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The Message and the Old Covenant: Difference between revisions
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:''In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is '''the new covenant''' in my blood, which is poured out for you.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Lk 22:20.</ref> | :''In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is '''the new covenant''' in my blood, which is poured out for you.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Lk 22:20.</ref> | ||
=Is the "Old Covenant" still relevant?= | |||
Paul refers to the Ten Commandments are the "ministry of death" in 2 Corinthians 3:7 and the writer of Hebrews tell us that: | Paul refers to the Ten Commandments are the "ministry of death" in 2 Corinthians 3:7 and the writer of Hebrews tell us that: | ||
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How does an obsolete covenant relate to the new covenant Gentile church? | How does an obsolete covenant relate to the new covenant Gentile church? | ||
==The apostles' letter to the Gentile churches== | |||
In Acts 15, we find Paul and Barnabas in Jerusalem telling the apostles about their concerns with certain people who were preaching that the old covenant applied to the Gentiles such that they were required to keep the law. The apostles and elders of the Jerusalem church met to consider the issue. | In Acts 15, we find Paul and Barnabas in Jerusalem telling the apostles about their concerns with certain people who were preaching that the old covenant applied to the Gentiles such that they were required to keep the law. The apostles and elders of the Jerusalem church met to consider the issue. | ||
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#What about [[Tithing|tithing]]? | #What about [[Tithing|tithing]]? | ||
#Why were three of the commands related to food? | #Why were three of the commands related to food? | ||
===Why were these four commands the only requirement?=== | |||
James argues that the Gentiles who turn with faith to God should not be burdened with issues of the law. The council of elders in Jerusalem asks Gentiles to be sensitive about four matters and to refrain from: | |||
:(1) the pollution that comes from idols (see Mal. 1:7); | |||
:(2) sexual immorality, probably associated with pagan rites and temple prostitution (from the Greek πορνείας, porneias); | |||
:(3) strangled things; and | |||
:(4) blood matters (from the Greek αἵματος, haimatos). | |||
This list reappears with slight variation in Acts 15:29 and 21:25. | |||
The reasons for the list are not so much about keeping the law as having a spirit of sensitivity about that which may cause offense to Jewish Christians. The issue is not establishing a fixed set of practices but respecting the practices of Jewish believers and not forcing oneself on another because of such views.<ref>Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007), 505-507.</ref> | |||
These four rules reflect the rules in Leviticus 17:8–18:18 relating to Gentiles living in the land of Israel. Gentile converts were not required to become Jewish proselytes and keep the whole law, but only those parts of it that were required by Moses of Gentiles who lived in Israel.<ref>David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 434–435.</ref> | |||
These four rules were simply meant to create peace and harmony between the Gentile Christians and the Jewish believers, many of whom still kept the Mosaic law. | |||
==What is sin?== | ==What is sin?== | ||