Thursday, July 23

Looking at the reading in Acts today reminds me of some things I have read lately. Some Christians who belonged to the party of the Pharisees still were demanding that the recently saved Gentiles needed to be circumcised and keep the external elements of the law of Moses (like dietary laws, Sabbath keeping, etc). Peter argued that they received the Holy Spirit while these elements were not observed by the Gentiles. Why now add these elements as they have already been cleansed by faith? What the Pharisees were wanting here was to put a badge on the Gentile Christians so everyone knew who they were as they ate differently, observed Saturdays differently, and looked differently externally. But this is the very thing Christ spoke against in the Sermon on the Mount. Our righteousness now, in order to enter the kingdom of God, must exceed this righteousness of the Pharisees. Our badge now is justified by faith and the righteousness we now must seek is a heart renovation, where our heart is right and not just our external actions. One cannot strike his enemy in the face yet still hate him in his heart. External badges don't facilitate internal purity. Peter emphasized the Spirit as the one outworking the salvation of the Gentiles.

It is tempting for us to want to add to the duties of the new Christian. We say they must speak a certain way, incorporating our lingo in their daily talk, and act a certain way. We say, "here are a list of some cultural taboos that you must not do so people will know you are 'Christian.'" Yet, none of this points to a renovated heart. We must seek for change in our hearts, through meeting with the Spirit everyday and allowing him to disturb us and change us daily.

Lord, let my righteousness be more than external habits. Don't let me add to the message of the gospel of salvation by faith.