Desire Of All Nations
Well-Known Member
This is unequivocally false.Saying nothing of the kind. We are not Jews. This argument was settled in 50 ad at the first Christian council in Jerusalem. Paul spent a good part of his ministry fighting against people that wanted to bring Judaism and the Law into Christianity.
1. Acts 15:1 shows the true context of what the council wanted to address:
"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.”"
The issue was with men telling Christians their salvation hinged on getting physically circumcised, not keeping the Law. . Furthermore, Paul confirmed for some of the Christian elders that asked him about it in Acts 21:21-25 that this was the specific issue that addressed. Considering Acts consistently shows Paul's Jewish critics falsely accusing him of teaching against the Law, it makes no sense for any professing Christian to tell the same lie.
2. The Bible teaches that a person has no part with Christ if they don't become a spiritual Jew:
"Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." - Eph. 2:12
It should also behoove you to realize Paul and Christ both stated that true Christians are Jews regardless of their physical ethnicity:
"but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." - Rom. 2:29
"And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." - Gal. 6:16
“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." - Rev. 2:9
"“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you." - Rev. 3:9
The Bible also teaches in Rom. 11 that a person must be grafted into the tree of Israel and keep the Law to be considered a Christian under the NC, just like non-Israelites had to be physically circumcised and keep the Law to be part of the Israelite community under the OC. As Christ said, salvation is of the Jews. Gentiles have to adopt the customs Israel was given to inherit the promise made to Abraham, not the other way around.
3. Eph. 2:19-20 says that true Christianity is based on everything the apostles and prophets wrote. And according to the Bible, Moses was a prophet. Paul also wrote in 2 Tim. 3 that ALL of the biblical books are profitable for instruction in righteousness for a man(or woman) of God to be thoroughly equipped to fulfill their Christian duties. Again, it makes no sense for any professing Christian to argue Paul tried to keep God's Church from keeping the Law. If that were true, Acts wouldn't consistently show Paul teaching Gentiles on the Sabbath and the Corinthian letters wouldn't show Paul rebuking that congregation for not correctly keeping the NT Passover.
One of the more obvious problems with the assumption that Paul was anti-Law is that he can be seen teaching against idolatry, sexual immorality, witchcraft, murder, murder, coveting, lying, and other such things that are condemned in the Law throughout his letters. He can also be seen agreeing with Genesis where it teaches that God created the world and everything that exists on it.
There is simply no way anyone can honestly argue Paul was anti-Law unless they're simply trying to discard God's standards of sin to live by their own, at which case the most that can be said about such a person's brand of Christianity is that it's as profitable as practicing atheism. As Christ said, whoever doesn't believe Moses doesn't believe Him.
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