WHAT!? Acts 15:23-29 … This is the letter that the Church Council sent to the believers (along with Judas and Silas), and is exactly the same things that were said in the council itself (Acts 15:20). How does this letter from the Church Council tie in with Acts 21:21? Are you suggsting that circumcisoin was a “ceremonial addition” to the Law? Could you please tell me the difference between “civil” and “ceremonial” law? Give me some clear examples from the Scriptures!
Notice that in both Acts 21 and Acts 15, the controversy was about circumcision and obedience to the “law of Moses” (Acts 21:21; 15:5). Acts 21 (v. 25) even mentions the letter the Church Council wrote [in Acts 15:20] in support of the position taken by the Church on the matter: “As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.” Notice the same four points are here enumerated as in Acts 15:20.
The ordinance of circumcision was an outward, physical sign of one’s willingness to obey God and be one of God’s chosen people. As in the physical sacrifices and various washings, it was a ritual performed by a physical, carnal people without [yet] the promise of the Holy Spirit. It is no longer necessary because it was only a forerunner or type of what God really wanted – circumcision of the heart (Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Rom. 2:28-29). Under the new covenant, God is calling a spiritual nation composed of individuals converted and begotten by His Holy Spirit. God’s people now are all to be “circumcised” spiritually (Col. 2:10-11).
The so called “law of Moses” was composed of two distinct parts: the civil and the ceremonial or ritualistic. The ritual laws included “only meats and drinks and diverse washings and carnal ordinances” as Hebrews 9:10 shows. These were temporary in nature, “imposed until the time of reformation” – meaning, until Christ has made His sacrifice. These temporary rituals were “added because of transgressions, till the seed [Christ] should come” (Gal. 3:16). Any other laws not included in Heb. 9:10 were not part of the rituals added because of sin and are therefore still binding upon Christians today.
The civil part of the law of Moses EXPOUNDS the Ten Commandments by revealing how the ten basic principles are to be applied. We are to keep this part of the law, not in the strictness of the letter, but according to its spirit and intent.
The law of Moses was originally the civil law, based on the principles of the Ten Commandments. These civil statutes and judgments are right and good (Psalm 119:7, 8). After the close of the old covenant (Exo. 24), the Levitical priesthood was established and the laws regulating offerings were added (Exo. 28:1). (Prior to this time, offerings were voluntary and young men were priests – Exo. 24:5).
Notice God’s definition of the original part of that law (in Malachi 4:4): “REMEMBER ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.” This is speaking of a time “before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (v. 5) and it tells us that even on that day we are not to forget the law which God gave to Moses in Horeb. We are to keep it!
The law of Moses is never called the Ten Commandments. It comprises only statutes and judgments which God gave to communicate to the people. The difference between the law of Moses and the Ten Commandments is that God spoke the Ten Commandments, but Moses delivered the statutes and judgments. When Moses first delivered the statutes and judgments, the law of Moses had no sacrifices connected with it (It contained only the civil portion of the law). Jeremiah said so (Jer. 7:22).
The Ten Commandments constitute God’s basic spiritual law. It is eternally binding. David said of this law: “All his commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever….” (Psa. 111:7-8). Jesus declared He had not come to destroy this law (Matt. 5:17). These commandments existed from the very beginning – since creation.
For example, Abraham kept those commandments. Of him, God said: “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws” (Gen. 26:5). Notice it. Not only did Abraham keep God’s commandments, he also kept His statutes and laws. What were these statutes and laws? The Ten Commandments formed the basis of God’s Law. But in addition to these Commandments, many other common statutes were also given for the general well-being of the people – together with judgments for the protection of everyone’s legal rights.
Statutes are expressions of a lawmaker, usually commanding or forbidding that certain things be done. Judgments are binding decisions of judges on God’s previously revealed law. They are used in settling disputes and to render a sentence or verdict. The Commandments apply to individual conduct, the statutes to national administration, and the judgments to decisions rendered under the Commandments and the statutes.
During the time of Moses, the people had strayed so far from the truth that God had to reveal His laws and statutes ANEW. God was merely revealing the laws which were already in force. The old covenant therefore did not establish the spiritual laws. Notice that before there was an old covenant, God rebuked the Israelites for not keeping His laws: “How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?” Israel could not refuse what did not already exist! Again, in Exodus 18:16, Moses told his father in law that when the people have a dispute, “I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.” How could Moses have known “the statutes of God and His laws” if these were not already in force? The old covenant was merely an AGREEMENT to keep laws which were already in force and effect.
