The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 23 October 2023 – The Call Into The Kingdom
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TOPIC: The Call Into The Kingdom
READ: Acts 15:12-22 (NKJV)
- Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
- And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men [and] brethren, listen to me:
- “Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
- “And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
- ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
- So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.’
- “Known to God from eternity are all His works.
- “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
- “but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, [from] sexual immorality, [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.
- “For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
- 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 who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
THE MESSAGE:
The Church Council in Jerusalem was considering the issue of the relationship of the gentile believer with the ceremonial law of Moses. The bottom line was: Was it necessary to become a Jew in order to be saved? This is exactly what the Jews had believed for years. Now that Gentile believers were being saved through faith in Christ, was it necessary that they went through the ritual of circumcision and the other ceremonial requirements of the Mosaic Law in order to be saved. This was not an issue of keeping the moral laws of God; these were non-negotiable.
Peter had presented his arguments before the Council and his conclusion was that God had saved the Gentiles by His grace, and that they should not try to put on them the yoke of bondage that neither they nor their fathers were able to bear. Peter had finished his arguments and the chair now recognised Paul and Barnabas. We must note that the kingdom is not for any tribe but to those who does the will of the father.
PRAYER: Lord, may I never discredit anyone called into Your kingdom service but work in faith with Christ, Amen.
