Today's Passage - Acts 15:1-5

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Acts 15:1-5 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." The most controversial matter in the early church was circumcision of the Gentiles. On the surface, circumcision does not seem to be a big deal, but in reality, the circumcision of the Gentiles has a deeper meaning. That means if a Gentile believer wants to trust in Jesus, they must first be circumcised and become a Jew, before becoming a Christian. What Paul referred to here is not to rigidly adhere to the ceremony of circumcision. Our faith is not just a ceremonial matter, although that may be important. The more important thing is to point towards Jesus. Jesus himself was never enslaved by religious ceremony such as the Sabbath. Jesus declared, "I am the Lord of the Sabbath"; the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. At that time, people were not allowed to be with sinners, but Jesus went to the sinners' homes in every place he visited - the home Zacchaeus and the home of Simon. Furthermore, in the New Testament time, the covenant is no longer based on the ceremonial form of circumcision. Colossians 2:11-12 says: " In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God...". In the New Testament era, we are no longer required to be circumcised, because circumcision is only a formality; The New Testament meaning of baptism, is that we are being buried together with Christ, and resurrected with him. Baptism is the sign of covenant in the New Testament time. In Christ, you and I can enjoy a life that overcomes sin, and that is a glorious blessing! Pray with Pastor Tong Lord, we thank you because in you we can overcome all the temptations of sin. We pray that you help us not to be in bondage to formality or just being religious, but let us experience your riches, victory and freedom every day in our lives. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! River of Life Christian Church | office@rolcc.net | ROLCC Website

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