Rules

Then Pharisees and legal experts came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why are your disciples breaking the elders’ rules handed down to us? They don’t ritually purify their hands by washing before they eat.” 3 Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you? 4 For God said, Honor your father and your mother, and The person who speaks against father or mother will certainly be put to death. 5 But you say, ‘If you tell your father or mother, “Everything I’m expected to contribute to you I’m giving to God as a gift,” then you don’t have to honor your father.’ 6 So you do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. 7 Hypocrites! Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you, 8 This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. 9 Their worship of me is empty since they teach instructions that are human rules.” (Matthew 15:1-9, CEB)

What do we do when the rules go against what God tells us to do?

In a religious system we must know what is from God and what is man made. And we must always err on the side of following where God is leading us. Sometimes the rules we have are for our protection, for our health. And yet if they pull us away from God, then they need to not have any place in our lives.

Follow God and honor God first. And all things will fall into place.

sent

The church at Antioch included prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (nicknamed Niger), Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood friend of Herod the ruler), and Saul. 2 As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to the work I have called them to undertake.” 3 After they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on these two and sent them off. 4 After the Holy Spirit sent them on their way, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 In Salamis they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their assistant. 6 They traveled throughout the island until they arrived at Paphos. There they found a certain man named Bar-Jesus, a Jew who was a false prophet and practiced sorcery. 7 He kept company with the governor of that province, an intelligent man named Sergius Paulus. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul since he wanted to hear God’s word. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that’s what people understood his name meant) opposed them, trying to steer the governor away from the faith. 9 Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Saul, also known as Paul, glared at Bar-Jesus and 10 said, “You are a deceiver and trickster! You devil! You attack anything that is right! Will you never stop twisting the straight ways of the Lord into crooked paths? 11 Listen! The Lord’s power is set against you. You will be blind for a while, unable even to see the daylight.” At once, Bar-Jesus’ eyes were darkened, and he began to grope about for someone to lead him around by the hand. 12 When the governor saw what had taken place, he came to believe, for he was astonished by the teaching about the Lord. (Acts 13:1-12, CEB)

I find it interesting that Saul is still named here. This is well after the conversion we say changed Saul to Paul. And even here in the passage we hear that Saul is known as Paul. But tradition tells us that Saul was converted to Paul so why is he still known as Saul?

Well Saul never gave up that name and was known as Saul and Paul. Just as you know people who have multiple names for different groups. I was known as sarge by a group of people in middle school. I’ve known people who are called Robert to one group and Bob to another. It is not uncommon even today. Many in Saul’s day had a name they used around Israelites and a name they used around Greeks.

So Saul is Paul, and Paul is Saul. They were a fierce persecutor of the Way and now they are casting people into blindness by the Holy Spirit. When we follow God our lives will change, but maybe not our name…

Pushing the limit

3 We also thank God constantly for this: when you accepted God’s word that you heard from us, you welcomed it for what it truly is. Instead of accepting it as a human message, you accepted it as God’s message, and it continues to work in you who are believers. 14 Brothers and sisters, you became imitators of the churches of God in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus. This was because you also suffered the same things from your own people as they did from the Jews. 15 They killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out. They don’t please God, and they are hostile to the entire human race 16 when they try to stop us from speaking to the Gentiles so they can be saved. Their sins are constantly pushing the limit. God’s wrath has caught up with them in the end. 17 Brothers and sisters, we were separated from you for a while physically but not in our hearts. We made every effort in our desire to see you again face-to-face. 18 We wanted to come to you—I, Paul, tried over and over again—and Satan stopped us. 19 What is our hope, joy, or crown that we can brag about in front of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Isn’t it all of you? 20 You are our glory and joy! (1 Thessalonians 2:13-20, CEB)

You heard a message that was different than was given before and you heard it as a message from the Lord, and accepted it as such and because of that message you are living a Body life. While others try to hold us to a set of guidelines prepared by people to hold others in place.

Religion is used to keep things the same, which is sometimes not what God pushes us towards. We need to love God and our neighbor and everyone is our neighbor. So until justice is done then society can not stay the same, and anything we use to keep others in a place of oppression is not what God would want us to do.

We must push the limits of love, while others push the limits of sin by trying to force the traditionalism of religious understanding. Do not fall for the traditionalism, but hold fast to following after God.

Happy People

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. 2 He taught them, saying:
3 “Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.
5 “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
6 “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
7 “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
8 “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
9 “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
10 “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. 12 Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you. (Matthew 5:1-12, CEB)

I really don’t know anyone who is happy when they are hopeless, grieving, or harassed. This passage is a little easier to swallow when the word blessed is used, and even then it is not so easy.

But if you honestly read the passage and hear it for what Jesus was saying, it is true. We can be happy when we are hopeless because we get God’s kingdom. And we can be happy when we grieve because we will be made glad. We can be happy when we are harassed for following Jesus because he has told us we will be with him forever.

So in every and all circumstances be happy, because God has chosen you to be a part of the kingdom!

God’s righteousness through the faithfulness of Christ

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, in order to shut every mouth and make it so the whole world has to answer to God. 20 It follows that no human being will be treated as righteous in his presence by doing what the Law says, because the knowledge of sin comes through the Law. 21 But now God’s righteousness has been revealed apart from the Law, which is confirmed by the Law and the Prophets. 22 God’s righteousness comes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who have faith in him. There’s no distinction. 23 All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, 24 but all are treated as righteous freely by his grace because of a ransom that was paid by Christ Jesus. 25 Through his faithfulness, God displayed Jesus as the place of sacrifice where mercy is found by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness in passing over sins that happened before, 26 during the time of God’s patient tolerance. He also did this to demonstrate that he is righteous in the present time, and to treat the one who has faith in Jesus as righteous. 27 What happens to our bragging? It’s thrown out. With which law? With what we have accomplished under the Law? 28 No, not at all, but through the law of faith. We consider that a person is treated as righteous by faith, apart from what is accomplished under the Law. (Romans 3:19-28, CEB)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None of us will be made right by doing or keeping the law, for the law only shows us how we have sinned. Jesus died and through his faithfulness to go to the cross we are all saved. There is no distinction.

There is none better than another. All are equal in the eyes of God. We have all sinned and all deserve to be punished, but Jesus came and made a way for all of us to be made right with God. So that none of us could boast and all of us could be with God.

Nothing can be accomplished by following the laws or any man made religious rules. God made the way for all of through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

False teachers

But false prophets also arose among the people. In the same way, false teachers will come among you. They will introduce destructive opinions and deny the master who bought them, bringing quick destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow them in their unrestrained immorality, and because of these false teachers the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will take advantage of you with lies. The judgment pronounced against them long ago hasn’t fallen idle, nor is their destruction sleeping. (2 Peter 2:1-3, CEB)

Beware of false prophets who appear to be from God for they will bring destruction for themselves and for all who follow them.

This does not mean that they will not introduce new things or help us to see the world of God in a new light, it means they are not following God. immorality is not doing what God is leading us to do. That does not always mean holding with tradition, it means following God where God is leading.

So beware those that keep you from following God.

Judged

17     But,
if you call yourself a Jew;
if you rely on the Law;
if you brag about your relationship to God;
18 if you know the will of God;
if you are taught by the Law so that you can figure out the things that really matter;
19 if you have persuaded yourself that you are:
        a guide for the blind;
        a light to those who are in darkness;
20         an educator of the foolish;
        a teacher of infants (since you have the full content of knowledge and truth in the Law);
21 then why don’t you who are teaching others teach yourself?
If you preach, “No stealing,” do you steal?
22 If you say, “No adultery,” do you commit adultery?
If you hate idols, do you rob temples?
23 If you brag about the Law, do you shame God by breaking the Law? 24 As it is written: The name of God is discredited by the Gentiles because of you. 25 Circumcision is an advantage if you do what the Law says. But if you are a person who breaks the Law, your status of being circumcised has changed into not being circumcised.26 So if the person who isn’t circumcised keeps the Law, won’t his status of not being circumcised be counted as if he were circumcised? 27 The one who isn’t physically circumcised but keeps the Law will judge you. You became a lawbreaker after you had the written Law and circumcision. 28 It isn’t the Jew who maintains outward appearances who will receive praise from God, and it isn’t people who are outwardly circumcised on their bodies. 29 Instead, it is the person who is a Jew inside, who is circumcised in spirit, not literally. That person’s praise doesn’t come from people but from God. (Romans 2:17-29, CEB)

It really isn’t about who we say we are. It is about who we are in our actions.

White washed tombs look good on the outside but are rotting on the inside.

Our true self is how we are from the inside out. Who are we in our hearts?

Are we people who seek the approval and praise of others, or do we do things that will seek the approval and praise of God?

Be circumcised in your heart and work to make God happy. Not because you have to, but because you can, and that praise is far better than anything man can give you!

a rich man’s question

16 A man approached him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?” 17 Jesus said, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There’s only one who is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.” 18 The man said, “Which ones?” Then Jesus said, “Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. 19 Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 20 The young man replied, “I’ve kept all these. What am I still missing?” 21 Jesus said, “If you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away saddened, because he had many possessions. (Matthew 19:16-22, CEB)

We can not love our possessions more than we love living for the Lord. We must use what we have been given to help others. If we can not give it away, then it means more to us than God does.

What do you love more than God?

Showing faith

14 My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? 15 Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. 16 What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? 17 In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity. 18 Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action.19 It’s good that you believe that God is one. Ha! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble with fear. 20 Are you so slow? Do you need to be shown that faith without actions has no value at all? 21 What about Abraham, our father? Wasn’t he shown to be righteous through his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 See, his faith was at work along with his actions. In fact, his faith was made complete by his faithful actions. 23 So the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and God regarded him as righteous. What is more, Abraham was called God’s friend. 24 So you see that a person is shown to be righteous through faithful actions and not through faith alone. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute shown to be righteous when she received the messengers as her guests and then sent them on by another road? 26 As the lifeless body is dead, so faith without actions is dead. (James 2:14-26, CEB)

We can not say we have faith if our actions prove that we do not believe what we say. The old saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” is very true. This passage points to the statement that is atributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.” St. Francis never said this, but point to this. We need to live in such a way that our faith is shown through our actions.

Because James says, “Faith without action is dead.”

Love

8 You do well when you really fulfill the royal law found in scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself. 9 But when you show favoritism, you are committing a sin, and by that same law you are exposed as a lawbreaker. 10 Anyone who tries to keep all of the Law but fails at one point is guilty of failing to keep all of it. 11 The one who said, Don’t commit adultery, also said, Don’t commit murder. So if you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder, you are a lawbreaker.12 In every way, then, speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom.13 There will be no mercy in judgment for anyone who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy overrules judgment. (James 2:8-13, CEB)

Mercy overrules judgment!

Show mercy, for all have fallen short. And anyone who breaks one of the laws has broken all of the law.

So unless you love everyone then you are loving no one and have broken all of the laws.

And since all of us fall short, we need to show mercy, just like God did to us.

Show mercy. Mercy overrules judgment.