Acts 15:1-12 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Acts 15:1-12. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Acts 15:1-12 (NIV)
1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.
4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
7 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.
8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
On verses 1-12: Since the gospel came through the Jews, with so many non-Jewish people (Gentiles) now coming to faith in Jesus, it was only a matter of time before people would ask, “Does a non-Jewish convert to Christianity need to follow the Law of Moses, that is, the laws and regulations found in the first five books of the Bible (also known as the Pentateuch) just like any Jewish person does? In order to be saved, does a non-Jewish person need to subject themselves to circumcision the way that Jewish people do?” Christians were divided on this important issue.
In resolving this important issue, the church looked to the guidance and counsel of many leaders, not just one. In Acts 15 the apostles and elders meet to discuss this question (v6) and a number of leaders play a role in helping the church come to a decision, especially Peter (v7-11), Paul, Barnabas (v12), and James (starting in verse 13).
What can we learn from this? When you have a difficult problem to solve, don’t quarantine your decision-making process and say, “I don’t want to see anybody or hear from anyone. Let me just try to figure it all out by yourself.” Instead, seek the counsel of a number of wise people before you conclude on what you should do. As Proverbs 24:6 says, “Don’t go to war without wise guidance; there is safety in many counselors.”
Another important lesson from these verses is that God saves both Jews and Gentiles the same way: through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (v11). It is an unnecessary and impossible burden to bear (v10) when you think that to be saved from your sins a person first needs to be circumcised and to obey all of the law of Moses.
Father, thank You that I don’t need to face my biggest issues alone, but that I can seek advice and find help so that I can make the best decision. Thank You that it is by Your grace (Your undeserved kindness) that I am saved, and not by my own performance. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
