”And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.” | Acts 11: 1-3

When God saves sinners it is a time of great rejoicing.

Yet, here the apostle Peter stands before his own brethren who contended with him because he went in to uncircumcised Gentiles and ate meat which had been forbidden in God’s law, “they that were of the circumcision contended with him”. They had the Lord’s word that God has an elect people among the Gentiles. The prophets clearly declared it.

The Lord told Abraham: “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22: 18)

The Lord gave his word concerning Christ’s salvation of his elect among the Gentiles: “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49: 6)

Again we find the word of the Lord saying: “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.” (Psalm 22: 27)

Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ had, in person, given clear instruction to the saints to preach to the Gentiles: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28: 18-19) Before his ascension the Lord told his disciples: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”. (Acts 1: 8)

Still, they contended with Peter for going in to uncircumcised Gentiles and eating meat which had been forbidden in the law which God gave.

This is the sad result of what happens if we turn from Christ to the law.

They ceased to hear the Lord and looked back to the law he gave to shut sinners up to him.

As a result they made no mention of the fact that Cornelius and his household received Christ, the word of God. They did not rejoice in God’s grace; they did not rejoice in the fact that Christ was exalted; they did not rejoice in the fact that sinners were saved; they could find no joy in God and his grace because their minds were fixed in another direction. Their minds were consumed with Peter and the fact that he ate unclean animals forbidden by the law.

All they could see was Peter and the Law.

This is a good example of what the apostle Paul meant when he declared why he refused for Titus to be circumcised. “To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” (Galatians 2: 5)

Every law of God, yes, every word of God is given to turn his elect people to his Son whom he has chosen to have the preeminence in all things.

God’s law declares man’s utter inability to keep it and Christ the Righteousness of God.

The law of the clean and unclean animals declares plainly that it is the LORD who is the sinner’s holiness who makes him the very cleanness of God.

Every word of reproof and exhortation the Holy Spirit moved the apostles to write, which the Spirit has preserved through the ages for the believer, is to shut our mouths from boasting of our walk and to point us to the faithfulness of Christ in whom believers are complete.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Spiritual Plenty in Temporal Famine”

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Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 7 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey