Tag Archives: repentant

When Paul – guided by the Holy Spirit – started his letter to the Galatians – he was shocked that the Galatians had departed from the Gospel of salvation in Christ (Galatians 1:6-10). Pharisees – many saved by Grace – came into the Church that Jesus died for, and had begun to teach that unless you are circumcised, you cannot be saved.

Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians around 48 AD while in Antioch, Syria, following his first missionary journey. Paul would travel to Jerusalem in 49 AD and meet with the first Church to discuss circumcision and the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas came to the Apostles at the first Church in Jerusalem, and the Church on that day had the most important Business Meeting it would ever have. The Bible says:

Acts 15:5 (ESV) But some BELIEVERS WHO BELONGED TO THE PARTY OF THE PHARISEES rose up and said, “It is necessary to CIRCUMCISE {THE GENTILES} and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

Now these Pharisees were sincere believers in Christ. They were not hostile Pharisees, trying to destroy the Gospel. But sincere believers can be in error. This is why God calls us TOGETHER to be His Church.

These Pharisees had received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. As Jewish citizens of Israel, they had been circumcised – most of them on the eighth day following birth. These people were SINCERE. They were not trying to cause divisions in the Church, but were trying to honor God the Son in all that they did. The Apostle Peter stood up and said, … Continue reading →