And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Acts 15:1
Read that again.
And certain men came down from Judea and TAUGHT the brethren, “UNLESS YOU ARE CIRCUMCISED according to the custom of Moses, YOU CANNOT BE SAVED.”
Acts 15:1
These men were teaching contradictory to the gospel. Salvation, being saved, is a free gift and no amount of law keeping or circumcision will earn you salvation.
You can't keep the law to be saved. You can't get circumcised to be saved. Salvation does not work like that.
These men were teaching a works based salvation stating that in order to receive salvation the Gentiles must first keep the law and be circumsized. They were teaching a false gospel.
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. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Acts 15:19-21
Did you catch that last verse? Here it is again.
For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Acts 15:21
The 4 things they listed in verse 20 are all Torah commands. The apostles were saying these are the 4 things they need to stop doing right now and they will learn the rest as they hear Moses writings being read every Sabbath. They would eventually learn all the commands from Torah, which is not for their salvation, because salvation is a free gift.
Do you think these men from Judea teaching a works based salvation was an isolated incident? It sure wasn't. If you keep Acts 15:1 in mind as you read Paul's letters you will see he spent most of his ministry battling this works based salvation doctrine from the circumcision party.
If you believe circumcision and law keeping will earn you your salvation then Christ's death will profit you nothing.
If you trusted Christ for your salvation, for your righteousness at first and then turned to trust the law for your salvation, your righteousness, then Christ died in vain.
RE: Contending for the Faith: part 1 of ?