One in Messiah Congregation - a study on:

The question of being circumcised to get saved and how keeping the Commandments has nothing to do with that question

Acts.15[ 1] And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
[2] When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
[3] And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
[
4] And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
[
5] But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed , saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. ( pertaining to circumcision )

[6] And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.[ 7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
[
8] 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.[12] Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.[ 13] And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:[ 14] Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.[ 15] And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,[16 ] After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:[17] That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.[ 18] Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

( Learn a little at a time )
[19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:[20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

[21] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

[22] Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
[
23] And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
[24] Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: ( of circumcision ) to whom we gave no such commandment:
[25] It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
[
26] Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[
27] We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

[28] For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
[29] That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Gal.2[1 ] Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
[
2] And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
[3] But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
[4] And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

[5] To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
[
6] But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
[
7] But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
[
8] (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
[
9] And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
[
10] Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

[11] But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
[12] For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.[13] And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.[14] But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

[15] We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
[18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
[
19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
[
20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.[21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Gal.5 [6] For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Gal.6[15] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

1Cor.7[ 18] Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.[19] Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
[20] Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

 

"Above is talking about being circumcised to be saved."

This is not talking about keeping the commandments!!!

Prov.4 [4] He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Prov.7 [2] Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

Deut.4[ 2] Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deut.6[ 17] Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

Deut.7[ 11] Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.

Deut.8[ 6] Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

Deut.10[ 13] To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

Deut.28[ 9] The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

Pss.119[ 115] Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God .

Matt.19[ 17] And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Rev.12[ 17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev.14[ 12] Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

1John.2 [4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Rev.22 [14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

What is sin?

Jas.2[ 8] If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: ( Lev.18:19 )

[9] But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin , and are convinced of the law as transgressors .( respect to persons is an ordinance )

Lev.18[1 ] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[
2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
[
3] After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
[
4] Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
[
5] Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD

Lev.19[ 15] Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Jas.2[ 10] For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.[11 ] For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

1John.3 [4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

1Cor.6 [9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,[10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Rev.21 [8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Rom.126 ] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
[
27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
[
28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
[29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,[30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
[31] Without understanding,
covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
[32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Deut.7[ 9] Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his comm andments to a thousand generations;

Deut.8[ 2] And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no .

Deut.13[ 4] Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Deut.28[ 45] Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

Deut.30[ 10] If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

[16] In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments , that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Josh.22[ 5] But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

1Kgs.8[ 58] That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.

[61] Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

2Kgs.23[ 3] And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

2Chr.34[ 31] And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

Pss.78[ 7] That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

Ecc.12 [13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Dan.9[ 4] And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

1John.2[ 3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1John.3[ 22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

1John.5[ 2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. [3 ] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

[Click Here to Print]