SUNDAY November 12, 2023

A Law Unto Themselves

“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.”
Acts 21:25

Paul was faced with a request by the elders of the Church in Jerusalem. They wanted him to compromise and participate in the vow of a Nazarite. This would prove to Jews who held to the Law that he was not teaching against the Law of Moses. Although under grace, in love he honored their request and went through the final, ceremonial Nazarite rites.

However, as far as the Gentiles were concerned, they had a law unto themselves. They were not required to adhere to traditional Jewish Laws. A previous agreement was issued by the church elders on how they were to behave as Christians:

“Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:19-20).

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you [the Gentiles] no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well (Acts 15:28-29).

The Gentiles who accepted Christ by faith lived by the grace of God. They avoided anything to do with idolatry and anything immoral. What is grace? Grace has been defined as: “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.” When Jesus came from heaven to earth, John wrote an important doctrinal truth: For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Both Jews and Gentiles needed to embrace the free gift of God’s grace!

Are you living your life each day by the grace of God?

If it weren’t for God’s grace, you and I wouldn’t be able to live for even one more minute.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!