Acts 15:1-21
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ... It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
Ten years or more have passed since the apostles approved the admission of Cornelius' Gentile household to the church, and opposition has hardened. When reports of Paul's successes among the Gentiles reach the salvation-by-faith and circumcision party they see the red light and openly oppose his teaching.
On such a vital matter, an authoritative decision by the apostles and elders is essential to avoid a complete split. Peter's reminder of the earlier events and the account given by Paul and Barnabas of God's work among the Gentiles, carry the day.
Final summing-up and verdict given by James, the Lord's brother and leader of the Jerusalem church, finds general acceptance, The Gentiles are asked simply to accommodate the Jewish Christians by respecting Jewish food-laws, so that Jews and Gentiles can share the same table and the church meet together as one.
Why?
There were dispute among Paul and apostle and some Jews obeyed the law of Moses. But after the talk of Peter and James, there is agreement that we can not oppose the mind of the Lord. God knows heart of everyone. We could be saved through faith.
We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. This is the grace of our Lord Jesus, and is good news to everyone who trust in his Holy Name.
How?
Good news from Jesus Christ is to everyone who turn to Jesus with faith.
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