Is it really enough to follow these Doctrinal items? : "Abstain from the contaminations of idols, from fornication, from what is strangled and from blood"

When it comes to serving God truly, with the purpose of being faithful to him, so as to inherit eternal life, many doubts arise, and we question ourselves about what would really be necessary to do to achieve this goal.
We see for example in the Bible, a passage where a rich young man approaches Jesus to clear up this doubt, see how he did it in Matthew 19:16: "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

We can see through this text that the young man was concerned with salvation, even though he was divided in his heart, which is a reality even for us, in some situations. When observing God's Word, we see that in several other texts the prerequisites for salvation are discussed. This is not the only passage that addresses the question of what is necessary to be able to inherit eternal life, for the disciples of the Lord Jesus always wanted to know how to please him, so that they might be saved from eternal condemnation.

In this study we will deal with the text initially mentioned, which is much used as an argument to try to simplify the obligations of many who call themselves Christians, however it is a text that they use outside of its original context, in isolation, in an attempt to justify questionable and unfounded conduct, of those who do not know and nor are interested in knowing how the manner of living of the disciples of Jesus Christ should be.

Reinforcing again, we are talking about the text that is found in Acts 15:28-29 which reads: "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."

Surely you have already heard someone chanting this text with their mouth full, even in some cases trying to support themselves with another text also isolated, which says that we are saved by grace, but who wishes to please the Lord Jesus with his life in every sense, should base themselves only on texts without context as a rule of faith? Should God's servants live ignoring everything that God left for us to do, having first instructed his apostles? Let us delve deeper into this matter, so as to make clear what this approach is about and to what it applied.

Complete text and its context:
Acts 15:23-31. "And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. "

Necessary clarifications:
Most people allegedly Christian, when questioned about the way they present themselves before society, and the posture with which they act before countless situations, use the base text of this study as an argument (Acts 15:28-29), suggesting that it is a doctrinal summary, that is, that there is no need to observe anything beyond that, and such a position occurs in various situations, as they want to cover up the error of the practice of sensuality, vices and many other worldly burdens, these being behaviors of people without any reference to Jesus Christ, which will lead many with them to condemnation.

The Bible commands that Christians be blameless in all things:
For those who proceed this way, trying to go by shortcuts, ignore the truth, that if someone is truly in Christ, they are a new creation, that is, the person who is truly transformed, born again, has nothing questionable, nor possesses any trace that harks back to the old man, in short, it is not possible to create any relationship of that person born again, with someone without commitment to the gospel, since the Bible commands that Christians be blameless in all things, see: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Misunderstanding of the text:
We see that there is a completely mistaken understanding in relation to Acts 15:28-29, and the denominations base themselves on it to justify their apostate conduct, they try to minimize the actions of those who are far from the truth, suggesting they are in conformity with the sacred scriptures.

It is worth remembering that the aforementioned text of Acts came to meet a specific need to address a question regarding the need for circumcision, thus, we can affirm that it is wrong to base oneself only on this text, to take it as a foundation, saying that there is no need to have any other concern regarding Christian conduct. So much is it true since this text did not address the questions of vices and lasciviousness which is sensuality for example, practices that also lead to condemnation.

Would obeying the teachings of Jesus be a burden, a weight?
Those who base themselves only on the text of Acts 15:28-29 as a rule of faith do so by claiming that they cannot place a burden on those who receive Christ, there we question, would obeying what Jesus commanded be a burden?
We are certain that if there is no conversion, transformation, in short, if there is no true desire to please Jesus, everything will be seen as heavy, as a burden, becoming yes something difficult to be done. But as we speak of people transformed in heart, who are inclined toward the truths of the Master, everything will be done for pleasure, as a way to please him, and thus it will never be burdensome to obey sound doctrine, just as it is not burdensome to do something to please someone we love, for our love for God must be above all things, and Jesus himself said that his burden is light.

Is it more important to please God or men?
Still on the question of pleasing the Lord above all else, we see many practices dedicated to people or something momentary, in the name of a love so widespread by the world, and in the name of this love, many do absurd and questionable things to anyone, except to those who practice them.
People spare no effort to please their loved ones, or themselves, they do everything without questioning and without accepting questioning, however when it comes to obeying God in every sense, being obedient to him and walking in his way, living in holy doctrines, well, in this case, everything is cause for questioning and considered difficult.
Paul has a posture that should be imitated in Galatians 1:10 "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

True Christians must be the light of the world, making a difference:
In a demonstration of cowardice in relation to being an example in society, with regard to spiritual life, and also because they do not want to be questioned, due to shame of being different, because they should walk counter to this dark world, many prefer to walk any way, resembling those who do not profess any faith in Jesus, being equal to them in all their strange behaviors and customs, and thus also dimmed.
Such conduct is dangerous, for when someone who should be the light of the world does not shine, making a difference in the darkness, one should question whether they have not already gone out, or if they are also part of the darkness.

Grace cannot be used as a pretext to live any way, for it is only achieved through faith, which is demonstrated when one obeys the commandments of the Lord Jesus:
Those who wish to live a lie, when questioned more forcefully about this interpretation, almost always use a part of another text found in Ephesians 2:8 and which in its entirety reads: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...". But in their arguments, they only say that we are saved by grace, however they do not speak about what is necessary to achieve it.
Observing this text carefully as well, together with its context, and comparing with the way it is used, we conclude that the complete meaning of the text has nothing to do with failing to fulfill God's ordinances, that is, being saved by grace does not mean that we have freedom to sin deliberately, leading life as we want, leaving aside the basic principles of what it means to be holy.

It is through faith that we achieve grace, which causes us to believe in everything that Jesus left, and to obey his Word, for we demonstrate our faith only when we obey his commandments, see what he himself said in John 15:14: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.", but if the decision is to maintain bonds with the world, in this case it is the same as choosing to be an enemy of God, see how James speaks of the matter in James 4:3-5: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?" NOTE: Twisting the meaning of God's Word, to want to live sinning with a clear conscience, is also adultery, for it is a violation of what is right.

The generation immersed in apostasy:
If we pay careful attention to God's Word, more specifically to the text in 2 Timothy 4:1-4, we will understand that what was said by the apostle Paul has been fulfilled, for for a long time denominations and more denominations have arisen, but without any commitment to sound doctrine, that is, there is no concern whatsoever with the holy instructions coming from God, on the contrary they prefer to base themselves on fables, although they also do not follow them, they use the instructions of Acts 15:28-29 as arguments, which were necessary because the Jews were wanting the converted Gentiles to also be circumcised, which makes no sense and has never made sense, for as Paul said, the greatest circumcision is that of the heart, which occurs through a real covenant with the Lord, in Romans 2:28,29: "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

We live in a generation in which it is clearly people without any desire to live in holiness, who have gone down the path of error, making evident what was already predicted, See what Paul said: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

It is lamentable, but it is a constant truth in the whole world, although many call themselves Christians, only the minority really care about Salvation, and what is necessary to achieve it.

Flee from the wide gate and from false prophets:
In Matthew 7:13-16 Jesus instructing his disciples said: "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: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"

Anyone who wishes to be saved by Jesus also needs to pay attention to what he said, for most have walked the way they desire, going anywhere, seeking mostly things for this life, and by doing so, people for a long time have been deceived by false prophets, who base themselves on isolated texts. And they do so only because they want to take advantage of the unwary, and not guarantee them that they are in obedience to God's Word. Those who do not want to be deceived, it is enough to observe what is evident, for Jesus already said: "by their fruits ye shall know them", this is a golden tip, pay close attention, what have been the fruits of those who want to extort people? How many people through these deceivers have been truly freed from the enemy's grasp and converted to God, to be faithful to his Word?

God's people are advised to leave these worldly movements, disguised as religiosity:
What we have seen is a tremendous lack of commitment, both from the deceivers and from those who are deceived, for with their sensual postures and their paintings, they demonstrate their various vanities, treading with their accoutrements in their hair, on their wrists, necks and ears. With focus only on earthly things, they walk hand in hand with the world, entering wide doors, where they are not questioned about such worldly practices, following recklessly to eternal condemnation.
See Jesus saying in Revelation 18:4 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

A new commandment does not annul the others:
In John 13:34,35 we see Jesus saying: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." This text also does not have the purpose of summarizing the doctrines, as some are accustomed to saying, for it is a new commandment given, this needs to be added to the others that had already been given by the Lord himself, so much so that there is no possibility open for us not to love the Lord with all our strength and with all our understanding, since it is the first commandment.

See what Jesus answers to some in Mark 12:28-34: "And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question."

Observe that only the first and second commandment were mentioned, evidencing that the other commandments of the Lord Jesus remain for all of us, obviously that we are not talking about the more than six hundred commandments that arose from the Judaizing inventions, but rather what the Lord initially left to Moses, having been written on the tablet of the law, and what he instructed his apostles during the time he was among them, in a way that complements his orders, being for example the need for baptism in his name, the celebration of the supper and foot washing, the use of the veil by the Christian woman, and all others in relation to the holiness of those who serve him, that is, are at his service.

Would it be possible to summarize sound doctrine?
Obviously it is a difficult task to summarize the teachings of Jesus, but we can pay attention to some key points that the servants of God should follow, making us differentiated from the world, not opening itself is clear from the instructions given in Acts 15:28-29.
We are considering that the intention of those who raise the banner of the gospel is to be saved by the Lord Jesus, thus we need to remember what was said regarding those who will be left out, that is, those who will not be saved. The counsel is that we have actions in a manner contrary to these condemning practices.

See what is said in Galatians 5:19-21: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
See also in Revelation 22:15: "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."

When we compare the two texts, the list of items in Revelation appears smaller correct? But do not be deceived, the other items are embedded in what is contained at the end of verse 15 of chapter 22 of Revelation, that is: "and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." Thus, everything that contradicts the holiness necessary to God, are lies told, but loved and committed by those who have no commitment to sound doctrine, so whoever practices them, if they do not change their posture, will not be saved according to biblical affirmations, for the Lord Jesus is the way the Truth and the Life.

Many with the narrative that it is uses and customs, and that each country has theirs, ignore for example the fact that a woman cannot wear men's clothes and vice-versa, put in doubt the need for the woman to cover herself with the veil to pray and prophesy, leave aside the need for there to be decency in the way both men and women present themselves to God, and to the world as light.

It is not few who, called evangelicals, who neglect the need to offer a worship directed solely to God, disregarding even the need to pay attention to the Sacred Scriptures in a spiritual way, for only in this way would it be possible to understand that the celebration of the supper is a holy thing, and should not be used as a way to gather people in a congregation, in order to extort them monthly or quarterly as many do.
It is enough to pay attention to God's Word spiritually, so that they understand that the supper should be celebrated annually, having as elements unleavened bread (bread without leaven), pure wine (without the addition of alcohol, or anything else) and then complemented by the foot washing as Jesus did.

With the sanctification of their lives, they would also understand when reading the Scriptures that there is a need for communion among the brethren, who would have no malice in greeting each other with the greeting of a holy kiss. It would be simple to understand that because there is one God and Lord who is Jesus, no possibility of division is accepted, but rather the existence of unity in the body. Because of this Jesus gave his name to his family, both in the heavens and on the earth, which is affiliated to this name, which is why we must receive his name in baptism, indicating that we want to be part of this family. This act is the way to confess to him and to the world our faith in Jesus, for it is not for nothing that in Acts 4:12 it is said that this name Jesus is the only name that saves.

Conclusion:

Categorically we can affirm that the text mentioned as the basis for study is used incorrectly to justify questionable practices, but for the true Christian, it remains to obey the Lord Jesus, entering through the narrow gate as he himself guided, for by doing so we will be in accordance with his instructions.

May our Lord bless you greatly, always remembering that we need to grow in the grace and knowledge of God.