditions of those that kept the Law in its purest forms, but rather from the corrupted traditions of the "Pharisees".
Believers in almost every church are taught a diet of these "burdens" rather then even the milk of the Word, let alone any of its Meat.
At most churches, which may only at best have several hours of time each week to teach their people what they really need to know in Christ; they fill the valuable time with literally a mixture of these "burdens".
Time is very short and are people being lead to a vital personal relationship with the true God? What we are not teaching and/or imparting to our people may literally cause them to miss the mark (sin).
The last two churches I have attended as a guest are both currently teaching classes on among others; "Tithing", "Time Management" and "Healthy Biblical Diets according to the Law"! Is Righteousness or Holiness being taught? Is Repentance being taught? Do they even mention the Fear of the Lord? NO, NO and NO!
Soon, very soon we will all stand before the Living God and must give account for any of the unnecessary "burdens" we have placed on others. Let us all be very cautious about anything that may be a distraction, or what we may place on others as a "burden".
May the God of Glory keep you in His Hand of safety in the time that remains.
And above all seek Him while He may be found!
In Him;
randy