FOUR JEWISH LAWS THAT APPLY TO US      The Acts of the Apostles Part 26

The Teaching Ministry of Rick Trice

February 26, 2006

TRINITY FELLOWSHIP

Raton, NM

ACTS 21:15-25

NUMBERS 6:18

LEV. 17:11-12  “LIFE IN THE BLOOD”

I COR 10:14-33)

PAUL HAS SPENT THE LAST 20 YEARS OF HIS LIFE PRACTICING HIS PRIMARY MISSION:  TO SHARE JESUS CHRIST WITH THE GENTILES; GOD HAS PREPARED HIM ALL THIS TIME TO TAKE THIS MESSAGE INTO THE VERY HEART OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE; THE CAPITAL CITY ITSELF. 

BUT FIRST THERE ARE SOME POLITICAL ISSUES WITHIN THE CHURCH TO TAKE CARE OF.  (ACTS 21:18-25).  

JAMES AND THE OTHER LEADERS OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH ARE OVERJOYED AT THE NEWS OF PAUL’S SUCCESSFUL MISSION TRIPS TO THE GENTILES.  BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS NEWS HAS BEEN DISTORTED AND MISUNDERSTOOD AMONGST THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS BACK HOME; THAT PAUL HAS BEEN TELLING THE JEWISH CONVERTS IN THE GENTILE COUNTRIES THAT THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW OF MOSES.  

SO THEY RECOMMEND THAT PAUL SHOW HIS PERSONAL COMMITMENT AS A JEW BY TAKING THE NAZRITE VOW WITH FOUR OTHER MEN WHO HAVE ALREADY UNDERTAKEN IT.  THIS WILL KEEP THE PEACE.  

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?  AND WHY DOES PAUL EVIDENTLY SO READILY AGREE TO IT? (I COR. 10:23-24)   “ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL FOR ME, BUT NOT ALL THINGS ARE HELPFUL…NOT ALL THINGS EDIFY…  (32)  GIVE NO OFFENSE, EITHER TO THE JEWS OR TO THE GREEKS OR TO THE CHURCH OF GOD…NOT SEEKING MY OWN PROFIT BUT THE PROFIT OF MANY, THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED.”

THE NAZRITE VOW

TO BE SET APART AS A SPECIAL ACT OF DEVOTION TO GOD, PAUL COULD:

*EAT OR DRINK NO PRODUCTS OF THE VINE (SEPARATED FROM PLEASURE)

*GO NEAR NO DEAD BODIES (SEPARATED FROM UNCLEANLINESS)

*SHAVE HIS HEAD; AND LET HIS HAIR GROW (SEPARATED FROM ADORNMENT)

A SPECIAL CEREMONY AND SACRIFICE WERE OBSERVED AT THE END OF THE PERIOD OF SEPARATION. (NUMBERS 6:13-21):

*SHAVED HIS HEAD AGAIN

*OFFERED A BURNT OFFERING (FOR SIN), A GRAIN OFFERING, AND A DRINK OFFERING.

* THE BURNT OFFERING WAS MIXED WITH HIS HAIR AND BURNT ON THE ALTAR..

*GIVEN HIS FIRST DRINK OF WINE SINCE THE SEPARATION.

*GAVE WHATEVER OTHER SACRIFICE HE WISHED TO MAKE, ACCORDING TO HIS VOW. 

THIS WAS A VERY PERSONAL ACT OF DEVOTION.  IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TODAY TO PERHAPS GIVING SOMETHING UP FOR LENT; OR FASTING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO SEEK GOD’S WILL. 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE GENTILES   (ACTS 21:25)

THE JERUSALEM LEADERS ARE CAREFUL TO ALLOW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS AND THE GENTILE CHRISTIANS.  BUT THEY ARE CAUTIONED TO ABSTAIN FROM FOUR THINGS:

*THINGS OFFERED TO IDOLS

*FROM EATING BLOOD

*FROM THINGS STRANGLED

*FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY

THE THINGS THAT GENTILES HAD OFFERED TO IDOLS WERE OFFERED TO DEMONS; IF WE DO WE PROVOKE GOD’S JEALOUSY (I COR. 10:20-21)  IT IS ALSO A STUMBLING BLOCK TO THOSE OF LESS WISDOM THAN WE.  

THE EATING OF BLOOD WAS DENOUNCED BY GOD FROM THE MOSAIC LAW.  BLOOD SERVES TWO FUNCTIONS :   BLOOD IS THE FORCE OF LIFE ITSELF; IT IS THE SOURCE OF OUR SALVATION; TO EAT THE BLOOD OF AN ANIMAL WAS AN ABOMINATION OF THE POWER OF SALVATION AND FORGIVENESS OF SIN.  NOW, THIS IDEA WAS TRANSFORMED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, AS WE SYMBOLICALLY DRINK HIS BLOOD THROUGH COMMUNION, GIVING THE GLORY TO GOD.  THIS ALSO APPLIES TO EATING THINGS STRANGLED, AS THEIR BLOOD IS STILL PRESENT IN THE BODY.

SEXUAL IMMORALITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ABOMINATION BEFORE GOD.  EVERY SIN ONE COMMITS IS DONE OUTSIDE OF HIS BODY.  BUT THIS ONE IS A SIN AGAINST A PERSON’S OWN BODY, AND WITHIN YOUR BODY, WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS! (I COR 6:18-20)