Acts 15:1-35 DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES There are prejudices that people have that can jeopardize the freedom we have in Christ. Opinions by certain people from Jerusalem who came to Antioch, threatened to divide the work of God and bring Christians into the place where they would only be another Jewish sect like the Pharisees and Sadducees. Circumcision was an Old Testament sign symbolizing the Jews were a chosen people to God. In Acts 15 we are told about a group of Judaizers who came to Antioch to impose this on the Gentiles thus making them Jewish proselytes. Prejudice dies hard. All of us have a tendency to turn our opinions into rules. Some think their practices are rules that everyone should follow. It is true that biblical principles are for everyone, everywhere, but practices may differ. In one country or culture there may be the practice of women on one side of the room and men on the other. Some may want the breaking of bread meeting before every other meeting on the Lord's Day. There are no rules regarding these practices.
Normally for reasons that only affect us personally, we don't defend ourselves when it is better to avoid unnecessary confrontation. But when new converts are involved and the welfare of the work of God is at stake, we will have to stand up and defend what is in danger of being forfeited by another person's own opinion. New believers are the key to evangelization. They are not a non-issue or like an inanimate object. Each one is a new creature (creation) in Christ Jesus to be appreciated and loved. A yoke of bondage will stop them completely from going ahead in their Christian life. We all know what joy there is when new believers come among us with a desire to follow the Lord and be a part of the assembly.
When problems like the demand to circumcise arises, we need to take steps to preserve the freedom a child of God has. The problem that threatened the early church was not whether Gentiles could be saved, but whether they had to be circumcised to be saved as some of the Jews were insisting. Their opinion was that Gentiles have to submit to Jewish laws and traditions before salvation. It would mean a man had to be circumcised first and then put faith in Christ as Savior. There are similar groups today. Some will insist that a person needs to be christened as a baby before they can ever know they are saved. Others will say baptism by immersion is necessary for salvation. Still others will say that if a person does not speak in tongues, they do not have the Holy Spirit. Christianity is not confined to the opinions of men. There is real freedom in Christ and anyone who comes as a repentant sinner and puts personal faith in Christ alone for salvation, God saves.
These differing opinions have to be faced with grace and wisdom. When Paul and Barnabas, accompanied by some other brethren from Antioch made their way to Jerusalem, they stopped along the way and met with companies of God's people. There was real joy among them when the news of God saving Gentiles and
Gentile churches being established was reported by the apostles. The people of Phenice and Samaria would not have been as prejudiced against the Gentiles as were those men from Jerusalem. A potential split was avoided by the early church leaders meeting to discuss the matter with respect and serious concern. Legality makes it easy for people to act without grace and faith. Traditional carry-overs from formal religions, religious structure and legal requirements from ancient men are not to be imposed on the people of God. We come into the full freedom of grace when we are born again. "Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new."
It is wise to seek a solution to a problem. It is wise to share and hear opinions of others. It is wise to tell others of the work of grace God is doing in other places among people of other cultures. It is wise to give a hearing as to why change is to be considered. It is wise to be able to sum up a problem in as few words as possible. Usually the solution to a problem is found in a well-articulated definition of the problem. After the matter had been argued over and all sides of the matter heard, Peter spoke from personal experience about the power of the word of the Gospel he preached at Caesarea to Cornelius. He testified to the work of the Holy Spirit there and the faith of those who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. He left no uncertainty as to the effect of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter emphasized what Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ have in common. The was a lot of weight in the words and testimony of Peter.
When Barnabas spoke, he would have had special impact because he was one of the Jerusalem brethren right at the beginning of the work in Jerusalem and now was involved in the work of the Lord among the Gentiles. They knew him, his character and his personal exercise for the things of God right from the time he sold land and donated it freely to the work of the Lord. His words would have had weight with them all when he told of what had been done among the Gentiles. Paul also spoke and would probably have given testimony to the salvation of the government official, the blindness that came on Elymas, the healing of the cripple and the open doors for the preaching of the Gospel in spite of a lot of opposition. He would no doubt told them of the gathering of Gentile believers as churches in the same way that was done among the assemblies of the Jews.
James would have had a special place among them as the brother of the Lord Jesus. The testimonies of Peter, Barnabas and Paul were very important. James then turned to the word of God as the final test of the truth. We all have opinions, beliefs and experiences we draw from to seek to legitimize our actions. We may even believe inside that everyone should follow what I think is right. However, at the final end of a disputed matter, it must be God's Word to which we all submit. James' judgment of the matter was based on the scriptures he quoted. They all knew those were true. He also appealed to moral principles that are basic to humanity but are often ignored by worldly culture and activity. He also identified the life principles of blood, food polluted by being offered to idols, and the putrification of animal flesh that has the blood left in it. These things along with sexual immorality were wrong for believers or would cause unnecessary offense to brothers in Christ. The principle of avoiding what offends others was articulated by James.
It is not enough to bring together diverse people from different historical backgrounds, customs and traditions and meet together as one body in fellowship with one another. The indwelling Holy Spirit in each believer is needed to enable us to do what needs to be done. He can unite what is diverse. He can remove arrogance based on nationality and economic differences. The impact of spiritual people when barriers of any kind are removed, is a powerful testimony to the effectiveness of the Gospel.
To promote and maintain Christian freedom, God uses men who are willing to "hazard their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Men are God's method of bringing salvation to the world. Tested and proven men who have been courageous in spiritual warfare, are concerned with how people are doing more than what they know. The growth process of believers is confirmed when there are those who can be trusted to give the teaching of the word guided by the Holy Spirit. When people of different backgrounds, social and economic differences, come together in fellowship and love, to worship and serve God, there is much glory brought to God.