THURSDAY November 9, 2023
A Doctrine at Odds
On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
Acts 21:18-21
When Paul came to Jerusalem, guess who he met? He met James, the half-brother of Jesus. In Jerusalem, James had become a prominent leader––the head of the Church. As they began to fellowship, Paul was able to tell James, along with the elders in Jerusalem, in great detail all that God had accomplished through his ministry to the Gentiles. Paul had preached the Gospel of Christ in Philippi and Athens. In many populated areas around Eastern Europe, and he had seen dramatic results.
The Gospel Paul preached seemed to be a doctrine at odds with the teachings of Moses. Some failed to understand that Jesus came to fulfil the Law and bring in a new dispensation of grace (Matthew 5:17-18).
Later, Paul would encounter crowds of Jews who would begin to mock him and unite to prosecute him. Paul would stand before the Supreme Court in Jerusalem. In Caesarea, he would speak before Felix the governor and King Agrippa. Finally, Paul would be shipped over to Rome and remain under house arrest for two years before his life ended. At his conversion, he was a young man, when about 60, at the hand of Caesar Nero, he faced a martyr’s death. Time moved so rapidly in Paul’s life.
Time moves rapidly for all of us as well. One of these days, if the Lord tarries, I will be departing. Just lately, especially within these last five years, I have seen many Christians go home to be with the Lord. One day we shall all be in His presence––some sooner than others. While we are still here, we need to love and care for one another.
The Old (Testament) is in the New (Testament) revealed, the New is in the Old concealed.
~Saint Augustine~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
