HE TAKES US AS WE
ARE!
ACTS 15
The Story:
Jewish believers/leaders came to Antioch: “These Gentile believers must be
circumcised first, then they can be believers…” Caused a great conflict
between Paul and Barnabas and the Jewish believers.
Gen 17: circumcision became the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant – the
symbolic cutting away of sin.
Colossians 2: 11 “In Him you were also circumcised in the putting off of
your sinful nature.” (circumcision of the heart)
The argument was so heated – they decided to bring it to the Jerusalem
church…
• We meet James the Less (short), son of Alpheus and brother (kin/family) of
Jesus, who is the Lead Pastor of the Jerusalem Church.
• The Jerusalem Council is convened:
• As many as the Disciples/Apostles gathered = Peter, etc.
• Barnabas and Paul
• Delegates from Antioch gathered
Peter starts first…look what God did when I preached Jesus…they were
filled with the Holy Spirit as we were…
• How can we expect them to follow the laws that even we and our
ancestors could not!?!
• God accepted them as they are!
• We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved!
• Everyone became silent as Barnabas and Paul shared their testimony of the
signs and wonders God performed and how many Jews and Gentiles
became believers in Jesus
• They listened and contemplated … they listened to understand – not to
build their argument (rebut) – a sign of maturity
• Then James spoke …
1) Look what God said and did with Peter
2) This fulfills prophesy: Amos 9: “I will rebuild David’s tent…that the rest
of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear My
name.”
The Decision:
a) We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God
b) Instead, tell them to abstain from pollutions of idols; sexual immoralities;
don’t eat meat from animals strangled; and do not eat blood
• The “pollution of idols”-gives
the picture of “wallowing in
the blood sacrifices to idols”
• Do not participate in any
form of idol worship
Pigs wallowing in mud
• Do not participate in sexual immorality - linked with the temple
prostitutes and the Roman concept of sex being a simple physical (animal)
need not linked to his/her morality
• Do not eat animals that were strangled – Jewish custom was to slice the
animal’s throat – a quicker death for the animal. Strangling was cutting off
it’s life breath – cruel
• Do not eat blood – blood is linked with the concept of that which gives
life
• Paul, Barnabas, Barsabbas (Judas), and Silas were chosen to bring the
decision (in a letter) to the Church at Antioch
• The Church of Antioch met with these delegates from the Council of
Jerusalem, received the letter of instruction with gladness and were
encouraged
• The delegates from Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem, but Paul and
Barnabas remained in Antioch
WHAT DO WE SEE…
• Conflict does happen in Churches among believers
• Gathering together without hostility, with being willing to listen to
understand and not simply to argue or rebut
• Working out – confronting the problem – a resolution that brings growth
and healing to those who are willing to grow in the likeness of Christ.
• Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they
succeed.”