Study 29. Acts 15:1-35

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Two issues at stake: (1) Does God still require His covenant people to keep the Law of Moses (and the oral tradition)? and (2) Even if the Law is just a cultural preference for Jewish Christians, should Gentile Christians keep it anyway in order to keep peaceful fellowship?

6. How did the church handle this major dispute between some Jewish believers and the Antiochene Christians (see 15:2,6,12,22-30)? 
They took it to the highest authorities in the Church. There was a forum to explain their position. This was a decision-making body whose conclusions were binding.
 
7. Why did Peter support the Antiochene position? List his key reasons in 15:6-11. 
He had the experience of Cornelius' household behind him. He had pioneered Gentile minsitry. God knew the heart and had testfied to their inclusion through the giving of the Holy Spirit just as he had to the jews. He made no distinction. Clenasing of the heart was by faith. There was no reason to lay the burden of the Law on them when the Jews could not bear it. Salvation was be grace. 
 
cf. "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Gal 5:1). The Law could not save and could not be perfectly followed, resulting in condemnation.
 
8. What evidence did Paul and Barnabas offer to defend their view that Gentiles could be saved without becoming Jews (see 15:4,12)? 
 God had worked 'with them' (cf. 14:27)
He had authenticated their work among the Gentiles with signs and wonders. 
 
9. James was by now a leader of the Jerusalem congregation and known for his conservative Jewish practice (see Galatians 2:11-12). What convinced James that Paul was right about the Gentiles and the Law (see Acts 15:13-19)?
  • The testimony of Peter
  • The words of the prophets in the OT
 
For Thought and Discussion: Why do you think it was so important for the church that Gentiles not be required to keep the Jewish Law (see 15:9-11,19)?
So that precedent would be set for worldwide missions. We do not have to be Jews in order to be Christians in following Mosaic ritual law.
 
For Thought and Discussion: According to the council what is necessary for salvation (see 15:9-11)? What isn’t necessary?
Forgiveness of sins by faith
The grace of Christ
Not by works of the law (cf. Gal 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.)
 
For Further Study: If keeping the Law was not necessary for salvation, why did even Paul agree that the Gentiles should obey the rules of 15:2 (see Romans 14:1-4, 13-23; 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1)? 
 He did not want to quarrel over non-essentials
He did not want to put stumbling blocks where they were not necessary 
Revise the princples of deciding how to do things
1.  helpful (v.23)
2. building up our neighbour (v. 23)
3. Don’t violate your conscience 
4. Do what you can be thankful for 
5. to the glory of God (v. 31)
6. an effort not to cause unnecessary offense to anyone (v.32-33).
 
 
For Thought and Discussion: Is eating blood still wrong (such as in sausage, rare meat, or strangled poultry)? Why or why not? (See Romans 14:1-4,13-23.) 
No. Unless there are strong objectors in attendance.
Mk 7:18-20 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?”[f] (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.  
 
 
10. What are the most important lessons the Jerusalem council’s decision can teach us?
Talk things out
Hear the parties being accused
Listen to respected people
Don’t keep silent if you have worthwhile things to say.
Go to Scripture.
Aim for compromise


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