Dd-51. Has God's LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? PART 3

HAS ANY OF GOD'S LAW BEEN ABOLISHED?

Well, HAS GOD'S LAW OF CIRCUMCISION BEEN ABOLISHED?

DID PAUL TEACH AGAINST CIRCUMCISION?

The correct SOUND BIBLICAL answer to all three questions is an absolute YES! Paul taught AGAINST the OLD LAW of ALMIGHTY God Himself concerning being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands under the OLD covenant because Jesus ABOLISHED that part of the ceremonial law of God at the cross.

So then, why all of the VAIN jangling by the 119 Ministries DESIRING to be teachers of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES to try and change the issue of this very simple question? It is because the 119 Ministries has SWERVED and TURNED ASIDE from the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ to preach a DIFFERENT gospel than what Paul teaches us. The false gospel of the 119 Ministries brings Christians into BONDAGE under the Law of Moses written ONLY to the children of Israel for them to keep throughout their generations as a SCHOOLMASTER to lead the Jews to Jesus and the NEW Covenant. All seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians DESIRE to be teachers of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES, which are the CEREMONIAL LAW of services to God. None of the MORAL laws contain any ordinances that Jesus abolished at the cross.

Let us continue in part 3 of this in-depth study looking at the other arguments used by the 119 Ministries to try and show that Paul did not teach against to law of circumcision or any other part of God's law. Again, the arguments made by the 119 Ministries are in a DIFFERENT font style.

One reason that the law exists is to define sin, not to provide us salvation.

I believe most every believer agrees with that statement. The law does not provide us with salvation, but rather the old covenant kept those, who were UNDER the law BEFORE FAITH came. Jesus then descended into the belly of the earth to PREACH the GOSPEL to those who were UNDER the OLD TESTAMENT LAW, so that they could be SAVED by the only name given among men whereby we must be saved under the NEW covenant. Please read the study called G-21. WHAT AND WHERE IS PARADISE? But for now, let us continue this study in God's word.

I would also like to point out that the law was given to define what is sin is only ONE reason for why the law was given. In other words, that is NOT the ONLY reason for the Law of Moses to be given to ONLY the children of Israel. For you see, the Law of Moses was ADDED because the children of Israel were BREAKING the LAW of God. They were transgressing the law of God written on the CONSCIENCE. They were disobeying the MORAL laws of God. So God TEMPORARILY ADDED the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCE so that they could receive FORGIVENESS for their transgressing the MORAL law of God. They also disobeyed God to NOT follow the false gods of the Gentiles. The Law of Moses contained in ordinances was never intended to be PERMANENT. The Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCE was added UNTIL Christ came. The Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES was a schoolmaster to LEAD the children of Israel to the Messiah. All of the MORAL laws were already given to ALL of mankind the very day that Adam and Eve ate of the tree of KNOWLEDGE of good and evil. That very day, all of mankind would be lead by their CONSCIENCE to KNOW right from wrong.

Let us continue to expose the incorrect interpretation of the Scriptures made by the 119 Ministries.

1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Romans 3:20 …for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Thus Paul cannot be teaching against the law of God or he is, in fact, promoting lawlessness.

Again, this statement is misleading because Paul is indeed teaching AGAINST the LAW of God concerning being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands. But this in no way means that Paul is PROMOTING lawlessness. The fulfilling of the ceremonial law has NOTHING to do with the MORAL laws of God. It is NO LONGER a SIN for NOT keeping the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES.

But those who KEEP the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES in order to be saved or just simply to be more PLEASING to God are fallen from GRACE and Christ profits them nothing. I mean THINK this through for yourself dear children of God. If you KEEP the Old Covenant Law of Moses to offer animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of your sin, then you are NOT truly trusting in the SACRIFICE of Jesus. Your faith is WEAK in the NEW COVENANT. For you see, you are trying to keep BOTH covenants at the same time which is impossible. And by even trying to keep the OLD Covenant you NULLIFY the sacrifice that Jesus made when you keep the Law of Moses to offer animal sacrifices. And the SAME is true with the law of circumcision and every other Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES. You nullify the circumcision of the HEART not made with hand by your faith in Jesus WHEN you keep the Law of Moses to become circumcised in the flesh made with hands. You are slapping God in the face saying that you do NOT TRUST His NEW COVENANT.

The TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ teaches AGAINST the ceremonial law of GOD written in the OLD Testament to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH, because Jesus ABOLISHED that part of the law of GOD by FULFILLING what God ALSO prophesied in his WORD. In other words, circumcision in the FLESH was a SHADOW pointing to Jesus as being our TRUE circumcision of our HEART not made with hands.

Nowhere in the NEW Testament does Paul teach against any of the moral COMMANDMENTS of God. It is the FAILURE of the 119 Ministries and all Saturday seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping churches to NOT discern the DIFFERENCE between the ceremonial commandments of God and the moral COMMANDMENTS of God that are summed up into just TWO commandments under the New Covenant written in the New Testament. And by their NOT discerning this difference between the moral laws of God and the ceremonial laws contained in ORDINANCES has led to their many ERRORS in interpreting the Scriptures correctly.

Let us continue.

Paul is not teaching against what defines sin for us. This is just one example of why Peter himself gave us a serious warning about misunderstanding Paul as it relates to God’s law. This is a warning from Peter that most theologians have ignored:

2 Peter 3:14-17 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the lawless;

Paul is certainly not against the Law of God. For example, Paul also wrote:

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Romans 7:12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

Paul obviously believed and taught in the Law of God.

Again, there is no doubt that Paul did not teach against the MORAL commandments of God that DEFINED what is SIN. The only Christians who believe that they do not have to obey the MORAL laws of God are the HYPER-grace ALONE Christians. They are just as WRONG as Sabbath-keeping Christians.

So NO! Paul never would teach against obey the MORAL laws of God. But Paul did indeed teach AGAINST the CEREMONIAL part of the law of God contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written in the OLD Testament. Paul taught a balance between GRACE and the LAW of God.

Again, I agree that some Christians in the mainstream church have gone too far to the extreme on the side of GRACE to CLAIM that we are saved by grace ALONE. And their false teaching has led some Christians astray to FALSELY believe that they are FREE to do whatever they want to do and never lose their salvation.

Other Christians in the mainstream church rightly say that there is nothing we can do to EARN our salvation but then wrongly teach that we keep the commandment of God ONLY out of love. And therefore some have wrongly concluded that we do NOT need to keep the moral commandments of God to receive eternal life in the world to come. This wrong belief has, in turn, led some Christians to FALSELY believe that yes, we are taught that we should keep the commandments, but it is no big deal if we do not.

The truth of the matter is that it IS a big deal as to whether or not we KEEP the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God. Paul never taught against the moral COMMANDMENTS of God, but Paul did indeed teach AGAINST the ceremonial LAW of GOD. And one of those ceremonial laws was concerning being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH.

Again, by NOT discerning the DIFFERENCE between the Law of Moses contained in ordinances and the COMMANDMENTS of God that He gave Jesus in the New Testament has led the 119 Ministries, those in the Hebrew Roots Movement, and those in ALL seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping church denominations away from the TRUE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.

The TRUTH of the matter is that we are saved by grace through faith and not by any works of the law contained in ordinances, lest there be boasting. God needed our vessel to be CLEANSED in order for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit of Almighty God to empower us to keep the commandments of God written in the New Testament under the NEW Covenant. And thus, we keep all of the MORAL commandments, but NOT in our OWN strength. But rather, we keep the moral commandments THROUGH the power of God's Spirit dwelling in us. In other words, FAITH in the promises of God's word ENGTHENS us to obey the MORAL laws of God. And we ARE KEEPING all of the ceremonial laws of God by FAITH in Jesus as being the FULFILLMENT of those SHADOW, figures, and SIGNS point to him as being the Messiah. Please read the study called F-12. How YOU can live YOUR LIFE FREE from SIN! But for now, let us continue looking at the ERRORS in the arguments of the 119 Ministries to TRY and prove that Paul did not teach against the law of God concerning CIRCUMCISION.

Circumcision is a Biblical commandment in outward application:

Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and your seed after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant…

Genesis 17:13 He that is born in your house, and he that is bought with your money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

And in an inward application:

Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.

Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.

Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem.

I agree that the law of God concerning circumcision in the FLESH was an OUTWARD sign showing that man had entered into a COVENANT with God. These were prophecies showing that the law of outward circumcision of the FLESH was pointing to the yet coming TRUE circumcision of the HEART which could only be done by the hands of Almighty God Himself to cut away our SINS of the flesh.

So in truth, the circumcision in the FLESH was a SIGN pointing to Jesus being the TRUE SIGN of the NEW covenant. And now, the circumcision BY FAITH in Jesus not made with human hands is the OUTWARD SIGN that we are in the NEW COVENANT relation with Almighty God.

So then, UNLIKE water baptism where the conversion takes place FIRST in the HEART and then we are obedient to be baptized in water as an OUTWARD showing of our faith, the OUTWARD commandment of God to be circumcised in the flesh came BEFORE the PROMISE of the NEW COVENANT that God was to yet make with his people Israel. Even now most of ISRAEL is yet blinded in part to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The FIRST covenant that was made by circumcision in the FLESH came well BEFORE the promise of being circumcised in the HEART was FULFILLED at the cross of Jesus Christ. But in water baptism, the inward conversion comes FIRST before a believer OBEYS from the HEART to be baptized. There is NO comparison between circumcision and baptism. This is NOT SOUND BIBLICAL teaching. And it will become even clearer just how UNSOUND it really is as we continue this study in God's word.

We are to delight in God’s law inwardly first:

Yes, it has always been God's PLAN from the very beginning to have his word written upon our HEART inwardly. However, the TRUTH of the matter is that the OLD COVENANT came FIRST which was OUTWARDLY. And then God FULFILLED his word of prophecy though his Son Jesus to bring in the NEW COVENANT which is INWARDLY in our HEARTS.

And in bringing in this NEW COVENANT the OLD LAW of God which commanded men to be circumcised in the FLESH OUTWARDLY has been ABOLISHED by the cross of Jesus. And now, we are circumcised in the HEART by the blood of Jesus. The Bible does NOT teach us that we are to be circumcised in the flesh as an OUTWARD showing of our inner circumcision of the heart. This is nothing more than a DESPERATE attempt to try and salvage FALSE teaching that Christians must keep ALL the law of God contained in ordinances INCLUDING being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH.

This is WHY Paul taught AGAINST the law of GOD contained in ordinances concerning being circumcised in the FLESH made with hands because it had been ABOLISHED at the cross of Jesus. But if the 119 Ministries agrees with this TRUTH of the gospel, then they must CHANGE their INTERPRETATION of Matthew 5:17,18, which would crumble their WHOLE teaching that Christians must keep ALL the law contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant. Pride comes before a fall. It is better to humble yourself than to be brought low by Almighty God. With that being said, let us continue exposing the errors of interpretation made by all Sabbath-keeping Christians.

Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

Our circumcision must first be in the heart, otherwise, we are motivated for the wrong reasons in practicing God’s law.

Romans 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

The whole problem with first-century Jewish leadership is that their mainstream doctrine taught and focused on outward obedience and the written law for their own glory and praise and failed to focus on what was more important, which was inward faith in God’s Word that gives God glory and praise. It is the faith in God’s Word that produces the true desire to observe God’s commandments in a love for God (1 John 5:2-3).

So why then does it appear that Paul is teaching against circumcision in Galatians 2?

It appears that Paul is teaching against circumcision in Galatians 2, because Paul is indeed teaching AGAINST the ceremonial law of GOD concerning being circumcised in the FLESH made with hands all through the NEW Testament. What Paul is teaching AGAINST is the keeping of what Jesus ABOLISHED and nailed to the cross. How can any Christian teach that Jesus did NOT FULFILL even one jot or one title of the law when they KNOW full well hat Jesus FULFILLED all of the REQUIREMENTS of God concerning the law of SACRIFICE? And thus, the ORDINCANCES on HOW to keep the law of sacrifice under the NEW Covenant has CHANGED to FAITH in Jesus as being our TRUE SACRIFICE. God still REGUIRES a SACRIFICE for sin, but now, under the New Covenant there is no WORK of the LAW to make sacrifice to atone for sins. And this SAME CHANGE from WORKS of the law to FAITH in Jesus applies to ALL of the feast days, ALL of the weekly Sabbath DAYS, and all of the dietary laws. All of those WORKS have been FULFILLED in Jesus and nailed to the cross.

He isn’t.

Oh on the contrary! Paul is INDEED teaching AGAINST the LAW of GOD concerning being circumcised in the FLESH made with hands as it was taught in the OLD Testament contained in ORDINANCES.

But the 119 Ministries needed to TWIST Paul's words because they were being asked the question of WHY do they teach Christians to ONLY keep PART of the Law of Moses. In other words, the 119 Ministries are confronted with the DILEMMA of why they once only taught their followers to keep PART of the Law of Moses and not all of the Law of Moses. So they had to figure out some way to FORCE Paul’s teaching to agree with their OWN personal interpretation of the Scriptures. And just like Peter WARNED they have TWISTED the Scriptures to their OWN DESTRUCTION.

You have to be completely DECEIVED and BLIND to the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ to even think that Paul is teaching Christians to be circumcised in the FLESH made with human hands.

Please read Galatians 6:12-17.

“As many as desire to make a fair show in the FLESH, they CONSTRAIN you to be CIRCUMCISED; only lest (Or they only compel you to be circumcised like the Jews in the flesh for FEAR THAT) they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

13. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision AVAILS ANY THING, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

17. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”

Paul makes it very clear to be circumcised in the FLESH avails NOTHING. It serves NO PURPOSE because we are circumcised in our HEART with the TRUE circumcision of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what God wanted all along, so he changed nothing, but rather fulfilled his TRUE desire.

Also, read 1 Corinthians 7:18,19.

“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? Let him NOT be CIRCUMCISED.

19. Circumcision is NOTHING, and uncircumcision is nothing, BUT the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.”

I do not see how God's word can make it any clearer than this. PLAIN and SIMPLE, Paul is CLEARLY teaching us, as Christians, to NOT let any one of us seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH, which without a doubt, WAS a LAW of Almighty God himself under the Old Covenant and NOT a so-called doctrine of MEN as the 119 Ministries is FALSELY teaching.

So then, the commandments Paul must, without fail, be speaking about are the commandments of Yahweh that He gave His Son Jesus to give to us in the NEW Testament under to NEW covenant. So then, when you read the word “commandments” in the NEW Testament do not always assume that it means the TEN Commandments. For you see, Jesus gave us NEW COMMANDMENTS under the New Covenant written in the New Testament for us to obey.

Let us continue looking at the arguments of the 119 Ministries.

This is the exact same situation that presented itself in Acts 15 when Paul took this same issue of circumcision to the Jerusalem council. We will need to review Acts 15 to completely appreciate and understand the background of this situation. The Galatians are already familiar with this situation, which is why Paul uses it as an example. We are not. We need to understand what Paul is attempting to teach the Galatians about this false doctrine and a false gospel that has become the subject of debate and frustration to Paul.

This circumcision story starts off in Antioch (Galatia):

Acts 14:26-28 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they spent a long time with the disciples.

While in Galatia some men come from Judea with this gospel for the Galatians:

Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

Already it should be clear that this is not a matter of whether we should or should not observe the Law of God, but rather if the Law of God assists in salvation. This is a theological problem of the first century and not so much in the Christian churches today. Thus there is a difference between correctly observing the Law of God because of our faith and the incorrect doctrine of legalism, which attempts to earn salvation by forfeiting grace.

First of all, it is indeed a matter of whether or not we OBSERVE the law of God concerning being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands because Paul also taught that those, who are Jews, who obviously were ALREADY circumcised in the FLESH, to seek NOT to become uncircumcised. And to the Gentile Christians, Paul taught us NOT to SEEK to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH because being circumcised in the FLESH no longer matters. So them the INCORRECT doctrine of LEGALISM is the very foundational teaching of ALL seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping church denominations, because they ALL to their followers to keep the LETTER of the law.

And if you think that it is NOT a matter of salvation to keep or not keep the MORAL laws of God then you are DECEIVING yourself. For you see, to DISOBEY any MORAL commandments is a SIN and the wages of sin is DEATH. But to NOT keep the Law of God contained in ordinances that Jesus ABOLISHED at the cross in NOT a sin. But to KEEP the LETTER of the law to become circumcised in the FLESH made with hands like a slap in the face of God and His Son. For you see. God Himself CIRCUMCISED your HEART and my heart through His Son Jesus when you first believed in Jesus to be PLACED into the NEW Covenant relationship with Him and His Son. Jesus. And by you trying to keep BOTH the Old Covenant AND the New Covenant you are slapping God in the face saying that you do not TRUST His New Covenant. It is like saying to God that His Son dying on the cross was not good enough to PLEASE Him as being SATISFIED in His sacrificial Lamb the He provided.

Circumcision of the FLESH was a SHADOW pointing to the SIGN of the NEW COVENANT where God prophesied that He Himself would circumcise the HEART. Paul CLEARLY taught the church that circumcision is NOTHING and for us, as Christians, NOT to seek to observe this ABOLISHED law of God to become CIRCUMCISED in the flesh made with hands.

Also, just in case you did not know, the account in the letter to the Galatians is the SAME exact account written in Acts chapter 15. These are NOT two different accounts that simply sound similar.

Please read again 1 Corinthians 7:18,19.

“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him NOT become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? Let him NOT be circumcised.

19. Circumcision is NOTHING, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.”

Here we see a clear DISTINCTION between the LAW of God and the COMMANDMENTS of God. Paul did INDEED teach AGAINST the LAW of GOD concerning being CIRCUMCISED in the flesh, but Paul did NOT teach against the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.

You cannot throw everything into one pot that God said in his word and call it the LAW of God. There is a difference between the law of God contained in ORDINANCES and the MORAL commandments of God.

SECTION 4.

Now the second part, where the 119 Ministries AGREES with the MISLEADING teaching of the mainstream church, that states that Christians neither receive salvation by WORKS nor do they MAINTAIN or KEEP themselves saved by WORKS. I, however, strongly DISAGREE.

Let me explain what I mean by this. First of all, the whole word of God does NOT teach that once a person accepts Jesus as their savior then they can NEVER lose their salvation, no matter what they do or do not do. That is a lie of Satan that is wrongly taught by the HYPER-grace ALONE Christians where many of those Christians also teach Calvinism or Reformed Theology. Please read the study called F-2. Is ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL? for a deeper understanding that our obtaining ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come is, in fact, CONDITIONAL.

We are clearly taught in the New Testament to KEEP or to OBEY the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God. This is clearly taught in the New Testament and to this TRUTH there is no doubt. But we are NOT taught in the New Testament to keep ALL the law contained in some 613 carnal ORDINANCES written in the OLD Testament. For a deeper understanding of this TRUTH please read the studies called Dd-71. 119 Ministries ERRORS of interpretation Pt 1, Dd-72. 119 Ministries ERRORS of interpretation Pt 2, and Dd-70. Is the HEBREW ROOTS Movement BIBLICAL? But for now, let us continue examining some more arguments given by the 119 Ministries.

Paul and Barnabus decide to bring this matter to the Jerusalem Council. On the way there they meet up with a different group that contrary to the other group are believers. As believers, they obviously understood the true gospel which is salvation through faith by grace alone (Eph. 2:8). Yet, they still believed that one should keep the law of God, not for salvation, but in obedience.

This is the SAME argument used by the grace ALONE Christians that CLAIM that we are NOT REQUIRED to keep the MORAL laws of God and that we only keep them because we LOVE God and we want to PLEASE God. Now the 119 Ministries has ASSUMED that this false teaching of the grace ALONE Christians is the truth. And thus they incorrectly interpret this passage of Scripture when they say that this group of Christians were NOT compelling these other Christians to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH as a matter of SALVATION. But rather, they were simply compelling them to be circumcised as a matter of OBEDIENCE to PLEASE God.

But I guarantee you that IF you disobey ANY MORAL law of God and do NOT repent and confess your SIN for disobeying the moral commandments of God that you will NOT receive eternal life in the world to come. So this argument that Sabbath-keeping Christians use to try and convince non Sabbath-keeping Christians that they are NOT keeping the Law of Moses to be saved is a LIE. Just ask them if they would be sinning if they do not keep the MORAL commandments of God?

If they say no, then they are NOT true born-again Christians. For you see, every true Christian KNOWS that if they break any of the moral commandments that they are SINNING. And no Christian living in sin will inherit the kingdom of God.

And if they say yes, then ask them if they are sinning if they break the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES. If they say no, then ask them WHY is it a sin to break a MORAL law but NOT a sin to break that Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES? How can they say that it is NOT a SIN if they break the law of keeping the weekly Sabbath day? And if they say it is a SIN, then ask them WHY it is NOT a matter of SALVATION? My point is that ALL Sabbath-keeping Christians are keep the Law of Moses to RECEIVE life in the world to come not matter what EXCUSES they give to try and convince you that they are only keeping the Law of Moses to PLEASE God as an outward showing their love for God saving them. Paul said that the desire to be teachers of the law but the know NOTHING of what they are teaching. They do not understand that to OBEY God to CEASE from KEEPING what Jesus ABOLISHED is NOT a sin. And thus, NOT resting on a DAY of the week is NOT a sin, because Jesus FULFILLED all of the Sabbaths that were SHADOWS pointing to Jesus as our TRUE Sabbath rest. Please read the study Dd-13. Is JESUS OUR TRUE SABBATH REST?

As you continue to read, you will clearly and plainly see that these other Christians were compelling other believers to be circumcised in the flesh as a matter of SALVATION.

This argument that they are using is just another example of HOW people become DECEIVED into obeying the WHOLE law contained in ordinances, written in the OLD Testament by telling others that it is NOT a matter of SALVATION, but just a matter of OBEDIENCE because you LOVE God and you want to PLEASE God.

IF this were true, then the KEEPING of the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God would NOT be a matter of receiving the end of our SALVATION either. So then, IF it is NOT a matter of SALVATION and has nothing to do with whether or not we receive ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come, then the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:4,5 are not true when he says our names will be BLOTTED OUT of the book of life if we defile our self with SIN and we should die in that state of living in UNREPENTED sin.

Revelation 3:4,5.

“You have a FEW names even in Sardis which have NOT defiled their garments (Meaning that there are a few who have stayed faithful to me and have not gone back to their old lifestyle of sin); and they (Speaking of ONLY those good and faithful servants) shall walk with me in white: for THEY are worthy.

5. He that OVERCOMES, the SAME shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will NOT blot out his name out of the book of life (Again, speaking of ONLY those of us who OVERCOME the enemy and do not defile ourselves with SIN), but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

There are many more passages of Scripture like this that clearly and plainly teach us that it is, in fact, a matter of SALVATION and vital that we KEEP the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God lest we not be found WORTHY to be granted the RIGHT to eat of the tree of LIFE. Again, please read the study F-2. Is ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL? to make absolutely certain that you are being taught the WHOLE TRUTH and NOTHING but the TRUTH. It is a matter of TRUTH that will decide whether or not you are found worthy to receive ETERNAL LIFE. This is a BIG DEAL! DO NOT BE DECEIVED by FALSE teachers that tell you that you can never lose your salvation no matter what, or that the keeping of the MORAL commandments of God does not matter.

Let us keep reading and you will see that this other group of Christians did, in fact, mean it is a matter of SALVATION to be circumcised in the FLESH.

Acts 15:5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them AND to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."

So these two positions were submitted to the Jerusalem council, keep God’s law for salvation (verse 1)(legalism) or keep God’s law in faith after salvation (verse 5)(obedience in faith). After some debate, Peter offers his input.

First of all, this is one's own private INTERPRETATION, which does not agree with the whole word of God. So again, the 119 Ministries is dividing the real issue, which is deceiving, because many in the mainstream church believe that we only obey the commandments of God and do good works out of LOVE showing God how grateful we are that he sent his Son Jesus to die for us.

And there are even some Christians, who take the love and grace of God so far to the extreme that they teach that a believer can even DENY the Lord and still NOT LOSE their salvation. It almost sounds like the 119 Ministries also teaches this FALSE once saved always saved doctrine that falsely teaches that once you accept Jesus as your savior then you can never ever lose your SALVATION, no matter what. In other words, the 119 Ministries is falsely teaching that it is NOT a matter of SALVATION to KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of God, in order to obtain ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. Let us continue.

Acts 15:7-11 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. "Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are."

Peter establishes in Acts 15 that it is by faith that we are saved and that there is no Biblical difference between Jews and Greeks as it relates to salvation. Paul teaches the same once we read past Galatians 2 and enter into Galatians 3. In the first century, the mainstream Jewish leadership had a problem with the idea that Gentiles could simply have faith and thus become believers regardless of what commandments they were or were not immediately obedient to. Peter makes the point that no one has been able to bear the burden of the gospel that teaches that we must keep God’s law in any capacity to be saved. The point would be is that all have fallen short and thus we need grace through faith. Peter states that the Gentile converts have been given the Holy Spirit in their faith, thus they will begin to learn and practice God’s law AFTER faith is established because that is the whole point of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 14:16-17; 26, 15:26; 16:13, 17:17, Psalm 119:142, Jeremiah 31:31-33). This would obviously rebuke the position offered in verse 1. Thus Peter would declare that legalism is a false doctrine.

Again, they MIX a little TRUTH in with a lie and some believers will swallow it hook line and sinker. The redefine must keep the Law of Moses to be saved to be LEGALISM so you can CLAIM that you are NOT keeping the law of Moses to receive eternal life in the world to come. But rather, you are ONLY keeping the Law of Moses to PLEASE God so it is NOT a SIN if a Christians miss a Sabbath every now and then.

Come on and STOP with the LIES.

We all agree that it is a SIN if we break any of the MORAL laws of God. So since all Sabbath-keeping Christians agree that it is a SIN to break the MORAL commandments, then how can they turn around and say that it is alright to BREAK the fourth commandment CLAIMING that they are ONLY keeping the fourth commandment to PLEASE God? They know full well that breaking ANY commandment of God is a SIN? So they are LYING when they say that they are NOT keeping the Law of Moses to be SAVED and that they ONLY keeping the Law of Moses as an OUTWARD showing of their inward faith just like water baptism. They are making a LIE. They FEAR that if they do not keep the Law of Moses, then they would be SINNING. And the wages of sin is DEATH.

Yes, there is no doubt that God does NOT demand us to walk perfectly before him casting off every sinful deed the very instant we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts. And yes, it is true that we LEARN little by little as the Holy Spirit leads and guides us into all truth. And yes, God only requires us to take one step at a time and if we fall all we need to do is ask for forgiveness and get back up and continue our walk with God.

However, this does NOT mean that the early church was teaching us, as Christians, to keep ALL the law contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written in the OLD Testament. This does NOT mean that the disciples of Jesus are teaching us to keep the weekly Sabbath day. This does NOT mean that the Apostle Paul is teaching us to be circumcised in the flesh as an outward showing of the inward circumcision of our heart. This can clearly and plainly be seen and understood by Paul's teaching AGAINST the LAW of GOD concerning circumcision in the FLESH. Paul clearly and plainly taught us, as Christians, NOT to seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH.

Please again, read what Paul CLEARLY taught us as Christians in 1 Corinthians 7:18,19.

1 Corinthians 7:18,19.

“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? Let him NOT be CIRCUMCISED.

19. Circumcision is NOTHING, and uncircumcision is nothing, BUT the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.”

Also, the context of Acts15:1 is indeed about the whole MATTER of whether or not the Law of Moses is to be placed upon these Gentiles who were ALREADY SAVED. And thus, they were saying that the New Covenant was NOT SUFFICIENT enough and, therefore, they are saying that the Gentiles MUST be circumcised AND keep the Law of Moses.

Read Acts 15:1 again.

“And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you can NOT be saved.”

They were ALREADY SAVED according to Peter in Acts 15:7-11.

“And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, you know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8. And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; (You can NOT receive the Holy Spirit UNLESS you are SAVED. So the dispute was over some Jewish Christians DEMANDING that no one can be SAVED unless they are CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH after the Law of Moses. But according to Almighty God Himself, those Gentiles were ALREADY SAVED)

9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (WITHOUT the Law of Moses)

10. Now, therefore, (Or then, for this very reason that they are ALREADY SAVED according to God himself giving them the Holy Spirit WITHOUT the Law of Moses) why TEMPT you God, to put a YOKE upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (So then, this was NOT another so-called GOSPEL that they were struggling to keep because this is talking about the Law of Moses given to their FATHERS long before Jesus was ever born that NEITHER their father nor they were able to bear. So stop TWISTING the truth that God gave us the Holy Spirit to OVERCOME SIN to INCLUDE the empowering us to keep ALL the Law of Moses CONTAINED in ORDINANCES that Jesus ABOLISHED on the cross, according to Ephesians 2:8-15 and Colossians 2:8-17. Yes, God did indeed give us the Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome SIN because that is something that we MUST DO in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. But it is NOT a sin to CEASE from keeping what Jesus FULFILLED and ABOLISHED on the cross. Not one non Sabbath Christian I know has ever been convicted by the Holy Spirit of NOT keeping the dietary Law of Moses. I have been a Christians for forty plus years and never once have I even been convicted of sinning for NOT keeping any of the feast day Sabbaths, the new moon festivals, and the weekly Sabbath DAY of resting for 24 hours)

11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we SHALL BE be saved, even as they. (WITHOUT the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES)”

These gentiles were already SAVED INITIALLY. They ALREADY were filled with the Holy Spirit and they were doing just fine until these Jewish Christians came along and were compelling them to be circumcised after the OLD Testament Law of Moses and Paul said NO way!

I do not see how God's word can make it any clearer than this. PLAIN and SIMPLE, Paul is CLEARLY teaching us as Christians to NOT let any one of us seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH, which without a doubt WAS a LAW of Almighty God Himself under the OLD Covenant and NOT a doctrine of MEN as the 119 Ministries is FALSELY teaching.

Then in Acts 15:5, it is made perfectly clear that these Jewish Christians were not only compelling these ALREADY SAVED Gentile Christians to be circumcised but ALSO to KEEP the LAW of Moses.

Acts 15:5.

“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, AND to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

And this time Peter stood up and said NO WAY! WHY TEMPT you GOD to put on this YOKE of keeping the Law of Moses upon these ALREADY SAVED Gentile Christians which WE NOR our fathers before could NOT KEEP. So then, both the Apostles of Jesus AND these Gentiles were ALREADY saved and given the Holy Spirit. But then Peter says that we believe that they SHALL be saved the save as us in verse 11. This teaches us that we shall be judged by our WORKS in order to receive the END of our salvation which is ETERNAL LIFE. So then, we are saved WITHOUT the WORKS of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES but the RECEIVING of the END of our salvation does indeed REQUIRE that we OVERCOME SIN. Therefore, our keeping of the MORAL commandments of God is a REQUIREMENT for receiving the END of our salvation which is ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come.

So the argument used by all Sabbath-keeping Christians that they are not keeping the Law of Moses to be SAVED is a lie. They only say that to DECEIVE you to keep the Law of Moses because they know full well that ALL Christians know that we are saved by GRACE through FAITH and NOT of WORKS lest any man should boast. So they claim that they keep the Law of Moses to be better PLEASING to God. How can you improve on God Himself making us PERFECT and Holy as He is Holy?

None the less let us continue looking at the arguments of the 119 Ministries.

This leaves us with the position established in verse 5.

Acts 15:5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."

The point that these “believing” Pharisees were trying to make is that converts should still be told that following the Law of God is part of being a believer. Christians would agree with that today would they not.

NO! They would NOT agree that all the law of God given to Moses to give to the children of Israel for THEM to keep throughout THEIR generations is taught in the NEW Testament under the NEW covenant for us as Christians to keep for ANY reason. Only a DECEIVED Sabbath-keeping Christian believes that keeping ALL the Law of Moses is a part of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Again, there is NO difference between verse 1 and verse 5. Both verses clearly teach that these Jews were compelling the Gentile believers to be circumcised as a NECESSITY and as a MUST, without fail, NEED to be circumcised in the FLESH in order to be SAVED, as in, being accounted worthy to receive eternal life in the world to come because they were ALREADY saved by grace without any works.

Also, it would depend on one's definition of the word LAW. Clearly, we are indeed taught in the New Testament to keep the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God. However, the law contained in some 613 carnal ORDINANCES, written in the OLD Testament, are NOT the commandments of God that are REPEATED and taught in the NEW TESTAMENT for us as Christians to keep under the New Covenant.

The 119 Ministries argument that follows is very DECEIVING because we know that we are to keep the COMMANDMENTS of God which are speaking of all the MORAL commandments of God lest we SIN. So logic would say that we must also keep all the ceremonial laws of Moses contained in ordinances lest we sin. So they use FEAR and intimidation to subvert your souls to wrongly teach that we must keep all the Law of Moses to be pleasing to God. And that is why this particular argument of the Sabbath-keeping churches is so very DECEIVING.

We agree that we should not murder, or lie, etc. These Pharisees were “believers” meaning they were in God’s plan of salvation. They are not “legalizers” like the false brethren in verse 1. These Pharisees have true faith in order to be defined as believers.

Again, the MISLEADING tactic of DIVIDING the issue and also making the word “LAW” to be all inclusive of everything that God said in His word in the Old Testament should be in force for Christians to obey, according to THEM. Please notice that they created a THIRD group, when in truth, there are only TWO groups. In other words, they claim that there are THREE arguments going on in Acts chapter when in truth, it is just ONE topic being disputed by TWO different groups of Christians. Let me explain in detail what I just said so that you can see THROUGH their TRICKERY.

Group #1.

These are the believers referred to in verse 1 AND in verse 5 as well. These believers are the FALSE brethren. They were Jews that were converted to Christianity but they themselves were being deceived by the Jews from the Jew's religion that it is a matter of SALVATION for ALL believers in Jesus Christ to be circumcised in the FLESH after the LAW of Moses in order to be SAVED and keep all the law of Moses.

These Jewish Christian believers in group #1 were being deceived by the Jews to FALSELY teach a DIFFERENT GOSPEL by compelling their GENTILE brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ to DISOBEY the TRUTH of the gospel of Jesus Christ taught by Paul and become circumcised in the FLESH and then keep all the Law of Moses to be saved.

Here is what Acts 15:1 says.

“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, EXCEPT you be CIRCUMCISED after the manner of Moses, you CANNOT be SAVED.”

And here is Acts 15:5 which is the SAME certain men as in verse 1. But the 119 Ministries CLAIM that verse 5 is speaking about a THIRD group of Christians.

“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was NEEDFUL to CIRCUMCISE them, AND to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Group #2.

These are the believers found in verse 2, who are indeed following the TRUTH of the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul is preaching. And they DISPUTED with the Jewish believers in group #1 that if they were to become circumcised in the FLESH then they were being deceived into believing a DIFFERENT and FALSE gospel that the church did NOT teach.

Here is what Acts 15:2 says.

“When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and DISPUTATION with them (Referring to them in group #1), they (group #1) determined that Paul and Barnabas, AND certain other of them, (Referring to some MORE in group #1 that also wanted to go with group #2 to make sure they told the whole story from both sides of this dispute) should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”

In other words, group #1 basically said to Paul in group #2, alright then, let us go up TOGETHER to Jerusalem and settle this matter with the Apostles and the elders of the church once and for all because we are not going to listen to a thing you have to say, Paul and Barnabas, unless the Apostles and the elders in Jerusalem convince us that you are speaking the TRUTH.

Then when group #1 and group # 2 arrived in Jerusalem, where the Apostles and elders of the church were living, then Paul and Barnabas told the Apostles and the elders and the entire congregation at the church in Jerusalem what God had been doing.

We read about this in Acts 15:4,5, which says,

“And when they were come to Jerusalem, they (Speaking of both group #1 and group #2) were received of the church, AND of the apostles and elders, and they (Group #2) declared all things that God had done with them.

5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed (Speaking of a few in group #1 spoke up to argue their side), saying, That it was NEEDFUL to circumcise them, AND to COMMAND them to keep the law of Moses.”

Now the 119 Ministries argue that verse 5 is referring to an entirely NEW group of believers and therefore they somehow are supposedly teaching something entirely different from group #1 in verse number one.

However, something that is being taught as being NEEDFUL and as a COMMAND is definitely being taught as a matter of SALVATION. So then, no matter if this group in verse 5, which we will temporarily call group #3 for the sake of argument, is one and the SAME as group #1. Now, whether group #3 is a MIXTURE of group #1 and some other believers that were already at the church in Jerusalem. Or whether this group was an entirely different group of believers in the church. BOTH group #1 and group #3 were FALSELY teaching the exact SAME thing. For you see, BOTH groups were arguing that it was NEEDFUL to COMMAND these Gentile believers to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH AND to keep ALL the Law of Moses in order to be SAVED. Saying that it is NEEDFUL is the same thing as saying they can NOT be saved without being circumcised and keeping the Law of Moses. And to COMMAND something is NOT an OPTION.

Now, I personally believe that the group in verse 5 are ONE and the SELFSAME group as group #1 in verse one. This is WHY Paul and Barnabas had no SMALL matter of DISPUTING with them and agreed to go WITH them to Jerusalem to settle this very important matter once and for all. So it is NOT logical to suddenly have a so-called THIRD group of Christians and then group #1 is never heard of again. It is just another tactic to divert your attention off the MAIN issue which is, did Paul teach AGAINST being circumcised in the FLESH?

Moving on then, the matter of whether or not the Gentile Christians must be circumcised was then given to the Apostles and the elders to decide. Then the Apostles and elders CONSIDERED the matter and there is MUCH DISPUTING again. Now, this much disputing, to me, is being done among the congregation in the background while the Apostles and elders were yet CONSIDERING this matter trying to weigh both sides of the argument.

You see the church was STILL LEARNING what the will of God was concerning what they should do. Just a short while ago Peter was given a VISION from God where God REVEALED to the church that they were to now preach the GOSPEL to the GENTILES. I am sure that the Apostles perceived the correct answer through the leading of the Holy Spirit. I am sure that they were considering HOW to put this answer into words to restore PEACE among the brethren.

Here is Acts 15:6-13.

“And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (MUST we KEEP the Law of Moses? IS it NEEDFUL to keep the Law of Moses? Or should we NOT KEEP the Law of Moses? IS in NOT NEEDFUL to keep the Law of Moses? That was the matter under dispute)

7. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them (Referring to group #1 and group #2 who were DISPUTING and the rest of the church at Jerusalem that most likely joined the disputing), Men and brethren, you know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. (I am sure that when Peter was contemplating this matter that the Holy Spirit REMINDED him of how the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit WITHOUT being circumcised in the flesh)

8. And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; (Thus proving that these Gentile are ALREADY saved by their FAITH in the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ WITHOUT obeying the Law of Moses to be circumcised in the flesh)

9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (WITHOUT the LAW)

10. Now, THEREFORE, (Or for this REASON that Almighty God himself justified the Gentile showing us proof by filling them with the Holy Spirit the SAME as us, then) WHY tempt you God, to put a YOKE upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers NOR WE we were able to bear?

11. But WE BELIEVE that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ WE SHALL BE saved, EVEN as THEY. (In other words, WE BELIEVE that THROUGH the GRACE of God we ourselves shall be saved and so we also BELIEVE that through this SAME GRACE that these Gentile believers will be saved as well.)

12. THEN (Or after they heard Peter speak these words) ALL the multitude kept SILENCE, and gave AUDIENCE to Barnabas and Paul, (Or you were right Paul. We now believe that you teach the TRUTH of the gospel of Jesus Christ) declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. (This seemed to settle this debate because group # 1 was now giving AUDIENCE or credence to group #2. There was SILENCE and NO more DISPUTING. We can clearly see that BOTH sides were in AGREEMENT that NO YOKE or ANY commandments that God gave to Moses contained in ORDINANCES were to be placed upon these Gentile believers because even fathers of the children of Israel in the Old Testament nor they themselves could NOT bear them)

13. And AFTER they had held their PEACE (Or after they all seemed to be SATISFIED with NOT commanding these Gentile believers to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH and to keep the Law of Moses), James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto ME:”

Then, James said that it SEEMS good to us and the Holy Spirit to ONLY command the Gentile believers FOUR things. Notice that James did NOT say, “Thus says the Lord God Almighty that the Gentile Christians must obey these four things.” But rather, he said it SEEMS good. So this may have been James own personal opinion. Nonetheless, the entire church agreed with James that ONLY those FOUR things be imposed upon the Gentile Christians for their SAFETY to help them from not being KILLED by the unsaved Jews when they went into the cities where Moses was preached to preach the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now, mere common sense should tell anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear that if Paul was teaching Christians to keep ALL the Law of Moses, then WHY did the WHOLE church AGREE to lay just these FOUR things upon the Gentile Christians?

Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ that up to this point in time, in verse 13, that ALL the multitude that was gathered together were in AGREEMENT with what Peter was saying and that all of the disputing CEASED. Then James answered, saying, Men and brethren, HEARKEN unto ME. Then it was agreed to have the Gentiles keep just FOUR things. Not one word about keeping the weekly Sabbath DAY!

Let us continue with the argument of the 119 Ministries to see what they have to say about what James said.

Thus James must still address the point established in Acts 15:5 and rule against the point in Acts 15:1.

In Acts 15:14-18 James makes it clear that he understands that it is prophetic that the nations should begin to come into the faith.

James also makes it clear that we can not place heavy expectations on new converts as they come into the faith. Thus in some aspects, James agrees with the position of those in verse 5, yet there is a critical clarification that James wants to emphasize. James clearly states that it should not be difficult for a new believer. Here is his decree or decision:

Acts 15:19 "Therefore it is MY judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,

So the solution James offers must be simple and easy for the Gentile converts but still be in agreement with the position established in verse 5 and against the position established in verse 1.

In verse 20, James instructs Gentiles that are turning to God to turn away from cultic temple sun god practices and ways.

Acts 15:20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

James found it critical to at least set the compass of the Gentile converts in the direction that is of God and not part of their sun god culture. They are told to leave all of that behind.

These are all practices that were common in the cultic temple ways and practices related to the pagan sun gods. We can not follow the ways of sun gods and the ways of the true God. The ways are not compatible and God considers that spiritual adultery.

Paul also deals with this exact same issue in Galatians chapter 4:8-11 because the Galatians where turning back to their old ways of worshiping false gods.

Galatians 4:8-9 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

Let us pause here a moment and take a CLOSE look at Galatians 4:8,9. Please notice that they USED to serve idols when they did NOT KNOW God. But NOW, after they were SAVED by FAITH and NOT of works of the Law, they were desiring to be brought again into bondage. NOT the bondage of serving idols like they used to do but a different bondage, the bondage of keeping the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES that NEITHER our father or we were able to bear. Read the CONTEXT and you will see that Jesus died and rose again to REDEEM them who were UNDER the LAW. Jesus said to the Jews under the YOKE of the Law of Moses “Come unto me all you who are HEAVY LADEN and I will give you REST.” Jesus also said, “My yoke is EASY.”

These Gentile believers were being subverted to keep the Sabbath days under the LAW of Moses. And the word subverted carries the meaning of being DECEIVED. Let us continue.

James needed to address this problem first because believers can not sit at the table of God and the table of devils. The top commandment of all of God’s law is found in Deut. 6:4:

Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

James made it clear that the Gentile converts needed to recognize that there are no other gods, that there is only one true God and that we are to love Him with our whole heart, soul, and mind. We can not divide some of our heart, soul, and mind after sun god ways and at the same time devote ourselves to God. It is the opposite of faith, which is one of the reasons Paul was so rightfully concerned for the Galatians in his letter.

The NEW Testament does REPEAT this COMMANDMENT to abstain from IDOLS.

Please read Acts 21:25.

“As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe NO SUCH THING, save ONLY that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.”

Please keep in mind the real issue that we are studying is NOT whether or not we as Christians should keep the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God that are taught in the New Testament under the New Covenant. But rather, the real issue is to answer the simple question DID PAUL TEACH AGAINST CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH and are we to keep the Law of Moses written in the Old Testament under the OLD covenant contained in ORDINANCES?

And the answer is given to us in Acts 15:24.

“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”

Also, we need to keep in mind that the church is still LEARNING and growing in REVELATION KNOWLEDGE from the Holy Spirit of God. Thus the decisions and decrees made at what could be called the FIRST church council are not set in stone as being the LAST word on the subject. You will see this is true as more revelation knowledge in given to Paul and the church as more time goes on. Paul becomes even bolder as time progresses on and he receives yet more teaching from Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

The issue at hand is this, did Paul teach against being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH as the Jews under the OLD covenant? Keep in mind that it has already been proven over and over from the Scriptures that Paul is INDEED teaching AGAINST being circumcised in the FLESH made with hand, because we ARE circumcised with the TRUE circumcision of the heart by our FAITH in Jesus.

The second point brought up in the context of Acts 15 was should Christians keep ALL the Law of Moses and Peter said NO! But James was FEARFUL for the Gentile Christian’s SAFETY, For you see, in every city, there were JEWS who would persecute and even kill these Gentile Christians who now called on their God, if these Gentile Christians ate meat offered to idols. So, James thought it best for their safety if they abstain from these for NECESSARY things.

Now IF the logic of these 119 Ministries believers is consistent, then surely James would have had them circumcised right then and there. I mean, after all, if being circumcised is what the WHOE church agreed upon as being NECESSARY to please God, then WHY would the Gentiles Christians say circumcise me RIGHT NOW? None of that happened, but rather, they ALL agreed that keeping just those four NECESSARY things was enough to PROTECT the gentile Christians from being KILLED by the unsaved Jews when they went into their cities to preach the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ.

So no, absolutely NOT! Dear children of God, IF SO BE that being circumcised in the FLESH was NECESSARY but NOT a matter of salvation as those in the 119 Ministries CLAIM, then there is no doubt that they would have been circumcised before they were allowed to leave Jerusalem. The Gentiles would have welcomed to be circumcised in the flesh if that was what the WHOLE church agreed should be done.

This FLAWED logic that God will add a little Law of Moses at a time does NOT hold water. But this is exactly what Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping church denominations do. They first get Christians to FEAR that they are NOT pleasing God because they are not RESTING to keep Holy the seventh DAY of the week as the Jews from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Then once they have them attend their Sabbath-keeping church, then they add the dietary laws for healthy lifestyle reasons only at first. Then they add the keeping of the feast days. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. This is why Paul says BEWARE!

Let us continue with the arguments of the 119 Ministries.

If the Gentile converts would cease their false god ways, then the believers in the faith who were teachers of the Law of God (like those in Acts 15:5) would allow them back into the synagogues to learn the rest of God’s law. How do we know that James believed that the converted Gentiles should learn the Law of Moses every Sabbath? This is how James actually brilliantly incorporated his agreement with those in verse 5 into his decision:

Acts 15:21 "For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath."

Let us pause here and clear a few things up, by reading this verse in CONTEXT. Please read Acts 15:19-31, which CLEARLY and PLAINLY teaches us that circumcision in the FLESH and the keeping of the Law of Moses contained in some 613 carnal ordinances was NOT being taught to the church in any way shape or form PERIOD.

Acts 15:19-31.

“Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20. BUT that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollution of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21. For (Or because) Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day. (Now, the reason that James decided to place no other burden upon these Gentile believers is that the Law of Moses is taught in nearly every city. The answer to WHY James said this is purely an assumption. Some say it was for fear of the Jews and very possibly could be the reason. The 119 Ministries say it was because the church TAUGHT the LAW of Moses. It may be that it just seemed right and that the Holy Spirit was guiding them to instruct these Gentiles to refrain from IDOLS because this is what they needed most at this point in their walk with God. The truth of the matter is we simply do not know why James decided on these four things. It may have been his own fear that moved James to place these four things on the Gentiles. But what we do KNOW for CERTAIN is that neither Peter nor James or any of the other Apostles or elders put CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH on this list. That much we do know. And James also referred to the Law of Moses as Moses of OLD TIME is still being preached by the JEWS in every city)

22. Then it PLEASED the apostles and elders, with the WHOLE church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23. And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

24. For as much as we have HEARD, that certain which went out from us have TROUBLED you with words, SUBVERTING your souls, saying, You MUST be CIRCUMCISED, and KEEP the LAW: to whom WE gave NO such COMMANDMENT: (So then, Acts 15:24 settles the matter once and for all that the Church gave NO SUCH commandment for the Gentile Christians to be CIRCUMCISED in the flesh OR to KEEP ANY of the LAW of Moses)

25. It SEEMED good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26. Men that have HAZARDED their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Or have suffered severe persecution for the TRUTH of the GOSPEL. Now, if so be that the church kept all the Law of Moses as the Jews, as the 119 Ministries and other Saturday Sabbath keeping churches CLAIM, then there would have been NO persecution from the JEWS.)

27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the SAME things by mouth.

28. For it SEEMED good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you NO greater burden than these NECESSARY things;

29. That you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare you well.

30. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31. Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the CONSOLATION.”

In other words, the Gentile Christians breathed a sigh of RELIEF knowing that they did not have to get circumcised and keep all the Law of Moses. They REJOICED for the CONSOLATION or the COMFORT in knowing that the DISPUTE was settled and they did NOT have to be circumcised in the flesh or keep all of the Law of Moses for ANY REASON. So then, at this point in time in the GROWTH of the church, it SEEMED good to them and the Holy Spirit to NOT compel any believer to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH as a matter of salvation or ANY OTHER REASON as a REQUIREMENT to PLEASE God. Nowhere in the entire New Testament are we taught to be circumcised as an OUTWARDLY showing of our circumcision of the heart mad by God Himself without hands.

Again, Acts 15:4 clearly and plainly teaches us that circumcision in the FLESH was NOT being taught in the church in any shape, form or matter of application as the 119 Ministries FALSELY teach as an outward showing of the circumcision of our heart. That is just another LIE to DECEIVE you.

Acts 15:24.

“For as much as we have HEARD, that certain which went out from us have TROUBLED you with words, SUBVERTING your souls, saying, You MUST be CIRCUMCISED, and KEEP the LAW: to whom WE gave NO such COMMANDMENT:”

But after this matter has come to our attention it SEEMED good to the Holy Spirit and to us that no GREATER burden be laid upon the Gentile believers other than these four things. For we fear for you safety seeing that in every city Moses is preached by the Jews.

Acts 15:28,29.

“For it SEEMED good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you NO greater burden than these NECESSARY things; (It SEEMED NECESSARY because of the DANGER of their being killed by the Jews in every city they went. Later on, Paul receives more revelation from God because he teaches that an idol is NOTHING and we are free to eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols. But at that point in time, it SEEMED good to the Holy Spirit, or it seemed as if the Holy Spirit was telling them to at least lay these four NECESSARY things on the Gentiles. Now to me, it was NECESSARY to observe these FOUR things for their SAFETY to not be killed by the unsaved Jews)

29. That you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Fare you well.”

Again, please keep in mind that the church is still yet receiving REVELATION KNOWLEDGE from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we somehow get the idea that from day one the church was perfect in all knowledge and understanding in an instant of time. But the TRUTH of the matter is that they were yet learning to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit as what the Spirit was trying to teach them. Even when Jesus was with them, they did not understand everything that Jesus taught them right off. Even this statement in verse 28 is not a command or thus says the Lord type of statement. The church is still yet LEARNING from the Holy Spirit. Remember how Jesus told them that he had much more to teach them but they were not yet able to bear or to understand those teachings. So Jesus told them that the Holy Spirit would teach them THINGS TO COME speaking of what they were NOT ABLE to bear before God turned to the Gentiles. For you see, God SAVING the Gentiles WITHOUT the Law of Moses was the KEY that got their attention that God was doing a NEW THING in the earth.

There is ONE thing that we know for sure, UNTIL it came to the ATTENTION of the Apostles and the elders of the church that there was DISPUTING among certain believers that they were COMPELLING Gentile believers to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH the leaders of the church made it PERFECTLY CLEAR, to all believers, that NO SUCH COMMANDMENT came from the CHURCH. This had never crossed their minds BEFORE this dispute arose.

In other words, it is made blatantly clear that up to this point in time in the growth of the church that they were NOT teaching Christians to KEEP the LAW of Moses to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH because they gave NO SUCH COMMANDMENT. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that IF the church was teaching Christians to keep the Law of Moses and be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH, as an OUTWARD showing of our INWARD circumcision of the HEART as the 119 Ministries FALSELY teach, then they would have STRAIGHTENED the WHOLE matter up right then and there in Acts chapter 15.

IF this INTERPRETATION of the 119 Ministries is correct, then the Apostles of Jesus would have PLAINLY STATED in Acts chapter 15 that we MUST be circumcised in the FLESH according to the Law of Moses as an OUTWARD showing of our inner circumcision of the heart. And the Apostle would have made it plainly know that the so-called OUTWARD showing by being circumcised in the flesh was NOT a matter of SALVATION. Plus, all of the verses where Paul says NOT to seek to be circumcised in the flesh would NOT be in the Bible!

But they did not even come close to saying anything even resembling this FALSE teaching of the 119 Ministries. Not in Acts chapter 15 or anywhere else in the entire New Testament.

Again, Acts 15:24 clearly and plainly teaches us that circumcision in the FLESH was NOT being taught in the church in any shape, form or matter of application as the 119 Ministries FALSELY teach as an outward showing of the circumcision of our heart. That is just another LIE to DECEIVE you.

Acts 15:24.

None the less let us continue taking a look at the arguments of the 119 Ministries.

Once the Gentile converts prove that they only have a heart for God and abandon their cultic sun god ways, they will then learn the rest of God’s law every Sabbath. This is how James made it easy on the new converts.

If this is a correct INTERPRETATION, then where are all the CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE passages of Scripture, in the NEW TESTAMENT, that without a doubt, show us that the early church TAUGHT us, as Gentile Christians, to keep ALL the Law of Moses contained in some 613 carnal ORDINANCES written in the OLD Testament?

There are no such passages of Scripture in the NEW TESTAMENT because the early church did NOT teach us to keep the Law of Moses contained in ordinances. Keep in mind that the Apostles and the elders of the church. And for that matter, most if not all, the Christians that were at the church in Jerusalem where all JEWS who believed the words of Jesus that he was the MESSIAH. So then, if they simply ADDED Jesus to the Jew's religion and CONTINUED from day one of the very beginning of the church to TEACH ALL the Law of Moses, then why did they say to these Gentile believers that they gave NO such commandment to be CIRCUMCISED in the flesh AND keep the Law of Moses?

If they were truly teaching CIRCUMCISION in ANY manner, then this would have been the perfect place to clear everything up. But all that we are clearly told is that the church gave NO SUCH COMMANDMENT to keep the Law of Moses including being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH.

The TRUTH of the matter is that they were preaching the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ from the Old Testament prophecies REVEALING the Scriptures that Jesus is the MESSIAH. This was the HEART of the gospel up to this point in time of the church to preach that we can be set free from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ. Now what was clearly understood by the JEWS, who now believed in Jesus, is that they were ALSO set free from the BONDAGE of the LAW which required them to offer animal sacrifices. They knew and understood that they were set free from depending on the priests to offer these sacrifices for them. They understood the liberty they had in Jesus to NOT have to travel to Jerusalem to have their sins forgiven. This was all BONDAGE to these JEWS who were converted to Christianity. And whether we as Gentile Christians today comprehend that the ceremonial law contained in some 613 carnal ordinances is BONDAGE, the Bible ITSELF states as a fact that it was BONDAGE and a YOKE. But the MORAL commandments of God are NOT GRIEVOUS.

Let us continue examining the arguments given by the 119 Ministries.

This is similar to how we evangelize today. We preach and teach the good news that frees us from the bondage of our sin through faith by grace. Committing and trusting in God’s Word is all that is necessary for salvation. It is through that same commitment and trusting in God’s Word that directly causes a new believer to seek out God’s ways so they can be applied in their life. In the first century learning these ways primarily happened on Shabbat when the Law of Moses was read.

The JEWS met on the Sabbath and learned from the Law of Moses and of this truth there is no doubt.

However, the early church only went into the synagogues on the Sabbath day to PREACH the GOSPEL to the JEWS. This is where the HARVEST was gathered together ready to be reaped. Why go from door to door preaching the gospel to one Jew at a time when you can go into the synagogue on the Sabbath day where you know the Jews will all be assembled together and then preach to many Jews at the same time, all at once?

The TRUTH of the matter is that the early church recorded for us in the NEW Testament and in some early church writings tells us that the church assembled on SUNDAY to break the bread of communion and tell all of what God was doing in the church. Please read the studies called Dd-21. SABBATH-Saturday, Sunday, or NEITHER! and Dd-12. Why Only NINE of the TEN Commandments? I cover every verse in the New Testament with the word Sabbath in it. But for now, let us continue looking at the arguments of the 119 Ministries to answer the simple question.

Did Paul teach AGAINST CIRCUMCISION?

(Consider the commandment in Matthew 23:1-3 as well).

In Matthew 23 Jesus is speaking to the multitude and his disciples about keeping the law because they were yet UNDER the law of the Old Testament. Jesus was born under the law. So yes, obviously, Jesus both kept the law and taught the law because the word of God says that Jesus lived his life without sin. There was a TRANSITION period from being UNDER the OLD covenant to being under the NEW covenant put into force by the shed blood of Jesus. Let us continue.

Thus learning God’s ways is a process in faith that is already established. The point James is trying to make clear to those in verse 5 is that no one can be expected to learn and apply all of God’s law overnight, but the expectation of following the only one true God must be set and established immediately.

I agree that God leads us as Christians by his Holy Spirit and that he will not allow us to be tempted above that which we are able to bear. It should be taught and understood that spiritual growth is likened to growing up in the natural. We all begin as babes in Jesus Christ desiring the sincere milk of the word of God that we may GROW thereby. Some Christians spend most of their life as a babe in Jesus Christ wrestling with the same temptation over and over day after day. While yet, other Christians seem to advance much more rapidly in their knowledge and understanding of how to overcome sin in their lives.

The point is whether they are babes in Jesus Christ or fully mature Christians they are being led BY the Holy Spirit according to the KNOWLEDGE that they have obtained. The Bible says that he who is RESISTING sin, so long as he or she is RESISTING, is not sinning. The actual temptation is not a sin. The simple gospel is that the Holy Spirit knows what we can or cannot do. Therefore, as long as we are obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we are NOT sinning.

Now, some in the 119 Ministries may say, exactly, because they truly believe that they are following the leading of the Holy Spirit to keep ALL the law contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written in the OLD Testament. However, the Holy Spirit will NOT lead us to do that which is CONTRARY to the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And Jesus gave us NEW commandments to keep under the New Covenant written in the New Testament.

So then, let us continue to see if the WHOLE word of Almighty God teaches us that Paul taught AGAINST the law of God concerning being CIRCUMCISED in the flesh made with hands by continuing to examine the ERRORS made by the 119 Ministries in their interpretation of God's word.

There are some that teach that Acts 15 teaches against the Law of God. It is taught that James only made his decree to appease Jews and verse 21 is always ignored and rendered meaningless as if James was simply a rambling lunatic.

What is even more interesting is that when Peter and Timothy left to deliver the decree that James issued, Paul actually circumcised Timothy before they delivered the decree to those that are found in Galatians 15:5.

Acts 16:1-4 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

Why? Because the decree of James proved the position of those in Acts 15:5 to be correct, Paul and Timothy both agreed that Timothy should be circumcised because all of the Jews already knew that he was a Greek. How awkward would it have been for Timothy to be issuing a decree that states that Gentiles were to learn the Law of Moses each Sabbath and still not be practicing the Law of God himself? Timothy felt as though he was ready to outwardly submit to his already inwardly circumcised heart.

Now, remember that many still somehow teach that Acts 15 did away with circumcision thus declaring both groups of Jews in Acts 15:1 AND those in Acts 15:5 to be wrong. Instead, James must have inserted a new (but unspoken) debate that supposedly taught that the Law of Moses is not for converted Gentiles at all.

Verse 15:21 is also not cited and basically deleted for theological consideration because it simply does not fit a law abolishing paradigm.

What we would then have in Acts 16 is Paul and Timothy leaving to go issue the decree to the Jews that supposedly teaches that Gentiles do not need to be circumcised, but right before they leave, Paul actually circumcises Timothy, a converted Gentile. It simply does not add up. Why in the world would Paul and Timothy be issuing decrees to Jews that supposedly abolished circumcision for Greeks and then feel it necessary to circumcise a Greek before they even begin? That would be the definition of insanity and hypocrisy.

Some even teach that Paul is simply trying to please believing Jews by circumcising Timothy. That makes no sense at all either. These Jews are already believers, this was not an evangelizing mission so there is no motive for Paul “pleasing” anyone. In addition, would Timothy have actually allowed himself to be circumcised for such an absurd reason if it was not because God commanded it? Why would Luke have documented this in Acts if it was not important and related to the decision in Acts 15, the same decree that they are leaving to deliver?

In addition, Paul already declared that his motive is to please God not men, thus there is not even a need to debate this:

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Instead, Paul circumcised Timothy because the decree they were issuing teaches that Timothy should want to be circumcised in the flesh if his heart is truly already circumcised inwardly for the Word of God. This is what he would learn in the Sabbath each week as Moses (Law of God) was read from the Moses’ Seat.

Let us again pause here to clear things up. First of all the 119 Ministries INCORRECTLY DIVIDES the Christians who were converted from the Jew's religion in Acts 15:1 from Acts 15:5 to be two DIFFERENT groups of Christians who were both converted from the Jew's religion. But in TRUTH they are teaching the SAME exact thing which is that Gentile Christians MUST be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH in order to be saved. So the main issue is NOT the APPLICATION of HOW circumcision in the flesh is PRACTICED. But rather the issue is this, did Paul teach AGAINST being circumcised in the flesh period. And the answer is an absolute yes, Paul did indeed teach AGAINST being circumcised in the FLESH.

So then, now the question becomes since Paul did INDEED teach AGAINST the law of God concerning be circumcised in the flesh, then WHY did he CIRCUMCISE Timothy?

We will answer this question in PART 4 of this study in God's word Dd-48. Has God's LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? PART 4

Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to read ALL the studies that I gave links to throughout this study concerning this subject on Sabbath TRUTH.

My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.

To learn more TRUTH, then please return to

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If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me.

My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com.

Some Sabbath-keeping Christians CLAIM that the early church kept the Sabbath as the Jews, but I assure you that the early first-century church was accustomed to gathering together BEFORE the light of daybreak on the FIRST day of the week that THEY called the Lord's day.

Please read all the studies linked within this study and all the studies linked below. This study was just the TIP of the iceberg of exposing the ERRORS of interpretation made by the Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping churches, and the Sunday first day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians. All of the studies listed under the subject heading >>>Dd-0. What is the TRUE Sabbath?<<< And also read Dd-20. Did The Early Church KEEP the Sabbath day to learn the truth of what the early church believed.

Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.

Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

RETURN to HOMEPAGE at

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Dd-51. Has God's LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? PART 3