The Second Sunday after Epiphany (NT)

Acts 15:22-35

²² Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, ²³ with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. ²⁴ Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, ²⁵ it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: ²⁹ that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

³⁰ So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. ³¹ And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. ³² And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. ³³ And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. ³⁵ But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

God sends his messengers out into the mission field. But there are times when further instruction is necessary. I have often wondered what else "Christians" might have been teaching in the first century. The bible focuses on following the laws of Moses, the ceremonial laws. But they still add some pretty strict requirements. Is it necessary to refrain for any sexual immorality? Is it necessary to not drink. The blood of animals? Is it necessary to not eat anything sacrificed to a idol?

St. Paul will talk about some of these later as okay in specific situations. Such as if you do not know whether it has been sacrificed to an idol, don't worry about it. Don't drink the cup of demons and the cup of the Lord. Don't have blood pool in your meat! But the one he does not seem to change, is abstaining from any and all types of sexual immorality. 

Living in a society consumed by death and sex, it may be difficult to keep all your thoughts and actions from all sexual immorality. But this does not make it any less a sinful lifestyle.

The Apostles with the whole church write this letter to help these new fish, understand what it means to live in the net of Christ. This means you receive forgiveness of your sins. It means God has saved you from the power of death and the devil. It also means God desires you to live a holy life. He will provide you with his Holy Spirit, to create a right spirit within you. May this spirit continue to guard your hearts and minds from all sin, but since you are a sinner their is forgiveness in Christ Jesus.