Acts 15:19. "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
20. "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
21. "For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.''
Dear Damon,
The reason why James made the statement from verse 19 to 20 is answered in verse 21.
The Gentiles turning to Yahweh GO TO THE synagogues on SABBATH where Moses (referring to the Law) has been preached also to them.
(Note this shows these Gentiles celebrated Sabbath just like Yahshua did)
The controversy among the Council in Jerusalem is about circumcision as a prerequisite for salvation.
Not about the the whole Law. This is shown in the topic sentence:
Acts 15
1. And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses,
you cannot be saved.''
We know that this is Pharisee theology (human law) not in the Torah. Flesh circumcision does not save anyone. The circumsicion of Abraham was a TOKEN of what had already taken place in the Spirit: the circumcision of the heart.
(By the way, the Torah cannot save anyone. We cannot save ourselves.
Nor can faith by itself. It has to be faith in Yahweh. It is only Yahweh who can save us by the kipporet (Atonement) of His son,Yahshua and His Ruach (Spirit) who gives us the power to do the WHOLE Torah.)
Yakov (James) really just re-quoted the Torah on what they expect from the Gentiles turning to Yahweh.
"but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
These are found in:
Ezekiel 14: 6. "Therefore say to the house of Israel, `Thus says the Lord God: "Repent, turn away from
your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7. "For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the
strangers (Gentiles) who sojourn in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I the Lord will answer him by Myself.
Leviticus 17:10. `And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the
strangers who sojourn among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
Leviticus 18:
7. `The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.
...26. `You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or
any stranger who sojourns among you
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So if Gentiles who turned to Yahweh were doing the Torah, why have the Christians abandoned this lead? And also Paul if truly ceremonial laws are
expired, why was he still doing them and teaching the Gentiles to do so too?
I am sure there is no problem today to say that sexual immorality is wrong. But how about the eating of blood? There is a snag. Or any of the Feasts of Yahweh?
Do we pick and choose from the Law of God what we want? Sabbath is the way Yahshua did it; not the way the Catholic imposed it? Or do you do Sabbath at all? The 7th Day the way God said so or any day of YOUR choosing?
I believe what men classify as ceremonial laws are actually the blueprint and calendar of the WAY and Times of Yahweh.
Did not Yahshua fulfilled Passover exactly on Passover even to the
slaugther of the lambs? He truly RESTED on Sabbath after he said "It is finish" just as His Father rested when He FINISHED creation on the 7th day?
Then did not Yahshua said, "Take up your cross and Follow me"?
Do as He did.
Why are we not following Yahshua? Is it ignorance of Torah?
Remember Torah was also commanded by Yahshua. He wrote it not Moses. He was the one who commanded to do ALL of the Torah, not Moses.
Let me reiterate that Yahweh is the one who empowers us to do ALL Torah. Why? Because if you or I default on ANY Commandment, we SIN.
Hence, Romans 2:13. (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the DOERS of the law will be justified;
Law and Faith are not in opposition. They are complimentary.
One of the definition of Sin is LAWLESSNESS or the absence of Torah.
Of course, I am not an expert in Torah, but these things do make me think.
Derech