Questioning the Plan of God

Satan loves to cast doubt on what God has made certain. God has already proven to believers that wish to hear that the Gentiles are to be fellow-hiers.

Ephesians 3:6 KJV 1900

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

God has made this clear through the vision shown to Peter and in the commission of Paul and Barnabas to go and preach to the Gentiles.

Appealing to a higher authority is not an evil thing to do with difficult decisions. But when God is the authority who has decreed, do not seek a higher.

God had declared His Will

By the conversion of Cornelius

Acts 15:7–11 KJV 1900

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

By the Commission of Paul and Barnabas

Acts 15:12 KJV 1900

12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

By the Decision of James

James was evidently the head of the Jerusalem church and when he spoke, the council listened and obeyed.

He spoke with authority and the church followed his leadership.

Why not keep the Law?

The purpose of the Law was never to show our righteousness but our sin

Acts 15:10 KJV 1900

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Romans 7:7 KJV 1900

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Romans 3:20 KJV 1900

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law

Matthew 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Galatians 3:10–14 KJV 1900

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

We are not to be under the law of Moses but under the Law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 KJV 1900

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Our love for others flows from our love for God.

Matthew 22:37–39 KJV 1900

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Questions for Us

Do you have trouble questioning the will of God when it contradicts what you want?

Are you motivated to live right because of love for God or because of law?

Have you fallen for the trap that says your value to God depends upon your works?

Acts 15:11 KJV 1900

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.