This is Pastor Daniel Stevenson. I'm director of the Southside Life Station and pastor of New Heights
Fellowship Baptist Church of East Toledo. And you're receiving this message because you opted in to be encouraged.
I'm thinking specifically today of Acts 15-5, an interesting event takes place.
It says, but some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up saying it is necessary to circumcise them
and to direct them to observe the law of Moses.
So basically, they were saying that the new Christians, those who had come to Christ most recently,
had to be circumcised like they had been and that they had to follow the law of Moses
and learn what the Bible said and do exactly what they were taught as the Israelites were supposed to do.
If you've been through something painful, even if it was before you were saved,
it seems like it's a lot easier to expect that same painful thing in the lives of others who are becoming believers.
The only painful experience that a person must go through for certain is dying to self and being born again.
When you repent and turn to God, the old stuff falls away and a new life in Christ begins.
That's a pain, but it's one God will specifically supply.
Rituals, traditions, rules, other things that men supply, they're not necessary for salvation.
Were these men well-meaning brethren or were they Antichrist?
Were they led by God or the spirit of Antichrist in trying to impose these unnecessary restrictions?
Well, I'll leave you to decide that question, but I will encourage you today to impose no unnecessary restrictions on other believers yourself,
but call them unto God as Jesus would have you to do.
Through Jesus Christ, God's Son, they can be saved and put their old self behind them and live the life of their new self, just like we are.
Bless you today in Jesus' name.