'The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” '
Acts 11:1-18
The Old Testament law forbid the circumcised to eat with the uncircumcised because they were considered “unclean”. When Jesus came and died as the Lamb of God, He opened up the way for those who were uncircumcised to come into the Kingdom of God. They could now become a part of God’s family through Jesus. This meant that the Gospel would be preached to them and it was no matter unlawful to associate with them. Peter had to explain his actions to these Jews because they did not receive the message of the cross. They were still operating under legalism.
Maybe not to the same extent, but there are still Christians today that operate under legalism and will judge those who operate under New Testament ways. There are aspects of the Old Testament that are still enforced ie the 10 commandments, but much of the other laws were cultural and for that time and were in place because Jesus had not yet come. We have to be careful today not to allow ourselves to be put under the yolk of legalism for all that we do should be done in love, grace, and obedience to the Lord. It’s all about relationship with the Creator and being a part of God’s big family. We are here to love on people and lead them to His family, not to judge and avoid them on pride or fear.
Acts 11:1-18
Acts 11:1-18 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You w | New International Version (NIV) |
The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You w
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The Old Testament law forbid the circumcised to eat with the uncircumcised because they were considered “unclean”. When Jesus came and died as the Lamb of God, He opened up the way for those who were uncircumcised to come into the Kingdom of God. They could now become a part of God’s family through Jesus. This meant that the Gospel would be preached to them and it was no matter unlawful to associate with them. Peter had to explain his actions to these Jews because they did not receive the message of the cross. They were still operating under legalism.
Maybe not to the same extent, but there are still Christians today that operate under legalism and will judge those who operate under New Testament ways. There are aspects of the Old Testament that are still enforced ie the 10 commandments, but much of the other laws were cultural and for that time and were in place because Jesus had not yet come. We have to be careful today not to allow ourselves to be put under the yolk of legalism for all that we do should be done in love, grace, and obedience to the Lord. It’s all about relationship with the Creator and being a part of God’s big family. We are here to love on people and lead them to His family, not to judge and avoid them on pride or fear.