World War 3 is at Hand
While we wait for Israel and the West to attack the Iranian nuclear facilities to start World War 3, let's check our own Christian faith, doctrine and knowledge of Him and His words.
Anointed Apostles
Mat 26:27-28 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Jesus started His ministry by calling twelve Jews to be His disciples. They were from rural areas, farmers, and fisherman. They were uneducated commoners but simple men of faith, who gave up everything to be followers of the Messiah or Christ. Jesus spent three years training these men to be leaders. All of them were familiar with His teachings, healings and signs and wonders found in the four gospels.
They were told to preach the gospel of grace to all nations. They partook of the holy communion of Jesus new covenant of His blood, which was established at His death at the cross. After His resurrection, He gave to every apostle the Holy Spirit of redemption.
At Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and they witnessed 3,000 devout Jews saved at Peter's preaching. Later, these disciples led many Jews in Judea, Galilee and Samaria to the Lord. They were truly Jesus's anointed disciples.
What is Going On?
Act 11:1-3 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, "You went into uncircumcised men and ate with them!"
These anointed apostles and disciples should be rejoicing when so many Gentiles were added to the Body of Christ as commissioned by the Lord Jesus, instead they admonished Peter for reaching out to the Gentiles. Have they forgotten our Lord's great commission? Are they still fearful of being defiled by Gentiles? Where is the truth in these anointed apostles?
Most Destructive Heresy Today
Act 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."
God called Paul (Saul) of Tarsus a devout Jew to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. He was bold, fearless and faithful to God's words. He showed extreme zeal in his mission to arrest Christians, whom the Jewish leadership considered as deviant or heretic.
Having known that salvation is by grace for both Jews and Gentiles, he stood firm on the word of God. He rejected the command from the apostles in Jerusalem to circumcise these new Gentile converts.
Gal 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Peter's Testimonies
Act 15:7,10-11 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they."
Peter's testimonies convicted those who have not been delivered from Judaism. It also reminded them that God is faithful to His words.
The Jerusalem Council
Act 15:19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
Thank God for the Jerusalem Council (the fellowship of Jesus' godly Apostles and disciples), which was guided by the Holy Spirit. The above instructions are from the Noahic covenant (Gen 9:3-4), confirming that Gentles are not Jews.
