Acts #18: Religious gestures do not define my salvation
prédication Actes 14 : Patrice Berger, 2022_11_19, église AB Lausanne
titre : Acts #18: Religious gestures do not define my salvation
Résumé : Summary:
– To eat or not to eat this or that food,
– submit to the observances of a religious law (the type of the Old Testament),
– finally, all religious gestures have no impact on Salvation. Salvation is completely acquired by Christ; thus, we have no part.
We are therefore totally free with regard to dietary or religious observances.
On the other hand, out of love for the one who is at my side, I will not necessarily impose this freedom if that were to disturb him, to destabilize him regards his salvation, his edification, and his normal affection.
An Exciting Text Today!
Today, as always, we have an exciting text in the book of Acts.
Practical Consequences
And as always, we’ll see that believing the gospel well has practical consequences.
Boudin (blood based sausage popular in Germany and Switzerland) , halal, kosher?
Can a Christian eat blood sausage?
What should he do with halal meat?
Shouldn’t he only eat kosher meat?
Will it affect his eternity?
Behind these questions actually hides a deeper one.
Is there a spiritual gesture that could contribute to or diminish my eternity?
In my way of life are there things that contribute to my salvation?
The laws that were given to Israel
Would it be necessary, for example, to observe the laws that God gave to Israel in order to be a complete and truly saved Christian?
Acts 15 talks about it
This is the subject that the Bible addresses in the book of Acts chapter 15.
Reading
I suggest doing some explanatory reading.
Ch. 13-14 Evangelization of the Mediterranean Basin
In earlier chapters, Paul and Barnabas travelled to the Mediterranean basin to witness the gospel where people of Jewish and Gentile (non-Jewish) backgrounds clearly accepted Christ as the Lord and Savior of their lives.
All the same with Peter and Paul
We were able to notice that, in chapters 13 and 14, everything that happened in Jerusalem and through the ministry of Peter was lived in exactly the same way outside of Palestine and with Paul who thus demonstrated that he was a true apostle in the same sense as the other twelve apostles.
Gentiles and Jews same experience of the gospel
So, oh joy, Gentile believers (non-Jews) experience exactly the same thing as Jewish believers, the gospel in all its meaning.
And of which Luke, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us the rest.
1 Some men from Judea were teaching the brothers, saying:
« If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. »
To be saved, do you have to be circumcised?
So what is insinuated here is that in order to be saved, one must be circumcised.
This would suppose the obligation of circumcision, in addition to the work of Christ, to be really saved.
2 Paul and Barnabas had a lively argument and argument with them.
The brethren then decided that Paul, Barnabas and some of them would go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to deal with this matter.
3 Sent therefore by the Church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of non-Jews, and they caused great joy to all the brothers and sisters.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
5 Then some believers from the party of the Pharisees rose up saying that it was necessary to circumcise the non-Jews and order them to respect the law of Moses.
Circumcision & Law of Moses
Note, those who come from the Jewish religious circle, the Pharisees, drive the point home: not only circumcision must be imposed on non-Jews but the law of Moses must also be respected.
It is not just the moral law (the 10 commandments) but all the others, the many laws that governed Jewish life.
Christ only becomes an additional aspect
This is to say that nothing would have changed and that the work of Christ would be just an added aspect…
Answers
How do you answer this very important question?
The same signs accompany faith in Jesus
1 ) Peter, an indisputable apostle, and Jew will recall that by his ministry, God has clearly shown that non-Jews are also saved by Christ. As proof, they received the Holy Spirit like us.
Without being circumcised, without the law
So Jews and non-Jews got the same response from God, while non-Jewish believers were uncircumcised and did not keep the law of Moses
Grace and faith, are the only ingredients of their salvation
Faith in Christ was their only personal response.
It is by Grace that they are saved, just like the Jews.
Unable to follow the law
The Jews have shown, through the centuries, that they were incapable of observing the law of Moses which one would like to impose on pagan believers.
6 The apostles and elders met together to consider this question. 7 There was a long discussion. Peter then stood up and said to them:
“My brethren, you know that from the earliest days God made a choice among us:
he decided that Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel through me and believe.
8 And God, who knows hearts, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit as to us.
9 He made no difference between them and us since he purified their hearts by faith.
10 Now then, why provoke God by making demands on the disciples that neither our ancestors nor we were able to fulfil?
11 On the contrary, we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just like them.”
The same things as Peter
2 ) Barnabas and Paul are going to recall that God allowed on this first missionary journey to happen the same types of miraculous signs that God allowed Peter to do in the inauguration of the Gospel.
That shows it’s the same as Peter.
So Jews and non-Jews had the same response from God, while non-Jewish believers were uncircumcised and did not keep the law of Moses.
12 The whole assembly was silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul recounting all the miraculous signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.
Synthesis of the Ancients of Jerusalem: James
3) After speaking of those who were on an apostolic mission, it is the turn of James (the brother of Jesus), a very respected elder in the Church of Jerusalem, to summarize the discussions.
And he will rely on what Peter recalled, on what the prophets announced (here in this case the prophet Amos 9: 11-12), that salvation would affect non-Jews.
- Nothing is added to the work of Christ, out of respect for the Jewish brothers and not to shock them unnecessarily, an indication to non-Jewish believers to abstain from the odious vices of paganism.
13 When they had finished talking, James spoke up and said:
“My brothers, listen to me!
14 Simon recounted how from the beginning God intervened to choose among the nations a people who would bear his name.
15 This agrees with the words of the prophets since it is written:
16 After that I will return, and I will raise up the tent of David from its fall, I will repair its ruins, and I will raise it up; 17 Then shall the remnant of men seek the Lord, and all the nations called by my name, saith the Lord who doth [all] this 18 and to whom it is known from eternity.
19 Therefore, I believe that one should not create difficulties for the non-Jews who turn to God, 20 but that one should write to them to avoid the defilements of idols, sexual immorality, animals suffocated and blood.
21 For many generations in every city men have preached the law of Moses since it is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
Good communication for Antioch
4) Common sense and method are put in place so that it does not remain empty words.
Representative emissaries of the two geographical origins:
- Jerusalem for the Jews with Jude called Barsabas, and Silas;
- and for Antioch for non-Jews with Paul and Barnabas.
To explain the final decision to the believers in Antioch.
And in addition, a text written by the hand of the other apostles and elders of Jerusalem.
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, and to all the church, to choose from among them Jude, called Barsabas, and Silas, men esteemed among the brethren, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. 23They charged them with this message:
“The apostles, the elders and the brothers to the brothers and sisters of non-Jewish origin who are in Antioch, in Syria and in Cilicia, hail! 24 We have heard that men who left our house, but without any order from us, disturbed you with their speeches and shook you [by telling you to be circumcised and to respect the law].
25 Therefore we have decided, with one accord, to choose delegates and to send them to you together with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 those men who laid down their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Jude and Silas, who will declare the same things to you by word of mouth.
28 Indeed, it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to impose on you any other burden than what is necessary:
29 Abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, blood, strangled animals and sexual immorality. You will do well by avoiding all this. Goodbye. »
5) When it is clear it is a source of peace and joy
30 So they took leave of the church and went to Antioch, where they called the congregation together and delivered the letter to them.
31 It was read and everyone rejoiced at the encouragement it gave them.
32 Jude and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged the brothers and strengthened them by talking to them at length.
33 After some time they let them return in peace to those who had sent them. 34 [However Silas saw fit to stay]
35 Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch; they taught and proclaimed with many others the good news of the word of the Lord.
Only by grace and faith in Christ
What this text reminds us is that salvation, to be truly reconciled with God, is uniquely and only by the grace of Jesus Christ who accomplished everything on the cross.
Our only response to benefit fully from the salvation accomplished by Christ is faith.
Total confidence in Christ implies the complete surrender of our lives to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our life.
For everyone
And that, for whoever we are. John 3:16 “Anyone”
Whether we are of the lineage of the promises that the Lord made to the Hebrews, and the Jews, or whether we do not have this privilege.
We have no impact on salvation accomplished
There is nothing I can or cannot do that can lessen or strengthen the salvation that Christ has accomplished for me.
Jesus said “it is finished” John 19:30
Everything depends on Christ. And when I surrendered my life to Him, in Him, as Lord and Saviour, He is the guarantor of my life in Him.
Misunderstanding of Fulfillment in Christ
The error of the Jews of the time was not to have understood that the death, the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus to overcome sin were the fulfilment of the seeded promises in the Old Testament.
And not something more to add: what was before the cross was preparatory.
Hebrews 11. 1a
The law, indeed, possesses a shadow of the good to come, and not the exact representation of reality;
An important concept for us
For us this notion is capital, when we read the Bible, to understand what God expects of us.
The text that I read, where is it in relation to the death, the resurrection, the ascension of Jesus to overcome sin?
For the Old Testament, retain what is taken up in the epistles
The part before the cross is preparatory (the Old Testament noted OT)
and we retain for our lives only what is recorded in the epistles.
The part which is after (New Testament noted NT) is normative in the didactic texts, the epistles.
The consequence of the issues raised in Acts 15
This has practical consequences: circumcision no longer has anything to do with our salvation. It does not diminish or consolidate my salvation if I do not get circumcised or if I do: it does not change anything!
Observance Does Not Change Salvation
Not observing Old Testament laws or otherwise has no impact on strengthening or weakening my salvation.
So what to do with the laws of the Old Testament?
Besides, how do we know if we are affected by the laws of the OT?
Again, it’s very simple, the aspects of the OT laws that are still relevant to us are those that are repeated in the epistles. All the others were preparatory for salvation.
A good process to follow
So we look at the texts of the Old Testament in the light of the epistles. (Hebrews 11:1-2)
We look at the narrative texts, which also recount, in the light of the writings of the apostles, the epistles which are the norm (Ephesians 2. 20).
So…
What does the Bible say through the epistles about today’s topic?
What do the epistles tell us about today’s topic?
Food does not alter salvation
1) No food brings us closer or further from God.
Notably
I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself,
Romans – Chapter 14 (Check the sidebar)
If you want to respect the law, then you must completely respect it.
2) If you want to take the path of keeping the law for your salvation, you are obligated to keep everything.
1Galatians foolish! Who fascinated you [so that you no longer obey the truth], you in whose eyes Jesus Christ was described as crucified? 2 This is just what I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by hearing the gospel with faith? 3 Do you lack common sense? Having started with the Spirit, do you now want to finish in your own strength? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing? If at least it’s for nothing. 5 Is he who gives you the Spirit and works miracles among you, then, because you do the works of the law or because you listen in faith?
Galatians 3. 10
Cursed be every man who does not remain faithful to all that is written in the book of the law to put it into practice.
…
Moreover, it is obvious that no one is declared righteous before God under the law since it is said: The righteous shall live by faith. 12 Now the law is not based on faith; it says on the contrary: The man who puts these rules into practice will live by them. 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse
James 2:10
In fact, the person who obeys the whole law but sins against one commandment is at fault vis-à-vis the whole
Note: in today’s text, it is emphasized that the people of Israel never got there!
Now then, why provoke God by imposing demands on the that neither our ancestors nor we were able to fulfil?
To add or to take away from the Gospel implies it is no longer the Gospel of Christ.
3) He who adds something to the work of Christ is no longer in the Gospel. This is what the Epistle to the Galatians is about. (Galatians 1:6-9…).
The believer is released from the law
4) The gospel has freed me from all legal considerations to influence my salvation.
John 8:36
If therefore the Son frees you, you will truly be free.
Romans 8. 2-4
Indeed, the law of the Spirit who gives life in Jesus Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death, 3 for what was impossible to the law because human nature made it powerless, God did it: he condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son because of sin into nature like that of sinful man. 4 Thus the righteousness demanded by the law is accomplished in us who live not according to our own nature but according to the Spirit.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. So stand firm in this freedom and do not place yourselves again under the constraint of slavery.
The matter is spiritually neutral
5) Meat is still meat. It does not have a spiritual charge.
Romans 14. 14
I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself,
Romans 14. 17
Indeed, the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy, through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14. 20
Surely everything is pure,
Any food can be eaten.
Question
So why did the elders and apostles in Jerusalem prescribe:
- no sexual immorality, no strangled animals and no blood?
Practices linked to the pagan cults of the time
These two aspects were related to pagan cults.
Sexual immorality
Sexual immorality, we find it many times in the epistles, especially in the first epistle to the Corinthians.
Sexual immorality is anything outside of the sexuality of an officially married couple (a man with a woman) in society.
Meat and blood
On the other hand, there is no revival of the ban on meat sacrificed in pagan temples and the consumption of blood.
In a clear way, chapter 14 of the epistle to the Romans clearly says that we are totally free in relation to this.
Freedom of consumption
Which would mean that we can eat halal, kosher meat, blood sausage or any other pork meat very well.
It has no impact on my salvation.
Principle: Foods are spiritually neutral
The example of the subject of meats helps us think beyond and understand biblical principles.
Food has no spiritual virtue.
But it is not food that brings us closer to God:
If we eat it, we have nothing more; if we don’t eat it, we have nothing less.
And the rest of the text:
9 Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become an obstacle for the weak
1 Corinthians – Chapter 8
1 Regarding meat sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. – Knowledge makes one proud, but love edifies. 2 If anyone thinks he knows something; he still does not know anything as he should know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known to him. – 4 So as to eating meats sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is only one God. 5 For it is true that there are beings called gods, either in heaven or on earth, and indeed there are many gods and lords. 6 Nevertheless, for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom all things exist and by whom we live.
7 But not all have this knowledge. Some, marked by the way they still perceive the idols, eat these meats as being sacrificed to them, and their conscience, which is weak, is defiled. 8 But it is not food that brings us closer to God: if we eat it, we have nothing more; if we don’t eat it, we have nothing less. 9Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become an obstacle for the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you, you who have the knowledge, sitting at a table in a temple of idols, he who is weak, will he not be encouraged in his conscience to eat meat sacrificed to idols? ? 11So because of your knowledge the weak will come to ruin, this brother for whom Christ died! 12 By thus sinning against the brothers and sisters and wounding their conscience, which is weak, it is against Christ that you are sinning. 13Therefore, if food is a snare for my brother, I will never eat meat so that my brother does not stumble.
Exercise of freedom
And this is also what the Epistle to the Romans also says very well, is that this freedom that Christ has acquired for us in relation to this subject will be exercised by paying attention to those around us.
Beware of the most fragile in the faith
If the exercise of my freedom unsettles a weaker believer in faith, I will abstain because his faith in Christ and his connection with Christ are more important than my freedom on a particular subject.
Because I love Christ, my neighbour, and my brother in faith, I refrain from exercising my freedom in his presence.
This is the meaning of the recommendation of Acts 15
And this was advocated by the apostles and elders of Jerusalem,
in the text we read today in Acts 15.
Complete distaste for the pagan practices of Jews
In Jewish culture, in addition to the spiritual questioning, the consumption of these meats and this type of food was despicable, not even in the realm of possibility: it was shocking and disgusting!
Jewish Diaspora in all cities
So the text of Acts 15 reminds us very well. 21, as there are Jews in all the cities of the Mediterranean basin, the non-Jewish brothers do not exercise this freedom so as not to offend people of Jewish origin (believers or not).
It is counterproductive to accept the gospel and aim to strengthen the gospel.
In summary, no dietary rule enhances or diminishes the salvation completely accomplished by Jesus Christ.
No religious observation enhances or detracts from the salvation completely accomplished by Jesus Christ.
Grace alone, answer by faith
Salvation is total grace, we have no part in it and the only answer is faith.
We are free: in this, we are released from all laws
which would not be repeated in the epistles.
Freedom exercised in love
On the other hand, the expression of my freedom will be nourished by my love for my neighbour.
If what I’m free with shocks him, then I’m not going to exercise my freedom.
If I have a believer or a friend from a Muslim background, a Jewish friend or brother at the table at home, I’m not going to pork them!
Out of love for the person who has to find out the Gospel, for my brother who is not so confident in the full extent of the Gospel.
A real problem
I’m talking about people for whom it’s a real inner problem.
To refuse
On the other hand, beware of people who want to put their particularism on us at all costs and ultimately restrict our freedom.
They are to be put in the same category as the Pharisees and those that practice Judaism at the beginning of today’s text.
Paul emphasized total freedom in Christ
Paul really helped to underline the total freedom in Christ, and the uselessness of circumcision as an added value to salvation; those who want to add or take away from salvation are false prophets.
Yet he is going to have Timothy circumcised!! Let’s look:
1 He then went to Derbe and Lystra. There was a disciple there called Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father. 2 The brethren of Lystra and Iconium bore good testimony of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him with him; he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those regions, because everyone knew that his father was Greek. 4 In the cities where they passed, they transmitted to the brothers the decisions taken by the apostles and the elders of Jerusalem, recommending them to be respected. 5 The churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number daily.
Facilitate testimony
The goal is not to influence the salvation of Timothy, but we understand that it is for a missionary purpose that he does it for Timothy. So the two can go into the synagogues and talk about the Gospel.
Obviously, we are free to wear a burka or not. However, some missionaries willingly comply with it in order to be able to reach their neighbour.
We have freedom.
Bible Passages
Acts 15 / ASV Bible
1. And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2. And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3. They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.
5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.
6. And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.
7. And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8. And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;
9. and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10. Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11. But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.
12. And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
13. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:
14. Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16. After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:
17. That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
18. Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.
19. Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;
20. but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
21. For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
22. Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23. and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
24. Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;
25. it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26. men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.
28. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29. that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.
30. So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.
31. And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32. And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33. And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.
34. [But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.]
35. But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36. And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare.
37. And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.
38. But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39. And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;
40. but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
41. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Romans 14 / ASV Bible
1. But him that is weak in faith receive ye, [yet] not for decision of scruples.
2. One man hath faith to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs.
3. Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4. Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.
5. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.
6. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7. For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself.
8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9. For to this end Christ died and lived [again], that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10. But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God.
11. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God.
12. So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling.
14. I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: save that to him who accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15. For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died.
16. Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17. for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18. For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men.
19. So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.
20. Overthrow not for meat's sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21. It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [to do anything] whereby thy brother stumbleth.
22. The faith which thou hast, have thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that which he approveth.
23. But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Related Links / Notes
Study Notes are translated from the original French version prepared by the pastor Patrice Berger. The orginal French notes are in « note » form, and are not a direct transcription of the video, however they are quite close the original text preached at the church. The notes provided here follow that form, and are detailed enough to help provide a deep understanding of the texts in the book of Acts of the Apostles.
All services as well as some of the bible studies are streamed on the channel YouTube église AB Renens-Lausanne. Also visit the You Tube channel of the Swiss Action Biblique Youth Groups (JAB Suisse Romande)/ Facebook.
Bible verses in the study link to the ASV bible. In addition to the ASV Bible , other versions of the Bible are also available on our website (KJV, Basic English and Darby as well as the Webster version and Young’s Bible on the Action Biblique Suisse website.
The King James Version is available as an audio bible Podcast which can be accessed below.
