Memorize: Investigation by Jerusalem Council
Key Verses: 1, 8-9, 20-21, 28, 39
This is the first “Jesus Plus” movement in church history. The Jewish believers want to insist that non-Jews adopt Jewish customs in order to be believers. They are in essence saying that faith in Jesus is not enough, that what Jesus did on the Cross did not accomplish everything we need for salvation, that we must do something more to help the process along. “Jesus Plus” is still alive today. (I know that the next few statements will step on a few denominational toes, but….) Some people today say that you have to be baptized, join their church, give a certain percentage of your income, dress a certain way, talk a certain way, sing certain music, or no music, read a certain translation of the Scriptures, or any number of other things in order to be saved. But this chapter puts an end to this.
God settled this issue when He poured out the Holy Spirit on uncircumcised non-Jews. He broke His own rules (or at least the popular interpretation of His rules). These believers had just trusted in the message and the God behind the message. And when they did this, God confirmed His blessing by pouring out the Holy Spirit on them in a way that they knew all the old barriers had been exploded. God was not excluding anyone, so why should they!
As the leading believers gather in Jerusalem they wrestle with this concept theologically. But Peter stops them in their tracks. He shares what God did and it ends the argument. They agree on some basic ‘decency’ guidelines so that the new believers do not thoroughly offend the Jews who live in their areas. They agree that certain outward practices are not contrary to the freedom we have in Christ and keeping them may help Jews be more favorably inclined to accept the Truth of the Gospel.
Today we probably only have problems with the last of their guidelines: sexual immorality. The other things are not really present in our context here in North America. What is shocking is that sexual immorality is just as prevalent in the church as it is in the world. What a tragic indictment of our conduct as a church. No wonder people look at us an wonder if the Gospel has the power to change them, since it seems to have not changed us.
Much more could be said about this principle, but it will have to wait for another day. Remember this: Faith in Christ is enough, faith that changes our hearts and our actions, a living, breathing faith. If our faith does not move us to action, it is a dead faith and therefore ineffective in creating and sustaining a relationship with God.
REVIEW: Run JOHN THE GOSPEL OF BELIEF
The Arnold Journey 