Acts 15:1

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, " Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. "

1. Jewish converts came from the area around Jerusalem to Antioch. They were converted to Christianity - but still held many of the laws, traditions and customs of their former religion.

2. NOTE: All converted from one religious belief to another will carry some "baggage" with us. Some customs and traditions and teachings that we liked and are deeply ingrained are difficult to just dismiss and ignore.

3. Their teaching was clear - "All Gentile converts MUST be circumcised as Moses commanded or you cannot be saved."

1. Circumcision was a sign of being in a covenant relationship with God.

2. It preceded the Law of Moses. Circumcision began with Abraham.

4. TODAY - Like these Jewish converts, some today are trying to bind where God has not bound. They seek to impose their rules on others. They seek to obligate others to some regulations that are not bound by God. Examples in our time would include:

1. Changing God's law on divorce and remarriage

2. Rules about eating (not eating) in the church building

3. Cooperation and fund exchange among congregations

4. "Unless you do (or don't do) ___________ (fill in the blank) you can't be saved."