Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: pgyanke; boatbum
No one has even remotely suggested that gentiles aren't called to be part of the plan of salvation. This is a straw man. I think you were trying to prove that St Peter's assertion that gentiles need not be circumcised was based in Scripture... your citation above doesn't discuss this. Can you try again

It wasn't about whether gentiles needed to be circumcised or not. It was about whether or not gentiles needed to be circumcised to be saved.

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."

The answer was obvious to all after hearing testimony that of course gentiles could be saved without being circumcised. They then used scripture to verify that GENTILES were to be saved. They interpreted this with the obvious meaning...that God promised in the old testament that uncircumcised gentiles would be saved.

156 posted on 03/24/2013 9:36:53 PM PDT by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies ]


To: DouglasKC
The answer was obvious to all after hearing testimony that of course gentiles could be saved without being circumcised. They then used scripture to verify that GENTILES were to be saved. They interpreted this with the obvious meaning...that God promised in the old testament that uncircumcised gentiles would be saved.

Obvious? Wow... where were you when the Apostles needed your wisdom? You see, you know these things because you have been taught through the wisdom of the Church. The Church in its beginnings didn't think this was all so obvious, though. Let's read of the discussion in its entirety...

Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3 Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. 4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

6 The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

There was great dissension and discussion over the issue and there was no authority outside of their own as the Church for them to consult. Just as you have done by saying "it was obvious" but offering no Scripture to show the Will of God, they had to discern among themselves through the Spirit to "add" this doctrine for the edification of the Church. Nothing here says that the gentiles weren't expected to be saved. In fact, St Peter reminded them of his mission to the gentiles. The discussion was regarding the process the gentiles should follow... did the gentiles have to first essentially become Jews? Scripture didn't tell them. The Holy Spirit did. They promulgated a binding new doctrine for all the faithful through their authority as Apostles, not leaning on an authority of Scripture.
157 posted on 03/24/2013 11:31:59 PM PDT by pgyanke (Republicans get in trouble when not living up to their principles. Democrats... when they do.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson