Steve,
In post #12 you asked; Quote:
I wonder why you are relating circumcision to Heb 9:10 and the ceremonial law. Continuing in this vein I'm not sure what you are getting at when you say, "Here in Acts 15:1,24 we know the relationship of the sign and seal, along with the relationship of new converts to the ceremonial law was addressed."
Would you please explain to me in what way "the sign and seal" was addressed by the council, save in that it was not required? Why was it not required? Is it not because it had been replaced (though they did not overtly state this, as you note) by another covenantal sign, the Gentiles not being obligated to observe Mosaic law?
| Most all of the commentaries I have link the ceremonial law with the discussion of what to do with the gentiles in Acts 15. For example here is a bit of A.W.Pink on this section of Hebrews 9:10; Quote:
"And carnal ordinances" which refers, most probably, to the whole system of laws pertaining to diet and manner of life. "Which stood only in," this is emphatic; the rites of Judaism were solely external and fleshly, there being nothing spiritual joined with them. Thus their insufficiency to procure spiritual and eternal blessings was evident: legal meats and drinks could not nourish the soul; ceremonial washings could not purify the heart.
"Imposed until the time of reformation." "The word for ‘imposed’ is properly ‘lying on them,’ that is, as a burden. There was a weight in all these legal rites and ceremonies, which is called a yoke, and too heavy for the people to bear (Acts 15:10). And if the imposition of them be principally intended, as we render the word ‘impose,’ it respects the bondage they were brought into by them. Men may have a weight lying on them, and yet not be brought into bondage thereby. But these things were so ‘imposed’ on them, as that they might feel their weight and groan under the burden of it. Of this bondage the apostle treats at large in the epistle to the Galatians. And it was impossible that those things should perfect a church-state, which in themselves were such a burden, and effective of such a bondage" (John Owen).
The institutions of the Levitical service possessed a general character of externality and materialty: as verse 13 of our chapter says, they sanctified "to the purifying of the flesh," but they reached not the dire needs of the soul. Therefore they were not designed to continue forever, but for a determined and limited season, namely, "unto the time of reformation," which expression respected the appearing of the promised Messiah to inaugurate the new and better covenant: see Luke 1:68-74. "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law; to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:4, 5).
| And here is Adam Clarke: Quote:
Verse 10. In meats and drinks, and divers washings] He had already mentioned eucharistic and sacrificial offerings, and nothing properly remained but the different kinds of clean and unclean animals which were used, or forbidden to be used, as articles of food; together with the different kinds or drinks, washings, baptismoiv, baptisms, immersions, sprinklings and washings of the body and the clothes, and carnal ordinances, or things which had respect merely to the body, and could have no moral influence upon the soul, unless considered in reference to that of which they were the similitudes, or figures.
Carnal ordinances] dikaiwmata sarkov? Rites and ceremonies pertaining merely to the body. The word carnal is not used here, nor scarcely in any part of the New Testament, in that catachrestical or degrading sense in which many preachers and professors of Christianity take the liberty to use it.
Imposed on them until the time of reformation.] These rites and ceremonies were enacted, by Divine authority, as proper representations of the Gospel system, which should reform and rectify all things.
The time of reformation, kairov diorqwsewv, the time of rectifying, signifies the Gospel dispensation, under which every thing is set straight; every thing referred to its proper purpose and end; the ceremonial law fulfilled and abrogated; the moral law exhibited and more strictly enjoined; (see our Lord's sermon upon the mount and the spiritual nature of God's worship taught, and grace promised to purify the heart: so that, through the power of the eternal Spirit, all that was wrong in the soul is rectified; the affections, passions, and appetites purified; the understanding enlightened; the judgment corrected; the will refined; in a word, all things made new.
| So in Acts 15, as in the book of Hebrews we are given a very clear explanation of how every major type,law, principle, and all ceremonies find an answer and completion in The cross of Christ. In Acts 15:5
Do we circumcise them- no
do we command them to keep the law of Moses - no
in verses 7-11 the internal work of the Spirit is spoken of/ purifying their Hearts by faith. It winds up with vs, 10-11 Quote:
10Now 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?
11But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
| Steve when you ask this; Quote: |
Would you please explain to me in what way "the sign and seal" was addressed by the council, save in that it was not required? Why was it not required? Is it not because it had been replaced (though they did not overtly state this, as you note) by another covenantal sign, the Gentiles not being obligated to observe Mosaic law?
| The point I was trying to make is that the very factthat the Apostles do not state anything at all about any need for a replacement sign might indicate that a "sign" is no longer necessary.[not because it was replaced by another sign].
If a replacement sign was given, this would have been the perfect place to explain it! They could have just said very plainly that now Gentiles who believe and their household are given an outward sign.
The focus is only inward and spiritual . Their hearts were purified.
William Gouge on Hebrews 9 said this in reference to the types and shadows Quote:
Their end was to shadow and typify truth. When those truths were accomplished, their end was out, so as there was no further end or use of them.
How great is their folly who, in this present time of the gospel, receive those abrogated rites. They are more foolish than such as burn dim candles in
bright sunshine.
| Steve, I am going to break my response up section by section, so I do not set a puritanboard record for the longest posts on record let me start another one now
__________________
Anthony D'Arienzo
Sunday School Teacher
Hope Reformed Baptist Church:
Medford, N.Y.
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