Page 215 - THE REVELATION OF THE THIRD HEAVEN and THE MEAT OF THE WORD

precept referred to, i.e. alms-giving or fasting, does not apply to Christians as it is
part of the Law (Rom 10:4). Jesus is referring to those under the Law, in this case
a part of the Law, when he mentions the devil spirit type requiring removal by
fasting and prayer (Mat 17:21).

When Paul fasted from food and water (Acts 9:9) and later fasted a great deal (2
Cor 11:27), which was not mere food deprivation or hunger (2 Cor 11:27), he was
not obeying a commandment for Christians. The same applies to the Christians of
Antioch (Acts 13:2) and to Paul and Barnabus (Acts 14:23). The fact that such
fasters as these were blessed does not mean that it was the fasting that appropriated
the result. When Cornelius fasted he was acting under the Law (Acts 10:30).
When the Word says to the Corinthians ‘ye may give yourselves to fasting’ it
makes the point that such activity is permissible for Christians under certain
circumstances, it does not establish the doctrine that it is required given the clear
statements that fasting is inappropriate for Christians (Mat 5:13, Luke 5:34).

Sabbath

There is no special day for Christians (Luke 6:1-5). It was part of the Law (Ex
31:14).

Apostles and Sin

All Christians sin (1 John 1:8). Consider these potential examples, which only God
can judge against the two great commandments: Peter, by still holding to aspects of
the Law (Gal 2:11-12), and Paul were both contradicting themselves in the matter
of the Law's applicability to Christians. Paul still practised as if he was under the
Law at times, despite all his teachings to the contrary (Acts 16:3, 21:26). This
shows that he did not fully understand all that he wrote (1 Cor 2:7, 13:12). As with
Peter this happened sometimes due to their fear of the Jews (Acts 16:3, Gal 2:12).
In the case of Timotheus' circumcision by Paul in Acts, Paul was motivated by the
Jews not the Spirit (Acts 16:3). Indeed Paul stresses the irrelevance to Christians of
flesh circumcision (Gal 5:2-6).

Paul’s vow may have been a sin against the two great commandments or not, we
must not judge (Mat 5:37, Acts 18:18, Jam 5:12). Not every episode of the
behaviour of Christians as described in Acts is necessarily Godly (1 John 1:8).
Both apostles and prophets can exist today as the default is that God acts eternally
(Mal 3:6, Luke 11:49). Being a Christian is like being in an ongoing handicap race
where the weight of expectation is increased in real time according to the progress
you make thus making a nonsense of speculating if so-and-so a Christian is held