Council at Jerusalem–Liberty Through Jesus Christ not Human Standards

Acts 14:27-15:21

“…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:29 “So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:26-27

• Paul reports of how God opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
• Debate over whether circumcision was required or not.
• Council at Jerusalem ruled over the necessity of circumcision.
  • In Jerusalem, some of the sect of the Pharisees insisted that circumcision was necessary.
  • Peter acknowledges God’s acceptance of the Gentiles and the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit.
  • Paul, Barnabas, and James witnessed of the Gentiles Salvation through Jesus Christ, not circumcision.
  • Guidelines established for the born-again Gentiles.

Paul reports of how God opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Paul was from Tarsus, when he was known as Saul, Saul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia…” Acts 22:3

“Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.” Acts 14:27-28

This verse refers to coming to Antioch at Syria [seen on the east side of the picture below and circled in yellow]. As described in the previous post on Acts 14:21-25, Paul and Barnabas had traveled by land between Lystra, Derbe, Antioch at Pisidia, to Pamphylia, to Perga, to Attalia, then from Attalia sailed to Antioch at Syria.

The Church is wherever two or more people gather in the name of Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Manmade churches are not the definition of a church. Paul and Barnabas were not gathering together pieces of a broken-down church building, they were gathering Believers together. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God…” 1 Corinthians 6:19

When the Church was gathered together, Paul and Barnabas reported to them all that God had done with them. I’m a 1959 baby Boomer, and decades ago the gathering of the Church would have a time to hear the testimonies of anyone who wanted to share what God is doing with them in Jesus Christ. However, that time became polluted with people using that for the opportunity to talk about everything else but Jesus Christ and often carried on until they had to be told to give someone else an opportunity to speak. That is how the gathering of Believers is being destroyed by today’s atheistic culture. “These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves.” Jude 1:12

Paul gathered the Church to report of how the Gentiles [non-Jewish] were coming to God through Jesus Christ. This meant that the laws of Judaism were not important for living for God. Our faith in Jesus Christ justifies us in the eyes of God. This is the report that every Christian would like to be able to share, that people have learned that they can live for God by the Spirit, and that the Church is anyplace where two or more Believers gather.

We are living in the days of the fulfillment of prophecy, and there are many reports to be made. God’s not dead, no He is alive.

Debate over whether circumcision was required or not.
“And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Acts 15: 1

While in Antioch at Syria, Paul and Barnabas were sharing how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ. Conflict found Paul and Barnabas for sharing about that. People from Judea, who embraced the laws of Judaism, told the new converts, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” As an example of how far they came to oppose Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, Judea was near Jerusalem [near Nazareth], all the way to the bottom of the image [as shown below]. From there, they traveled to Syrian Antioch. No cars, no planes, no motorboats etc.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we know the lengths the people of today’s atheistic culture will go to oppose the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In today’s culture, no travel is necessary to catch up to those sharing the testimony of Jesus. The entity with power over physiology gives people what to say, do, think, and feel, and they are synchronized from city to city around the world. Their common theme is to oppose belief in God, scoff at the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, and to oppress the presence of the Holy Spirit.

In the days of Paul’s ministry, circumcision was used as a branding tool to mark those faithful to the laws of Judaism from those who served Jesus Christ. Those who were circumcised were considered under the rule of the Pharisees and other such Jewish leaders. Those who served God through Jesus Christ were considered to be blasphemous and enemies of God.

Circumcision was initially given to Abraham as a reminder that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars of the skies. “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly…and you will be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” Genesis 17:2, 11 The coming of Jesus Christ fulfilled the covenant, so circumcision is no longer necessary, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29 To command that people carry on with the practice of circumcision is to deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham.

“Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.” Acts 15:2

Paul and Barnabas were preaching and teaching that faith in Jesus Christ brought Salvation in agreement with God’s will. Circumcision has nothing to do with the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul and Barnabas had a pretty huge disagreement with the Jewish men who insisted that circumcision and the laws of Moses were necessary to be in the will of God. For that reason, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some Gentile believers would go to the Chrisitan leaders in Jerusalem to decide the matter. Those Christian leaders included the original Apostles of Jesus Christ, such as Peter and James.

“So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.” Acts 15:3

Being sent to Jerusalem, with a send-off by the fellowship of Believers, Paul, Barnabas, and some born-again Gentiles passed through Phoenicia and Samaria. Phoenicia was about the place of the foothills of Lebanon, the northern part of Israel of today, as seen on the map above. Samaria was nearby. These cities were predominantly Gentiles, by the judgment of the Jewish leaders. Paul and Barnabas were describing the born-again experience of the Gentiles [without circumcision], who were right there by their side. By the sharing of that Good News, great joy was felt among fellow Believers in those Gentile cities.

“…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:29

Council at Jerusalem ruled over the necessity of circumcision.
In Jerusalem, some of the sect of the Pharisees insisted that circumcision was necessary.
“And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.” Acts 15:4

Those who came to Jerusalem were Paul, Barnabas, and the born-again Gentiles of Antioch at Syria. They were received by the body of Believers, the true Church, not people within a manmade church building. With the body of Believers, were the Apostles of Jesus Christ, such as Peter and James. Also, there were the elders, those who are leaders of a group of people born-again through Jesus Christ. Paul and Barnabas reported to the Church and Church leaders all that God had done with them, referring to bringing the Gentiles to Salvation through Jesus Christ and seeing them receive the Holy Spirit.

“But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.” Acts 15:5-6

At this point in Paul’s ministry, the Pharisees are called a sect, meaning they had a different view of God than Jesus Christ and they deviated from the mainstream body of Christianity. Today, the ministers within the manmade churches can be considered a sect because they have abandoned the message of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Instead of focusing on the resurrection, forgiveness of sin through Jesus, and eternal life, they have partnered with the earthly and atheistic agenda of today’s community culture.

The sect of the Pharisees said to the body of Believers regarding the Gentiles, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” To be circumcised was to deny that Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham [to multiply his descendants like the stars of the sky]. As quoted, “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly…and you will be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” Genesis 17:2, 11 The coming of Jesus Christ fulfilled the covenant, so circumcision is no longer necessary, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29 To command that people carry on with the practice of circumcision is to deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

“…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:29 “So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:26-27

Peter acknowledged God’s acceptance of the Gentiles and the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit.
“And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.” Acts 15:7

There was a lot of dispute over whether or not the Gentiles should be circumcised. That is when Peter [Apostle of Jesus Christ] rose up to have his say. His point was that the Gentiles did not come to faith in God by the laws of Moses [laws of Judaism] but by hearing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ by word of mouth.

Paul, in the book of Romans, goes on to say that the Gospel heard by word of mouth did not exclude the Jewish people who depended on the written laws of Moses. They had their chance to hear the word of prophecy about Jesus in the Old Testament, to believe in Him as the Christ and Son of God, but they did not believe, as quoted, “But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” Romans 10:19

Below is the text spoken by Paul, through the Holy Spirit, from Romans 10,

“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” Romans 10:14-21

In today’s atheistic world, if someone is going to hear the message of the Cross of Jesus Christ, it will most likely be through an individual who can testify of the born-again experience, which is the Gospel written on our heart. Overall, we say, “All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” “Lord, who has believed our report?” 

“So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:8-9

The Holy Spirit comes in the name of Jesus Christ, and whoever believes in Him will live in the presence of the Holy Spirit. God knows the heart of every single person, and when He sees Jesus in us, there is the remission of sin and the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit given to the Apostles of Jesus Christ, as given to Paul, given to Barnabas, given to the four women evangelists [Acts 21:9], and given to each and every believer. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

“Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” Acts 15:10

The yoke put around the neck of the disciples was the laws of Moses [laws of Judaism], which none of the Jewish people were able to endure. And certainly, the non-Jewish Gentiles would not be able nor willing to. As an example of those laws, read through the book of Leviticus…I wonder how far through the book you will be able to endure? Our Lord Jesus said that His yoke is light and His burden is easy, that’s because He gives grace to allow us to live by the Spirit and not the letter of the law. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:30

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we will be saved in the same manner as they.” Acts 15:11

Paul called the Pharisees a sect in Acts 15:5-6 and now he is using the non-Jewish Gentiles as their example of how to receive Salvation from God and to receive the Holy Spirit. We are saved by believing God and putting our faith in Jesus Christ, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

Paul, Barnabas, and James witnessed of the Gentiles Salvation through Jesus Christ, not circumcision.
“Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.” Acts 15:12

In the previous section, the Apostle Peter acknowledged the Salvation of the Gentiles by believing God and putting their faith in Jesus Christ. Peter acknowledged that the Gentiles were given the Holy Spirit and are an example to everyone on how to be saved. Then the multitude silenced themselves again to listen to Barnabas and Paul describe the many miracles and wonders that God brought among the Gentiles through them. Paul and Barnabas were first-hand witnesses of how Salvation and the Holy Spirit came to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, not the written laws of Moses.

As Peter said once before, through the Holy Spirit, “...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12

“And after they had become silent, James answered…” Acts 15:13a.

James was the Apostle and one of the four brothers of Jesus Christ [Matthew 13:55] and the writer of the book of James. After the multitude became silent again after listening to Paul and Barnabas, James spoke.

“...saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.” Acts 15:14 

Simon is the Apostle Peter, and in Acts 15:7-11 of the previous section, he speaks in agreement to the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ, without circumcision. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are the non-Jewish Gentiles that God has accepted to make us part of His family, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13

“And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’ “Known to God from eternity are all His works.” Acts 15:15-18

James is quoting Amos 9:11-12 to validate that the prophets of the Old Testament were speaking of Salvation of the Gentiles as the way to restore the family of God. This would come through faith in Jesus Christ, not by circumcision, nor through the written laws of Judaism. This is known as the “scarlet cord” of the Old Testament pointing to Jesus as the Christ and Son of God.

What is the rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David? This symbolizes the restoration of the family of God by the inclusion of the Gentiles into the family of God. How is the restoration of the tabernacle completed? By making our body the tabernacle of the Lord and Jesus being the Priest, “…Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands…” Hebrews 9:11 We are the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit [a building not made with hands] by the remission of sin through Jesus Christ. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you…” 1 Corinthians 6:19

When Jesus Christ came to this earth, the Jewish culture was in spiritual ruins, and about all that was left of their population was what could be counted within the territory of the Roman Empire. Jerusalem was the heart of the Jewish culture. The spiritual corruption and ruin of the Jewish leadership, those who guided the Jewish people, is described in Matthew 23. Jesus said, “See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Matthew 23:38-39

The house of the Lord is rebuilt by allowing all of humanity to seek the Lord, the whosoever, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 God has even made it so that the non-Jewish Gentiles, you and me, could be part of His family, “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed… And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:29

Guidelines established for the born-again Gentiles
“Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 15:19-21

James, the Apostle and brother of Jesus Christ, and the writer of the book of James is the one speaking the words of those verses [through the Holy Spirit].

The Jewish culture believed that the only way to turn to God was by following the law of Moses [laws of Judaism]. For James to say, “I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God” spoke volumes against the Jewish heritage and customs. The Gentiles were turning to God by faith in Jesus Christ, not through the long list of the written laws of Judaism. As followers of Jesus Christ, we serve God in Spirit and truth, as Jesus says, “...true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24

James gave four guidelines for the non-Jewish Gentiles to follow in their walk with Jesus Christ. These guidelines were made to guide the new converts away from practices that were common among Gentiles. The guidelines would conform the born-again Gentiles to the body of Christ and away from the values of the unbelieving culture around them. These guidelines were found in the Jewish laws, but most importantly, the guidelines enabled the Gentiles to continue to walk by faith in Jesus Christ. There was no need for the born-again Gentiles to be circumcised and no need to be burdened by submitting to the laws of Judaism.

The four guidelines apply to us today as far as coming apart from today’s atheistic culture and to be sanctified while living in this world. The Holy Spirit says, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven…” Revelations 13:4-5 Our Lord Jesus prayed, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:15-17

The four guidelines are listed below;

• Abstain from things polluted by idols. The worship of idols was a regular, routine, and common practice within the Roman Empire. In Acts 14:8-20, the Gentiles saw Paul and Barnabas as being the gods of Zeus and Hermes. This type of reverence for false gods is a distraction from reverence for the Living God. Today, we are not to serve the false god of the entity that gives people what to think, feel, say, and do. This atheistic entity distracts from God by replacing the conscience and spirit while oppressing the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being exterminated by this idol worship.
• Abstain from sexual immorality. Sexual immorality was rampant within the Roman Empire and among the Gentiles. Much of this came from serving false gods that required sexual intercourse as part of worship ceremonies. The focus on the pleasures of the flesh was a distraction from the Living God, Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Today, the false god with power over physiology; feelings and thoughts, uses physical sexuality and sensuality to enliven the passions of the flesh. By focusing thoughts and feelings on carnal pursuits people are distracted from living in the presence of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. By focusing on the flesh, people become willing to live by the atheistic entity that gives them what to feel, think, say, and do. This entity gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.
• Abstain from things strangled. A law and custom of the Jewish people was to bleed an animal completely before eating or sacrificing it. An artery would be sliced and the blood allowed to flow out of the animal. By strangling an animal, the blood does not drain properly. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not to strangle belief in the Living God, not to strangle forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and not to strangle the presence of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus gave His life on the Cross, His blood was poured out as His heart was pierced from the side. The flow of His blood is applied to our heart for to atone for sin, reconcile to God, and live in the presence of the Holy Spirit. We are not to strangle the message of the Cross.
• Abstain from blood. The Gentiles had a practice, as common within the Roman Empire, to use blood mixed with flour and vegetables, etc. in their food preparation. This is like the “black puddings” of more modern times. As followers of Jesus Christ, mixing blood with food is like mixing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the teachings of today’s atheistic culture. This amounts to practicing humanism, which is the fig leaf worn by those who serve the entity that gives them what to think, feel, say, and do. They are preaching a different Jesus than the Gospel we are taught by the word of God, and people are putting up with it by accepting it. “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

Our Lord Jesus says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 Paul said, through the Holy Spirit, “…strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 15:21

Every week, the laws of Moses were read in the synagogues, and any Gentile was allowed to sit in on the worship and teaching services [but were prohibited from entering the inner chambers of the temple]. James wanted to ensure that the born-again Gentiles understood the continued importance of the laws of Moses. The four guidelines that James gave to the Gentiles, who said “Yes” to Jesus Christ, were to emphasize the importance of the Old Testament scriptures. This is like the Christians of today who embrace the Old Testament scriptures as the “scarlet cord” pointing to Jesus Christ as the Christ, Son of God, and Savior of the world. For us Christians, the Old and New Testaments are part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul, through the Holy Spirit, says that although the Jewish people were cut off from the family tree of God, we Christians should not boast against them. That’s because Jesus is Jewish, from the Tribe of Judah, and through the Jewish lineage came our Salvation. “And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.” Romans 11:17-18

While the Jewish people excluded the Gentiles from entering the inner chambers of the temple, Jesus Christ made it possible for us to enter those inner chambers. By the atonement of sin that He made on the Cross, we are able to enter into the most Holy Place, into the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need…having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…” Hebrews 4:16 and Hebrews 10:19

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11