I was struck with the Law/Gospel dynamic at Acts 15 in light of David’s prayer, cited at Psalms 86.

Acts 15,

Act 15:1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

and

Act 15:5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

Here is a portion of David’s prayer indicating unbelief was not on the table for him but a more sure word that he must have believed in when praying this prayer:

Psa 86:1 A Prayer of David. Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Psa 86:2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you–you are my God.
Psa 86:3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.
Psa 86:4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
Psa 86:5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Psa 86:6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.

At Acts 15, after these wonderful words of Peter, James then cites Amos 9. Amos indicates what “follows” the belief of the fallen one, King David:

Act 15:7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
Act 15:9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Here is a portion of what James spoke. What is most significant for me in these words are these “and I will restore it”:

Act 15:13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
Act 15:14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
Act 15:15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
Act 15:16 “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,
Act 15:17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
Act 15:18 known from of old.’

This chapter in Acts has so much meaning when you consider your blog as one is learning the importance of making proper distinctions between Law and Gospel.

We need the “Law” established.

We need the “Gospel” proclaimed.

It doesn’t get any simplier than that!

Michael
Eureka, Ca.