There are many rebellious people who try to deceive others with smooth talk. This is especially true of those who say that Gentiles who believe in Jesus have to be circumcised.
That question came up because some false believers had slipped in among us to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to make us slaves again.
Then we won’t be babies in the faith anymore. We won’t be like ships tossed around by the waves and blown here and there by every new teaching. We won’t be fooled by the tricks that people use to hide their real plans.
‘But I hold you responsible for a few things. Some of you are following the teaching of Balaam, who showed Balak how to lead the people of Israel into sin. They ate food offered to idols and they committed sexual sins.
Dear children, we’re living in the last days. You’ve heard that the great enemy of Christ is coming, and even now many enemies of Christ have already come. That’s how we know that these are the last days.
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, “If you aren’t circumcised the way Moses commanded, you can’t be saved.”
It isn’t made for godly people, but for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly and sinful people, for those who aren’t holy and who don’t believe. The law is for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
An elder must be blameless. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers and not give anyone a reason to say that they’re wild and disobedient.