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This is Pastor Daniel Stevenson. I'm director of the Southside Life Station and pastor of New Heights

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Fellowship Baptist Church of East Toledo. And you're receiving this message because you opted in to be encouraged.

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I'm thinking specifically today of Acts 15-5, an interesting event takes place.

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It says, but some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up saying it is necessary to circumcise them

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and to direct them to observe the law of Moses.

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So basically, they were saying that the new Christians, those who had come to Christ most recently,

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had to be circumcised like they had been and that they had to follow the law of Moses

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and learn what the Bible said and do exactly what they were taught as the Israelites were supposed to do.

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If you've been through something painful, even if it was before you were saved,

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it seems like it's a lot easier to expect that same painful thing in the lives of others who are becoming believers.

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The only painful experience that a person must go through for certain is dying to self and being born again.

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When you repent and turn to God, the old stuff falls away and a new life in Christ begins.

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That's a pain, but it's one God will specifically supply.

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Rituals, traditions, rules, other things that men supply, they're not necessary for salvation.

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Were these men well-meaning brethren or were they Antichrist?

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Were they led by God or the spirit of Antichrist in trying to impose these unnecessary restrictions?

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Well, I'll leave you to decide that question, but I will encourage you today to impose no unnecessary restrictions on other believers yourself,

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but call them unto God as Jesus would have you to do.

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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.

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Bless you today in Jesus' name.