Author: Charlie Garrett

Monticello.

Thursday, 30 March 2023

that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell. Acts 15:29

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The letter from the council just noted that there were “necessary things” that should be laid upon the Gentiles. Those necessary things are now listed, starting with, “that you abstain from things offered to idols.”

This thought responds to the “things polluted by idols” found in verse 15:20. It is a new word in Scripture, eidólothutos. It is a compound word coming from words signifying “idol” and “to sacrifice.” The idea is the slaying of animals to idols. In eating the meat from such an idol, it is as if one is participating in fellowship with the idol. As such, it is essentially what the fellowship (peace) offerings designated under the Law of Moses were for. Instead of to the Lord, however, it is to an idol.

This precept is explained and amended by Paul later in 1 Corinthians 8 and 2 Corinthians 10 where he uses this same word six times. Paul explains there that idols are nothing and so if someone eats meat sacrificed to an idol, understanding that the idol had no effect on the meat and it is just being consumed as regular food, he has not done wrong.

In his instruction, he brings this matter back to the thought of conscience. If one’s conscience is defiled because of the idol, he should not eat the meat. Likewise, if it would defile another’s conscience, he should not eat the meat. However, if it is understood that the idol is nothing and the meat is just meat, there is no defiling of the conscience. Thus, the meat is perfectly acceptable to eat. Understanding that, it next says, “from blood.”

The Greek simply says, “blood.” The word “from” is implied for the first clause. As for the word blood, this was the last item listed in verse 15:20. As explained there, the main intent of this was to have the people consider why they were drinking blood.

As the life is in the blood, such a practice is usually intended to assimilate the power of the one whose blood was being drunk into the person drinking. Another reason is idolatry where the blood of an animal that was sacrificed was consumed by the offeror as a way of fellowshipping with their god or gods. Hence, it was a part of the ritual of “things offered to idols” just mentioned.

Also, the shedding of blood has almost universally been considered a means of atoning for sin. This is seen in cultures around the world. But Christ’s blood is the only effectual sacrifice for the atonement of sin. This then is an object lesson concerning the nature of Christ’s sacrifice as much as anything else. After this, it next says, “from things strangled.”

Rather, it simply says, “strangled things.” This was stated in verse 15:20 and was a measure so as to not give offense to the Jews who would bleed out any meat that was to be consumed. To not do so would cause offense to them. Hence, it was given as a way of alleviating that. The list ends with “and from sexual immorality.”

Rather, it says, “and sexual immorality.” This word began the list in verse 15:20. It is a subject Paul refers to and explains in detail, explaining it in six of his epistles. Of these things, the letter says, “If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.”

Note that the council does not command these things, as if they were a matter of law. It also does not say, “You cannot be saved if you don’t do these things” as was stated by the Judaizers in Acts 15:2. There, they had said, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

The council clearly understood the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. The word “repent” is not used by them, as if they had to “repent in order to be saved” as is falsely claimed throughout the world today. It is necessary to know what one is doing wrong before he can change his mind about what he is doing wrong. The council takes it as an axiom that they are writing to saved believers. Only now are they telling them what is good for sound living in Christ.

With these prescriptions laid out for the Gentiles, the letter ends with, “Farewell.” It is a word found only here in Scripture, rhónnumi. It is a perfect imperative literally meaning “Be strong.” As it is a perfect imperative, it gives the sense of “you have been strengthened and so remain strengthened.”

Life application: The council has written to believers who may or may not have previously received any of this instruction. Paul and Barnabas likely told them not to be sexually immoral. If they did, it is still unknown which of the other prohibitions they had previously conveyed to those they had talked to. And yet, these Gentiles were saved.

Suddenly, they are now told things that they may have not been previously told. Does that mean they were not “really saved” until they started obeying the precepts laid down by the council? Of course not! And more, if they decide to obey only three of the four, does that mean they will lose their salvation? Of course not. The council never even hints at such a notion.

The issue of salvation is not the same as that of learning what one is to do after he is saved. And yet, the categorical boxes are constantly overlapped by people during their evangelistic efforts. It is as common as shells in the ocean for people to tell about Jesus, explain that He died for our sins and that all we need to do is to believe that message to be saved, citing Ephesians 2:8, 9, and then to say, “And so you need to repent of your sins and He will save you.”

This is a huge problem because the person, at this point, may not even know what sins he is committing. In fact, unless he is discipled, he may never know what things he is doing to offend God. And yet, the person evangelizing him has just added turning from every sin in the person’s life as a condition for salvation. It is totally unscriptural, and it is not the gospel.

A person is saved by believing that Christ died for His sins, was buried, and rose again. That is what saves. The sin in the person’s life is forgiven upon belief. Now, after that has occurred, the person can start to learn what he has done wrong or what he needs to keep from doing.

For example, that saved person may have never had sex in his life. So, he doesn’t need to “repent” of that, meaning change his mind about fornication. But more, the person who led him to Christ never gave him a copy of the Bible and never told him that having sex outside of marriage is wrong. And so three weeks later, he has his first encounter with a woman. Is he saved? Did he lose his salvation?

Think this through. In such matters, one can only do what he is instructed to do. Keep the categorical boxes separate so that confusion in thinking does not arise.

Lord God, help us to never taint the pure gospel by adding to it. Rather, help us to tell people what it takes to be saved. And then, Lord, help us to instruct the saved about what it means to live a holy life in Your presence. May we do these things so that the people of the church are built up soundly in You. To Your glory, we pray! Amen.

Monticello, where the US Constitution found its beginning.

Wednesday, 29 March 2023

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: Acts 15:28

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verses contained the contents of the letter sent from Jerusalem to the churches in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. They have explained the overall reason for sending the letter and who was bringing the approved decision of the council in support of the position of Barnabas and Paul. Now, the specific directives that will be levied upon the church are to be noted in the next two verses. That begins with the words, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit.”

For the third time since verse 15:22, the word dokeó is used. It signifies “what seems to be.” In verse 15:22, it seemed good to the apostles, elders, and the whole church in Jerusalem to send word to the churches concerning the council’s decision. In verse 15:25, it seemed good to send chosen men along with Barnabas and Paul. Now, it says it seemed good to the Holy Spirit what will be presented as guidelines for the Gentiles.

This word, dokeó, is where the modern term dogma is derived from. The decision of the council, the words of this letter, are what seemed good to the Holy Spirit. This is based on the promise that the Spirit would guide the decisions of the apostles as indicated by Jesus in John –

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:12-15

It is obvious to the council that the Holy Spirit had accepted the Gentiles. That was evidenced as far back as Acts 8, confirmed in Acts 10, and had been reaffirmed repeatedly as reported by Barnabas and Paul. That is not what is being conveyed here. Rather, the words are based on what will be said. With this understood, the letter continues, saying, “and to us.”

This reflects what was referred to in verse 15:22 mentioned in the second paragraph above. The decision of the council was agreed upon and that decision was to be conveyed to the Gentiles. Said plainly, they were being obedient to what the Holy Spirit had set forth through the inspiration process. Understanding this, the words continue with, “to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.”

In other words, there are things now to be set forth that the Gentiles were to follow through with. As noted in a previous commentary, these are written now, but there is nothing to suggest that they could not later be modified with proper instruction. Such modification will be seen in the epistles when Paul gives an explanation concerning foods sacrificed to idols, what to do with sexually immoral members of the church, etc.

For the time being, these few judgments are given to avoid any conflict that might arise between Jewish and Gentile believers. As Cambridge says, “They put forward therefore this unerring guide as the warrant for their decree. And as they at the suggestion of the Spirit were laying aside their longstanding prejudices against intercourse with Gentiles, they claim that the Gentiles in their turn should deal tenderly with the scruples of Jews.”

The council’s words call the judgments necessary. Albert Barnes gives three logical reasons for this –

(1) In order to preserve the peace of the church.
(2) to conciliate the minds of the Jewish converts, Acts 15:21.
(3) in their circumstances particularly, because the crime which is specified – licentiousness was one to which all early converts were especially exposed.

The things to be mandated now seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and yet Paul further clarifies them as he is led by the Spirit. This means that they are temporary measures awaiting further, more precise, attention. As Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, it is fitting that those clarifications should come through him.

Life application: Of the words of this verse that say, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us,” Charles Ellicott states, “The words have since become almost a formula for the decrees of councils and synods, often used most recklessly when those decrees bore most clearly the marks of human policy and passion.”

Because of this, Bishop Wordsworth says, “It cannot be held that councils of the Church now are entitled to adopt the words of the text in the framing of canons.”

This is true to an extent. But what is that extent? There must be some measure by which an individual, a church, or a denomination can claim that something seems good to the Holy Spirit. There is, and that measure is the completed word of God. It is as common as bees in a hive for denominations today to claim that they are being led by the Holy Spirit at their annual conferences. The pope, likewise, will often toss in the supposed presence of the Holy Spirit when referring to his decisions or those of the gathering of the Roman Catholic church.

But such decisions cannot “seem good to the Holy Spirit” if they are in conflict with the completed word breathed out by the Holy Spirit. Thus, the measure and the standard by which any decision concerning man’s spiritual conduct before God must be the Bible.

This is another of the many reasons why it is untrue that people are receiving revelation from God today. People constantly claim that they are being given prophetic utterances, directions from God directly into their heads, inspiration concerning calculations about the timing of the rapture and other end-time events, and so forth. Unless in agreement with Scripture, these cannot be true. The only time such words concerning God are true is if they can be validated by going to Scripture.

Be immovable in your thinking about these things. If God has said in His word that “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority,” then no calculation concerning the timing of the rapture will ever be of God. He has said we won’t know. Therefore, such information cannot be derived even from the Bible itself. As God has forbidden homosexuality in the word, then it cannot be that God will condone it in the church today.

The Bible is the standard. It is the breathed-out word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. And it is sufficient for the conduct of our lives as we live them out in the presence of God.

O God, help us to think clearly and rationally concerning Your word. Help us not to fall into the error of thinking anything which is contrary to what is recorded there. It is not for us to claim what Your word has not allowed. And so, Lord, may we hold fast to Your word alone for our conduct, doctrine, and walk before you. Amen.

Hay bails our for a summer stroll.

Tuesday, 28 March 2023

We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. Acts 15:27

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Note, the Greek more appropriately reads, “We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they through word are telling the same things” (CG). This will be used for the commentary.

The previous verses have referred to the selection of men to accompany Barnabas and Paul, noting that Barnabas and Paul had risked their lives for the name of Jesus Christ. With that, the note continues with, “We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas.”

These are the “chosen men” just referred to in verse 15:25. Designating them by name is certainly to ensure that nobody else could later claim they were also sent. The council is already aware of the cunning tricks of the devil and they are being precise and careful, ensuring that the intent of the council is properly conveyed by people who have been duly recognized to convey it. That is attested to in the next words, saying, “and they through word are telling the same things.”

The point of this is that there is both a written testimony and a verbal confirmation of it by those who are specifically named in their communique. The use of the present participle, “are telling,” means that they can be trusted to continue to repeat the same message at any time they are asked to. It is as if their words are being spoken by the council at the moment they come off the lips of Judas and Silas.

Life application: The process of conveying the words of the council is comprehensive in nature. By handling the matter as they are, they are leaving nothing open to misunderstanding. Barnabas and Paul have presented their stand concerning law observance no longer being necessary.

They have shown how it is by grace through faith that a person is saved. That message has been conveyed to the leadership in Jerusalem. The council has heard the matter thoroughly and unanimously agreed with the stand of Barnabas and Paul. They have written down their resolution which is to be conveyed to the church in various locations. They have sent men along to confirm what has been written down and to provide continued testimony and instruction concerning the matter.

Along with that, Luke – under inspiration from the Holy Spirit – has made a detailed and exacting record of these events, a record that could have been challenged the moment he published it if it were not correct. All of this has been done to put the matter once and forever to rest. And yet, two thousand years later, people are still arguing against the plain, obvious, and precise decision rendered by the council.

They reinsert the law, demand adherence to it in various ways, including circumcision, and completely ignore what is written for us as guidance from God concerning the matter. How important is it to know the word of God? The evidence is right in front of each of us. A rejection of what has been determined and recorded is a rejection of the word of God. And a rejection of the word of God is a rejection of God who has given us His word.

Pay attention to what is said and taught. Check what you are instructed. Verify what has come to your ears. The devil is hard at work in the church today, directing his false doctrines and robbing people of either being saved or of being productive in their salvation. Pay heed to the word!

Lord God, help us to be wise concerning Your word. May we not trust anyone until we have verified what is presented. Convincing-sounding arguments are only convincing if they are checked against the source and match what it says. Great oratory skills cannot replace adherence to Your word. Give us wisdom in this, O God. Amen.

A once great state many fought and died in and for. Now, gone over to the woke.

Monday, 27 March 2023

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 15:26

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

In the previous verse, the council explained that they were sending along chosen men to accompany Barnabas and Paul. With that, it next refers to these men, saying, “men who have risked their lives.”

The Greek states more clearly what is almost unclear in some English translations. This is not referring to the chosen men accompanying Barnabas and Paul, but to Barnabas and Paul. It is they who went forth carrying the gospel to both belligerent Jews and to areas where Gentiles were hostile to strangers. They faithfully carried the message even to the point of being chased out of cities (such as in Acts 13:50-52), being stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19, 20), etc.

The council had been apprised of these things and the distrust of Paul that once existed had been turned into a wholehearted appreciation for his tireless efforts. Barnabas was already known as a faithful believer, but his status was certainly elevated greatly because of the hardships he was willing to endure. For both of them, the council notes that these things occurred “for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

They had gone forth according to the calling of the Spirit upon them, they had continued steadfastly in faith, and they had returned to Antioch and continued to work tirelessly as servants of Jesus Christ. The council recognized this and acknowledged it openly to any and all who were to receive their letter.

Life application: If we really have a deep-seated faith in the hope set before us in Jesus Christ, then why would we shy away from proclaiming it? A life of daily work, a good meal, annual vacations, relative ease and security, etc. is almost an intoxicant. It can keep us from striving to do more than we may otherwise be willing to do for the name of Jesus Christ.

This doesn’t necessarily mean our faith is lacking, but it sure can affect how we exercise our faith. This is why the author of Hebrews wrote out his strong exhortation –

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1, 2

Sin can ensnare us, ease can dull our senses, fear of the future can misdirect us, etc. If we fix our eyes on Jesus and lay such weights aside, we will be more purposely fixed to do what we should be doing. This has to be a constant mental state of life. It isn’t easy because of everything that comes at us in our daily walk, but if we just keep tuning our minds back to the prize at the end, we will do well.

Focus on Jesus! Don’t be fearful, distracted, or misdirected. Instead, have faith that what lies ahead will replace everything that we give up right now. And what it is replaced with will be so far above what we may lose now that we will never consider the temporary losses we may face. Be assured of this! Eyes on Jesus!

Glorious God, help us to fix our eyes on Jesus at all times. May we have unbroken concentration as we press ahead in our hope of what He has set before us. This temporary world has many enticements and distractions, but these things will all fade into obscurity someday. Help us to think clearly about the sure and reliable promises we possess in Christ. Amen.

Old Barn. Virginia countryside.

Sunday, 26 March 2023

it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Acts 15:25

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

After explaining the main purpose of the letter in the first sentence, which was the issue of refuting the Judaizers concerning circumcision and adherence to the Law of Moses, the letter now continues, saying, “it seemed good to us.”

In other words, it means that the decision was made and was mutually agreed upon to take the appropriate action necessary to rectify the situation. That occurred, as it next says, “being assembled.”

Rather, this is more of a paraphrase. The Greek is an aorist participle, more simply reading, “having come.” This state of having come was “with one accord.” It is a single word, an adverb, now seen for the eighth time, all in Acts. It literally signifies “unanimously.” The entire council consisting of the apostles, elders, and then with the agreement of the church, were united in thought concerning the resolution of the matter.

And it could be no other way. If they were being led by the Spirit to effect the purposes of God for the church, then what was decided had to be in this unanimous fashion. God is superintending over the process of what will be the standard for the rest of redemptive history concerning the Gentile-led church age. This is because the events are now recorded and included in His word.

If the decision was not unanimous, then that would have been stated and explained. But because this was not the case, it is fully apparent that what is recorded here is exactly what God wanted. Though this is a descriptive account of the events that took place, it is a fully explanatory record of what God intends concerning the matter. The only deviation from it is to be taken by subsequent words found in the epistles that may clarify or set aside whatever is decided upon now. For the time being, the church was given its instructions and they were to be what was taught concerning circumcision and law observance.

As for the contents of their unanimous decision, that continues with the words, “to send chosen men to you.” Again, an aorist participle is used, “having chosen men to send to you.”

The decision was rendered, and it will be explained in the verses to come. However, to demonstrate to all who would hear the decision that it was from the council and no longer a point of debate, there would be men sent from the council itself to confirm the source and the content. These were being sent, as it next says, “with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.”

Again, as seen on several occasions, Barnabas is noted before Paul. It is true that Barnabas had a closer and more longstanding affiliation with the church in Jerusalem than Paul, but more, it is certainly Paul with whom the Judaizers had the biggest beef. He was the spokesman for the missionary journeys. He was also out in the front in matters dealing with the Gentiles, having been selected by the Lord to be the apostle to the Gentiles, etc.

Therefore, to place Barnabas first in the letter from the church is another implicit confirmation of the rightness of what Paul has been conveying. The order then is from the council, in a written letter, and confirming the letter’s authenticity by men chosen by the council concerning what has been conveyed, meaning acceptance of the stand presented to the council by Barnabas and Paul.

Calling these two men “beloved” is a note that not only are they teaching what is proper, but they are doing so with the full blessing and spirit of fellowship by the council itself.

Life application: Later councils in church history may or may not have been led by the Spirit of God in rendering decisions. And there may or may not have been a unanimous agreement to what was ordained out of those councils. But that is because the canon of Scripture was eventually decided upon and settled. It is to the Bible, meaning the word penned by men chosen by God to write it down through His Spirit, that such matters were (and still are) to be decided.

If the decisions rendered at such councils are in accord with the word, that becomes evident by an evaluation of the word. If they are contrary to the word, the same is true. The word would reveal it.

Even today, councils are held in many denominations, usually called synods, conferences, or something similar. The surest way to tell if they are being led by God is to see if they are being held in accord with the word of God. If the Spirit of God breathed out the contents of the Bible, and if a matter is being debated that is contrary to the word of God, then that council – by default – cannot be led by the Spirit of God.

It may be that a faction or an individual is rightly standing on the words of Scripture concerning a matter at the gathering, and that is fine, but if the debate is, for example, over the matter of ordaining homosexuals, then God’s Spirit cannot be guiding the matter. He has already spoken concerning the issue.

Think this through when you see members of your church or denomination conducting affairs in a manner contrary to the word. God’s position in such deliberations is already stated in the Bible. It is fixed and it is unchanging. To debate contrary to the word is to invite His wrath and condemnation, nothing else.

Lord God, Your word is written. Help us to get that through our heads and to accept what it says as the authoritative word to conduct our affairs in all things. May we never be so presumptuous as to make decisions contrary to what You have laid out before us in this sacred and precious treasure. Help us to think clearly on this matter. Amen.