Reading for March 14-18
Acts 21:1-26
Friday
“Paul met with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church . . . . James said, “the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses”
Acts 21:18-21
Paul Taught Faith. James Taught Law. Which is It?
Pastor’s Reflection
Paul arrived in Jerusalem only to be called before the church Tribunal led by Jesus’ brother James. James and the other leaders were very gracious and celebrated all the gentiles having come to believe in Jesus.
However the Jerusalem church had become a Jewish Christian megachurch and as such it was not inclined to throw out the necessity of works of the law. Were they wrong? Was Paul wrong?
Neither was wrong. They both taught salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8,9). And both taught the importance of the law (Jesus had taught that he had come to fulfill every word of the law). Each had a slightly different perspective or emplhasis perhaps, but it was the same Gospel and the same doctrine.
Here’s how I explained it recently to a friend;
The faith works question is a good one and I have come to understand its resolution this way. If I understand the Hebrew scholars correctly believing and doing are inseparable in the Hebrew mind. As a sociologist from another planet would evaluate human beliefs by monitoring what we actually do, the Hebrew mind would not be able to separate “I believe” from the expectation that a corresponding action would follow. In short I think “believe”, “belief”, “trust”, “faith”, “doing”, “works” are all the same thing, maybe like the facets of a diamond. It’s all one diamond and can’t be separated. The question then becomes not how can we put faith and works together, but how can we not dichotomize the “un-dichotomizeable”
Thanks for a very clear explanation on this topic! I agree they cannot be seperated. Good works would of necessity be the fruit of real faith.
ReplyDeleteThe Jewish culture was externally influenced by first the Greek culture and later, the Roman culture. The fact that they were influenced at all by outside cultures shows that they were not impenetable by wrong motives.
ReplyDeletePaul was teaching grace. Grace would include everybody. The Jews were used to being 'the chosen', they didn't want to live up to that responsibility, but they wanted to keep its 'image'.
The old covenant was fulfilled, lets not forget that. It does not exist today for the believer. The new covenant is deeper, richer, and genuine.
The old covenant was 'external', the new is 'internal'.
The new covenant is a relationship built on grace. Our salvation is built on grace. If we are to 'do' anything, it is because that grace allows us to do it in the first place.
I think when this subject comes up, it is important to ask why is it coming up? Do we have a possibly hidden insecurity that keeps us from depending on that grace?
Are we prone to compare what we do with what others do?
Do we secretly feel that our 'fruit' comes from ourselves and not from God?
Do we use the question of works to keep us from a deeper interaction with the Holy Spirit?
"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Cor 3:5-6
Let's move from "how much" we do to "pleasing God with all that we do".
Thank you, Jesus for your everlasting mercies and grace. Keep us in your will, lead us by your love, give us loving and obedient hearts-Amen