WEBVTT

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 And also, I just want to thank you guys for just fighting through those distractions and

00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:07.179
 continuing to sing and worshiping the Lord.

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 It was such a beautiful thing for me to see from the back and to hear from the back.

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 Nobody stopped singing.

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 We just kept worshiping the Lord because God is here and He's all we need, and I'm just

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 so, I was so encouraged to see that.

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 So thank you guys for worshiping, singing songs of praise to God through that.

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 Please turn with me to Acts chapter 15.

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 Acts chapter 15, verses 22 to 35.

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 We originally intended to cover verses 1 to 35 together because it's really one passage

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 with a single main point, but because it got so long, there's so many materials, so many

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 things in it to cover, I divided it into half, and so it's kind of an unusual place to be

00:00:57.380 --> 00:01:00.719
 to have preached this second half of this section by itself.

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 I'm going to try to bring in the main passage from the first part because that's really

00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:06.560
 where the main point of the passage is.

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 But please bear with me as we go through this.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Heavenly Father, there are many things in this world, in our lives, that seek to control us,

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 that seek to master us.

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 But Lord, we are your people.

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 So we come once again this Sunday to worship you and to be governed by your Word.

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 We submit ourselves to the authority of your Word.

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 We incline the ears of our hearts to you.

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 Speak to us now.

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 Teach us.

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 And fill us with wonder again at your wonderful mercy and your amazing grace

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 that has reconciled Jews and Gentiles,

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 that have made a way so that we might be cleansed,

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 that our hearts might be cleansed by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

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 Fill us with renewed joy at that wonderful reality today.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Acts 15, verses 22 to 35.

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 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders with the whole church

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 to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

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 They sent Judas called Barsabbas and Silas,

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 leading men among the brothers,

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 with the following letter.

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 The brothers, both the apostles and the elders,

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 to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia,

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 greetings.

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 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us

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 and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds,

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 although we gave them no instructions,

00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:08.360
 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord,

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 to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

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 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:03:16.860 --> 00:03:19.219
 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas,

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 who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.

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 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us

00:03:26.219 --> 00:03:29.240
 to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements,

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 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols

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 and from blood and from what has been strangled

00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:37.099
 and from sexual immorality.

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 If you keep yourselves from these,

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 you will do well.

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 Farewell.

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 So when they were sent off,

00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:45.219
 they went down to Antioch,

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 and having gathered the congregation together,

00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:47.900
 they delivered the letter.

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 And when they had read it,

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 they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

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 And Judas and Silas,

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 who were themselves prophets,

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 encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

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 And after they had spent some time,

00:04:03.279 --> 00:04:07.239
 they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.

00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:10.159
 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch,

00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:14.019
 teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 There are many people in the world that wonder

00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:24.699
 whether or not they can ever be a Christian.

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 You know, can I become a Christian

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 if I'm Pakistani with a Muslim background?

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 What if I'm Indian with a Hindu background?

00:04:36.699 --> 00:04:38.719
 What if I'm Chinese with a Buddhist background?

00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:43.659
 That's the kind of question that Acts 15 has in mind.

00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:46.240
 Remember that Jews had a 2,000-year head start

00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:48.699
 in their knowledge of Yehovah, the Lord God,

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 the one God,

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 compared to the Gentiles.

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 But Jesus came as the Christ,

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 the King, the Messianic King,

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 and He died on the cross for our sins.

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 And by His death,

00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:04.019
 He broke down the dividing wall of hostility

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 between Jews and Gentiles.

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 It's a passage that Bailey shared from today in the prophecy.

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 And as a result of that,

00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:13.819
 all of those who put their faith in Jesus,

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 regardless of their ethnic background,

00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:18.199
 cultural background, racial background,

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 can be included and joined together

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 as God's one people.

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 But this new inclusion

00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:29.479
 naturally raised some questions for Gentiles.

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 Do I need to become a Jew

00:05:31.860 --> 00:05:33.539
 in order to be a Christian?

00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:36.759
 Should I dress like Jews?

00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:38.839
 Do I need to learn Aramaic?

00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:43.899
 Do I need to observe the Mosaic laws of ritual purity?

00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:46.619
 Should I get circumcised like Jews?

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 Now, we could extrapolate

00:05:49.699 --> 00:05:51.399
 and try to apply that to our context

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 and think about what kind of questions

00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:54.099
 people might ask nowadays.

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 Maybe they'll say,

00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:58.399
 well, do I need to renounce my culture entirely

00:05:58.399 --> 00:05:59.419
 in order to be a Christian?

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 Or do I need to behave like a Westerner,

00:06:02.919 --> 00:06:04.139
 dress like a Westerner?

00:06:04.719 --> 00:06:05.979
 Do I need to learn English?

00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:08.819
 Do I need to use certain hymnals

00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:10.140
 or liturgical handbooks?

00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:15.080
 We could come up with a thousand questions like this,

00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:17.120
 but the apostles and the elders

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 of the Jerusalem church in Acts 15

00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:21.980
 unanimously decided that Gentiles,

00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:25.240
 people of all non-Jewish backgrounds and cultures,

00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:28.020
 may be saved by repenting of their sins

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 and putting their faith in Jesus as Gentiles.

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 They are not to be troubled

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 with extra hindrances and burdens.

00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:38.059
 They don't need to keep the law of Moses

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 and be circumcised in order to be saved.

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 Verses 9 to 11,

00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:44.819
 Peter spoke forcefully that Gentiles,

00:06:44.899 --> 00:06:45.599
 like the Jews,

00:06:45.719 --> 00:06:47.919
 will have their hearts cleansed by faith

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 in Jesus Christ

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 and that they will be saved

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 through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And James concluded in verse 19,

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 therefore, my judgment is that

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 we should not trouble those of the Gentiles

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 who turn to God.

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 So that's the main point of this whole passage.

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 All those who turn from their sins

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 and trust in Jesus,

00:07:06.579 --> 00:07:08.040
 regardless of their background,

00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:09.120
 may be saved,

00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:10.139
 will be saved.

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 However, curiously,

00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:14.680
 after saying that,

00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:15.680
 right after saying that,

00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:18.740
 right after saying we should not trouble the Gentiles,

00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:20.120
 James proceeds to stipulate

00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:22.240
 four other requirements

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 that Gentiles need to follow.

00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:26.819
 He says in verses 20 to 21,

00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:28.060
 we should write to them

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 to abstain from the things polluted by idols

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 and from sexual immorality

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 and from what has been strangled

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 and from blood.

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 For from ancient generations,

00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:38.160
 Moses has had in every city

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 those who proclaim him,

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 for he has read every Sabbath

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 in the synagogues.

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 So that raises these questions.

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 How does this not trouble the Gentiles?

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 Aren't these requirements

00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:49.540
 troublesome for them?

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 Didn't they just say

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 that Gentiles do not need

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 to observe the law of Moses?

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 What then are these requirements

00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:58.219
 which are based on the Mosaic law?

00:07:59.659 --> 00:08:01.719
 So we'll answer those questions in two parts.

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 First, we're going to talk about

00:08:02.579 --> 00:08:04.240
 the requirements for Gentile converts

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 in verses 22 to 29.

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 And then we'll talk about

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 the rejoicing of the Gentile converts

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 in verses 30 to 35.

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 It seems that after arriving

00:08:14.779 --> 00:08:15.839
 at their final decision,

00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:17.199
 the apostles and the elders,

00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:18.719
 along with the whole church,

00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:21.000
 decided to choose men from among them

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 and send them to Antioch

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 with Paul and Barnabas.

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 And verse 23 tells us

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 that the delegation that they chose

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 included Judas called Barsabbas

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 and Silas,

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 who were leading men

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 among the brothers.

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 Among the brothers,

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 meaning that they're not

00:08:35.779 --> 00:08:36.500
 among the apostles,

00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:37.740
 they're not among the elders,

00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:38.980
 they're among the brothers,

00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:40.000
 they're lay people.

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 However, they are leading men,

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 which means even though

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 they don't hold any office

00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:45.019
 in the church,

00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:46.159
 any formal authority

00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:46.659
 in the church,

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 they are influential brothers.

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 They are called prophets

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 later in verse 32.

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 So the apostles and the elders

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 choose Judas and Silas

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 to accompany Paul and Barnabas

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 back to the church

00:08:58.839 --> 00:08:59.919
 in Syrian Antioch

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 because they need

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 some representatives

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 from the Jerusalem church

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 to verify the content

00:09:04.839 --> 00:09:05.500
 of the letter.

00:09:06.079 --> 00:09:06.579
 Because, I mean,

00:09:06.659 --> 00:09:07.379
 Paul and Barnabas

00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:08.479
 could just forge something

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 and say,

00:09:08.819 --> 00:09:09.439
 hey, this is what

00:09:09.439 --> 00:09:10.619
 the Jerusalem elders said.

00:09:11.199 --> 00:09:12.000
 And so they send

00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:12.879
 a delegation,

00:09:13.059 --> 00:09:13.519
 a representative

00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:14.439
 of their own church

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 to go with Paul and Barnabas

00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:17.759
 to the Syrian Antioch church.

00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:20.179
 But the church in Antioch,

00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:21.480
 if you look carefully,

00:09:21.580 --> 00:09:22.939
 is not the only intended

00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:23.960
 recipient of this letter.

00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:25.960
 The letter is addressed

00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:27.019
 to the brothers

00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:28.559
 who are of the Gentiles

00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:30.919
 in Antioch and Syria

00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:32.360
 and Cilicia.

00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:34.639
 So this letter is what

00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:36.319
 we call an encyclical.

00:09:36.939 --> 00:09:38.779
 It's a letter that is intended

00:09:38.779 --> 00:09:40.539
 for general circulation

00:09:40.539 --> 00:09:42.159
 among all the churches

00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:43.580
 with Gentile populations.

00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:45.980
 This is confirmed

00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:47.720
 by Acts 16, verse 4,

00:09:47.800 --> 00:09:48.340
 where it says that

00:09:48.340 --> 00:09:49.520
 Paul, Silas, and Timothy,

00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:50.060
 quote,

00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:51.259
 as they went on their way

00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:51.980
 through the cities,

00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:53.259
 delivered to them

00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:54.100
 for observance

00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:54.960
 the decisions

00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:56.139
 that had been reached

00:09:56.139 --> 00:09:57.520
 by the apostles and elders

00:09:57.520 --> 00:09:58.240
 who were in Jerusalem.

00:09:58.680 --> 00:09:59.200
 So basically,

00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:00.180
 wherever they go,

00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:01.259
 they're letting the churches know

00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:02.340
 this is what the apostles

00:10:02.340 --> 00:10:02.800
 and the elders

00:10:02.800 --> 00:10:03.740
 in Jerusalem decided.

00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:06.160
 In verse 24,

00:10:06.300 --> 00:10:07.240
 the apostles and the elders

00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:08.340
 provide the occasion

00:10:08.340 --> 00:10:09.040
 for the letter,

00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.000
 why they have to write it

00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:10.700
 in the first place.

00:10:11.340 --> 00:10:11.560
 Quote,

00:10:11.640 --> 00:10:12.720
 since we have heard

00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:13.700
 that some persons

00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:14.759
 have gone out from us

00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:16.600
 and troubled you with words,

00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:18.279
 unsettling your minds,

00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:19.200
 although we gave them

00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:20.060
 no instructions.

00:10:21.160 --> 00:10:21.759
 These are the men

00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:22.840
 mentioned in verse 1

00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:23.500
 who had come down

00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:24.560
 from the Jerusalem church

00:10:24.560 --> 00:10:25.920
 and were teaching

00:10:25.920 --> 00:10:26.740
 the Gentile brothers

00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:28.019
 that they cannot be saved

00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:29.480
 unless they are circumcised

00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:30.580
 and keep the laws of Moses

00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:31.259
 like the Jews.

00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:33.519
 We're learning here

00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:34.240
 that they were actually

00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:35.200
 not authorized

00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.660
 to teach in this way

00:10:36.660 --> 00:10:37.360
 by the apostles

00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:38.600
 and the elders in Jerusalem.

00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:39.840
 In other words,

00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:41.379
 they were rogue preachers

00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:43.019
 who had no business

00:10:43.019 --> 00:10:43.799
 teaching the church

00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:44.460
 in Antioch.

00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.580
 By transgressing

00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:47.480
 their bounds,

00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:48.620
 they sowed trouble

00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.740
 for the Gentiles,

00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:51.200
 the Gentile believers.

00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:52.379
 They sowed words

00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:52.939
 of trouble,

00:10:53.059 --> 00:10:53.419
 it says,

00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:54.620
 which is contrasted

00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:56.000
 with later Paul

00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:56.840
 and Barnabas

00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:57.659
 and Silas

00:10:57.659 --> 00:10:58.779
 and Judas' words

00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:00.159
 that were upbuilding

00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:00.840
 and encouraging

00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:01.659
 and strengthening.

00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:04.019
 And so this letter

00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:04.899
 written by the apostles

00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:06.220
 intended to set them straight,

00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:07.259
 set the record straight.

00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:09.259
 And then they commend

00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.139
 Barnabas and Paul

00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:11.340
 as beloved brothers

00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:12.080
 or risk their lives

00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:12.480
 for the Lord

00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:13.120
 so that people

00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:13.740
 are inclined

00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:14.740
 to listen to them

00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:15.279
 instead of the

00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:16.019
 rogue preachers

00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:16.639
 that had gone out

00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:17.159
 from them.

00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:19.460
 And then,

00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:21.059
 in verses 28 to 29,

00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:22.639
 they outline the stipulations

00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:23.639
 that they had agreed on

00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:25.360
 in verses 19 to 21.

00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:27.580
 Before we delve

00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:28.399
 into the significance

00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.679
 of these four requirements,

00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:31.000
 it's important for us

00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:31.879
 to note that this is

00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:33.279
 an authoritative decree

00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.580
 from the apostles

00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:35.159
 and the elders

00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:35.740
 in Jerusalem.

00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.379
 The phrase,

00:11:37.580 --> 00:11:39.440
 it has seemed good to us,

00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:40.460
 which is used

00:11:40.460 --> 00:11:42.840
 in verses 22, 25, and 28,

00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:44.399
 makes it sound like

00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:45.519
 the apostles and the elders

00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:46.840
 are just kind of

00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:48.180
 not that sure

00:11:48.180 --> 00:11:48.720
 of the matter.

00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:49.659
 It sounds like

00:11:49.659 --> 00:11:51.080
 a less than authoritative

00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:52.560
 kind of a personal opinion

00:11:52.560 --> 00:11:53.080
 on the matter.

00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:54.500
 It seems good to me

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.560
 to do this.

00:11:56.060 --> 00:11:56.820
 But that's not

00:11:56.820 --> 00:11:58.080
 what that phrase means.

00:11:58.299 --> 00:11:58.820
 The phrase,

00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:00.419
 it seemed good to us,

00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:01.980
 is an idiomatic way

00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:02.560
 of expressing

00:12:02.560 --> 00:12:03.879
 an official decision

00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:04.560
 in Greek.

00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:04.599
 Greek.

00:12:05.619 --> 00:12:06.419
 So, for example,

00:12:06.599 --> 00:12:08.439
 over 3,000 Greek inscriptions

00:12:08.439 --> 00:12:09.619
 have been found

00:12:09.619 --> 00:12:10.559
 by archaeologists

00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:12.239
 that contain this phrase.

00:12:12.579 --> 00:12:13.419
 And most of them

00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:14.319
 occur in formulas

00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:14.959
 like this,

00:12:15.199 --> 00:12:16.679
 decision of the council

00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:17.559
 and the people,

00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:20.159
 indicating an official decision

00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:20.799
 of the rulers

00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:21.399
 of the city.

00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.119
 So this is why

00:12:23.119 --> 00:12:24.639
 the Christian Standard Bible,

00:12:24.839 --> 00:12:26.079
 which is another good translation

00:12:26.079 --> 00:12:27.000
 like the ESV,

00:12:27.579 --> 00:12:28.799
 translates verse 25

00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:29.319
 this way.

00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:29.639
 It says,

00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:31.299
 we have unanimously

00:12:31.299 --> 00:12:33.299
 decided to select men

00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:34.080
 and send them to you

00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.500
 along with our dearly beloved

00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:36.799
 Barnabas and Paul.

00:12:37.939 --> 00:12:39.460
 The CSB also translates

00:12:39.460 --> 00:12:40.639
 verse 28 this way,

00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:43.179
 for it was the Holy Spirit's

00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:43.720
 decision

00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:44.840
 and ours

00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:46.319
 not to place

00:12:46.319 --> 00:12:47.059
 further burdens

00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:47.840
 on you beyond

00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:48.559
 these requirements.

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.319
 So this is an official

00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:51.319
 and authoritative

00:12:51.319 --> 00:12:52.039
 decision

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:53.080
 reached by the apostles

00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:53.659
 and the elders

00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:54.700
 of the Jerusalem church

00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:55.639
 in obedience

00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:56.259
 to the will

00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:57.139
 of the Holy Spirit

00:12:57.139 --> 00:12:58.399
 to be enforced

00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.360
 in all the churches

00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:00.500
 with Gentile believers.

00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:02.360
 These are not mere

00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.439
 helpful suggestions.

00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:05.179
 So then,

00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:06.039
 what is going on here?

00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:08.259
 Didn't James conclude

00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:09.100
 in verse 19,

00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:10.559
 we should not trouble

00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:11.639
 those of the Gentiles

00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:12.460
 who turn to God?

00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:14.100
 What then are these

00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:15.519
 four additional stipulations?

00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:18.360
 Verse 28 says,

00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:19.559
 for it has seemed good

00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:20.340
 to the Holy Spirit

00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:20.939
 and to us

00:13:20.939 --> 00:13:22.259
 to lay on you

00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:23.620
 no greater burden

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.939
 than these requirements.

00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.940
 First,

00:13:27.060 --> 00:13:27.960
 it's most important

00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:28.320
 to note

00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:29.240
 that these are not

00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:30.880
 requirements for salvation.

00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:33.120
 Remember what I said

00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:33.800
 last week

00:13:33.800 --> 00:13:34.660
 in my sermon

00:13:34.660 --> 00:13:35.540
 on Acts 15,

00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:36.380
 1-21.

00:13:36.800 --> 00:13:38.040
 Some of the Jewish Christians

00:13:38.040 --> 00:13:39.280
 who had a Pharisaical

00:13:39.280 --> 00:13:39.780
 background

00:13:39.780 --> 00:13:40.720
 were insisting

00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.440
 that Gentiles

00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:42.580
 must be circumcised

00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.460
 and keep all the laws

00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:43.900
 of Moses

00:13:43.900 --> 00:13:45.080
 in order to be saved.

00:13:45.560 --> 00:13:46.240
 But the apostles

00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:46.860
 and the elders

00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:48.740
 decided that these Gentiles

00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.380
 who had repented

00:13:49.380 --> 00:13:50.380
 and believed in Jesus,

00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:51.920
 who had gotten baptized

00:13:51.920 --> 00:13:52.900
 and had received

00:13:52.900 --> 00:13:53.640
 the Holy Spirit,

00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:55.519
 are already saved.

00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.699
 They said in verse 9

00:13:57.699 --> 00:13:58.720
 that God has already

00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.600
 cleansed their hearts

00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:00.199
 by faith.

00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:01.600
 And in verse 11

00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:01.980
 they said,

00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:02.799
 we are all,

00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:04.120
 Jews and Gentiles alike,

00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:04.840
 are saved through

00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:06.179
 the grace of our Lord Jesus.

00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:09.179
 So God has abolished

00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:10.799
 the ceremonial distinction

00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.139
 between clean Jews

00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.759
 and unclean Gentiles.

00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.919
 He makes no such

00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:17.120
 distinction anymore.

00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.460
 And He Himself

00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:21.100
 has given ultimate proof

00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:21.580
 of this

00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.840
 by giving the Gentiles

00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:23.600
 the Holy Spirit

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.160
 in response

00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:25.040
 to their faith

00:14:25.040 --> 00:14:25.700
 in Jesus.

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:27.500
 So the question

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.100
 of salvation

00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:29.259
 has already been settled.

00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:30.960
 We know this

00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:32.000
 because even though

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.620
 repentance,

00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:33.240
 faith,

00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:33.720
 and baptism

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.560
 are the conditions

00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:35.400
 for receiving

00:14:35.400 --> 00:14:36.500
 God's saving grace,

00:14:36.780 --> 00:14:37.200
 as it says

00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:38.200
 in Acts 2.38,

00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:43.560
 the Jerusalem Council's decree

00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:44.759
 does not include

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.460
 the exhortation

00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:46.460
 to repent and believe

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.020
 and be baptized.

00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:47.259
 baptized.

00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:49.079
 That's because

00:14:49.079 --> 00:14:50.000
 they're speaking

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.100
 to Gentile believers

00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:52.120
 who have already

00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:52.679
 done that.

00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.779
 They're saved.

00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.759
 However,

00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.539
 this does not mean

00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.960
 that Gentiles

00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.779
 could continue

00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:00.399
 to live

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.960
 in their pagan lifestyles.

00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:04.360
 They don't need

00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:05.299
 to become Jewish,

00:15:05.819 --> 00:15:07.500
 but they do need

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:09.100
 to live as Christians.

00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:12.700
 So the four requirements

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:13.940
 stipulated by the apostles

00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:14.460
 and the elders

00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:15.440
 of the Jerusalem church

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.600
 pertain to matters

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:18.040
 of Christian obedience

00:15:18.040 --> 00:15:19.960
 that are particularly

00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:21.920
 relevant for Gentile

00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:22.360
 converts.

00:15:23.680 --> 00:15:24.960
 That's why verse 29

00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.360
 says,

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.879
 if you keep yourselves

00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:27.860
 from these,

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:29.519
 you will do well.

00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:30.440
 The language

00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:31.460
 keep yourselves

00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:33.259
 implies ongoing obedience,

00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:34.700
 and do well

00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.480
 is not a language

00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.180
 of salvation,

00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.420
 but a language

00:15:37.420 --> 00:15:38.019
 of obedience.

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:39.720
 These are commands

00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.779
 that these Gentile Christians

00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:42.259
 must carefully observe

00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.279
 continually,

00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:44.299
 not in order

00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:45.220
 to become Christians,

00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:46.100
 but because they are

00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:46.840
 Christians.

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.480
 But why these

00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.460
 four specific

00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.120
 stipulations?

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.019
 And are these

00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.919
 requirements still

00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:55.139
 binding on us

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.480
 today?

00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.819
 Those are the questions

00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:59.399
 that I have to answer.

00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:01.299
 There's a lot of

00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:02.720
 debate among pastors

00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.840
 and Bible scholars

00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:04.720
 on these questions,

00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:06.340
 and I will briefly

00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:06.899
 mention a few

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.720
 of the most plausible

00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.819
 options before I tell

00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:09.519
 you what I think

00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.340
 is going on here.

00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:12.600
 Some people say

00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.519
 that these four

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:15.120
 requirements are taken

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:16.419
 from the laws of Noah,

00:16:17.319 --> 00:16:18.419
 which predate the laws

00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:18.860
 of Moses,

00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.500
 and therefore they are

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:21.379
 binding even when

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.039
 the law of Moses

00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:23.199
 has been fulfilled,

00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:25.179
 because these laws

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:26.259
 apply not only to Jews

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.419
 but to all of humanity.

00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.279
 That's what they say.

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.939
 The problem with this

00:16:29.939 --> 00:16:31.139
 interpretation is that

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.240
 the concept of the

00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:33.340
 laws of Noah

00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:34.700
 is foreign to Scripture.

00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:37.300
 It's only found in

00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:38.580
 extra-biblical Jewish

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.420
 rabbinical sources.

00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:41.660
 And in Genesis 9,

00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:42.360
 verses 46,

00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.600
 God does command

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.660
 Noah after the flood

00:16:44.660 --> 00:16:46.040
 not to eat animal

00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:47.220
 flesh with its life,

00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:47.620
 that is,

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.220
 its blood.

00:16:49.300 --> 00:16:49.620
 However,

00:16:49.800 --> 00:16:50.620
 in that passage

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.600
 where the laws of Noah

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.620
 are repeatedly taken from,

00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.560
 there is no mention

00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:55.680
 of abstaining from

00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:56.580
 what has been sacrificed

00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.240
 to idols

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.860
 or of sexual immorality.

00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:01.400
 And the laws of Noah

00:17:01.400 --> 00:17:02.360
 found in Jewish

00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:03.360
 rabbinical writings

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:05.400
 include seven stipulations,

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.200
 not four,

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.940
 including the prohibition

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.700
 of blasphemy,

00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:09.079
 murder,

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:09.519
 stealing,

00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.599
 and perversion of justice.

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.779
 So the parallels

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.839
 are not very compelling.

00:17:14.120 --> 00:17:15.180
 Some other people say

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.259
 that these four requirements

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.019
 are taken from

00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:18.019
 Leviticus 16,

00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:19.259
 29 to 18,

00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:19.700
 30,

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.819
 which specifically outlines

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:23.120
 how Gentiles

00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:23.900
 who are sojourning

00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:25.019
 among the Jews

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:25.960
 must,

00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:27.240
 how they should behave

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:29.000
 in order to function

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.099
 with Jews

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.099
 without offending them

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:32.619
 and following their customs.

00:17:33.379 --> 00:17:34.559
 So the Leviticus passage

00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:36.500
 prohibits offering sacrifices

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.059
 at an altar

00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:37.879
 other than the one

00:17:37.879 --> 00:17:38.879
 inside the tabernacle,

00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:41.000
 which would have barred people

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.719
 from eating meat

00:17:41.719 --> 00:17:42.659
 sacrificed to idols.

00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:44.939
 It also prohibits incest

00:17:44.939 --> 00:17:47.000
 and prohibits eating meat

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.539
 from animals

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.379
 that have been strangled

00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:49.819
 and it prohibits eating blood.

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.980
 So there's a lot of similarities.

00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:52.439
 However,

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:52.939
 once again,

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.179
 the parallels don't fit

00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:54.919
 exactly

00:17:54.919 --> 00:17:56.139
 or as neatly

00:17:56.139 --> 00:17:56.839
 as we would like

00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:58.419
 because the Leviticus passage

00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.279
 also includes

00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.440
 the command for Gentiles

00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:01.560
 to observe the Sabbath,

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.740
 which is not included

00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.519
 in the stipulations

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.279
 in Acts 15.

00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:06.759
 And the term

00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.680
 sexual immorality

00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.680
 used in Acts 15

00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:09.920
 is much broader

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:11.060
 than just incest,

00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:12.060
 which is the only thing

00:18:12.060 --> 00:18:13.140
 that Leviticus passage

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:14.019
 is concerned with.

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.900
 And that passage

00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:16.620
 doesn't tell us

00:18:16.620 --> 00:18:17.140
 specifically

00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:18.640
 not to eat meat

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.660
 sacrificed to idols.

00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.560
 It only says

00:18:20.560 --> 00:18:21.500
 that you have to offer

00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.080
 the sacrifice

00:18:22.080 --> 00:18:23.160
 in the right place

00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:24.300
 at the entrance

00:18:24.300 --> 00:18:25.220
 of the tenth of meeting.

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.660
 So even though

00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:27.140
 that passage

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:27.579
 could have been

00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:28.339
 on the apostles

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:28.900
 and the elders

00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:29.900
 on the back

00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:30.460
 of their minds,

00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:31.759
 that passage

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.319
 does not seem

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.539
 to be the immediate reason

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:35.259
 for these four stipulations.

00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:38.100
 The most popular

00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:38.740
 explanation

00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.980
 of these stipulations

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.680
 is that these

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:42.120
 are not actual requirements,

00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:43.519
 that these are not

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:45.180
 binding for Gentile Christians

00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.079
 for all time,

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.279
 but that these are

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.819
 temporary recommendations

00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:50.299
 for how Gentile Christians

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.519
 should conduct themselves

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.900
 among Jewish Christians,

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:54.079
 lest they offend

00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.819
 their Jewish sensibilities.

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:56.819
 For example,

00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.980
 in 1 Corinthians 8,

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.940
 Paul argues that

00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:00.259
 even though he doesn't think

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.500
 there is anything wrong

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.740
 with consuming meat

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:04.120
 that had been sacrificed

00:19:04.120 --> 00:19:04.740
 to idols

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.680
 and are sold

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.319
 in the marketplace,

00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:08.579
 he says he would never eat it

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.440
 if doing so

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.759
 would cause a fellow Christian

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.079
 who has a weaker conscience

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.740
 than he does to stumble.

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.200
 So applying that logic

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.100
 to this passage,

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.200
 they argue that

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.920
 there is nothing inherently wrong

00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.559
 with eating

00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.559
 what has been sacrificed

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.200
 to idols

00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:23.779
 or eating strangled animals

00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:25.019
 or eating blood,

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.680
 but that you should abstain

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.279
 from them

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:27.940
 for the sake

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.880
 of the consciences

00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:30.319
 of your Jewish Christian

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.200
 brothers and sisters.

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.039
 In other words,

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:33.920
 that these are not

00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.960
 actual requirements,

00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.380
 but accommodations

00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.819
 of Jewish Christians

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.980
 and their sensibilities,

00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.100
 and therefore only relevant

00:19:41.100 --> 00:19:42.360
 where there is a church

00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:43.100
 made up of believers

00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:43.819
 from both Jewish

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:45.000
 and Gentile backgrounds.

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:47.860
 That is an appealing solution,

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.579
 but I think it has

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.860
 some insurmountable

00:19:50.860 --> 00:19:51.900
 exegetical problems.

00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:53.240
 First,

00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.640
 there is no indication

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.259
 in the passage

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.560
 that these stipulations

00:19:56.560 --> 00:19:58.200
 are temporary accommodations

00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:00.080
 of Jewish sensibilities.

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.060
 The council's decree

00:20:02.060 --> 00:20:03.240
 does not say

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.640
 that anywhere in the text

00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.680
 that Gentiles

00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.880
 should follow these guidelines

00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.019
 only when they are

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.620
 in fellowship

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.560
 with Jewish converts.

00:20:10.560 --> 00:20:10.920
 Rather,

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.180
 the driving question

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.460
 behind the Jerusalem council

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:13.880
 is,

00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.180
 what does it mean

00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:16.259
 for a Gentile

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:16.980
 to be Christian?

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:18.420
 Remember,

00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:19.500
 this is a new problem.

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.240
 Until recently,

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.480
 all Christians were Jewish.

00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:23.120
 But now that Gentiles

00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:23.980
 are coming to faith

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.599
 in Jesus,

00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.680
 what is required of them?

00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:28.799
 How are they to live?

00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.400
 Is there anything

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.579
 that is unacceptable

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:33.140
 due to their Gentile

00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:34.319
 lifestyle specifically?

00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:36.519
 And so verse 28 says,

00:20:36.620 --> 00:20:37.579
 for it has seemed good

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.380
 to the Holy Spirit

00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:39.019
 and to us

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.859
 to lay on you

00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:40.900
 no greater burden

00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:42.279
 than these requirements.

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:44.000
 They're not adding anything

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.200
 beyond these burdens,

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.779
 but they are stipulating

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.960
 these four burdens

00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:49.140
 as something that Gentiles

00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:50.200
 must do.

00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.480
 There's no contextual

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:54.100
 or time limit

00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:55.620
 placed on these requirements

00:20:55.620 --> 00:20:56.360
 at which point

00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:57.280
 they would expire.

00:20:58.600 --> 00:20:59.080
 Second,

00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.900
 these stipulations

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:01.000
 are called requirements

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.740
 in verse 28.

00:21:02.520 --> 00:21:03.380
 They're not wise

00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.440
 or helpful suggestions.

00:21:05.540 --> 00:21:06.180
 The Greek word

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.240
 translated requirements

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:09.600
 refers to necessities,

00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.740
 things that are essential

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:12.320
 in connection to something.

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.820
 If the apostles

00:21:13.820 --> 00:21:14.420
 and the elders

00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:15.220
 were merely telling

00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:16.000
 the Gentile Christians

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.400
 to abide by these rules,

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:19.160
 even though they don't need to,

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.140
 because there's actually

00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:20.759
 nothing wrong

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.680
 with doing these things,

00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:23.460
 just to be sensitive

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.100
 toward their Jewish

00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:24.880
 brothers and sisters,

00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:26.320
 then they give no indication

00:21:26.320 --> 00:21:27.840
 of that rationale,

00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:29.140
 that concern in the text.

00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:30.580
 Third,

00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:32.280
 the four requirements

00:21:32.280 --> 00:21:33.200
 do not pertain

00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.140
 merely to things

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:34.740
 that would offend

00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.720
 Jewish sensibilities.

00:21:36.540 --> 00:21:37.360
 They are not just

00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:38.400
 ceremonial requirements

00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:39.720
 pertaining to ritual purity.

00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:40.740
 They are not merely

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:42.960
 cultural or things,

00:21:43.060 --> 00:21:44.900
 but they are ethical concerns.

00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:46.280
 because eating meat

00:21:46.280 --> 00:21:47.560
 sacrificed to idols,

00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.840
 eating blood of animals

00:21:48.840 --> 00:21:49.800
 that have been strangled,

00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.060
 which means their blood

00:21:52.060 --> 00:21:52.900
 has not been let out,

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:55.400
 and sexual immorality

00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:57.420
 are not enjoined

00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.400
 upon these Gentiles

00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.680
 because they offend the Jews,

00:21:59.780 --> 00:22:00.340
 but because they are

00:22:00.340 --> 00:22:01.460
 offensive to God.

00:22:02.780 --> 00:22:03.700
 This is not merely

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.840
 about Gentile believers

00:22:04.840 --> 00:22:05.960
 respecting their Jewish

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:07.400
 brothers and sisters,

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:10.200
 because one clear example

00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.240
 of that is sexual immorality.

00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:12.060
 Sexual immorality

00:22:12.060 --> 00:22:12.920
 is not something

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.240
 that is otherwise permissible,

00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:16.220
 but in this case forbidden

00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:17.000
 because they don't want

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.800
 to offend Jews.

00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.880
 It's forbidden everywhere

00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:21.000
 at all times

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:24.360
 because it offends God,

00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:25.620
 not merely because

00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:27.279
 it offends prudish Jews.

00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:30.220
 So for these reasons,

00:22:30.340 --> 00:22:31.300
 I am convinced

00:22:31.300 --> 00:22:32.580
 that these four requirements

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.920
 are actual requirements.

00:22:34.580 --> 00:22:35.519
 They're binding

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:37.180
 on all Gentile converts

00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:37.820
 everywhere.

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.620
 Obviously,

00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:40.660
 these four requirements

00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:42.680
 are not all that is commanded

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.600
 of Gentile Christians

00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:44.580
 after their conversion.

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.140
 The apostles and the elders

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:46.620
 of Jerusalem

00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:47.580
 are not saying

00:22:47.580 --> 00:22:48.900
 to these Gentile believers

00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:49.240
 that, well,

00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.080
 as long as you keep

00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:50.860
 these four things,

00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:52.540
 you can do everything you want

00:22:52.540 --> 00:22:54.000
 and live however you wish.

00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:55.040
 That's not what they're saying.

00:22:56.620 --> 00:22:58.380
 They, like every other Christian,

00:22:58.560 --> 00:22:59.380
 are expected to obey

00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:00.400
 all of God's word.

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.860
 The fact that Christ

00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:04.180
 has fulfilled the law

00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:05.100
 does not mean

00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:06.100
 that the law ceases

00:23:06.100 --> 00:23:07.340
 to be the word of God.

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:10.099
 Even though some aspects

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:10.779
 of the law

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:12.099
 have been made obsolete

00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:12.859
 by Christ's

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.179
 one cent for all sacrifice,

00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:15.659
 all of God's word

00:23:15.659 --> 00:23:16.879
 is still profitable

00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.919
 for teaching,

00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:18.799
 for reproof,

00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.740
 for correction,

00:23:19.939 --> 00:23:20.619
 and for training

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.199
 in righteousness

00:23:21.199 --> 00:23:22.500
 that the man of God

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.220
 may be complete,

00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:25.659
 equipped for every good work.

00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.459
 As it says

00:23:26.459 --> 00:23:28.519
 in 2 Timothy 3, 16-17.

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.579
 The word of God

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:32.279
 teaches us

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.099
 of God's character

00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:34.259
 and about God's will.

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:37.379
 And so it is important

00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.240
 for us to heed them

00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.259
 and obey them.

00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:41.619
 The reason why

00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.599
 the apostles and the elders

00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.819
 are singling

00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.940
 these four things out

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.440
 is that they were

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:48.779
 particularly rampant issues

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:50.940
 among the Gentile population.

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.599
 For Gentiles

00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:53.500
 who were enmeshed

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.680
 in their pagan culture

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.879
 and largely ignorant

00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:56.700
 of God's word,

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.720
 it was important

00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:59.039
 to point out these things

00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:00.259
 because those things

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.299
 were considered acceptable

00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.859
 to them

00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:02.799
 in their upbringing.

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:05.480
 So even in our setting,

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:05.960
 right,

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.700
 this is the case.

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.960
 When we tell Christian,

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.940
 what we tell Christian converts

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:11.579
 who grew up in Christian homes

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.740
 with godly Christian parents

00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:14.379
 is not exactly the same

00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:14.940
 is it always

00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:16.039
 with what we tell

00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:17.399
 brand new converts

00:24:17.399 --> 00:24:19.079
 from unbelieving backgrounds

00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:20.079
 who have no idea

00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:21.139
 what God's word teaches.

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:23.039
 So just to give you an example,

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.879
 we have had in the past

00:24:24.879 --> 00:24:26.500
 a person come

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.700
 to our church

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.539
 and they would come,

00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:30.279
 this person would come regularly,

00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.519
 a couple people,

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.559
 they would come regularly

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.339
 and they would say that,

00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:35.119
 well, I believe in Jesus now,

00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.319
 I want to be baptized.

00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:38.759
 But then as I started

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.460
 talking to them

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.059
 or interviewing them

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.960
 for baptism

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.740
 and for membership,

00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.379
 I find out that

00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:45.579
 they're actually cohabiting

00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.460
 with somebody

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.799
 and having sexual relations

00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.759
 with this person

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:50.519
 even though they're not married.

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.220
 Right?

00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.799
 And so I had to tell them,

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.160
 well, if you're going to be

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:57.019
 a follower of Christ,

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:59.839
 you need to stop doing that,

00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.740
 renounce that

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:03.159
 and living in a different way

00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:07.500
 because that's what it means

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.480
 to be a Christian,

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.220
 to obey Christ

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.019
 and to follow Christ.

00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.379
 Now, you don't need

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:12.240
 to necessarily have

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:12.879
 those conversations

00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.980
 always with people

00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.519
 who are raised

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.259
 in Christian homes

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:16.919
 because they already know

00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:18.019
 that that's the case.

00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:19.259
 I mean, nowadays,

00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:20.279
 maybe you can't assume that,

00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.659
 but that's generally the case.

00:25:22.699 --> 00:25:23.519
 So what's going on here

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.099
 is the reason why

00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:25.419
 they don't spell these things

00:25:25.419 --> 00:25:26.179
 out for the Jews

00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:28.019
 is because all faithful Jews

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:29.400
 already keep these commands.

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.440
 But the Gentiles

00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.319
 who are being converted

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.539
 have no idea

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.059
 that these things

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.639
 are not okay

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:35.480
 because that's what

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.920
 they're doing all the time.

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.680
 And so the apostles

00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.160
 and the elders

00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.279
 are singling these things out

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:40.579
 and saying,

00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:43.599
 you need to stay away from these.

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:45.220
 Abstain from these.

00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.839
 So now let's look at

00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.920
 what exactly

00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:50.279
 these four requirements are.

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:53.139
 First, they are to abstain

00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:54.599
 from things polluted by idols.

00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.559
 It says in verse 20,

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:57.819
 this command is explained

00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.579
 more specifically

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.539
 in verse 29.

00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:00.879
 It says abstain

00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.819
 from what has been

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:03.279
 sacrificed to idols.

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.679
 Because pagan temples

00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:07.220
 offered animals

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:08.799
 as sacrifices to the gods,

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.480
 they also often functioned

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.599
 as banqueting halls

00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.059
 and butcher shops.

00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:14.879
 So some of the meat

00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:15.700
 would be consumed

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.500
 on the premises

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.839
 at the pagan temples

00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:19.019
 by the worshipers

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.879
 and then some of the meat

00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:20.980
 that's left over

00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.539
 would be taken

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.319
 to the marketplace

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.799
 to be sold for profit

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:25.579
 to the general public.

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:27.240
 So I believe

00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.599
 what's being forbidden here

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.159
 in particular

00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:30.700
 is in the first category,

00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.919
 meats that are offered

00:26:31.919 --> 00:26:33.659
 as sacrifice to idols

00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:34.379
 and consumed

00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:35.059
 on the premises.

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.339
 Don't eat meat

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.279
 sacrificed to idols.

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.240
 And the reason why

00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.039
 I think that is based

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:40.579
 on 1 Corinthians 8-10.

00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.299
 That's where Paul

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:44.119
 gives very detailed guidance

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:45.480
 on what to do

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.700
 with all such food.

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.220
 And his instructions

00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:49.079
 are consistent

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.919
 with what we find

00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:50.839
 here in Acts 15.

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.579
 In that context,

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.339
 Paul is writing

00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:54.439
 to Corinthian believers

00:26:54.439 --> 00:26:55.619
 who are resisting

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:57.939
 Paul's previous injunction

00:26:57.939 --> 00:26:59.259
 not to eat meat

00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.379
 sacrificed to idols.

00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:02.179
 Some of the Corinthians

00:27:02.179 --> 00:27:02.939
 were resisting

00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:03.699
 Paul's command

00:27:03.699 --> 00:27:05.039
 saying things like this,

00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:05.339
 well,

00:27:05.699 --> 00:27:07.199
 but we possess knowledge

00:27:07.199 --> 00:27:08.419
 that these idols

00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:09.599
 have no real existence

00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:11.599
 since there is no God

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.179
 but one.

00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:14.379
 Idols are just figments

00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:15.220
 of our imagination.

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.559
 So then why

00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:18.679
 can't we just go through

00:27:18.679 --> 00:27:19.460
 with the festivities

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:21.039
 and enjoy some delicious,

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.079
 freshly cooked meat

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:23.000
 with a clear conscience?

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.619
 That's what the Corinthians

00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:25.480
 were saying to Paul.

00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.220
 In response,

00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:27.599
 first,

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.220
 Paul argues

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:29.220
 in 1 Corinthians 8

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.359
 that even if

00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:31.399
 they themselves

00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:32.480
 have a clear conscience

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.819
 about what they're doing,

00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.539
 they should abstain

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.319
 from eating food

00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.480
 sacrificed to idols

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.179
 because they might

00:27:38.179 --> 00:27:39.159
 cause other Christians

00:27:39.159 --> 00:27:40.159
 who do not think

00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:40.740
 it's okay

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.919
 to partake in such

00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:42.839
 pagan sacrifices

00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.399
 to stumble.

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.519
 This is an argument

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.779
 based on safeguarding

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.000
 other Christians' conscience.

00:27:48.679 --> 00:27:49.159
 Paul is saying

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.840
 even if you're right,

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.200
 what you're doing

00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:52.740
 is wrong

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:54.519
 because it's unloving

00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.340
 to your Christian brothers

00:27:55.340 --> 00:27:55.800
 and sisters

00:27:55.800 --> 00:27:57.140
 with more sensitive consciences.

00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:59.560
 And then in 1 Corinthians 9,

00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:01.140
 Paul offers up himself

00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:02.040
 as an example

00:28:02.040 --> 00:28:02.440
 of someone

00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.279
 who has given up

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.060
 his rights

00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:05.000
 and entitlements

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.940
 for the sake of others.

00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.640
 This is the truer

00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.580
 Christian way

00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:09.320
 to give up

00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:10.300
 even what we think

00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:11.300
 we are entitled to

00:28:11.300 --> 00:28:12.360
 out of love for others.

00:28:13.560 --> 00:28:13.880
 Now,

00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.779
 after saying that

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.860
 in 1 Corinthians 10,

00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:17.599
 Paul makes another argument

00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.919
 against eating meat

00:28:18.919 --> 00:28:19.979
 sacrificed to idols.

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.799
 And there he distinguishes

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:23.019
 participating in the

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.939
 pagan sacrifices

00:28:23.939 --> 00:28:26.759
 and eating the polluted meat

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.959
 there on the premises.

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:29.539
 He contrasts that

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.859
 with buying meat

00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:32.519
 that had been sacrificed

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:32.859
 to idols

00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.979
 but it sold in the marketplace

00:28:33.979 --> 00:28:36.339
 in the eating that afterwards.

00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:37.559
 So he gives two different

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.039
 prescriptions

00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:39.399
 for those two scenarios.

00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.259
 He argues that

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.339
 participating in the

00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.339
 pagan sacrifices

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:45.039
 and eating tainted meat

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.139
 in that temple

00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:46.720
 in the premises

00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:48.740
 is never allowed

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:50.139
 under any circumstance

00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:52.079
 because even though

00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.940
 the idols themselves

00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.759
 are nothing,

00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:54.980
 demons,

00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:56.399
 evil spirits

00:28:56.399 --> 00:28:57.019
 are present

00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.599
 and involved

00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.619
 in such sacrifices.

00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.059
 This is what Paul says

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.879
 in 1 Corinthians 10,

00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.700
 19-21.

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.740
 What do I imply then?

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.420
 That food offered

00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.399
 to idols is nothing,

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:05.819
 anything?

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.180
 Or that an idol

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.659
 is anything?

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.799
 No, I imply

00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.119
 that what pagans sacrifice

00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:11.339
 they offer to demons

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.319
 and not to God.

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.940
 I do not want you

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.799
 to be participants

00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.419
 with demons.

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.980
 You cannot drink

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.839
 the cup of the Lord

00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.960
 and the cup of demons.

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:20.220
 You cannot partake

00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:21.200
 of the table of the Lord

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:22.559
 and the table of demons.

00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:24.839
 So a Gentile convert

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.740
 may not participate

00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:27.099
 in this ubiquitous

00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:28.000
 Gentile practice

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.759
 of eating food

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.919
 sacrificed to idols

00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:31.180
 because to do so

00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.839
 is to consort

00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:33.440
 with demons themselves.

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.480
 Paul does say,

00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:35.859
 however,

00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:37.619
 that as long as

00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:38.639
 you don't participate

00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:40.139
 in the pagan sacrifices

00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:40.680
 themselves,

00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.099
 Christians can eat

00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.279
 any meat purchased

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.160
 from the marketplace

00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:45.599
 without raising

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.700
 questions of origin

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:48.099
 and questions of conscience.

00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:50.279
 So he's adopting

00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:51.460
 basically a don't ask,

00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.660
 don't tell policy.

00:29:53.379 --> 00:29:54.559
 So if you get a meat

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.220
 from the marketplace,

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.220
 don't ask them

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.920
 where they got it.

00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:57.579
 Just eat it.

00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.259
 You're not participating

00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.220
 in an idol sacrifice.

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:01.240
 You're not consorting

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.680
 with demons.

00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.940
 It's just good meat.

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:03.420
 Eat it.

00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:03.920
 That's okay.

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.680
 However, he says,

00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:07.539
 if someone tells you

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.420
 as they're serving you

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:08.899
 that meat,

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.279
 I got this

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.259
 from the marketplace,

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.259
 but it was actually

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.579
 sacrificed to an idol

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:13.940
 before,

00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.960
 then Paul says,

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.940
 don't eat it

00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:18.180
 for the sake

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:19.140
 of guarding the conscience

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:20.559
 of that Christian brother.

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.200
 So now,

00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:24.359
 it's kind of a complex argument.

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:24.839
 I think you guys

00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.400
 are following me.

00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:25.920
 You guys are doing

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.740
 really great.

00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.240
 I'm sorry,

00:30:27.379 --> 00:30:28.859
 this is getting

00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:30.680
 pretty detailed here.

00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.220
 I've been thinking

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:32.900
 about this passage

00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:33.660
 for a long time.

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:37.740
 And so,

00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:40.500
 that's the flow

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.400
 of Paul's argument.

00:30:41.560 --> 00:30:41.680
 So,

00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:43.160
 you may never participate

00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.040
 in the pagan sacrifice.

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:45.019
 You may never eat

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.240
 such meat sacrificed

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:46.800
 to idols.

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.500
 You may eat the meat

00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.480
 you get from the marketplace,

00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.279
 but if someone knows

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.100
 they was from

00:30:52.100 --> 00:30:53.220
 the pagan temple,

00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:53.840
 don't eat it

00:30:53.840 --> 00:30:54.640
 if they tell you that.

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.279
 Right?

00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:55.460
 So,

00:30:55.540 --> 00:30:56.800
 it's actually

00:30:56.800 --> 00:30:58.440
 very consistent

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.019
 with what

00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:00.100
 the apostles

00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:00.779
 and the elders

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.120
 are saying

00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:01.820
 in Acts 15.

00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:03.559
 abstain from

00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.200
 what has been

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.220
 sacrificed to idols.

00:31:06.679 --> 00:31:07.179
 So,

00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:08.039
 in certain European,

00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:08.659
 Asian,

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.379
 Oceanian,

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.599
 and African cultures,

00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:11.619
 ancestor worship

00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:12.839
 and the veneration

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.359
 of the dead

00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:14.379
 is commonly practiced

00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:14.939
 even today.

00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:16.879
 Sometimes,

00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:18.039
 they set up tables

00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:19.159
 full of all kinds

00:31:19.159 --> 00:31:19.500
 of foods

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.139
 as a way of

00:31:20.139 --> 00:31:21.259
 feeding their ancestors.

00:31:22.379 --> 00:31:22.839
 Sometimes,

00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.539
 in hopes that

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.119
 they will watch

00:31:24.119 --> 00:31:24.779
 over them

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.399
 or grant them

00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:26.419
 some kind of favor.

00:31:27.639 --> 00:31:28.919
 These kinds of practices

00:31:28.919 --> 00:31:30.659
 are often passed off

00:31:30.659 --> 00:31:31.399
 as expressions

00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:32.720
 of filial piety,

00:31:33.600 --> 00:31:34.900
 but we need to remember

00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.860
 that demons

00:31:35.860 --> 00:31:36.840
 are involved

00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:38.480
 in such pagan sacrifices.

00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.400
 Christians

00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:42.540
 would be wise

00:31:42.540 --> 00:31:43.420
 to abstain from that.

00:31:44.560 --> 00:31:45.440
 I don't have

00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:46.280
 very many memories

00:31:46.280 --> 00:31:47.940
 of my childhood

00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:48.680
 in South Korea.

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:49.840
 I have a bad memory.

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.640
 But I do remember

00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:52.900
 this very issue

00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:53.840
 becoming a point

00:31:53.840 --> 00:31:54.320
 of contention

00:31:54.320 --> 00:31:55.180
 between my parents

00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:55.820
 and their siblings

00:31:55.820 --> 00:31:57.700
 because every year

00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:58.460
 they would have

00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.180
 this sacrifice

00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:01.380
 to our deceased ancestors

00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:02.100
 and they would have

00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:03.120
 food set up

00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:03.980
 in the huge table

00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.940
 with all the food set up

00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:06.480
 and every relative

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.299
 would take turns

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:08.039
 coming to the table

00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:09.320
 and prostrating themselves

00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:10.200
 in front of it.

00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.519
 And my parents,

00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.500
 after their conversion

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.440
 to Christianity,

00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:14.600
 refused to do it.

00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:16.320
 And because of that,

00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:17.019
 they were criticized

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:17.720
 and scolded

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:19.100
 by their family members.

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.880
 I think it's fair

00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:24.880
 to apply this command

00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:26.220
 to other contexts

00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.100
 of pagan worship

00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:27.620
 as well.

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:29.799
 Don't participate

00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:31.559
 in the worship

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.440
 of other gods.

00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.680
 Even if you are

00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.640
 fully convinced

00:32:35.640 --> 00:32:36.579
 that Allah

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.559
 or Brahma

00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.200
 or Buddha

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:39.759
 are no gods at all,

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.240
 you must remember

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.860
 that demons

00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:42.779
 are involved

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.700
 in their worship

00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.579
 and in their sacrifice.

00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:48.079
 Second,

00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.980
 Gentile converts

00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.120
 are to abstain

00:32:51.120 --> 00:32:51.860
 from blood.

00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.519
 And third,

00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:55.000
 from what has been strangled.

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:59.160
 These two prohibitions

00:32:59.160 --> 00:32:59.720
 are related

00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:01.200
 because an animal

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.100
 that has been strangled

00:33:02.100 --> 00:33:03.240
 has not had its blood

00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:03.700
 let out.

00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:04.880
 And it's the presence

00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:05.759
 of blood that makes

00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.579
 the consumption

00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.480
 of strangled animals

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:07.860
 forbidden.

00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.279
 Pliny,

00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:10.880
 who was a first century

00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:12.420
 Roman natural historian

00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:13.640
 and a contemporary

00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:14.559
 of the apostles,

00:33:15.140 --> 00:33:16.120
 notes that consuming

00:33:16.120 --> 00:33:17.620
 the blood of animals

00:33:17.620 --> 00:33:18.339
 and humans,

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:18.799
 in fact,

00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:20.519
 was considered medicinal

00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.519
 around this time.

00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:23.460
 He recounts that

00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:24.720
 epileptic patients

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.920
 would rush

00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:26.759
 into the stadium

00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.740
 to consume

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.259
 the blood

00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.279
 of freshly slain

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:30.380
 gladiators.

00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:33.120
 However,

00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:33.960
 early Christians

00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:35.480
 roundly condemned

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:36.460
 such practices.

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.900
 Early Christians

00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:38.640
 were at times,

00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:40.339
 this is kind of funny

00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:41.319
 in some ways

00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:41.819
 to think about,

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:42.740
 not funny for them,

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.799
 but early Christians

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.400
 were at times

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.380
 falsely accused

00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:46.740
 of ritual cannibalism.

00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:48.480
 You could kind of imagine

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.559
 why they would be accused

00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.240
 of such a thing

00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.220
 because we participate

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:51.980
 in the Lord's Supper

00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:53.059
 and we talk about

00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:53.660
 eating the body

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.200
 of Christ

00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:55.200
 and drinking

00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:55.740
 his blood,

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.400
 right?

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:56.839
 So, I mean,

00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.259
 that's,

00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:57.920
 it's kind of

00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:59.160
 maybe understandable

00:33:59.160 --> 00:33:59.720
 that such

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.500
 misunderstanding

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.099
 would come about.

00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:02.559
 But second century

00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.480
 Christian apologist

00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:04.180
 Tertullian

00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:05.500
 refutes that

00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:07.380
 false accusation

00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:09.000
 and then he points out

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.340
 in turn

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:09.960
 the hypocrisy

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.760
 of their accusers.

00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.500
 He denounces

00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.320
 the pagan worship

00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:14.440
 of Bellona,

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.139
 a Roman goddess

00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:15.639
 of war

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.400
 whose rights

00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:17.480
 involved drinking blood.

00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.719
 He also condemns

00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:19.159
 the practice

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:20.039
 of some Gentiles

00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:20.599
 who would rush

00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.339
 into the Colosseum

00:34:21.339 --> 00:34:21.799
 to consume

00:34:21.799 --> 00:34:22.559
 the gurgling blood

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.279
 of the gladiators

00:34:23.279 --> 00:34:24.319
 like Pliny mentioned.

00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:26.119
 And he contrasts

00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.699
 their practices

00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:27.699
 with the Christians here.

00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.539
 He says this,

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:30.360
 Blush for your vile ways

00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.179
 before the Christians

00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:32.339
 who have not even

00:34:32.339 --> 00:34:33.279
 the blood of animals

00:34:33.279 --> 00:34:34.059
 at their meals

00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:35.400
 of simple and natural food

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.500
 who abstain

00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:37.699
 from things strangled

00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:38.400
 and that die

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.159
 a natural death

00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:40.480
 for no other reason

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.339
 than that they may not

00:34:41.339 --> 00:34:42.219
 contract pollution

00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:44.159
 so much as from blood

00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:45.880
 secreted in the viscera.

00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:47.839
 To clench the matter

00:34:47.839 --> 00:34:48.839
 with a single example,

00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:50.239
 you tempt Christians

00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:50.839
 with sausages

00:34:50.839 --> 00:34:51.359
 of blood

00:34:51.359 --> 00:34:52.179
 just because

00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:53.579
 you are perfectly aware

00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:54.539
 that the thing

00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:55.399
 by which you thus

00:34:55.399 --> 00:34:56.119
 try to get them

00:34:56.119 --> 00:34:56.839
 to transgress

00:34:56.839 --> 00:34:58.179
 they hold unlawful.

00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.259
 And how unreasonable

00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:01.119
 it is to believe

00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:01.899
 that those of whom

00:35:01.899 --> 00:35:02.579
 you are convinced

00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.339
 that they regard

00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:04.159
 with horror

00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:05.339
 the idea of tasting

00:35:05.339 --> 00:35:06.219
 the blood of oxen

00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:07.259
 are eager after

00:35:07.259 --> 00:35:07.959
 blood of men.

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.579
 So his argument is

00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:10.899
 you're accusing Christians

00:35:10.899 --> 00:35:12.059
 of eating people

00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:14.179
 and drinking human blood

00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:15.539
 when these guys

00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:16.299
 won't even eat

00:35:16.299 --> 00:35:17.159
 the blood sausage

00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:17.899
 that you give them

00:35:17.899 --> 00:35:18.519
 because you know

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:19.299
 that they don't eat it

00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:19.840
 and you're tempting

00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:20.539
 them intentionally.

00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.440
 So these are examples

00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:23.260
 of how early Christians

00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:24.700
 were behaving at the time.

00:35:25.220 --> 00:35:26.100
 Third century church

00:35:26.100 --> 00:35:26.980
 historian Eusebius

00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.800
 notes that when

00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:28.560
 a Christian woman

00:35:28.560 --> 00:35:29.620
 named Biblius

00:35:29.620 --> 00:35:30.780
 was being tortured

00:35:30.780 --> 00:35:31.560
 for her faith

00:35:31.560 --> 00:35:32.680
 and her torturers

00:35:32.680 --> 00:35:33.620
 slandered Christians

00:35:33.620 --> 00:35:34.220
 by saying,

00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:35.240
 well you Christians

00:35:35.240 --> 00:35:36.460
 cannibalize children

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:38.539
 she refuted their slander

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.420
 by saying this

00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:41.320
 how would such men

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:41.980
 eat children

00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:43.560
 when they are not

00:35:43.560 --> 00:35:44.180
 allowed to eat

00:35:44.179 --> 00:35:44.599
 the blood

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:46.019
 even of rational animals.

00:35:48.899 --> 00:35:49.859
 There was also

00:35:49.859 --> 00:35:51.119
 an ecumenical council

00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:51.619
 of churches

00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:52.299
 in Trullo

00:35:52.299 --> 00:35:53.500
 in the 7th century

00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:55.000
 692 AD

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.759
 which was attended

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:58.199
 by 215 Christian bishops

00:35:58.199 --> 00:35:59.839
 from the Eastern Roman Empire

00:35:59.839 --> 00:36:01.139
 and that council

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:02.019
 confirmed

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:03.079
 the Acts 15

00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:04.440
 Jerusalem Council decree

00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:05.199
 saying this

00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:06.239
 I think I have the quote

00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:06.759
 for you guys

00:36:06.759 --> 00:36:08.639
 the divine scripture

00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:09.759
 commands us

00:36:09.759 --> 00:36:10.779
 to abstain from blood

00:36:10.779 --> 00:36:12.099
 from things strangled

00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:13.239
 and from fornication.

00:36:13.779 --> 00:36:14.460
 Those therefore

00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.460
 who on account

00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:16.400
 of a dainty stomach

00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:17.539
 prepare by any art

00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:17.940
 for food

00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:19.039
 the blood of any animal

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:20.179
 and so eat it

00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:21.460
 we punish suitably.

00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:22.980
 If anyone henceforth

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:23.699
 be punished to eat

00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.319
 in any way

00:36:24.319 --> 00:36:25.259
 the blood of an animal

00:36:25.259 --> 00:36:26.400
 if he be a clergyman

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.279
 let him be deposed

00:36:27.279 --> 00:36:28.179
 if a layman

00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:29.139
 let him be cut off.

00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:31.679
 This was an ecumenical council

00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:33.099
 of all the churches

00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:33.559
 in the area

00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:34.199
 coming together

00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:34.719
 to say this

00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:35.380
 maybe the punishment

00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:36.599
 was a little bit severe

00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:39.079
 but it shows that

00:36:39.079 --> 00:36:40.079
 this was the widespread

00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:41.239
 practice of Christians

00:36:41.239 --> 00:36:43.559
 to not consume blood

00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:44.399
 strangled animals

00:36:44.399 --> 00:36:47.039
 and other things.

00:36:47.639 --> 00:36:48.559
 This was the consistent

00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:49.579
 view of the church fathers.

00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:51.199
 Nowadays

00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:52.679
 most Christians

00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:53.579
 are totally

00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.479
 concerned about

00:36:54.479 --> 00:36:55.179
 consuming blood

00:36:55.179 --> 00:36:56.979
 and I have to admit

00:36:56.979 --> 00:36:57.399
 until

00:36:57.399 --> 00:36:58.959
 two weeks ago

00:36:58.959 --> 00:37:00.319
 and I started

00:37:00.319 --> 00:37:01.199
 studying this passage

00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:01.659
 in depth

00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:03.139
 for preparation

00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:03.819
 for this sermon

00:37:03.819 --> 00:37:04.679
 I too thought

00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:05.259
 that it was

00:37:05.259 --> 00:37:05.959
 permissible

00:37:05.959 --> 00:37:06.699
 for Christians

00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:07.379
 to eat blood.

00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:10.300
 The reason why

00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:11.039
 many people think

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:11.720
 that is

00:37:11.720 --> 00:37:12.760
 because of

00:37:12.760 --> 00:37:13.619
 Mark 7

00:37:13.619 --> 00:37:14.860
 18-23

00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:16.500
 where Jesus says this

00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:17.400
 Do you not see

00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:18.559
 that whatever goes

00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:19.400
 into a person

00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:20.260
 from outside

00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:21.380
 cannot defile him

00:37:21.380 --> 00:37:22.380
 since it enters

00:37:22.380 --> 00:37:23.160
 not his heart

00:37:23.160 --> 00:37:23.780
 but his stomach

00:37:23.780 --> 00:37:24.519
 and is expelled?

00:37:25.240 --> 00:37:26.079
 Thus he declared

00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:27.240
 all foods clean

00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:28.619
 and he said

00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:29.579
 what comes out

00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:30.039
 of a person

00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:31.119
 is what defiles him

00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:31.900
 for from within

00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.640
 out of the heart

00:37:32.640 --> 00:37:33.360
 of man come

00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:34.099
 evil thoughts

00:37:34.099 --> 00:37:34.960
 sexual immorality

00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:40.320
 theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

00:37:40.780 --> 00:37:42.539
 All these evil things come from within

00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:44.440
 and they defile a person.

00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:46.599
 So from this

00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:47.559
 most Christians

00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:48.400
 assume

00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.780
 that everything

00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:50.820
 that is served as food

00:37:50.820 --> 00:37:51.460
 is fair game.

00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.559
 However

00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:55.760
 what I fail to note

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:57.679
 in my former view

00:37:57.679 --> 00:37:59.000
 is that the command

00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:00.159
 not to eat blood

00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:01.019
 in the Old Testament

00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:02.199
 is never

00:38:02.199 --> 00:38:03.760
 given in the context

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:04.640
 of instructions

00:38:04.640 --> 00:38:05.540
 regarding clean

00:38:05.540 --> 00:38:06.620
 and unclean foods.

00:38:07.520 --> 00:38:08.040
 Instead

00:38:08.040 --> 00:38:08.940
 it is always

00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.520
 given

00:38:09.520 --> 00:38:10.620
 in the context

00:38:10.620 --> 00:38:11.800
 of instructions

00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:13.020
 regarding offerings

00:38:13.020 --> 00:38:13.900
 and sacrifices

00:38:13.900 --> 00:38:14.680
 made to God.

00:38:16.100 --> 00:38:16.900
 The command

00:38:16.900 --> 00:38:17.800
 not to eat blood

00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:19.900
 has its origin

00:38:19.900 --> 00:38:20.920
 in Genesis 9-4

00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:21.560
 where God

00:38:21.560 --> 00:38:22.420
 first permits

00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:22.800
 humankind

00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:23.560
 to eat animals

00:38:23.560 --> 00:38:24.000
 for food

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:24.800
 and he says

00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:25.480
 but you shall not

00:38:25.480 --> 00:38:25.960
 eat flesh

00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.980
 with its life

00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:27.860
 that is

00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:28.780
 its blood.

00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:30.620
 It's reiterated

00:38:30.620 --> 00:38:31.520
 in Leviticus 17

00:38:31.520 --> 00:38:32.180
 10-12

00:38:32.180 --> 00:38:33.280
 where the rationale

00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:34.200
 given is this

00:38:34.200 --> 00:38:34.980
 if anyone

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:35.560
 of the house

00:38:35.560 --> 00:38:36.040
 of Israel

00:38:36.040 --> 00:38:36.640
 or of the

00:38:36.640 --> 00:38:37.040
 sojourner

00:38:37.040 --> 00:38:37.760
 or the strangers

00:38:37.760 --> 00:38:38.320
 who sojourn

00:38:38.320 --> 00:38:38.760
 among them

00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:39.800
 eat any blood

00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:41.080
 I will set my face

00:38:41.080 --> 00:38:41.940
 against that person

00:38:41.940 --> 00:38:42.519
 who eats blood

00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:43.300
 and will cut him off

00:38:43.300 --> 00:38:44.140
 from among his people

00:38:44.140 --> 00:38:45.460
 for the life

00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:46.220
 of the flesh

00:38:46.220 --> 00:38:46.940
 is in the blood

00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:48.320
 and I have given it

00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:49.140
 for you on the altar

00:38:49.140 --> 00:38:50.360
 to make atonement

00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:51.460
 for your souls

00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:53.019
 for it is the blood

00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:54.200
 that makes atonement

00:38:54.200 --> 00:38:55.060
 by the life.

00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:57.120
 Deuteronomy 12

00:38:57.120 --> 00:38:58.120
 23-24

00:38:58.120 --> 00:38:59.000
 also says this

00:38:59.000 --> 00:38:59.800
 only be sure

00:38:59.800 --> 00:39:00.400
 that you do not

00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:01.000
 eat the blood

00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:01.980
 for the blood

00:39:01.980 --> 00:39:02.659
 is the life

00:39:02.659 --> 00:39:03.519
 and you shall not

00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:04.039
 eat the life

00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:05.000
 with the flesh

00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:06.019
 you shall not

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.340
 eat it

00:39:06.340 --> 00:39:07.199
 you shall pour it

00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:07.860
 out on the earth

00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:08.519
 like water.

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.199
 The command

00:39:10.199 --> 00:39:11.139
 not to eat blood

00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:12.139
 was never based

00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:12.659
 on the need

00:39:12.659 --> 00:39:13.300
 to distinguish

00:39:13.300 --> 00:39:14.500
 between holy Jews

00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:15.900
 and common Gentiles

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:17.260
 between clean

00:39:17.260 --> 00:39:18.639
 and unclean foods

00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:20.239
 it was always based

00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:21.619
 on the sacredness

00:39:21.619 --> 00:39:22.559
 of blood itself

00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:23.960
 because God

00:39:23.960 --> 00:39:24.820
 had given blood

00:39:24.820 --> 00:39:26.059
 not for food

00:39:26.059 --> 00:39:27.119
 but for making

00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:27.880
 atonement

00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:28.960
 and for our souls.

00:39:30.240 --> 00:39:31.240
 This principle

00:39:31.240 --> 00:39:32.079
 doesn't change

00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:32.760
 in the New Testament.

00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:34.000
 Hebrews 9-22

00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:34.640
 says this

00:39:34.640 --> 00:39:35.000
 indeed

00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:36.160
 under the law

00:39:36.160 --> 00:39:37.300
 almost everything

00:39:37.300 --> 00:39:38.119
 is purified

00:39:38.119 --> 00:39:39.000
 with blood

00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:39.880
 and without

00:39:39.880 --> 00:39:40.440
 the shedding

00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:41.000
 of blood

00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:41.720
 there is no

00:39:41.720 --> 00:39:42.320
 forgiveness

00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:43.019
 of sins.

00:39:44.160 --> 00:39:44.800
 Blood

00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:45.660
 signifies

00:39:45.660 --> 00:39:46.500
 life.

00:39:47.240 --> 00:39:47.900
 It is out of

00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:49.340
 respect for life

00:39:49.340 --> 00:39:50.440
 and more importantly

00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:51.400
 out of respect

00:39:51.400 --> 00:39:52.460
 for the giver

00:39:52.460 --> 00:39:52.940
 of life

00:39:52.940 --> 00:39:53.640
 we abstain

00:39:53.640 --> 00:39:54.780
 from consuming blood.

00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:57.040
 not because

00:39:57.040 --> 00:39:57.780
 blood is

00:39:57.780 --> 00:39:58.920
 a ceremoniously

00:39:58.920 --> 00:40:00.200
 defiling food

00:40:00.200 --> 00:40:01.340
 but because

00:40:01.340 --> 00:40:02.300
 God has appointed

00:40:02.300 --> 00:40:03.280
 blood to be

00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:04.019
 the means of

00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:04.780
 atonement

00:40:04.780 --> 00:40:05.640
 not food.

00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:07.700
 Jesus didn't

00:40:07.700 --> 00:40:08.140
 permit

00:40:08.140 --> 00:40:09.120
 the eating of blood

00:40:09.120 --> 00:40:09.800
 when he declared

00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:10.980
 all foods clean

00:40:10.980 --> 00:40:12.140
 because blood

00:40:12.140 --> 00:40:13.000
 was never

00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:14.040
 considered food

00:40:14.040 --> 00:40:15.060
 in the first place

00:40:15.060 --> 00:40:15.500
 in scripture.

00:40:19.100 --> 00:40:20.540
 Now I say this

00:40:20.540 --> 00:40:20.820
 with

00:40:20.820 --> 00:40:22.480
 I sound very confident

00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.160
 as I'm saying this

00:40:23.160 --> 00:40:23.860
 but I want you to know

00:40:23.860 --> 00:40:24.800
 that I'm teaching this

00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:26.079
 with some tentativeness

00:40:26.079 --> 00:40:28.280
 because the view

00:40:28.280 --> 00:40:29.640
 that these stipulations

00:40:29.640 --> 00:40:30.220
 are binding

00:40:30.220 --> 00:40:31.099
 on Christians today

00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:32.519
 is a minority view

00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:34.780
 and most faithful

00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:35.860
 and wise pastors

00:40:35.860 --> 00:40:36.860
 nowadays that I know

00:40:36.860 --> 00:40:38.079
 especially from

00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:38.800
 our own tradition

00:40:38.800 --> 00:40:39.780
 the reformed tradition

00:40:39.780 --> 00:40:41.340
 disagree with me.

00:40:41.720 --> 00:40:42.539
 So I want you guys

00:40:42.539 --> 00:40:43.000
 to know that.

00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:45.019
 So I want you

00:40:45.019 --> 00:40:46.320
 want to invite you

00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:46.860
 to test

00:40:46.860 --> 00:40:47.900
 what I'm saying

00:40:47.900 --> 00:40:48.960
 test my teaching

00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:49.500
 to make sure

00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:50.160
 that it really is

00:40:50.160 --> 00:40:51.160
 what the scripture says.

00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:52.819
 my preaching

00:40:52.819 --> 00:40:53.679
 is authoritative

00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:54.940
 only in so far

00:40:54.940 --> 00:40:55.899
 as it is consistent

00:40:55.899 --> 00:40:56.460
 with scripture.

00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:57.980
 It's God's word

00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.779
 that's infallible

00:40:58.779 --> 00:40:59.799
 my interpretation

00:40:59.799 --> 00:41:00.440
 of the word

00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:00.920
 is not

00:41:00.920 --> 00:41:02.259
 it's never infallible.

00:41:04.759 --> 00:41:05.839
 But I do want you

00:41:05.839 --> 00:41:06.119
 to know

00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:07.019
 that I'm not some

00:41:07.019 --> 00:41:07.460
 you know

00:41:07.460 --> 00:41:08.199
 rogue pastor

00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:09.219
 that relishes

00:41:09.219 --> 00:41:10.759
 having contrarian views.

00:41:11.440 --> 00:41:12.039
 It makes me

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:12.920
 deeply uncomfortable

00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:13.799
 and insecure

00:41:13.799 --> 00:41:14.759
 when I find myself

00:41:14.759 --> 00:41:15.299
 in disagreement

00:41:15.299 --> 00:41:16.179
 with a majority

00:41:16.179 --> 00:41:16.799
 of pastors

00:41:16.799 --> 00:41:18.519
 in modern times.

00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.659
 I wrestled

00:41:19.659 --> 00:41:20.440
 with these issues

00:41:20.440 --> 00:41:21.980
 long time

00:41:21.980 --> 00:41:22.780
 spent

00:41:22.780 --> 00:41:23.960
 countless scores

00:41:23.960 --> 00:41:24.599
 of hours

00:41:24.599 --> 00:41:26.659
 mulling it over

00:41:26.659 --> 00:41:27.619
 and lost sleep

00:41:27.619 --> 00:41:28.079
 over it

00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:29.559
 and I wouldn't

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:30.380
 have the confidence

00:41:30.380 --> 00:41:31.300
 even to share

00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:31.880
 with you

00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:32.619
 these views

00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:33.159
 that I have

00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:33.500
 of it

00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:34.519
 apart from

00:41:34.519 --> 00:41:35.199
 the universal

00:41:35.199 --> 00:41:35.739
 agreement

00:41:35.739 --> 00:41:36.579
 of church fathers

00:41:36.579 --> 00:41:37.000
 for about

00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:37.400
 the first

00:41:37.400 --> 00:41:38.280
 1500 years

00:41:38.280 --> 00:41:38.940
 of church history.

00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:43.900
 The Orthodox Church

00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:44.559
 for example

00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:45.480
 still teaches

00:41:45.480 --> 00:41:46.119
 that eating blood

00:41:46.119 --> 00:41:46.639
 is forbidden

00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:47.360
 and that they've

00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:47.940
 been doing this

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:49.420
 since the earliest

00:41:49.420 --> 00:41:50.200
 days of the church.

00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:53.900
 Even among

00:41:53.900 --> 00:41:54.780
 Reformed theologians

00:41:54.780 --> 00:41:55.360
 I found

00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:56.380
 a kinder spirit

00:41:56.380 --> 00:41:57.240
 in John Bunyan

00:41:57.240 --> 00:41:58.559
 the author

00:41:58.559 --> 00:42:00.240
 of Pilgrim's Progress

00:42:00.240 --> 00:42:01.900
 and he writes this

00:42:01.900 --> 00:42:03.860
 and though this law

00:42:03.860 --> 00:42:04.599
 was abolished

00:42:04.599 --> 00:42:05.099
 by the coming

00:42:05.099 --> 00:42:05.659
 of Christ

00:42:05.659 --> 00:42:06.619
 yet we find

00:42:06.619 --> 00:42:07.179
 the apostles

00:42:07.179 --> 00:42:07.920
 in their council

00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:08.420
 at Jerusalem

00:42:08.420 --> 00:42:09.320
 forbid the eating

00:42:09.320 --> 00:42:10.220
 of things strangled

00:42:10.220 --> 00:42:10.840
 and commanded

00:42:10.840 --> 00:42:11.260
 the Christians

00:42:11.260 --> 00:42:12.240
 to abstain from blood

00:42:12.240 --> 00:42:13.579
 and though we are

00:42:13.579 --> 00:42:14.539
 not now obliged

00:42:14.539 --> 00:42:15.179
 to keep the law

00:42:15.179 --> 00:42:15.619
 of Moses

00:42:15.619 --> 00:42:16.700
 yet I cannot

00:42:16.700 --> 00:42:17.639
 find upon

00:42:17.639 --> 00:42:18.500
 what grounds

00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:19.239
 many Christians

00:42:19.239 --> 00:42:20.000
 take liberty

00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:21.219
 to act contrary

00:42:21.219 --> 00:42:21.920
 to the obedience

00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:22.559
 of the apostles

00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:23.139
 of Christ

00:42:23.139 --> 00:42:24.159
 in eating blood

00:42:24.159 --> 00:42:25.299
 and things strangled.

00:42:26.259 --> 00:42:27.359
 In other words

00:42:27.359 --> 00:42:28.819
 these four requirements

00:42:28.819 --> 00:42:29.639
 are not merely

00:42:29.639 --> 00:42:31.199
 part of the Mosaic law

00:42:31.199 --> 00:42:32.679
 they were commands

00:42:32.679 --> 00:42:34.339
 given by the Holy Spirit

00:42:34.339 --> 00:42:35.500
 and by the apostles

00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:36.900
 after Jesus'

00:42:37.139 --> 00:42:37.619
 resurrection

00:42:37.619 --> 00:42:38.839
 and ascension

00:42:38.839 --> 00:42:40.500
 after Pentecost

00:42:40.500 --> 00:42:42.480
 to New Covenant

00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:43.279
 believers.

00:42:43.280 --> 00:42:47.900
 So if my interpretation

00:42:47.900 --> 00:42:48.700
 of this passage

00:42:48.700 --> 00:42:49.200
 is correct

00:42:49.200 --> 00:42:50.240
 that means

00:42:50.240 --> 00:42:50.820
 we too

00:42:50.820 --> 00:42:51.519
 must abstain

00:42:51.519 --> 00:42:52.380
 from eating blood

00:42:52.380 --> 00:42:53.820
 blood sausage

00:42:53.820 --> 00:42:55.320
 blood pudding

00:42:55.320 --> 00:42:56.480
 blood pudding

00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:57.060
 I think it's called

00:42:57.060 --> 00:42:58.920
 pig's blood cake

00:42:58.920 --> 00:42:59.800
 blood tofu

00:42:59.800 --> 00:43:00.720
 blood soup

00:43:00.720 --> 00:43:02.220
 blood pancake

00:43:02.220 --> 00:43:02.800
 and so on.

00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:05.780
 Now some of you

00:43:05.780 --> 00:43:06.600
 might be panicking

00:43:06.599 --> 00:43:11.460
 because of your fondness

00:43:11.460 --> 00:43:12.460
 for rare steak

00:43:12.460 --> 00:43:16.079
 but steak

00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:16.880
 connoisseurs

00:43:16.880 --> 00:43:17.659
 assure me

00:43:17.659 --> 00:43:19.179
 that the red liquid

00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:19.980
 that comes out

00:43:19.980 --> 00:43:20.880
 when you cook steak

00:43:20.880 --> 00:43:22.259
 is not actually blood

00:43:22.259 --> 00:43:23.719
 but a protein

00:43:23.719 --> 00:43:25.000
 called myoglobin

00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:25.759
 do you guys know that?

00:43:26.759 --> 00:43:27.259
 You guys laughing

00:43:27.259 --> 00:43:27.960
 because you knew that already?

00:43:28.659 --> 00:43:30.319
 So it gives the red hue

00:43:30.319 --> 00:43:31.059
 to the water

00:43:31.059 --> 00:43:31.639
 that's coming out

00:43:31.639 --> 00:43:32.000
 of the steak

00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:32.559
 it's apparently

00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:33.339
 not blood

00:43:33.340 --> 00:43:34.680
 I felt so much better

00:43:34.680 --> 00:43:35.420
 after I learned that

00:43:35.420 --> 00:43:38.660
 because I've eaten

00:43:38.660 --> 00:43:39.160
 a lot of

00:43:39.160 --> 00:43:40.620
 medium rare steak

00:43:40.620 --> 00:43:46.800
 but we have to admit

00:43:46.800 --> 00:43:48.000
 even if the red sauce

00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:48.880
 the juice coming out

00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:49.260
 of the steak

00:43:49.260 --> 00:43:50.019
 is blood

00:43:50.019 --> 00:43:51.980
 it should not be hard

00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:52.740
 for us to give up

00:43:52.740 --> 00:43:53.440
 mere food

00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:53.960
 for the sake

00:43:53.960 --> 00:43:54.660
 of obeying God

00:43:54.660 --> 00:44:01.420
 in refraining

00:44:01.420 --> 00:44:02.500
 from eating blood

00:44:02.500 --> 00:44:03.119
 we communicate

00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:04.360
 to those around us

00:44:04.360 --> 00:44:05.320
 our regard

00:44:05.320 --> 00:44:05.960
 for the life

00:44:05.960 --> 00:44:06.659
 that only God

00:44:06.659 --> 00:44:07.340
 can create

00:44:07.340 --> 00:44:08.539
 and only God

00:44:08.539 --> 00:44:09.340
 can take away

00:44:09.340 --> 00:44:10.699
 in refraining

00:44:10.699 --> 00:44:11.579
 from eating blood

00:44:11.579 --> 00:44:12.239
 we communicate

00:44:12.239 --> 00:44:13.019
 our reverence

00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:13.679
 for the fact

00:44:13.679 --> 00:44:14.579
 that God

00:44:14.579 --> 00:44:15.639
 has given blood

00:44:15.639 --> 00:44:16.659
 as the means

00:44:16.659 --> 00:44:17.739
 of making atonement

00:44:17.739 --> 00:44:18.559
 for our sins

00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:19.800
 and as we do that

00:44:19.800 --> 00:44:20.760
 we are testifying

00:44:20.760 --> 00:44:21.420
 to the blood

00:44:21.420 --> 00:44:22.579
 that Jesus shed

00:44:22.579 --> 00:44:23.199
 on the cross

00:44:23.199 --> 00:44:27.440
 fourth

00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:29.099
 this is the fourth

00:44:29.099 --> 00:44:30.000
 the last stipulation

00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.179
 the Gentile believers

00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:31.820
 are to abstain

00:44:31.820 --> 00:44:32.920
 from sexual immorality

00:44:32.920 --> 00:44:33.760
 which includes

00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:34.880
 fornication

00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:36.120
 prostitution

00:44:36.120 --> 00:44:36.720
 adultery

00:44:36.720 --> 00:44:37.440
 incest

00:44:37.440 --> 00:44:38.700
 homosexuality

00:44:38.700 --> 00:44:39.380
 bestiality

00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:39.980
 and all the other

00:44:39.980 --> 00:44:41.140
 forms of sexual relations

00:44:41.140 --> 00:44:42.019
 that are outside

00:44:42.019 --> 00:44:42.840
 of God's design

00:44:42.840 --> 00:44:43.240
 of marriage

00:44:43.240 --> 00:44:44.180
 between one man

00:44:44.180 --> 00:44:44.760
 and one woman

00:44:44.760 --> 00:44:46.539
 once again

00:44:46.539 --> 00:44:47.539
 sexual immorality

00:44:47.539 --> 00:44:48.680
 was rampant

00:44:48.680 --> 00:44:49.460
 among the Gentiles

00:44:49.460 --> 00:44:50.220
 in the first century

00:44:50.220 --> 00:44:51.559
 as they are today

00:44:51.559 --> 00:44:53.760
 in a book

00:44:53.760 --> 00:44:54.320
 entitled

00:44:54.320 --> 00:44:55.440
 premarital sex

00:44:55.440 --> 00:44:55.940
 in America

00:44:55.940 --> 00:44:56.720
 sociologists

00:44:56.720 --> 00:44:58.260
 Mark Regnerus

00:44:58.260 --> 00:44:59.460
 and Jeremy Uecker

00:44:59.460 --> 00:45:00.300
 estimate that

00:45:00.300 --> 00:45:01.560
 84%

00:45:01.560 --> 00:45:02.900
 of unmarried

00:45:02.900 --> 00:45:03.380
 Americans

00:45:03.380 --> 00:45:04.160
 between the ages

00:45:04.160 --> 00:45:05.160
 of 18 and 23

00:45:05.160 --> 00:45:05.920
 have already

00:45:05.920 --> 00:45:06.600
 had sex

00:45:06.600 --> 00:45:13.740
 this is a very

00:45:13.740 --> 00:45:14.500
 common sin

00:45:14.500 --> 00:45:15.300
 I know there are

00:45:15.300 --> 00:45:15.860
 those of you

00:45:15.860 --> 00:45:16.560
 who have struggled

00:45:16.560 --> 00:45:17.100
 with this

00:45:17.100 --> 00:45:18.480
 I've shared this

00:45:18.480 --> 00:45:19.400
 from my own testimony

00:45:19.400 --> 00:45:19.940
 in my life

00:45:19.940 --> 00:45:24.340
 there's grace

00:45:24.340 --> 00:45:24.700
 for you

00:45:24.700 --> 00:45:25.320
 if you've sinned

00:45:25.320 --> 00:45:25.780
 in this way

00:45:25.780 --> 00:45:27.720
 God forgives

00:45:27.720 --> 00:45:31.800
 but sexual immorality

00:45:31.800 --> 00:45:33.000
 is an egregious sin

00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:34.540
 because Christians

00:45:34.540 --> 00:45:35.160
 are members

00:45:35.160 --> 00:45:35.880
 of the body

00:45:35.880 --> 00:45:36.420
 of Christ

00:45:36.420 --> 00:45:37.280
 we are one

00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:38.420
 with Christ

00:45:38.420 --> 00:45:39.900
 we are a temple

00:45:39.900 --> 00:45:41.100
 of the Holy Spirit

00:45:41.100 --> 00:45:42.600
 but by indulging

00:45:42.600 --> 00:45:43.560
 in sexual immorality

00:45:43.560 --> 00:45:44.620
 we sin against

00:45:44.620 --> 00:45:45.900
 our own bodies

00:45:45.900 --> 00:45:46.780
 and as we do that

00:45:46.780 --> 00:45:47.940
 we sin against

00:45:47.940 --> 00:45:49.220
 the one spirit

00:45:49.220 --> 00:45:51.540
 of which we are a part

00:45:51.540 --> 00:45:55.340
 such unholy mingling

00:45:55.340 --> 00:45:56.160
 should never happen

00:45:56.160 --> 00:45:59.039
 in order for Gentiles

00:45:59.039 --> 00:45:59.760
 who are reared

00:45:59.760 --> 00:46:01.200
 in a promiscuous

00:46:01.200 --> 00:46:02.400
 and licentious culture

00:46:02.400 --> 00:46:04.160
 to be faithful Christians

00:46:04.160 --> 00:46:05.500
 they must renounce

00:46:05.500 --> 00:46:06.640
 their former way of life

00:46:06.640 --> 00:46:07.840
 and pledge allegiance

00:46:07.840 --> 00:46:09.160
 to the way of Jesus

00:46:09.160 --> 00:46:11.840
 the apostles

00:46:11.840 --> 00:46:12.460
 and the elders

00:46:12.460 --> 00:46:13.280
 determined

00:46:13.280 --> 00:46:13.900
 that it is not

00:46:13.900 --> 00:46:14.860
 too onerous

00:46:14.860 --> 00:46:15.760
 to expect

00:46:15.760 --> 00:46:16.920
 abidance to these commands

00:46:16.920 --> 00:46:18.160
 because as it says

00:46:18.160 --> 00:46:18.860
 in verse 21

00:46:18.860 --> 00:46:20.579
 for from ancient generations

00:46:20.579 --> 00:46:21.640
 Moses has had

00:46:21.640 --> 00:46:22.340
 in every city

00:46:22.340 --> 00:46:23.300
 those who proclaim him

00:46:23.300 --> 00:46:24.200
 for he is read

00:46:24.200 --> 00:46:24.920
 every Sabbath

00:46:24.920 --> 00:46:25.760
 in the synagogues

00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:26.800
 in other words

00:46:26.800 --> 00:46:28.160
 these are ethical standards

00:46:28.160 --> 00:46:29.380
 that are well known

00:46:29.380 --> 00:46:30.880
 everywhere in the world

00:46:30.880 --> 00:46:31.720
 because of the presence

00:46:31.720 --> 00:46:32.360
 of the Jews

00:46:32.360 --> 00:46:33.260
 everywhere in the world

00:46:33.260 --> 00:46:34.180
 and because of their

00:46:34.180 --> 00:46:34.980
 faithful proclamation

00:46:34.980 --> 00:46:36.060
 of the Mosaic law

00:46:36.060 --> 00:46:38.280
 so it's not too hard

00:46:38.280 --> 00:46:38.960
 to expect

00:46:38.960 --> 00:46:40.039
 abiding to these

00:46:40.039 --> 00:46:41.100
 four requirements

00:46:41.100 --> 00:46:43.000
 so those are the requirements

00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:43.880
 for Gentile converts

00:46:43.880 --> 00:46:45.880
 that was my first point

00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:47.400
 my second point

00:46:47.400 --> 00:46:48.000
 is a lot shorter

00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:50.960
 let's look at the rejoicing

00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:52.119
 of the Gentile converts

00:46:52.119 --> 00:46:52.699
 in response

00:46:52.699 --> 00:46:53.460
 to this verdict

00:46:53.460 --> 00:46:55.179
 after the delegation

00:46:55.179 --> 00:46:56.039
 delivers the letter

00:46:56.039 --> 00:46:56.980
 it says in verse 31

00:46:56.980 --> 00:46:58.480
 and when they had read it

00:46:58.480 --> 00:47:00.119
 they rejoiced

00:47:00.119 --> 00:47:01.699
 because of its encouragement

00:47:01.699 --> 00:47:04.260
 notice that

00:47:04.260 --> 00:47:05.780
 none of the Gentile believers

00:47:05.780 --> 00:47:06.780
 are balking

00:47:06.780 --> 00:47:07.960
 at these four requirements

00:47:07.960 --> 00:47:08.320
 saying

00:47:08.320 --> 00:47:09.220
 well you mean

00:47:09.220 --> 00:47:10.059
 I have to give up

00:47:10.059 --> 00:47:11.480
 one of my main sources

00:47:11.480 --> 00:47:13.039
 of fresh delicious meat

00:47:13.039 --> 00:47:15.260
 you mean

00:47:15.260 --> 00:47:16.460
 I can't have

00:47:16.460 --> 00:47:17.599
 any more blood sausages

00:47:17.599 --> 00:47:19.179
 are you kidding me

00:47:19.179 --> 00:47:21.179
 you mean

00:47:21.179 --> 00:47:21.859
 I can't sleep

00:47:21.859 --> 00:47:22.659
 around anymore

00:47:22.659 --> 00:47:25.859
 nobody's saying that

00:47:25.859 --> 00:47:28.399
 they are more

00:47:28.399 --> 00:47:29.259
 than willing

00:47:29.259 --> 00:47:31.019
 to make these changes

00:47:31.019 --> 00:47:32.699
 because these are

00:47:32.699 --> 00:47:35.159
 infinitesimally

00:47:35.159 --> 00:47:36.559
 small sacrifices

00:47:36.559 --> 00:47:37.319
 compared to

00:47:37.319 --> 00:47:38.440
 what they have gained

00:47:38.440 --> 00:47:39.299
 in Jesus Christ

00:47:39.299 --> 00:47:44.279
 remember from verse 19

00:47:44.279 --> 00:47:45.139
 the apostles decided

00:47:45.139 --> 00:47:45.960
 not to trouble

00:47:45.960 --> 00:47:46.639
 these Gentiles

00:47:46.639 --> 00:47:47.440
 so they don't see

00:47:47.440 --> 00:47:48.259
 these requirements

00:47:48.260 --> 00:47:49.680
 as troubling them

00:47:49.680 --> 00:47:50.200
 these are not

00:47:50.200 --> 00:47:51.280
 troublesome to them

00:47:51.280 --> 00:47:53.560
 why?

00:47:53.720 --> 00:47:54.760
 because by repenting

00:47:54.760 --> 00:47:55.720
 of their sinful ways

00:47:55.720 --> 00:47:56.480
 and turning to the way

00:47:56.480 --> 00:47:56.960
 of Jesus

00:47:56.960 --> 00:47:58.280
 these Gentiles

00:47:58.280 --> 00:47:58.800
 have gained

00:47:58.800 --> 00:48:00.080
 eternal life

00:48:00.080 --> 00:48:01.060
 they have gained

00:48:01.060 --> 00:48:01.480
 heaven

00:48:01.480 --> 00:48:02.540
 they have gained

00:48:02.540 --> 00:48:02.980
 fellowship

00:48:02.980 --> 00:48:03.740
 with the triune

00:48:03.740 --> 00:48:04.760
 God himself

00:48:04.760 --> 00:48:09.500
 think of it this way

00:48:09.500 --> 00:48:11.000
 many entrepreneurs

00:48:11.000 --> 00:48:11.720
 you know

00:48:11.720 --> 00:48:12.720
 empty out their

00:48:12.720 --> 00:48:14.040
 bank accounts

00:48:14.040 --> 00:48:15.540
 we have some

00:48:15.540 --> 00:48:15.960
 entrepreneurs

00:48:15.960 --> 00:48:16.679
 ourselves

00:48:16.679 --> 00:48:17.780
 talk to

00:48:17.780 --> 00:48:18.619
 Brian and Jenny

00:48:18.619 --> 00:48:19.119
 or Caleb

00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:20.119
 others

00:48:20.119 --> 00:48:23.340
 they will literally

00:48:23.340 --> 00:48:24.420
 empty out

00:48:24.420 --> 00:48:25.179
 their bank account

00:48:25.179 --> 00:48:25.720
 sometimes

00:48:25.720 --> 00:48:27.940
 to sell off

00:48:27.940 --> 00:48:28.480
 most of their

00:48:28.480 --> 00:48:28.940
 possessions

00:48:28.940 --> 00:48:30.340
 in order to

00:48:30.340 --> 00:48:30.900
 come up with

00:48:30.900 --> 00:48:31.880
 the necessary funds

00:48:31.880 --> 00:48:32.480
 to keep their

00:48:32.480 --> 00:48:33.199
 business going

00:48:33.199 --> 00:48:35.980
 why in the world

00:48:35.980 --> 00:48:36.400
 would anybody

00:48:36.400 --> 00:48:36.920
 do that?

00:48:37.340 --> 00:48:38.159
 that sounds crazy

00:48:38.159 --> 00:48:38.599
 doesn't it?

00:48:39.139 --> 00:48:40.059
 because they believe

00:48:40.059 --> 00:48:41.059
 that they can make up

00:48:41.059 --> 00:48:42.019
 for all that they have

00:48:42.019 --> 00:48:43.139
 spent and make much

00:48:43.139 --> 00:48:44.159
 more money on top

00:48:44.159 --> 00:48:44.940
 of that with their

00:48:44.940 --> 00:48:45.360
 business

00:48:45.360 --> 00:48:48.039
 because they believe

00:48:48.039 --> 00:48:48.740
 that what they're

00:48:48.740 --> 00:48:49.400
 giving up

00:48:49.400 --> 00:48:50.960
 does not compare

00:48:50.960 --> 00:48:52.240
 to what they stand

00:48:52.240 --> 00:48:52.800
 to gain

00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:53.900
 eternity

00:48:53.900 --> 00:48:55.599
 heaven

00:48:55.599 --> 00:48:58.480
 how much more

00:48:58.480 --> 00:48:59.260
 is this the case

00:48:59.260 --> 00:48:59.840
 for us

00:48:59.840 --> 00:49:01.200
 who have an eternal

00:49:01.200 --> 00:49:02.840
 prize of infinite

00:49:02.840 --> 00:49:03.840
 worth in Jesus

00:49:03.840 --> 00:49:04.380
 Christ

00:49:04.380 --> 00:49:07.119
 as 19th century

00:49:07.119 --> 00:49:07.840
 British pastor

00:49:07.840 --> 00:49:08.619
 Charles Spurgeon

00:49:08.619 --> 00:49:09.220
 once said

00:49:09.220 --> 00:49:10.159
 if he

00:49:10.159 --> 00:49:10.639
 Jesus

00:49:10.639 --> 00:49:11.480
 gave his

00:49:11.480 --> 00:49:12.500
 all to me

00:49:12.500 --> 00:49:13.940
 which was

00:49:13.940 --> 00:49:14.500
 much

00:49:14.500 --> 00:49:16.280
 should I

00:49:16.280 --> 00:49:16.980
 not give

00:49:16.980 --> 00:49:17.780
 my little

00:49:17.780 --> 00:49:18.920
 all to him

00:49:18.920 --> 00:49:25.059
 before Jesus

00:49:25.059 --> 00:49:25.920
 a Gentile

00:49:25.920 --> 00:49:26.679
 had to become

00:49:26.679 --> 00:49:27.179
 a Jew

00:49:27.179 --> 00:49:27.760
 in order to be

00:49:27.760 --> 00:49:28.119
 saved

00:49:28.119 --> 00:49:30.059
 be circumcised

00:49:30.059 --> 00:49:30.780
 keep all

00:49:30.780 --> 00:49:31.659
 the laws of Moses

00:49:31.659 --> 00:49:32.340
 that marked out

00:49:32.340 --> 00:49:32.780
 the Jews

00:49:32.780 --> 00:49:33.519
 as God's chosen

00:49:33.519 --> 00:49:33.940
 people

00:49:33.940 --> 00:49:35.260
 not only

00:49:35.260 --> 00:49:36.019
 could they not

00:49:36.019 --> 00:49:36.679
 eat strangled

00:49:36.679 --> 00:49:37.679
 animals and blood

00:49:37.679 --> 00:49:38.420
 they also

00:49:38.420 --> 00:49:38.860
 couldn't eat

00:49:38.860 --> 00:49:39.380
 pigs

00:49:39.380 --> 00:49:40.140
 horses

00:49:40.140 --> 00:49:41.619
 camels

00:49:41.619 --> 00:49:42.140
 hares

00:49:42.140 --> 00:49:42.740
 lobsters

00:49:42.740 --> 00:49:43.220
 clams

00:49:43.220 --> 00:49:44.019
 catfish

00:49:44.019 --> 00:49:44.519
 squids

00:49:44.519 --> 00:49:44.960
 oysters

00:49:44.960 --> 00:49:45.660
 shrimp

00:49:45.660 --> 00:49:46.320
 mussels

00:49:46.320 --> 00:49:46.800
 crabs

00:49:46.800 --> 00:49:47.300
 snakes

00:49:47.300 --> 00:49:47.800
 worms

00:49:47.800 --> 00:49:48.280
 eagles

00:49:48.280 --> 00:49:49.099
 vultures

00:49:49.099 --> 00:49:49.619
 hawks

00:49:49.619 --> 00:49:50.320
 ostriches

00:49:50.320 --> 00:49:50.960
 cormorants

00:49:50.960 --> 00:49:51.619
 owls

00:49:51.619 --> 00:49:52.360
 storks

00:49:52.360 --> 00:49:52.940
 herons

00:49:52.940 --> 00:49:53.500
 flies

00:49:53.500 --> 00:49:54.200
 cockroaches

00:49:54.200 --> 00:49:54.640
 rats

00:49:54.640 --> 00:49:55.300
 mice

00:49:55.300 --> 00:49:56.000
 lizards

00:49:56.000 --> 00:49:57.039
 and so on

00:49:57.039 --> 00:50:01.039
 I know you've had

00:50:01.039 --> 00:50:01.579
 some of those

00:50:01.579 --> 00:50:05.680
 the biblical dietary laws

00:50:05.680 --> 00:50:06.640
 forbade the eating

00:50:06.640 --> 00:50:07.240
 of animals

00:50:07.240 --> 00:50:08.099
 that deviated

00:50:08.099 --> 00:50:08.639
 from certain

00:50:08.639 --> 00:50:09.739
 creation categories

00:50:09.739 --> 00:50:11.079
 for example

00:50:11.079 --> 00:50:12.219
 land animals

00:50:12.219 --> 00:50:13.079
 that part the hoof

00:50:13.079 --> 00:50:13.400
 and have

00:50:13.400 --> 00:50:14.480
 cloven feet

00:50:14.480 --> 00:50:16.719
 but do not

00:50:16.719 --> 00:50:17.319
 chew the cud

00:50:17.319 --> 00:50:17.679
 you're not

00:50:17.679 --> 00:50:18.119
 supposed to

00:50:18.119 --> 00:50:18.519
 eat them

00:50:18.519 --> 00:50:19.619
 or sea creatures

00:50:19.619 --> 00:50:20.440
 that don't have

00:50:20.440 --> 00:50:21.360
 scales and fins

00:50:21.360 --> 00:50:21.799
 you're not

00:50:21.799 --> 00:50:22.299
 supposed to

00:50:22.299 --> 00:50:22.739
 eat them

00:50:22.739 --> 00:50:24.179
 or winged

00:50:24.179 --> 00:50:24.539
 insects

00:50:24.539 --> 00:50:25.179
 that also

00:50:25.179 --> 00:50:25.759
 walk on

00:50:25.759 --> 00:50:26.259
 four of their

00:50:26.259 --> 00:50:26.599
 legs

00:50:26.599 --> 00:50:27.019
 you're not

00:50:27.019 --> 00:50:27.480
 supposed to

00:50:27.480 --> 00:50:27.880
 eat them

00:50:27.880 --> 00:50:29.420
 by distinguishing

00:50:29.420 --> 00:50:29.900
 clean and

00:50:29.900 --> 00:50:30.619
 unclean animals

00:50:30.619 --> 00:50:31.159
 in this way

00:50:31.159 --> 00:50:31.679
 and committing

00:50:31.679 --> 00:50:32.279
 the Jews

00:50:32.279 --> 00:50:33.239
 as a holy

00:50:33.239 --> 00:50:33.759
 people

00:50:33.759 --> 00:50:34.980
 to be set

00:50:34.980 --> 00:50:35.880
 apart for God

00:50:35.880 --> 00:50:36.579
 and eat only

00:50:36.579 --> 00:50:37.079
 the clean

00:50:37.079 --> 00:50:37.599
 animals

00:50:37.599 --> 00:50:38.799
 God taught

00:50:38.799 --> 00:50:39.420
 his people

00:50:39.420 --> 00:50:40.239
 to distinguish

00:50:40.239 --> 00:50:40.860
 between

00:50:40.860 --> 00:50:41.880
 what is holy

00:50:41.880 --> 00:50:42.739
 and what is

00:50:42.739 --> 00:50:43.219
 common

00:50:43.219 --> 00:50:45.159
 to remember

00:50:45.159 --> 00:50:45.759
 that their

00:50:45.759 --> 00:50:46.199
 identity

00:50:46.199 --> 00:50:47.119
 is as God's

00:50:47.119 --> 00:50:47.559
 special

00:50:47.559 --> 00:50:48.659
 chosen people

00:50:48.659 --> 00:50:51.039
 but through

00:50:51.039 --> 00:50:51.920
 Jesus' death

00:50:51.920 --> 00:50:52.559
 and resurrection

00:50:52.559 --> 00:50:53.619
 the dividing

00:50:53.619 --> 00:50:54.279
 line between

00:50:54.279 --> 00:50:54.860
 Jews and

00:50:54.860 --> 00:50:55.500
 Gentiles

00:50:55.500 --> 00:50:56.819
 has been

00:50:56.819 --> 00:50:57.380
 erased

00:50:57.380 --> 00:50:57.900
 it's been

00:50:57.900 --> 00:50:58.420
 toppled

00:50:58.420 --> 00:50:59.519
 and by

00:50:59.519 --> 00:51:00.079
 commanding

00:51:00.079 --> 00:51:00.519
 Peter to

00:51:00.519 --> 00:51:01.139
 eat the

00:51:01.139 --> 00:51:01.940
 unclean foods

00:51:01.940 --> 00:51:02.179
 in the

00:51:02.179 --> 00:51:02.480
 vision

00:51:02.480 --> 00:51:03.039
 in Acts

00:51:03.039 --> 00:51:03.759
 chapter 10

00:51:03.760 --> 00:51:04.860
 God taught

00:51:04.860 --> 00:51:05.300
 Peter

00:51:05.300 --> 00:51:05.960
 and all

00:51:05.960 --> 00:51:06.400
 of us

00:51:06.400 --> 00:51:07.160
 not to

00:51:07.160 --> 00:51:07.660
 call

00:51:07.660 --> 00:51:08.420
 Gentiles

00:51:08.420 --> 00:51:08.900
 whom God

00:51:08.900 --> 00:51:09.460
 has called

00:51:09.460 --> 00:51:10.040
 clean

00:51:10.040 --> 00:51:11.140
 unclean

00:51:11.140 --> 00:51:13.200
 there is

00:51:13.200 --> 00:51:13.600
 now no

00:51:13.600 --> 00:51:13.880
 more

00:51:13.880 --> 00:51:14.380
 distinction

00:51:14.380 --> 00:51:14.920
 between

00:51:14.920 --> 00:51:15.220
 Jews

00:51:15.220 --> 00:51:15.900
 and Gentiles

00:51:15.900 --> 00:51:16.320
 there is

00:51:16.320 --> 00:51:17.320
 now therefore

00:51:17.320 --> 00:51:18.040
 no need

00:51:18.040 --> 00:51:18.480
 to make

00:51:18.480 --> 00:51:18.940
 distinction

00:51:18.940 --> 00:51:19.260
 between

00:51:19.260 --> 00:51:19.760
 clean and

00:51:19.760 --> 00:51:20.240
 unclean

00:51:20.240 --> 00:51:20.740
 food

00:51:20.740 --> 00:51:21.720
 and now

00:51:21.720 --> 00:51:22.040
 we may

00:51:22.040 --> 00:51:22.240
 eat

00:51:22.240 --> 00:51:22.920
 all of

00:51:22.920 --> 00:51:23.200
 those

00:51:23.200 --> 00:51:23.740
 previously

00:51:23.740 --> 00:51:24.180
 forbidden

00:51:24.180 --> 00:51:24.760
 foods

00:51:24.760 --> 00:51:28.140
 though I

00:51:28.140 --> 00:51:28.560
 don't want

00:51:28.560 --> 00:51:28.920
 to eat

00:51:28.920 --> 00:51:29.200
 some of

00:51:29.200 --> 00:51:29.420
 those

00:51:29.420 --> 00:51:30.460
 we can't

00:51:30.460 --> 00:51:30.820
 eat them

00:51:30.820 --> 00:51:32.140
 it's like

00:51:32.140 --> 00:51:32.539
 victory

00:51:32.539 --> 00:51:32.980
 foods

00:51:32.980 --> 00:51:34.700
 as we

00:51:34.700 --> 00:51:35.059
 eat them

00:51:35.059 --> 00:51:35.260
 we

00:51:35.260 --> 00:51:36.000
 give

00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:36.400
 we

00:51:36.400 --> 00:51:36.780
 testify

00:51:36.780 --> 00:51:37.220
 to the

00:51:37.220 --> 00:51:37.420
 fact

00:51:37.420 --> 00:51:37.600
 that

00:51:37.600 --> 00:51:37.800
 Jews

00:51:37.800 --> 00:51:37.960
 and

00:51:37.960 --> 00:51:38.340
 Gentiles

00:51:38.340 --> 00:51:38.460
 have

00:51:38.460 --> 00:51:38.559
 been

00:51:38.559 --> 00:51:39.440
 reconciled

00:51:39.440 --> 00:51:44.500
 before

00:51:44.500 --> 00:51:44.980
 Jesus

00:51:44.980 --> 00:51:45.600
 God's

00:51:45.600 --> 00:51:45.860
 people

00:51:45.860 --> 00:51:46.200
 had to

00:51:46.200 --> 00:51:46.380
 make

00:51:46.380 --> 00:51:46.960
 perpetual

00:51:46.960 --> 00:51:47.640
 sacrifices

00:51:47.640 --> 00:51:48.240
 for sin

00:51:48.240 --> 00:51:50.100
 their

00:51:50.100 --> 00:51:50.780
 sacrifices

00:51:50.780 --> 00:51:51.039
 and

00:51:51.039 --> 00:51:51.400
 offerings

00:51:51.400 --> 00:51:51.800
 for sin

00:51:51.800 --> 00:51:52.519
 were never

00:51:52.519 --> 00:51:53.080
 fully

00:51:53.080 --> 00:51:53.559
 adequate

00:51:53.559 --> 00:51:54.559
 because

00:51:54.559 --> 00:51:54.900
 they were

00:51:54.900 --> 00:51:55.120
 mere

00:51:55.120 --> 00:51:55.700
 shadow

00:51:55.700 --> 00:51:56.059
 of the

00:51:56.059 --> 00:51:56.500
 reality

00:51:56.500 --> 00:51:56.760
 that

00:51:56.760 --> 00:51:57.200
 Jesus

00:51:57.200 --> 00:51:57.920
 would

00:51:57.920 --> 00:51:58.240
 be

00:51:58.240 --> 00:51:58.800
 Jesus

00:51:58.800 --> 00:51:59.280
 the

00:51:59.280 --> 00:51:59.860
 sacrificial

00:51:59.860 --> 00:52:00.160
 lamb

00:52:00.160 --> 00:52:00.300
 who

00:52:00.300 --> 00:52:00.580
 takes

00:52:00.580 --> 00:52:00.780
 away

00:52:00.780 --> 00:52:00.980
 our

00:52:00.980 --> 00:52:01.300
 sins

00:52:01.300 --> 00:52:02.360
 so

00:52:02.360 --> 00:52:02.840
 every

00:52:02.840 --> 00:52:03.160
 year

00:52:03.160 --> 00:52:03.320
 they

00:52:03.320 --> 00:52:03.460
 had

00:52:03.460 --> 00:52:03.540
 to

00:52:03.540 --> 00:52:03.700
 make

00:52:03.700 --> 00:52:04.320
 sacrifices

00:52:04.320 --> 00:52:04.580
 on the

00:52:04.580 --> 00:52:04.780
 day

00:52:04.780 --> 00:52:04.920
 of

00:52:04.920 --> 00:52:05.360
 atonement

00:52:05.360 --> 00:52:05.680
 as I

00:52:05.680 --> 00:52:05.920
 mentioned

00:52:05.920 --> 00:52:06.240
 last

00:52:06.240 --> 00:52:06.519
 week

00:52:06.519 --> 00:52:07.000
 but

00:52:07.000 --> 00:52:07.220
 this

00:52:07.220 --> 00:52:07.540
 annual

00:52:07.540 --> 00:52:07.940
 ritual

00:52:07.940 --> 00:52:08.380
 only

00:52:08.380 --> 00:52:08.700
 served

00:52:08.700 --> 00:52:08.920
 to

00:52:08.920 --> 00:52:09.500
 heighten

00:52:09.500 --> 00:52:09.760
 their

00:52:09.760 --> 00:52:10.200
 awareness

00:52:10.200 --> 00:52:10.580
 of their

00:52:10.580 --> 00:52:11.060
 sinfulness

00:52:11.060 --> 00:52:11.500
 and their

00:52:11.500 --> 00:52:11.820
 state

00:52:11.820 --> 00:52:11.960
 of

00:52:11.960 --> 00:52:12.519
 separation

00:52:12.519 --> 00:52:12.800
 from

00:52:12.800 --> 00:52:13.120
 God

00:52:13.120 --> 00:52:14.120
 there

00:52:14.120 --> 00:52:14.240
 was

00:52:14.240 --> 00:52:14.400
 a

00:52:14.400 --> 00:52:14.720
 veil

00:52:14.720 --> 00:52:15.120
 covering

00:52:15.120 --> 00:52:15.320
 that

00:52:15.320 --> 00:52:15.880
 separated

00:52:15.880 --> 00:52:16.220
 them

00:52:16.220 --> 00:52:16.480
 from

00:52:16.480 --> 00:52:16.880
 God

00:52:16.880 --> 00:52:17.580
 a

00:52:17.580 --> 00:52:17.980
 reminder

00:52:17.980 --> 00:52:18.240
 that

00:52:18.240 --> 00:52:18.440
 their

00:52:18.440 --> 00:52:18.820
 sin

00:52:18.820 --> 00:52:19.220
 still

00:52:19.220 --> 00:52:19.800
 separates

00:52:19.800 --> 00:52:19.980
 them

00:52:19.980 --> 00:52:20.180
 from

00:52:20.180 --> 00:52:20.360
 him

00:52:20.360 --> 00:52:20.760
 even

00:52:20.760 --> 00:52:21.280
 after

00:52:21.280 --> 00:52:21.560
 they

00:52:21.560 --> 00:52:21.920
 make

00:52:21.920 --> 00:52:22.680
 atonement

00:52:22.680 --> 00:52:23.400
 even

00:52:23.400 --> 00:52:23.560
 after

00:52:23.560 --> 00:52:24.380
 they

00:52:24.380 --> 00:52:24.840
 make

00:52:24.840 --> 00:52:25.019
 their

00:52:25.019 --> 00:52:25.620
 sacrifice

00:52:25.620 --> 00:52:27.740
 but

00:52:27.740 --> 00:52:28.180
 now

00:52:28.180 --> 00:52:28.660
 Jesus

00:52:28.659 --> 00:52:29.119
 has offered

00:52:29.119 --> 00:52:29.599
 himself

00:52:29.599 --> 00:52:30.319
 as the

00:52:30.319 --> 00:52:30.759
 ultimate

00:52:30.759 --> 00:52:31.480
 sacrifice

00:52:31.480 --> 00:52:32.139
 so we

00:52:32.139 --> 00:52:32.379
 have

00:52:32.379 --> 00:52:32.899
 full

00:52:32.899 --> 00:52:33.460
 forgiveness

00:52:33.460 --> 00:52:34.039
 for our

00:52:34.039 --> 00:52:34.500
 sins

00:52:34.500 --> 00:52:35.420
 and

00:52:35.420 --> 00:52:35.639
 when

00:52:35.639 --> 00:52:35.980
 Jesus

00:52:35.980 --> 00:52:36.239
 died

00:52:36.239 --> 00:52:36.460
 the

00:52:36.460 --> 00:52:36.859
 curtain

00:52:36.859 --> 00:52:37.159
 of the

00:52:37.159 --> 00:52:37.379
 temple

00:52:37.379 --> 00:52:37.579
 was

00:52:37.579 --> 00:52:37.879
 torn

00:52:37.879 --> 00:52:38.359
 in two

00:52:38.359 --> 00:52:39.739
 so

00:52:39.739 --> 00:52:40.259
 now

00:52:40.259 --> 00:52:40.899
 when

00:52:40.899 --> 00:52:41.219
 we

00:52:41.219 --> 00:52:41.719
 sin

00:52:41.719 --> 00:52:43.179
 we

00:52:43.179 --> 00:52:43.420
 don't

00:52:43.420 --> 00:52:43.739
 need

00:52:43.739 --> 00:52:44.079
 to

00:52:44.079 --> 00:52:44.460
 find

00:52:44.460 --> 00:52:44.859
 ourselves

00:52:44.859 --> 00:52:45.079
 a

00:52:45.079 --> 00:52:45.440
 priest

00:52:45.440 --> 00:52:46.099
 to

00:52:46.099 --> 00:52:46.379
 make

00:52:46.379 --> 00:52:47.219
 sacrifices

00:52:47.219 --> 00:52:47.559
 for

00:52:47.559 --> 00:52:47.859
 us

00:52:47.859 --> 00:52:49.099
 we

00:52:49.099 --> 00:52:49.319
 don't

00:52:49.319 --> 00:52:49.599
 need

00:52:49.599 --> 00:52:49.819
 to

00:52:49.819 --> 00:52:50.339
 supply

00:52:50.339 --> 00:52:50.619
 the

00:52:50.619 --> 00:52:51.039
 animals

00:52:51.039 --> 00:52:51.399
 for

00:52:51.399 --> 00:52:51.960
 sacrifice

00:52:51.960 --> 00:52:52.759
 because

00:52:52.759 --> 00:52:53.039
 our

00:52:53.039 --> 00:52:53.460
 great

00:52:53.460 --> 00:52:53.779
 high

00:52:53.779 --> 00:52:54.119
 priest

00:52:54.119 --> 00:52:54.579
 Jesus

00:52:54.579 --> 00:52:54.940
 has

00:52:54.940 --> 00:52:55.559
 already

00:52:55.559 --> 00:52:56.239
 made

00:52:56.239 --> 00:52:56.479
 the

00:52:56.479 --> 00:52:56.899
 once

00:52:56.899 --> 00:52:57.099
 and

00:52:57.099 --> 00:52:57.459
 for

00:52:57.459 --> 00:52:57.819
 all

00:52:57.819 --> 00:52:59.000
 sacrifice

00:52:59.000 --> 00:52:59.759
 we

00:52:59.759 --> 00:53:00.279
 simply

00:53:00.279 --> 00:53:00.959
 return

00:53:00.959 --> 00:53:01.219
 to

00:53:01.219 --> 00:53:01.359
 the

00:53:01.359 --> 00:53:01.719
 cross

00:53:01.719 --> 00:53:02.379
 confess

00:53:02.379 --> 00:53:02.839
 our

00:53:02.839 --> 00:53:03.079
 sins

00:53:03.079 --> 00:53:03.239
 to

00:53:03.239 --> 00:53:03.500
 God

00:53:03.500 --> 00:53:03.899
 who

00:53:03.899 --> 00:53:04.319
 forgives

00:53:04.319 --> 00:53:04.519
 us

00:53:04.519 --> 00:53:04.799
 on the

00:53:04.799 --> 00:53:05.159
 basis

00:53:05.159 --> 00:53:05.619
 of what

00:53:05.619 --> 00:53:06.039
 Jesus

00:53:06.039 --> 00:53:06.399
 has

00:53:06.399 --> 00:53:06.959
 accomplished

00:53:06.959 --> 00:53:07.679
 in

00:53:07.679 --> 00:53:08.119
 shedding

00:53:08.119 --> 00:53:08.359
 his

00:53:08.359 --> 00:53:08.599
 blood

00:53:08.599 --> 00:53:08.899
 for

00:53:08.899 --> 00:53:09.299
 us

00:53:09.299 --> 00:53:12.199
 now

00:53:12.199 --> 00:53:12.719
 all

00:53:12.719 --> 00:53:13.039
 those

00:53:13.039 --> 00:53:13.199
 who

00:53:13.199 --> 00:53:13.619
 turn

00:53:13.619 --> 00:53:13.859
 from

00:53:13.859 --> 00:53:14.079
 their

00:53:14.079 --> 00:53:14.399
 sins

00:53:14.399 --> 00:53:14.539
 and

00:53:14.539 --> 00:53:14.819
 trust

00:53:14.819 --> 00:53:15.000
 in

00:53:15.000 --> 00:53:15.319
 Jesus

00:53:15.319 --> 00:53:16.439
 regardless

00:53:16.439 --> 00:53:16.739
 of

00:53:16.739 --> 00:53:16.899
 their

00:53:16.899 --> 00:53:17.459
 background

00:53:17.459 --> 00:53:18.479
 may

00:53:18.479 --> 00:53:18.779
 be

00:53:18.779 --> 00:53:19.179
 saved

00:53:19.179 --> 00:53:20.459
 will

00:53:20.459 --> 00:53:20.739
 be

00:53:20.739 --> 00:53:21.139
 saved

00:53:21.139 --> 00:53:23.139
 what

00:53:23.139 --> 00:53:23.659
 freedom

00:53:23.659 --> 00:53:25.839
 what

00:53:25.839 --> 00:53:26.299
 light

00:53:26.299 --> 00:53:26.799
 burden

00:53:26.799 --> 00:53:29.519
 because

00:53:29.519 --> 00:53:29.940
 Jesus

00:53:29.940 --> 00:53:30.219
 has

00:53:30.219 --> 00:53:30.559
 carried

00:53:30.559 --> 00:53:30.699
 the

00:53:30.699 --> 00:53:30.920
 heavy

00:53:30.920 --> 00:53:31.259
 burden

00:53:31.259 --> 00:53:31.559
 we

00:53:31.559 --> 00:53:31.779
 now

00:53:31.779 --> 00:53:32.119
 carry

00:53:32.119 --> 00:53:32.440
 only

00:53:32.440 --> 00:53:32.659
 a

00:53:32.659 --> 00:53:32.899
 light

00:53:32.899 --> 00:53:33.199
 one

00:53:33.199 --> 00:53:34.839
 because

00:53:34.839 --> 00:53:35.259
 Jesus

00:53:35.259 --> 00:53:35.699
 has

00:53:35.699 --> 00:53:36.000
 worn

00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:36.179
 the

00:53:36.179 --> 00:53:36.539
 hard

00:53:36.539 --> 00:53:36.879
 yoke

00:53:36.879 --> 00:53:37.059
 we

00:53:37.059 --> 00:53:37.259
 now

00:53:37.259 --> 00:53:37.599
 bear

00:53:37.599 --> 00:53:38.159
 an

00:53:38.159 --> 00:53:38.500
 easy

00:53:38.500 --> 00:53:38.859
 yoke

00:53:38.859 --> 00:53:40.460
 and

00:53:40.460 --> 00:53:40.659
 this

00:53:40.659 --> 00:53:40.819
 is

00:53:40.819 --> 00:53:41.219
 why

00:53:41.219 --> 00:53:41.420
 in

00:53:41.420 --> 00:53:41.579
 verse

00:53:41.579 --> 00:53:42.000
 31

00:53:42.000 --> 00:53:42.379
 the

00:53:42.379 --> 00:53:42.799
 Gentile

00:53:42.799 --> 00:53:43.279
 Christians

00:53:43.279 --> 00:53:43.960
 rejoice

00:53:43.960 --> 00:53:44.539
 because

00:53:44.539 --> 00:53:45.319
 of

00:53:45.319 --> 00:53:45.539
 the

00:53:45.539 --> 00:53:46.079
 encouragement

00:53:46.079 --> 00:53:48.399
 the

00:53:48.399 --> 00:53:48.719
 apostles

00:53:48.719 --> 00:53:49.079
 and the

00:53:49.079 --> 00:53:49.379
 elders

00:53:49.379 --> 00:53:49.879
 decided

00:53:49.879 --> 00:53:50.219
 not

00:53:50.219 --> 00:53:50.440
 to

00:53:50.440 --> 00:53:50.639
 burden

00:53:50.639 --> 00:53:50.799
 the

00:53:50.799 --> 00:53:51.159
 Gentile

00:53:51.159 --> 00:53:51.500
 believers

00:53:51.500 --> 00:53:51.799
 with

00:53:51.799 --> 00:53:51.940
 the

00:53:51.940 --> 00:53:52.199
 yoke

00:53:52.199 --> 00:53:52.599
 that

00:53:52.599 --> 00:53:52.739
 they

00:53:52.739 --> 00:53:53.219
 themselves

00:53:53.219 --> 00:53:53.719
 have

00:53:53.719 --> 00:53:53.919
 never

00:53:53.919 --> 00:53:54.079
 been

00:53:54.079 --> 00:53:54.279
 able

00:53:54.279 --> 00:53:54.439
 to

00:53:54.439 --> 00:53:54.679
 carry

00:53:54.679 --> 00:53:56.519
 what

00:53:56.519 --> 00:53:56.739
 about

00:53:56.739 --> 00:53:56.980
 you

00:53:56.980 --> 00:53:59.719
 are

00:53:59.719 --> 00:53:59.980
 you

00:53:59.980 --> 00:54:00.339
 still

00:54:00.339 --> 00:54:00.739
 bearing

00:54:00.739 --> 00:54:00.959
 the

00:54:00.959 --> 00:54:01.179
 heavy

00:54:01.179 --> 00:54:01.539
 burden

00:54:01.539 --> 00:54:02.319
 of

00:54:02.319 --> 00:54:02.659
 needing

00:54:02.659 --> 00:54:02.939
 to

00:54:02.939 --> 00:54:03.299
 save

00:54:03.299 --> 00:54:03.739
 yourself

00:54:03.739 --> 00:54:05.539
 needing

00:54:05.539 --> 00:54:06.039
 to be

00:54:06.039 --> 00:54:06.359
 righteous

00:54:06.359 --> 00:54:06.839
 enough

00:54:06.839 --> 00:54:07.199
 to get

00:54:07.199 --> 00:54:07.359
 to

00:54:07.359 --> 00:54:07.579
 heaven

00:54:07.579 --> 00:54:09.759
 the

00:54:09.759 --> 00:54:10.239
 only

00:54:10.239 --> 00:54:10.659
 way

00:54:10.659 --> 00:54:10.879
 we

00:54:10.879 --> 00:54:11.039
 can

00:54:11.039 --> 00:54:11.219
 be

00:54:11.219 --> 00:54:11.679
 saved

00:54:11.679 --> 00:54:12.139
 is

00:54:12.139 --> 00:54:12.439
 not

00:54:12.439 --> 00:54:13.079
 our

00:54:13.079 --> 00:54:13.500
 own

00:54:13.500 --> 00:54:13.919
 blood

00:54:13.919 --> 00:54:14.339
 sweat

00:54:14.339 --> 00:54:14.539
 and

00:54:14.539 --> 00:54:14.879
 tears

00:54:14.879 --> 00:54:16.239
 it's

00:54:16.239 --> 00:54:16.419
 the

00:54:16.419 --> 00:54:16.679
 blood

00:54:16.679 --> 00:54:16.839
 of

00:54:16.839 --> 00:54:17.299
 Jesus

00:54:17.299 --> 00:54:20.739
 let me

00:54:20.739 --> 00:54:21.039
 close

00:54:21.039 --> 00:54:21.199
 by

00:54:21.199 --> 00:54:21.500
 reading

00:54:21.500 --> 00:54:21.899
 the

00:54:21.899 --> 00:54:22.099
 hymn

00:54:22.099 --> 00:54:22.239
 that

00:54:22.239 --> 00:54:22.359
 we

00:54:22.359 --> 00:54:22.639
 sang

00:54:22.639 --> 00:54:23.019
 earlier

00:54:23.019 --> 00:54:23.380
 second

00:54:23.380 --> 00:54:23.780
 verse

00:54:23.780 --> 00:54:24.659
 or third

00:54:24.659 --> 00:54:24.900
 verse

00:54:24.900 --> 00:54:25.300
 nothing

00:54:25.300 --> 00:54:26.179
 nothing

00:54:26.179 --> 00:54:26.639
 can

00:54:26.639 --> 00:54:26.860
 for

00:54:26.860 --> 00:54:27.199
 sin

00:54:27.199 --> 00:54:27.599
 atone

00:54:27.599 --> 00:54:29.000
 nothing

00:54:29.000 --> 00:54:29.360
 but

00:54:29.360 --> 00:54:29.559
 the

00:54:29.559 --> 00:54:29.960
 blood

00:54:29.960 --> 00:54:30.380
 of

00:54:30.380 --> 00:54:30.719
 Jesus

00:54:30.719 --> 00:54:32.159
 not

00:54:32.159 --> 00:54:32.519
 of

00:54:32.519 --> 00:54:32.960
 good

00:54:32.960 --> 00:54:33.239
 that

00:54:33.239 --> 00:54:33.599
 I

00:54:33.599 --> 00:54:33.820
 have

00:54:33.820 --> 00:54:34.199
 done

00:54:34.199 --> 00:54:35.400
 nothing

00:54:35.400 --> 00:54:35.800
 but

00:54:35.800 --> 00:54:36.039
 the

00:54:36.039 --> 00:54:36.480
 blood

00:54:36.480 --> 00:54:37.199
 of

00:54:37.199 --> 00:54:37.920
 Jesus

00:54:37.920 --> 00:54:39.179
 oh

00:54:39.179 --> 00:54:39.920
 precious

00:54:39.920 --> 00:54:40.599
 is

00:54:40.599 --> 00:54:40.800
 the

00:54:40.800 --> 00:54:41.259
 flow

00:54:41.259 --> 00:54:41.900
 that

00:54:41.900 --> 00:54:42.280
 makes

00:54:42.280 --> 00:54:42.659
 me

00:54:42.659 --> 00:54:43.280
 white

00:54:43.280 --> 00:54:43.519
 as

00:54:43.519 --> 00:54:43.880
 snow

00:54:43.880 --> 00:54:44.860
 no

00:54:44.860 --> 00:54:45.519
 other

00:54:45.519 --> 00:54:46.280
 fount

00:54:46.280 --> 00:54:46.559
 I

00:54:46.559 --> 00:54:46.820
 know

00:54:46.820 --> 00:54:48.400
 nothing

00:54:48.400 --> 00:54:49.360
 but

00:54:49.360 --> 00:54:49.519
 the

00:54:49.519 --> 00:54:49.880
 blood

00:54:49.880 --> 00:54:50.840
 of

00:54:50.840 --> 00:54:51.259
 Jesus

00:54:51.260 --> 00:54:53.260
 Lord

00:54:53.260 --> 00:54:53.680
 God

00:54:53.680 --> 00:54:56.200
 help

00:54:56.200 --> 00:54:56.440
 us

00:54:56.440 --> 00:54:56.540
 to

00:54:56.540 --> 00:54:56.900
 renounce

00:54:56.900 --> 00:54:57.660
 all

00:54:57.660 --> 00:54:57.920
 other

00:54:57.920 --> 00:54:58.400
 source

00:54:58.400 --> 00:54:59.800
 of

00:54:59.800 --> 00:55:00.480
 assurance

00:55:00.480 --> 00:55:01.480
 help

00:55:01.480 --> 00:55:01.700
 us

00:55:01.700 --> 00:55:01.840
 to

00:55:01.840 --> 00:55:02.080
 cling

00:55:02.080 --> 00:55:02.380
 only

00:55:02.380 --> 00:55:02.620
 to

00:55:02.620 --> 00:55:02.820
 the

00:55:02.820 --> 00:55:03.020
 blood

00:55:03.020 --> 00:55:03.180
 of

00:55:03.180 --> 00:55:03.460
 Jesus

00:55:03.460 --> 00:55:04.680
 to

00:55:04.680 --> 00:55:04.840
 the

00:55:04.840 --> 00:55:05.300
 cross

00:55:05.300 --> 00:55:05.560
 of

00:55:05.560 --> 00:55:05.840
 Jesus

00:55:05.840 --> 00:55:07.200
 to

00:55:07.200 --> 00:55:07.380
 the

00:55:07.380 --> 00:55:07.700
 life

00:55:07.700 --> 00:55:08.080
 death

00:55:08.080 --> 00:55:08.320
 and

00:55:08.320 --> 00:55:08.740
 resurrection

00:55:08.740 --> 00:55:09.040
 of

00:55:09.040 --> 00:55:09.480
 Jesus

00:55:09.480 --> 00:55:12.080
 oh

00:55:12.080 --> 00:55:12.400
 Lord

00:55:12.400 --> 00:55:14.380
 Jesus

00:55:14.380 --> 00:55:14.660
 our

00:55:14.660 --> 00:55:14.940
 King

00:55:14.940 --> 00:55:15.180
 you

00:55:15.180 --> 00:55:15.360
 are

00:55:15.360 --> 00:55:15.500
 our

00:55:15.500 --> 00:55:15.720
 only

00:55:15.720 --> 00:55:16.019
 hope

00:55:16.019 --> 00:55:17.320
 you

00:55:17.320 --> 00:55:17.480
 are

00:55:17.480 --> 00:55:17.619
 our

00:55:17.619 --> 00:55:17.880
 only

00:55:17.880 --> 00:55:18.240
 savior

00:55:18.240 --> 00:55:20.340
 we

00:55:20.340 --> 00:55:20.519
 look

00:55:20.519 --> 00:55:20.639
 to

00:55:20.639 --> 00:55:20.920
 you

00:55:20.920 --> 00:55:22.400
 and

00:55:22.400 --> 00:55:22.539
 it's

00:55:22.539 --> 00:55:22.660
 in

00:55:22.660 --> 00:55:22.800
 your

00:55:22.800 --> 00:55:23.019
 name

00:55:23.019 --> 00:55:23.200
 we

00:55:23.200 --> 00:55:23.440
 pray

00:55:23.440 --> 00:55:24.480
 amen