Acts 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to Elohim:
15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.
15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
From the contextual reading of Acts 15, it seems that the Apostles were gathered in Jerusalem for the express purpose of deciding which laws the Gentile converts were required to observe once they had been baptized into the body of Messiah.
The Apostles were making an attempt at being uniform in their teaching and in sharing the love and law of the Messiah with the Gentile converts. Confusion and inconsistency was the last thing the Apostles wanted or needed to bring to the delicate faith of the Gentile converts and uniformity of purpose and doctrinal agreement was the primary purpose for this convention.
First of all, I can not overemphasize the fact that the observance of the New Moons, Shabbot and the Feast Days was not even up for discussion before, during or after the Jerusalem counsel as it was already a given that Israelites (native born and adopted/Gentile believers) would always observe the Holy Days of Israel. I repeat, it was a given that all Israel, weather native born or adopted, would attend their Heavenly Parents Holy Days.
Circumcision was the primary law up for debate but I repeat, the annual feasts, new moons and weekly Sabbaths were not in question as the Apostles all knew that the celebration of the festivals of the Jews were exactly what Gentiles were "grafted" into Rom:11:17-24.
The celebration of shabbot, new moons and feast days gave the Gentiles opportunity to associate and learn from the leaders and founders of the Apostolic church who happened to be Jews. If the Gentiles did not attend and observe Sabbaths, New Moons and annual Feast Days, then they would have little to no opportunity to associate with the very men that brought them the good news in the first place.
Secondly, the laws that the Apostolic counsel decided to strictly enforce upon the gentile believers are no where to be found in the ten commandments but rather, are found in Moses' law. Please note
1. Pollutions of Idols - not to eat food that has been offered to Idols
2. abstain from blood - Leviticus 3:17, Leviticus 19:26.
3. fornication - Leviticus 18
Thirdly, according to the passage, the Law of Moses is inseparable from the Shabbot day. Please read "For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every shabbot day." So, we see here that the Gentiles would continue to observe Shabbot and would learn more about Moses' law by observing the feast days of the Jews as commanded by Yahwah through Moses in Leviticus 23.
The gentile converts were not required to get circumcised but they were expected to learn and study Moses' law every shabbot day. Circumcision was/is an option but not a requirement.
I hope this helps you better understand how to define "Primitive Godliness" as referred to by Sister White.
"Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times." {FLB 326.2}
"In the time of the end every divine institution is to be restored." {PK 678.2}
TEACHING THAT THE STATUTES ARE NO LONGER BINDING IS THE SAME AS IDOLATRY
"The light esteem in which the law of God is held, even by religious leaders, has been productive of great evil. The teaching, which has become so widespread that the divine statutes are no longer binding upon men, is the same as idolatry in its effect upon the morals of the people. Those who seek to lessen the claims of God's holy law are striking directly at the foundation of the government of families and nations. Religious parents, failing to walk in his statutes, do not command their household to keep the way of the Lord. The law of God is not made the rule of life. The children, as they make homes of their own, feel under no obligation to teach their children what they themselves have never been taught. And this is why there are so many godless families; this is why depravity is so deep and widespread. A reformation in this respect is needed--a reformation which shall be deep and broad. Parents need to reform; ministers need to reform; they need God in their households." {CE 220.1}
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Beware of all the false shepherds.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
7:14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
Beware of all the false shepherds within the Seventh-day Adventist corporation as well as the independents/self supporting SDA entities that teach against the observance of the annual festivals. These men are more concerned with being popular with men and keeping their jobs than they are with obeying the word of Yahuwah. Wittingly or unwittingly, these men are fighting against the truth just as much so as were the the priests of Yahushua's day. They say within their hearts and private counsels "if the people keep the feast days they will not be able to pay us tithe and offering. Then how will we afford to continue to live on their hard labor?"
Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Psalms 40:8 "I delight to do thy will, O my Elohim: yea, thy Torah [is] within my heart."
"Christians who extol Christ, but array themselves against the law governing the Jewish church, array Christ against Christ." {RH, May 6, 1875 par. 16}
"No one can abide in Christ and treat the law of God with indifference and disrespect; for this would be arraying Christ against Christ." {ST, December 28, 1891 par. 15}
" I am in great travail of soul for our people. We are living in the perils of the last days. A superficial faith results in a superficial experience. There is a repentance that needs to be repented of. All genuine experience in religious doctrines will bear the impress of Jehovah. All should see the necessity of understanding the truth for themselves individually. We must understand the doctrines that have been studied out carefully and prayerfully. It has been revealed to me that there is among our people a great lack of knowledge in regard to the rise and progress of the third angel's message. There is great need to search the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation, and learn the texts thoroughly, that we may know what is written. {1NL 57.1}
Conclusion
When the apostles convened in Jerusalem they never in their wildest imagination dreamed that Christians some 2,000 years later would attempt to use their meeting as an excuse for NOT observing the Shabbot, New Moons and Annual Feast Days. The Apostles would cringe if they knew how the church of 2009 abuses and twists this passage of scripture to excuse their ignorance of and disdain for the observance of the shabbot, new moons and feast days.
The privilege and duty of observing the festivals of Leviticus 23 gives Gentile believers as well as free born Jews the opportunity to associate, learn from and encourage one another. Not observing the feast days is the same as not observing the Shabbot. This would be defined by the Scripture as sin.
All of Yahuwah's holy days (annual, monthly, weekly) are important to HIM. The truly converted should never forget this fact.
Read Leviticus 23 and you will see that these holy convocations are all important to Yahuwah and His true Disciples will live in a way that shows enthusiasm and excitement for the opportunity to gather together during these holy, festive occasions.
If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear from you.
Please don't hesitate to contact me.
Shalom,
John Vega
Founder
www.TotalRestitution.com
john@totalrestitution.com
