Circumcision Required for Salvation?
Circumcision Required for Salvation?
I have heard about many church splits and I have experienced one myself. Most of the church splits of our time are often based on disagreements on money/property control or on leadership personalities. It seems that we are not particularly interested in doctrinal issues that could divide as did the early church.
In Acts 15, we see a “sharp disagreement and dispute” among the believers on the essential doctrine of the church. The big question: Is one required to be circumcised to be saved in accordance with the laws of Moses? Of course, the question is unique to men since the bible never required women to be circumcised. In other words, is obedience to the laws of the Old Testament required in other for the Gentile (or even the Jew) to be saved? Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church leaders at the time dealt decisively and appropriately with the issue at hand. May we learn from them on how to have legitimate disagreements and make lifestyle choices that honor God.
Acts 15: 1-21
1Some 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." 2This 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. 3The 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. 4When 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. 5Then 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."
6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon[a] has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16" 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things'[b] 18that have been known for ages.[c] 19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. We know the identity of those who are insisting that the Gentiles be circumcised in order to be saved. These are “some of the believers who belong to the party of the Pharisees” vs.5. This is close but not exactly like our day. Some even imply that one party (republican or democrat) are the true believers in Christ. There were reasons for some of these believers of Pharisees background to feel this way. They were offended by the “liberal” lives of the Gentiles. Is our lifestyle the basis of salvation in Christ or is it the result of our salvation? This to me is the real question.
2. The “Jerusalem Council” as it is known in Church history handled the issue very well through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements” vs. 28. The key for this or any other dispute among us is to first listen to the Holy Spirit and the word of God. When we do, we come to God ordained resolution that will bring peace in the situation. The Gentiles “were glad” vs.31.
3. What is then the answer to the question? Absolutely No. Obedience to the law is not required for salvation in Christ. “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved” vs. 11. All through the New Testament and in all of Paul’s writing, this essential Christian doctrine is taught and affirmed. Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand”. See also Galatians 2: 15-16. Are you standing on any other ground than on the grace of God? I hope not.
4. We must not dismiss every objection to the norm. There is always something to learn from opposing minds. The Gentiles however, needed to clean up their “acts” so to say hence the requirement issued by the Church leaders. Just because we are now saved does not give us license to continue in sin or engage in unhealthy behaviors. “29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things”. These were reasonable expectations of any believer in Christ. Knowingly eating food sacrificed to idols showed allegiance to those gods and not to our God. Eating meat with blood and drinking blood is un-healthy.
5. Are you in the “anything goes” church? Let’s clean up our “acts”. Paul said, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid”. The warning against sexual immorality was necessary then and more so in our day. Almost everything in our culture has been “sexualized”. It had its roots in the Greek way of “loose living”. Paul confronted it among the Corinthian Church. 2 Cor. 12:21 “I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which you have indulged”. The Holy Spirit is grieved and the rest of the body of Christ is wounded when there are still sexual sins among us. Think of the big name TV evangelists who have failed in this area of sexual sin.
6. Let him who thinks he stands, think twice and watch. We are all vulnerable in this area of sexual sin. The scripture has only one solution “flee” and “run” from any sexual temptation. Lord, help me and everyone else who is tempted to run and keep running. Please read 1 Cor. 6:9-20. We must let God complete the work of santification in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Is someone making you feel less of a Christian or are you making someone feel less of a Christian because of lifestyle choices? The only true Christian is one who has believed in the finished work of Christ and saved by grace through faith alone. Are you a Christian and are you saved? Do you believe in Christ? Put no “yoke” on anyone else rather let’s abstain from every sexual sin and immorality. Let’s live to honor God by our behaviors and lifestyles. Let us live the life of the Holy Spirit that now indwells in us. "Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature"(Galatians 5:16). Amen.
I have heard about many church splits and I have experienced one myself. Most of the church splits of our time are often based on disagreements on money/property control or on leadership personalities. It seems that we are not particularly interested in doctrinal issues that could divide as did the early church.
In Acts 15, we see a “sharp disagreement and dispute” among the believers on the essential doctrine of the church. The big question: Is one required to be circumcised to be saved in accordance with the laws of Moses? Of course, the question is unique to men since the bible never required women to be circumcised. In other words, is obedience to the laws of the Old Testament required in other for the Gentile (or even the Jew) to be saved? Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church leaders at the time dealt decisively and appropriately with the issue at hand. May we learn from them on how to have legitimate disagreements and make lifestyle choices that honor God.
Acts 15: 1-21
1Some 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." 2This 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. 3The 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. 4When 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. 5Then 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."
6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon[a] has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16" 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things'[b] 18that have been known for ages.[c] 19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. We know the identity of those who are insisting that the Gentiles be circumcised in order to be saved. These are “some of the believers who belong to the party of the Pharisees” vs.5. This is close but not exactly like our day. Some even imply that one party (republican or democrat) are the true believers in Christ. There were reasons for some of these believers of Pharisees background to feel this way. They were offended by the “liberal” lives of the Gentiles. Is our lifestyle the basis of salvation in Christ or is it the result of our salvation? This to me is the real question.
2. The “Jerusalem Council” as it is known in Church history handled the issue very well through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements” vs. 28. The key for this or any other dispute among us is to first listen to the Holy Spirit and the word of God. When we do, we come to God ordained resolution that will bring peace in the situation. The Gentiles “were glad” vs.31.
3. What is then the answer to the question? Absolutely No. Obedience to the law is not required for salvation in Christ. “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved” vs. 11. All through the New Testament and in all of Paul’s writing, this essential Christian doctrine is taught and affirmed. Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand”. See also Galatians 2: 15-16. Are you standing on any other ground than on the grace of God? I hope not.
4. We must not dismiss every objection to the norm. There is always something to learn from opposing minds. The Gentiles however, needed to clean up their “acts” so to say hence the requirement issued by the Church leaders. Just because we are now saved does not give us license to continue in sin or engage in unhealthy behaviors. “29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things”. These were reasonable expectations of any believer in Christ. Knowingly eating food sacrificed to idols showed allegiance to those gods and not to our God. Eating meat with blood and drinking blood is un-healthy.
5. Are you in the “anything goes” church? Let’s clean up our “acts”. Paul said, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid”. The warning against sexual immorality was necessary then and more so in our day. Almost everything in our culture has been “sexualized”. It had its roots in the Greek way of “loose living”. Paul confronted it among the Corinthian Church. 2 Cor. 12:21 “I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which you have indulged”. The Holy Spirit is grieved and the rest of the body of Christ is wounded when there are still sexual sins among us. Think of the big name TV evangelists who have failed in this area of sexual sin.
6. Let him who thinks he stands, think twice and watch. We are all vulnerable in this area of sexual sin. The scripture has only one solution “flee” and “run” from any sexual temptation. Lord, help me and everyone else who is tempted to run and keep running. Please read 1 Cor. 6:9-20. We must let God complete the work of santification in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Is someone making you feel less of a Christian or are you making someone feel less of a Christian because of lifestyle choices? The only true Christian is one who has believed in the finished work of Christ and saved by grace through faith alone. Are you a Christian and are you saved? Do you believe in Christ? Put no “yoke” on anyone else rather let’s abstain from every sexual sin and immorality. Let’s live to honor God by our behaviors and lifestyles. Let us live the life of the Holy Spirit that now indwells in us. "Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature"(Galatians 5:16). Amen.
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