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NASB | Acts 21:23 "Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 21:23 "Therefore do just what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow; |
Subject: Why did Paul do it? For conscience sake? |
Bible Note: Like I mentioned earlier, it's because 'we' fail to understand what the Temple was for and what it accomplished that we feel any participation in it after Jesus resurrection is "going back to those old miserable ways." The Temple system was not set up by God to do away with sin. It also wasn't set up to be only a metaphor for what Jesus would some day do. It also didn't fail as some say, “the Temple didn't accomplish what it was meant to so God had to go with plan 'B'.” The Temple allowed a worshiper in This World to approach a Holy God safely. The sacrifices and cleansing purified the worshiper temporarily so they could present the Peace/Fellowship offering. Leviticus beings with, "If anyone desires to draw near (offer a sacrifice)....this is how to do it." It doesn't say, "When ever you sin, you must bring a sacrifice to cleans yourself of sin." Rather, IF YOU DESIRE TO DRAW NEAR...do it this way, and a sin sacrifice is an obvious part of that process. In the World to Come, the Temple and the whole city will be Holy. The Kingdom of Sin and Death will be gone. There is be no need to offer sin sacrifice because there will be no sin in that World which we are destined for. Jesus death made this way possible. The way past the cherubim and the flashing sword into the Kingdom of Light to once again walk with God in the cool of the day on a new Earth. In the mean time, we as a community have been given the guarantee, the Holy Spirit, so that we are in effect, mobile Temples of God. By virtue of the Holy Spirit being present, who is God, we are near God; yet the World to Come has not come fully, not yet. If you assume by my belief that Paul not only participated in the Temple in acts 21, but had planned to all along because he knew what it stood for as well as what it didn't, that I then believe that one needs to have the Temple to get forgiven, you're wrong. I don't believe that. I don't believe Paul HAD to go to the Temple. He wanted to. He, as did most of the early Christians, loved the House of God. Psalm 84 was a longing of their heart too. But, as Hebrews reminds them once they were kicked out (or it was destroyed), the Temple for all it's beauty and sanctity in helping a worshiper draw near to God, it is far from the reality in the World to Come. The real actual Temple of which Jesus is the High Priest. Just as on Earth, no one could participate in drawing near to God apart from the High Priest, so too we can not draw near to God apart from our High Priest in Heaven who is Jesus. Finally, a legalist is someone who believes you must follow certain laws or perform certain works in order to get saved. There is not one time or place where I said that, taught that, or professed that. There is no way to the Father and salvation from this world but through God's sovereign Grace through Faith, and that alone, nothing more. Nothing I do can adds to nor makes this more complete. God's gift of the Holy Spirit will work in me to sanctify me more and more in His likeness. In the end, it is all God. MJH |