In The Word
Read: Acts 15:1-12
The Council in Jerusalem
15 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument and debate with them, the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3 Therefore, after being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all the brothers and sisters. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.7 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 would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
In this chapter, the expanding church experienced a major disagreement between its members. It seems that the Jewish believers were insisting that new Gentile believers obey Mosaic Law as a condition of their salvation. It became such an issue that the Antioch church dispatched Paul and Barnabas to the council in Jerusalem to hear the matter. As Paul and Barnabas began relating to the council the great things God was doing amongst the Gentiles, it was evident to James that Gentile converts should not be subjected to these Jewish customs, including circumcision. After much discussion, it was decided that the Gentiles would not have to obey Mosaic Law as a condition to salvation but that they would show respect by observing certain things for the sake of Jewish-Gentile relationships.
There will be times in your Christian walk when someone from the pulpit or in casual conversation might say something you don’t agree with. At that time you should ask yourself if it is a big enough deal to have a conversation about? If the disagreement is serious, is it important enough to end the relationship? I have many friends who are believers that do not believe as I do on every Christian doctrine, and I disagree with many of them. But these things are not important enough that it should destroy our relationship. I have witnessed churches split over the most ridiculous reasons. The world must laugh when they see the pettiness of believers, when they take sides and then speak ill of others who just months ago worshipped God together with them. Instead of walking away, decide to talk about it, share your views, and listen to theirs. We grow and learn by listening to the viewpoints of others.