Do Jews Have To Be Circumcised?

Tom:

This is our Understanding the Scriptures segment, we are in Acts Chapter 15, Dave, made it to another chapter, we’re moving right along.“And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” That’s not good.

Dave:

Salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast.We are not under the law, but we call these men “Judaizers”.In other words, they are telling the Gentile Christians---they’ve come to Antioch, which is the first Gentile church---and they’re telling them, You really have to keep the law, too, you know.It’s not enough just to believe Jesus died for your sins, but you’ve really got to live a perfect life in obedience to the law.The Book of Galatians, much of it is written to counteract this whole idea, and Verse 2, Therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, and they, that is, the elders there in Antioch, determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.A very interesting passage, Tom.We’re going to find out whether we should obey the law, whether Christians are under the law or not.It was carefully considered by the original apostles and the elders there in Jerusalem.

Tom:

And it’s not just a problem within Christianity, every religion outside of biblical Christianity is works oriented.You know, a friend of mine likes to say, There are only two religions in the world; There is divine accomplishment and human achievement, and only biblical Christianity comes under the label of divine accomplishment.Christ did it all.

Dave:

Right.Another way of saying it is, Christianity is not about what I can do, what I am going to do, it’s about what Jesus did.Okay.So, but nevertheless they are going to bring this problem to the church.

Tom:

Right.Verse 3, “And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles:and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.”

Dave:

Well, Tom, as you recall, those who have been following this Bible study recall, even the disciples to begin with, Peter for example, could not believe that the gospel was for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews.And that kind of carries over here:Well okay, you’re getting the gospel, you’re getting saved, but nevertheless, you’ve got to keep the law.And furthermore, it kept the Jews in bondage.But here it says, It brought great joy to the brethren to know that Gentiles are becoming believers.Now it doesn’t tell us exactly what shade of joy this was, that we’re bringing them into Judaism or, I’m not entirely certain of that and I’m sure there was a mixed reaction.

Tom:

“And when they were come to Jerusalem---now here is where they are going to get the reaction---they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.”“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believe, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”So these guys needed to be straightened out within their own ranks, never mind the Gentiles.

Dave:

Yeah, so there’s big discussion.Apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.And Verse 7, And when there had been much disputing,---Now how are we going to settle this dispute?You see, you can say, Well, we’re going to ask God to inspire us.No, we’re going to go by the Bible, and they began to quote the Bible.

Tom:

Well, Dave, this is so important.Last week, or week before, I mean, we’ve been talking about prophecy, and we were talking about some of the verses that, had they have known, taken to heart, those who followed Jesus, John the Baptist, we also mentioned, and so on.Well, it’s the same thing here.All we needed to do was go to their prophets.Let’s see if this is legitimate, based on what the prophets had said.

Dave:

It’s clear all through the Old Testament that the gospel was for everybody.And if we went to Malachi:1:11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
See All..., remember, it says:God says, my name shall be great among the Gentiles.And He takes the Jews to task for their sacrifices when their heart is not right.In Isaiah:1:18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
See All..., God says, Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord.And he talks about the examples that we have in the Old Testament, for example, the Passover, the lamb.What did you have to do?Well, the lamb had to be slain, its blood sprinkled, and then you ate the lamb.It had nothing to do with the law.It had nothing to do with morality; it was an act of faith in a redemption, in a means of salvation, that you had nothing to do with that you had to trust.Now the classic example, of course, and this really is one is for the Calvinist.I don’t want to keep hammering at Calvinists, but Tom, everywhere you look in the Bible there it is, you have a choice to make.John:3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
See All..., the Calvinist says, Well, that’s cosmos, that means the world of the elect.Some of them would say, God so loved the world of the elect He gave His only begotten Son to die only for the elect.That’s limited atonement, or particular redemption, you could call it.But Jesus introduces Verse 16 with Verses 14 and 15, and Jesus says John:3:14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
See All...:“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”And let me just find that incident.

Tom:

Is it in Numbers?

Dave:

Right, Numbers 21, I believe, let’s take a quick look.Numbers 21, and the people are complaining against Moses, and God sends fiery serpents, it says, they are biting them, they are dying.The serpent is a picture of Satan, of course, and of sin.So, these people, they have rebelled and God’s judgment comes upon them because of their sin, and this is what these serpents mean.

Tom:

You’re not being anti-Semitic here, are you, Dave?

Dave:

No, this is what the Bible says, it’s a fact.And the people came to Moses, Numbers:21:7Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
See All..., and said:We’ve sinned, we have spoken against the Lord, and against you; pray the Lord that he will take away the serpents from us.Moses prayed for the people.So what does God say?Well, just tell them to turn over a new leaf and be good boys and girls from now on, behave themselves and get back to obeying my law.Well, that’s not going to help here.The Lord said unto Moses:Make a serpent, and set it upon a pole, make it out of brass so that every one that is bitten when he looketh upon it--that’s Verse 8--shall live.Now, that’s pretty clear!Every one who has been bitten, every sinner can look.And Moses put a serpent of brass on a pole, and if the serpent had bitten ANY man, I like that---Calvinists out there, please listen.Every one, ANY man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.That’s all you had to do, believe, look to the means of forgiveness.And this is what they are debating now in Jerusalem.Well, what do we have to do?O, you’ve got to keep the law.Nothing about keeping the law here!They were delivered from sin, and so Jesus goes on and He says: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up--- He’s going to have to die for our sins---that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.So Tom, you’ve got the heart of the gospel is being debated here in Jerusalem, and it’s a great lesson for everyone.