Legalism or Freedom?

When we reached Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly. The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.  After greeting them, he related in detail what God did among the Gentiles through his ministry.

When they heard it, they glorified God and said, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. But they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, by telling them not to circumcise their children or walk in our customs. So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you ....." Acts 21:17-23

Paul not only had to contend with Jews who did not want to believe. But now he is told that believing Jews will not be happy. A believing Jew still held to the customs of the law, there was not much difference between what they were before salvation and after, except they accepted Jesus.

Paul, the zealot of all zealot had changed. His conversion went to the centre of his beliing. Having been on the mission field and seeing the Gentiles come to faith he had come to know he could not push the law onto these believers and he softened.

It seems the believers who stayed close to the synagogue and the temple changed little but those who went out changed most. I personally am grateful for Paul otherwise the New Testament would have been vastly different and contain much more legalism.

So, what is the answer? Go out! Evangelise! Amen!