Trouble from Jerusalem Acts 15:1-2

Good morning everyone.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

  Some say when one door is closed God opens another; others say when the door is closed God  will open a window.  It really does not matter what we say, the fact is God cares for us and wants us to do well, and HE is always looking out for us.  If you and I will take a moment and look back we can see God's footprint in our lives.  Whether we make good or bad decisions, HE is always there.  Okay, on to Acts 15 - a conflict!

   Acts 15: 1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

  If you will recall, the Jews from Old Testament law were circumcised on the 8th day after birth. This was a covenant between Abraham and God.

  What causes the problem now is that Jesus has come, Jesus has been crucified, dead, buried; and Jesus rose again to fulfill the law and take away our sins so we are no longer tied to the law of Moses.

  Well, the Jews who were converted, had already been circumcised and believed this was part of the rite to become saved, were standing firm that one could not be saved lest he be circumcised.  However, now there were Gentiles as well as Jews being saved.  If you recall earlier, Peter had trouble with this until his vision.

   The Jewish converts from Judaea came and insisted on the circumcision as a requirement for salvation.  Later in the chapter it is indicated that these converts were from among the Pharisees, the strictest sects of the Jews. 

  Now if you recall Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch. So... Acts 15: 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

    Paul and Barnabas and other chosen disciples left Antioch for Jerusalem, passing through Phenice and Samaria and sharing the gospel on their way.  As we continue on they had a joyous trip and then encountered the conflict.  We'll look more into this later on.  Thank you for reading. Don't forget to pray for all. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny