Going back in history almost all the way to Pentecost, history tells how the true believers in Jesus wrestled with controversy in their midst over what the gospel means. The controversy erupted before the first general conference of the church was called in Jerusalem, in Acts 15:6ff.
There were aberrant views advanced by “certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed” (vs. 5). These were not apostates; this was not the beginning of the great “falling away” Paul predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4; these were faithful, honest people who did not fully understand at that time “the truth of the gospel” (cf. Gal. 2:5, 14). Their zeal for the law was confused. The faithful and true leadership of the church had to humble their souls and declare that “certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls” (vs. 24). The error threatened to become a lethal heresy, but thank God, was healed at the beginning by prompt action for the right.
The fact that these wrong ideas were promulgated by people endorsed by the one true church leadership required rectification; thank God that at that time church leadership was ready to make the wrong right. The acknowledged leader of the general conference of Acts 15 humbled himself, bit the dust, confessed the truth, and gave the world church of the day a solid and bold leadership in the right because he submitted to self being crucified with Christ.
The fact that he had to admit being confused did not lessen the confidence the people placed in him, but resulted in strengthening the church.
But that was not the end of the problem. The controversy erupted again in a meeting years later. Paul relates what happened: “When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face [and] the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that [even] Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. .... When I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I ... [rebuked] Peter before them all” (Gal. 2:11-14).
Paul was not one of the original Twelve, but he was “a chosen vessel” of the Lord.
Are there “dissimulations” and “dissemblings” in the true church today? In this year of our Lord 2007, we have come almost to the point where such are too late for the day. The judgment is soon to be completed; it’s too late for any of us to be confused. There will be 144,000 on the right side. Let’s walk softly before the Lord and “take time to be holy,” to study, to understand “the truth of the gospel.”
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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