Believing Pharisees Learn

We ended the first day of our final two-day time, with deep concerns. This is because we saw and listened to some Jews who were genuinely converted to Jesus, placing human works alongside God’s grace. We also noted that the same is being done in our day and time. It was also stated that the question of God’s grace and human works of law, still causes no small dissention among believers.

Whether we care to admit it or not, whether we see it in ourselves or not, the fact remains that, like old habits, traditions die hard. These Pharisees have been teaching these traditions all their lives as the way that pleases Yahweh. Perhaps they are seeing themselves as pleasing God, because they have converted to Christianity and have the marks of good, law-abiding Jews. If that is the case, it stands to reason that they would want the saved by grace Gentiles, to also carry in them, the marks of good, tradition-keeping and law-abiding Jews.

My mind is led to remember Peter, a converted Jew and disciple of Jesus. O how Peter was a diehard Jew, bound by Jewish laws and traditions. It took Jesus to break it out of him and free him to have sweet, Holy Spirit fellowship with Gentiles. What we are being shown is most scary, yet most divinely true of many genuine believers.  We are servants of Jesus who love Him and believe in Him with heart, soul, mind and strength, but we are diehards when it comes to customs and traditions. 

Let’s listen again to the wisdom and advice of these Jesus believing Pharisees, on the matter of circumcision and the keeping of the law. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Acts 15: 5.

Two things jump high at us with dagger-like hits. This is what people who have been saved by grace through faith are saying.

It is necessary to circumcise them.

The word necessary, carries an absolute in its meaning. It is necessary for me to have a visa to enter my friends’ country. I am being invited to visit the warm and glorious sunshiny weather of which my friends speak, and of which I have no experience, as I live in one of the coldest regions on the planet. In other words, without a visa, I will not be granted entry. Yes, I have been invited by friends to come and see their country. Yes, they have even given me the gift of a ticket, all expenses paid, to come to them. Nevertheless, without a visa, though I land safely at the airport, and stand in their country, experiencing its warm weather, I am unable to leave the airport. I have been refused entry. It is necessary for me to have a visa. 

Is this not what these Pharisees who believe in Jesus, these converts from Judaism to Christianity, are saying about Gentile converts? Believe it! They are saying that without circumcision they cannot be saved. Why? Because the law says that the Jew must be circumcised, and all who belong to them. In other words, every male born to a Jew and every male bought and brought into that Jewish household, must be circumcised. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. Genesis 17: 13. These Gentiles who have become converts are now who the Pharisees see as belonging to them, and must look like them, according to the law and its requirements.

Their advice is that Circumcision is necessary. 

Command them to keep the law of Moses 

Along with the necessity for circumcision, these converted Gentiles are to be commanded to keep the law of Moses. Notice the word, command. One commands people who are under their authority. In other words, you have to be above the person in all respects for you to command him or her. Here are these Pharisees, placing themselves over the Gentiles and taking on the position of leader and lord. We are being kept fully aware that these Gentiles have already received the grace of Jesus, by faith, to be saved. Gentiles have been saved by one way and one way only. What does this spell out for us? One sure thing is this. Both those Pharisees and Gentiles did no works to receive their salvation.

One was saved with law and one was saved without law, but both were saved by the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, through faith in Him.

Be it known fully that no one is saved by the works of keeping of the law, for no one can keep the law in its entirety.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2: 8 - 9