The Apostles Had To Fight A Two Front War.
THE FIRST WAR FRONT WAS WITHIN JUDAISM
We will understand how churches today use Paul's words against Jewish over-regulation as proof that the Law is done away; this would especially include the sabbath commandment. Paul, the major Apostle, who wrote most of New Testament, is misunderstood. First, remember the church was considered in the early years, as just another sect within Judaism. The balanced truths they exhibited were unpopular with leaders of their nation.
Acts 28:21 And they said to him, For our part, we have neither received letters from Judea concerning thee, nor has any one of the brethren who has arrived reported or said anything evil concerning thee. 22 But we beg to hear of thee what thou thinkest, for as concerning this sect it is known to us that it is everywhere spoken against.
First, I want to state that the vast number of churches have inherited their doctrines from Catholicism. Then add, that when the Bible was circulated and reached more people, they had to not only remove themselves from Papal Authority but also from some of its false doctrines. Church leaders then saw ways to justify their actions by taking Paul out of context. I think they genuinely were deceived. Let's return to the excitement of the first century. Christianity took the empire by storm. Conversions were really growing. It is believed that church size could have been 100,000 by the end of the century and accelerating in growth into the second century. But how did Jewish leaders respond? They simply said that you cannot be a true believer in the real God without circumcision. The Jews wanted to use circumcision to limit the number of gentiles that would join. This was not God's will as was decided in Acts 15.l
Galatians 5:1-2 DBY 1. Christ has set us free in freedom; stand fast therefore, and be not held again in a yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I, Paul, say to you, that if ye are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
These verses are to protect freedom from Jewish extremism.
MATURE AND FREE, OBEDIENCE, VERSUS RELIGIOUS ENSLAVEMENT
Paul tells them that they should not be religious slaves like worshipers in Jerusalem were, but free and mature individuals who no longer need a tutor or a governess.
Galatians 4:25-31 NKJV 25 ...to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children--30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Paul is saying if you become circumcised you are now playing their game, the earn your salvation game. It is one of trying to save ourselves by our own efforts. We are saved by Jesus! It is trying to be very Godly in the wrong manner. This kind of religious administration Christ condemned as bondage.
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV 28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Much of the leadership in Judaism kept the people under heavy burdens; Jesus came to free them. Paul is trying to keep the Galatians from being ensnared into this kind of bondage.
Galatians 2:3-5 NKJV 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),
Paul explains that their secret agenda is to bring the church into bondage like the Jews in Jerusalem. He explains that circumcision of the heart is all that is needed for adult gentiles. Paul is giving them a deeper, more spiritual understanding of God's Laws. The opposition had another sinister motive. These Judaizers wanted to keep the worship of God primarily within a Jewish world. They were shocked to see vast numbers of raw gentiles being converted away from paganism to the truth by Paul's missionary work. They realized that if they required circumcision it would limit the number of pagan gentile converts.
Galatians 2:5 NKJV 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Paul knew better. He knew Christ's rebuke of religious leaders and their form of worship of the true God.
JESUS WARNED OF THE OVER REGULATION OF THE TRUE RELIGION
When surrounded by the leaders who criticized Christ's disciples for not abiding by tradition, in this case rules, what was his answer?
Mark 7:1-6 DBY 1 And the Pharisees and some of the scribes, coming from Jerusalem, are gathered together to him, ... 3 (for the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands diligently, do not eat, holding what has been delivered by the ancients... and there are many other things which they have received to hold, the washing of cups and vessels, and brazen utensils, and couches), 5 then the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why do thy disciples not walk according to what has been delivered by the ancients 6 But he answering said to them, Well did Esaias prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.
What was Jesus cutting reply to them?
Mark 7:7-8 DBY 7 But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their teachings commandments of men. 8 For, leaving the commandment of God, ye hold what is delivered by men to keep --washings of vessels and cups, and many other such like things ye do.
He quotes a verses out their Bible proving them to be nit picking, rule making hypocrites. Over-regulation does not make one a true worshiper of God; loving God and his ways are the answer. Some of their rules actual fight God's law, like the corban rule, to get around taking care of your elderly parents, then goes further:
Mark 7:20-23 DBY 20 And he said, That which goes forth out of the man, that defiles the man. 21 For ;m within, out of the heart of men, go forth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness's, deceit, licentiousness, a wicked eye, injurious language, haughtiness, folly; 23 all these wicked things go forth from within and defile the man.
Why did Paul call Jerusalem of his day a place of bondage?
Galatians 4:24-25 DBY 24 Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which is now, for she is in bondage with her children;
The Apostles' war against over-regulation was a continuation of Jesus Christ war with his people under bondage.
Luke 18:9-12 NKJV 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
Jesus warned against this kind of self-righteous thinking that some of the scribes and Pharisees were living. This picky over regulation of worship of God was spiritually undermining and enslaving them.
Mark 2:23-28 NKJV 23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 25 But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry,... in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" 27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 "Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath
The exciting part two is coming next week, God willing; a battle against the powerful empire and clever tactics of Satan. That battle is still ongoing and for some, our salvation may hang in the balance if we do not understand the tactics. Judaism and the fast growing church, separated at the end of the century passed away. However the second front and this battle which also started in the latter years of Apostles got stronger and continues to this day.
