Biblical Conversion To Christ: What Does It Look Like?

 In these last days that we live in, we are witnessing the fulfillment of many biblical prophecies and prophetic words of God and His ministers. One prophetic word given by Paul is clearly coming to pass in this generation.

Paul said this in 2nd Timothy 4:3 

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

How can you reach a person who has turned away from listening to the truth? You can't! Even Jesus couldn't do many works in His hometown because of unbelief, when there is unbelief in the hearts of the hearers there is absolutely nothing anyone can do, including God! Remember God allowed a whole generation of His own people to perish in the desert for unbelief.

So with all the multitudes of people preaching and teaching on 'how to be saved', how can one know the true way to eternal life and entrance into the kingdom of God? Our only true source of Godly direction and answers comes from the scriptures contained in what we call the 'bible'.

Let me start by clarifying what we really should be saying in regards to the salvation of our souls. The scriptures teach us that we are 'converted' to Christ not instantly 'saved' the moment we confess that Jesus is Lord or repeat a so-called 'sinners prayer'. So to say that 'I'm saved', 'I got saved', or 'I've been saved' etc..., is not correct according to the scriptures and therefore a doctrine of man.

The scriptures teach that salvation is an ongoing process once a soul is converted to Christ and enters the kingdom of God. When we read a passage like Romans 10:9 we MUST put the scriptures in context of who is speaking and who is being spoken to!

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Taken out of context this scripture has been used erroneously for decades to make people think that they are instantly 'saved' when they profess their belief in Jesus. But look carefully at the words of the text 'you WILL BE saved', that's future tense is it not? Indeed it is, and there is no instant salvation taught anywhere in scripture.

Conversion means: to turn, turn around

Matthew 18:1-4

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Acts 3:17-20

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,"

John the baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord and he was also sent to baptize people with water for repentance, John's baptism in water was the start of a transition period from the Old Covenant, into the New Covenant.

Matthew 3:11

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Question: What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and Fire?

The answer is found in Acts 1:4-5,6-8, & Acts 2:1-4

"And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

"So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

"When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Question: Can we receive this same baptism with the Holy Spirit and Fire today?

The answer is found in Acts 2:36-39

"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise (Holy Spirit) is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

The first century Christians experienced a life of power, spiritual gifts, boldness and a love for one another that turned the world upside down! I pray that we will also see days like they did and even greater as this age comes to a close.

In Jesus,
Tyrone

A NOVA ALIANCA (PACTO)

02 de Junho de 2012

Escrita por: Tyrone D. Palmer

Traducao: Cynthia R. Palmer

This message can also be found written in English in our blog on 06/02/2012

Marcos 14:22-25

“22 Enquanto comiam, Jesus tomou pão e, abençoando-o, o partiu e deu-lho, dizendo: Tomai; isto é o meu corpo. 23 E tomando um cálice, rendeu graças e deu-lho; e todos beberam dele. 24 E disse-lhes: Isto é o meu sangue, o sangue do pacto(alianca), que por muitos é derramado. 25 Em verdade vos digo que não beberei mais do fruto da videira, até aquele dia em que o beber, novo, no reino de Deus.”

Quando o sangue de Jesus foi derramado na cruz pelos pecados do mundo, Ele comprou a Nova Alianca para nos. A Velha Alianca (Pacto) que Deus fez com seus filhos Israelitas foi feita obsoleta atraves do sacrificio expiatorio do corpo de Cristo de uma vez por todas.

A Velha alianca tinha as leis Mosaicas e mandamentos que os filhos de Israel tinham que obedecer para poderem continuarem em um relacionamento de alianca com Deus. A Nova Alianca de Deus que foi estabelecida pelo cumprimento da lei e da morte sacrificial de Jesus fez provisao para todo homem ser reconciliado a Deus.

Hebreus 8:7-13

“7 Pois, se aquele primeiro fora sem defeito, nunca se teria buscado lugar para o segundo. 8 Porque repreendendo-os, diz: Eis que virão dias, diz o Senhor, em que estabelecerei com a casa de Israel e com a casa de Judá um novo pacto (alianca). 9 Não segundo o pacto(alianca) que fiz com seus pais no dia em que os tomei pela mão, para os tirar da terra do Egito; pois não permaneceram naquele meu pacto, e eu para eles não atentei, diz o Senhor. 10 Ora, este é o pacto que farei com a casa de Israel, depois daqueles dias, diz o Senhor; porei as minhas leis no seu entendimento, e em seu coração as escreverei; eu serei o seu Deus, e eles serão o meu povo; 11 e não ensinará cada um ao seu concidadão, nem cada um ao seu irmão, dizendo: Conhece ao Senhor; porque todos me conhecerão, desde o menor deles até o maior. 12 Porque serei misericordioso para com suas iniquidades, e de seus pecados não me lembrarei mais. 13 Dizendo: Novo pacto, ele tornou antiquado o primeiro. E o que se torna antiquado e envelhece, perto está de desaparecer.”

Essas escrituras nos fala claramente que Deus fez uma Nova Alianca com a casa de Israel e porque Jesus Cristo derrubou o muro que dividia os Judeus &Gentios, todo homem na terra e capaz de ter um relacionamento de alianca com Deus! E aqueles que uma vez foram gentios na carne entram na Nova Alianca atraves de "nascer denovo de cima" e sao agora considerados parte da nacao de Israel!

Efesioss 2:11-22

"11 Portanto, lembrai-vos que outrora vós, gentios na carne, chamam circuncisão, feita pela mão dos homens, 12 estáveis naquele tempo sem Cristo, separados da comunidade de Israel, e estranhos aos pactos da promessa, não tendo esperança, e sem Deus no mundo. 13 Mas agora, em Cristo Jesus, vós, que antes estáveis longe, já pelo sangue de Cristo chegastes perto. 14 Porque ele é a nossa paz, o qual de ambos os povos fez um; e, derrubando a parede de separação que estava no meio, na sua carne desfez a inimizade, 15 isto é, a lei dos mandamentos contidos em ordenanças, para criar, em si mesmo, dos dois um novo homem, assim fazendo a paz, 16 e pela cruz reconciliar ambos com Deus em um só corpo, tendo por ela matado a inimizade; 17 e, vindo, ele evangelizou paz a vós que estáveis longe, e paz aos que estavam perto; 18 porque por ele ambos temos acesso ao Pai em um mesmo Espírito. 19 Assim, pois, não sois mais estrangeiros, nem forasteiros, antes sois concidadãos dos santos e membros da família de Deus, 20 edificados sobre o fundamento dos apóstolos e dos profetas, sendo o próprio Cristo Jesus a principal pedra da esquina; 21 no qual todo o edifício bem ajustado cresce para templo santo no Senhor, 22 no qual também vós juntamente sois edificados para morada de Deus no Espírito.

Antes do ministerio de Cristo, Deus enviou Joao , o Batista para preparar o caminho para Jesus e Ele usou Joao para comecar a transicao da ordenanca de sacrificio de animais para perdao dos pecados da Velha Alianca , para o batismo nas aguas por imersao para perdao dos pecados.

Marcos 1:1-8

"Princípio do evangelho de Jesus Cristo, Filho de Deus. 2 Conforme está escrito no profeta Isaías: Eis que envio ante a tua face o meu mensageiro, que há de preparar o teu caminho; 3 voz do que clama no deserto: Preparai o caminho do Senhor, endireitai as suas veredas; 4 assim apareceu João, o Batista, no deserto, pregando o batismo de arrependimento para remissão dos pecados. 5 E saíam a ter com ele toda a terra da Judéia, e todos os moradores de Jerusalém; e eram por ele batizados no rio Jordão, confessando os seus pecados. 6 Ora, João usava uma veste de pêlos de camelo, e um cinto de couro em torno de seus lombos, e comia gafanhotos e mel silvestre. 7 E pregava, dizendo: Após mim vem aquele que é mais poderoso do que eu, de quem não sou digno de, inclinando-me, desatar a correia das alparcas. 8 Eu vos batizei em água; Ele, porém, vos batizará no Espírito Santo."

Como a Velha Alianca tinha ordenancas que as pessoas de Deus tinham que obedecer para entrarem na alianaca e permanecerem justos com Deus; a Nova Alianca tambem tem ordenancas que os convertidos a Jesus Cristo devem obedecer para entrarem e permanecerem no amor de Deus.

Joao 3:1-7

" Ora, havia entre os fariseus um homem chamado Nicodemos, um dos principais dos judeus. 2 Este foi ter com Jesus, de noite, e disse-lhe: Rabi, sabemos que és Mestre, vindo de Deus; pois ninguém pode fazer estes sinais que tu fazes, se Deus não estiver com ele. 3 Respondeu-lhe Jesus: Em verdade, em verdade te digo que se alguém não nascer de novo, não pode ver o reino de Deus. 4 Perguntou-lhe Nicodemos: Como pode um homem nascer, sendo velho? Porventura pode tornar a entrar no ventre de sua mãe, e nascer? 5 Jesus respondeu: Em verdade, em verdade te digo que se alguém não nascer da água e do Espírito, não pode entrar no reino de Deus. 6 O que é nascido da carne é carne, e o que é nascido do Espírito é espírito. 7 Não te admires de eu te haver dito: Necessário vos é nascer de novo."

Nessas escrituras Jesus nos da a ordenanca da Nova Alianca que Ele recebeu do Pai, e todos os que acreditam no evangelho devem obedecer para entrarem no Reino e pacto de Deus.

A mensagem que Pedro pregou no dia de Pentecostes no primeiro seculo sendo liderado pelo Espirito nos da a mesma ordenanca que Jesus disse a Nicodemos, mas com palavras diferentes.

Atos 2:36-39

" Saiba pois com certeza toda a casa de Israel que a esse mesmo Jesus, a quem vós crucificastes, Deus o fez Senhor e Cristo. 37 E, ouvindo eles isto, compungiram-se em seu coração, e perguntaram a Pedro e aos demais apóstolos: Que faremos, irmãos? 38 Pedro então lhes respondeu: Arrependei-vos, e cada um de vós seja batizado em nome de Jesus Cristo, para remissão de vossos pecados; e recebereis o dom do Espírito Santo. 39 Porque a promessa vos pertence a vós, a vossos filhos, e a todos os que estão longe: a quantos o Senhor nosso Deus chamar."

Jesus, que e o Sumo Sacerdote no Ceu e o mediador da Nova Alianca de Deus para aqueles que nascem de cima (denovo) entrou uma vez por todas no Santo Lugar, e Seu sangue que foi derramado comprou uma alianca melhor com promessas melhores que duram eternamente.

Hebreus 9:11-15

"11 Mas Cristo, tendo vindo como sumo sacerdote dos bens já realizados, por meio do maior e mais perfeito tabernáculo (não feito por mãos, isto é, não desta criação), 12 e não pelo sangue de bodes e novilhos, mas por seu próprio sangue, entrou uma vez por todas no santo lugar, havendo obtido uma eterna redenção. 13 Porque, se a aspersão do sangue de bodes e de touros, e das cinzas duma novilha santifica os contaminados, quanto a purificação da carne, 14 quanto mais o sangue de Cristo, que pelo Espírito eterno se ofereceu a si mesmo imaculado a Deus, purificará das obras mortas a vossa consciência, para servirdes ao Deus vivo? 15 E por isso é mediador de um novo pacto, para que, intervindo a morte para remissão das transgressões cometidas debaixo do primeiro pacto, os chamados recebam a promessa da herança eterna."

Em Jesus,

Tyrone

The Tithe? (Audio Message)

The tithing Law of Moses that was given to the Israelite nation by God has been used for centuries to collect money from believers to fund the buildings of man and the salaries of clergy. The misuse of the tithe has led to divisions in many families and marriages, causing a multitude of Christians over the years to go without food, pay their bills, put gas in the car, buy clothes, and many other necessities of life. It has also caused many believers to feel manipulated, guilty, and afraid that God will curse them if they don’t tithe or can't give due to their financial situation. Listen in and learn the truth!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tyroneandcynthiapalmer/2012/07/22/the-tithe-1

In Jesus,
Tyrone

The Sign Of The Seal

Acts 2:1-4

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

These scriptures in Acts have been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misapplied for decades, but by the grace of God and the revelation of the Holy Spirit I want to shed some new light on the subject of receiving the Holy Spirit and the sign of speaking in other languages.

First let's take a look at the father of faith Abraham, and what God did with him and his descendants (Israel) when He established a covenant with them.

Genesis 17:9-14

"And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

In these scriptures we see God establish a covenant between Abraham and his descendants throughout their generations. The sign of the covenant between Abraham and God was circumcision, every male child that was among him at the time and every one after was to be circumcised in the flesh of their foreskins. The family of Abraham probably thought he was crazy being circumcised at ninety-nine years old! But this is what God chose for him to do, and Abraham obeyed the words of God immediately!

The Old Covenant law of circumcision remained in effect up until Jesus said, "it is finished" on the cross of Calvary, this is when He fulfilled all the law. After that point a New Covenant was purchased for us by the shed blood of Jesus, and with a New Covenant there came new commandments, no longer would there be physical laws to keep in order to be in relationship with God, now the commandments would be primarily spiritual. God would put His laws in the mind and write them upon the hearts of His people by the Spirit.

With a New Covenant there also came a new way to enter into covenant relationship with God and that way is through Jesus Christ, not the law of Moses. Now, one must believe the gospel and be born from above, born of water and Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

Hebrews 8:10-13

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."

Ephesians 1:11-14

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

Ephesians 4:29-30

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

2nd Corinthians 1:21-22

"Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."

When we enter the New Covenant of God He seals us with the Holy Spirit, and the sign of the Seal is speaking in other languages! Just as the sign of the Covenant with Abraham and his descendants was circumcision in the flesh.

This brings us back to Acts 2:1-4 where we see the Holy Spirit is first given to the apostles and disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. They hear a mighty rushing wind from Heaven and then they see cloven tongues like fire sit upon each of their heads, they were all filled with the Spirit, and then they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.

What we need to understand here is that their eyes were opened by God to see into the spiritual realm and they saw the manifestation of the Holy Spirit as a tongue of fire on their heads, and the physical manifestation of what was happening at that moment in the spirit was the outward sign of speaking in other languages. This is how all the believers in the upper room were able to know that they had received the promise of the Father! They were now sealed with the Holy Spirit of God!

The book of Acts is the only New Testament book that gives us conversion examples of the first century believers in Christ, and what we see in Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:44-46, and Acts 19:1-7 are clear examples of what it looks like to be converted to Christ.

Acts 10:44-46

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days."

Acts 19:1-7

"And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all."

In these scriptures we see that these converts to Christ all spoke in tongues as the sign of the Seal was manifested in their flesh. What also accompanied the tongues was prophesying, and magnifying God. On the day of Pentecost only tongues was manifested, as this is the sign of receiving or being sealed with the Holy Spirit.

All believers who are converted to Christ according to the biblical pattern of baptism in water and the Spirit will manifest the outward sign of speaking in other tongues. This is how the believer will know that they have been sealed with the Holy Spirit!

Here is what Jesus said in Mark 16:14-18

"Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Speaking in other languages is the sign that will follow the believer who has been baptized into Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit!

Now here's the questions every believer must ask themselves. Am I in the New Covenant of God? And have I been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise?

I pray this message has enlightened you.

Many Blessings,
Tyrone

Keep The Law Of Moses?

Over the past year I have witnessed yet another scheme of Satan to draw believers away from Jesus and His teachings, His English name, and His commandments. Many born again, Spirit-filled believers are going back to the law of Moses, the Torah, the Talmud, Judaism, the Hebrew language and everything else that's Jewish, why?

Is Jesus not the Son of God? Is Jesus not the Word manifested in the flesh? Is He and the Father One? Didn't He only speak what the Father told Him to speak? Is Jesus not the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

When God Almighty in the flesh said ALL the Law AND the Prophets hang on two commandments did He lie?

Matthew 22:34-40

"But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Paul who received his gospel and knowledge by revelation of Jesus Christ wrote the same thing in his epistle to the Roman saints.

Romans 13:8-10

^"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

In Acts 15 Paul and Barnabas disputed with some brethren from Judea who were telling the new gentile converts that they had to be circumcised according to the custom of Moses or else they couldn't be saved. And what did they do?

Acts 15:2

"Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question."

Did they take it upon themselves to decide the matter? Nope! They decided to go up to Jerusalem and speak to more apostles AND elders about it.

Acts 15:4-5

"And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Sounds familiar doesn't it? I have heard very similar words coming from many believer's today!

After more disputing over this matter Peter stood up and spoke.

Acts 15:6-11

"Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,  and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

This word from Peter silenced them all! What a wonderful example of how a dispute should be resolved in the New Covenant church of Christ.

Then to conclude the matter, the apostles and elders along with the whole church of Jerusalem decided to send Judas and Silas who were prophets down to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They also wrote a letter telling the gentile brethren what they had decided.

Acts 15:23-29

"They wrote this, letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:  that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

Here we have some of the apostles who walked with God in the flesh, elders who were appointed and approved by God to lead in the church of Jerusalem, James, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Judas, men who were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, along with the entire church making a decision about the matter of the gentile converts being circumcised and keeping the law. Now if all these godly apostles, prophets, elders, and brethren, with guidance from the Holy Spirit didn't decide to tell the gentiles to keep the law, then who are we today to tell a believer they need to keep the law?

Jesus died and shed His blood on the cross of Calvary to set us free from the law, sin, and death, so why would some want to go back into bondage? It's like the Israelites in the desert, they murmured and complained, wanting to go back to Egypt where they were in bondage and enslaved four hundred years!

My prayer is that the saints of God today will truly realize the freedom we have in Christ and keep themselves from being bound by the law.

John 1:17

"For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

With All Love In Sincerity And Truth,
Tyrone