Did Peter's Vision of the Sheet Mean People & Food?

[Vic]

(04-28-2011 03:57 PM)NearYah Wrote:  Well from the out-set we know that what you think was going on in Acts 15 wasn’t because it totally speaks against what we see taking place in Galatians. I don’t have the time nor energy to answer this today. But I will respond to every thing you said one time.

For beginners I give you this to ponder, why does Paul word himself this way in the following

And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, ( Gal 1:14-15). This should tell you something

Yes, Ne'aryah, it tells us that before Christ died and rose again, Paul was zealous in the Jews religion--a pharisee of the pharisees, of the tribe of Benjamin, and so zealous in the Jews religion and in agreement with what the other Pharisees were teaching, he had rejected Christ and persecuted the church after Christ was crucified--both Jews and Gentiles...Acts 7,8; Jesus told the pharisees that they had invalidated the word of God with their traditions. And what did Paul say after he had persecuted the church, and was there even when Stephen was stoned to death and Christ finally delivered Paul; Paul said, and I quote:

Philippians 3:4-18 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

I just know you are going to try and teach us the 'true' meaning of Galatians,[and likely hebrews] even though what has been presented concerning Peter living and eating as the Gentiles were, and NOT as the JEWS, which it clearly states, you are going to try and do an end run around all those truths in the Scriptures. Oh please, this is about Peters' vision being about food and people, let's keep that topic here.

In Paul's words, he stated that he was as a Jew to win the Jews to Christ. When he was with Gentiles, he was as a Gentile to win them to Christ. And so much more. That isn't what the law taught. That is what the law of Christ teaches about love and the Truth of the Gospel being for all, and we are one new man, with the things of the law that separated now removed---such as people and food being unclean.

Paul, Peter, Silas, Barnabas and other Jewish believers gave witness they could be with the Gentiles and not live as a Jew. Because Christ delivered the final sacrifice and removed the law out of the way so all people would have equal access based on the very basic reality that ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The law made no one righteous--and no one or no sacrifice or works can make us clean or acceptable to God, except through Christ, who can make us clean. Acts 15 tells that those Jewish believers who were commanding that new believers be circumcised and keep the law of Moses----were subverting the souls of those they told, according to the apostle James and the other apostles and elders of the churches. Peter said the Gentiles were no different than Jewish believers, and were made clean by faith in Christ, which is the true circumcision of the heart, not the body.