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Monday, November
16, 2009
No Difference
Acts 15:8-11 And God, which knoweth the
hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto
us; (9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts
by faith. (10) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck
of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor 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. (KJV)
Simple conclusion, right? When reading
the account in chapter 15 we see much disputing over the fact of the old
law and its rituals, something many were still holding onto, as many still
do to this day. Verse 11 gives a simple, correct response, which if they
had adhered to it there would have been no problems anymore. However, some
thought back then as some do today, that they have special privileges with
God, which they base on their carnal heritage and not on the Spiritual one.
Galatians 3:26-28 For ye are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have
been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:
for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (KJV)
The real baptism that should be taking
place within the believers in Christ is an inward renewal and cleansing of
the Holy Spirit, and not anything based on the outward baptism that took
place before. As we see clearly, that in our Lord’s realm, according to His
sight (that being insight into the inner man), He no longer knows anyone
after the flesh, but bases our relationship with Him in Spirit and
according to truth.
1 Corinthians 12:5-7 And there are
differences of administrations, but the same Lord. (6) And there are
diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
(7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal. (KJV)
God is no respecter of people; He does
not play favorites, and the gift of His Spirit was poured out on all flesh
to partake of. It seems like for every different culture of people around
this world, they have their own spin and put their denominational tags on
how they think the Spirit should operate. However, in the end, our Lord is
quite specific to point out that it is one Lord, one Faith, and only one
baptism that He gives credence to. So in order to be baptized into Christ,
and to put on Christ, well, that involves something in the realm of the
Spirit that goes way beyond just dunking someone in carnal waters.
Acts 21:20-22 And when they heard it,
they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many
thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the
law: (21) And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews
which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not
to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. (22) What
is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear
that thou art come. (KJV)
If you go back and read earlier you will
see that Paul was warned twice through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem,
because as you will see they still considered the Gentiles inferior to
them.
Acts 21:23-25 Do therefore this that we
say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; (24) Them take, and
purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave
their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed
concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly,
and keepest the law. (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. (KJV)
Apparently the Jews didn’t get the memo
sent from heaven, as many today still haven’t gotten, because they decided
that certain laws pertained to certain groups. Even Paul found out the hard
way, because we see him trying to appease the people by adhering to the
law. As far as the law of faith goes, today, right now, in the realm of the
Spirit, there truly is no difference.
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