The meeting continued as the Apostles and elders met. Jewish leaders and new converts had wanted to teach a doctrine proclaiming a necessity of circumcision and the law being part of the requirement for Gentiles to become Christians. Paul and Barnabas had not been able to persuade them any differently, so the council met. Peter reminded them that even though he had been skeptic, God had clearly shown him that Gentiles and Jew alike were to be saved by grace alone through faith alone. The Jewish nation had proven their own inability to follow God by the works of the law-a yoke they could not bear. The Holy Spirit’s baptism of Cornelius happened just as with the first Jewish believers, not requiring circumcision. Then James speaks of when the ruins are rebuilt, and people seek God as he quotes Amos.
Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the [d]Lord who does all these things.’
Old Testament Proclamations
There were many places in the Old Testament where the prophets spoke of God’s grace toward the Gentiles. Indeed, Abraham had been told that his seed would be a blessing to all nations. However, the nation had failed to shine God’s Glorious light to the nations. Rather they failed themselves to live up to the first commandment, “to love the Lord your God with all thine heart, with all thy soul and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
In fact, Leviticus 19:33-35 declared: “if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
And so it was when the council finished, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch with two witnesses to proclaim the truth of salvation. Salvation comes by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone both for Jew and for Gentile.
The Ruins Are Rebuilt
As is the case often with Old Testament Prophecy, there is a near application, a far application and a personal application. The Jewish temple was destroyed when the nation was taken into exile in Babylonia; yet, it was restored at the appointed time when Cyrus a Persian King assisted in their return to Jerusalem. There will be another time when the ruins are rebuilt, and Christ will reign on earth for 1000 years. The Jewish nation will be the leaders in presenting the gospel message and people will seek the Lord from all nations.
Furthermore, there was the immediate application for which James quoted the verses, that was that during the church age of which we now live, there would be those saved from all nations. The ruins are rebuilt from the ashes of what sin and pride had destroyed within the Jewish synagogues. A group of Jewish converts lead the way for salvation to be spread to the nations.
Then there is the personal application. Those moment when it would seem my life lay in ruins. I did not during those seasons seek God with all my heart, my soul and my strength as I should. Oh, yes, I knew Him as Savior; but did not fall before Him as Lord of every part of my life. I let Him be Lord of somethings. Yet, I had not learned how to let go of the rest. Perhaps that too I continue to find myself in that same quandary at times. Ah, but therein lies the sweetest of hopes. There will be a time when the ruins are rebuilt. All my own self and this human flesh will be transformed fully. It is during those seasons of greatest surrender, that I note others seeking the Lord.
Concluding thoughts:
There is hope whatever ruin you may be in, if you seek God and accept His wondrous gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, His precious son. Your ruins are rebuilt, and people will seek the Lord. As you surrender to His will, you will find joy overflowing even amid the trials of this life. Therein will you find peace, hope, and love. Then as others see Christ in you, they will be drawn to Him.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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