Acts 15:5-11 – 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 keep 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 did not discriminate 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 Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors 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.”
“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 keep the law of Moses.”” Again, let’s remember that the Word of God states that those who were erroneously stating that the Gentile converts needed to be circumcised were believers. And we see that what was said in Syrian Antioch was the same thing that they said here. Why? Because they were firmly convinced that they were right and that the Apostles and other leaders in Jerusalem would agree with them. Brothers and Sisters, sometimes some who are also believers latch onto a wrong doctrine. They are also believers, like us, but have fallen into error. Let’s acquiesce that though we all endeavor to have it all right all the time, sometimes we also misunderstand. Jesus said that we should “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31) How would we want to be treated if we, with all honest intent, latched onto some wrong doctrine? Would we want to be called a heretic and blasphemer and be excommunicated? That is doubtful! We want to be loved and shown our error for our own benefit, even if it took some time and energy to show us. Well let us do as Jesus said to and treat others how we want to be treated. Correct the error, of course. But also let us remember and take heed lest we forget this warning of Jesus “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:23-24) Jesus wants us to do what is most important, and that is not “do this and don’t do that,” it is justice, mercy and faithfulness. In other words, let’s be very strong about essentials, and very gracious about non-essentials.
“The apostles and elders met to consider this question.7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them.” Although Peter and Paul had tensions between them in their lives (Galatians 2:11-14) none of that mattered. Peter stood up to speak what was right. Was he standing up for Paul? Perhaps. But what most mattered to Him was the Gospel of Christ and glorifying God. May we set aside any possible grievances against each other and may we not divide over smaller dissimilar beliefs (though this was a big one and needed to be addressed). Instead keep our eyes on the Lord and the peace and unity He brings to us all. (Ephesians 4:1-3, 1 Peter 3:8).
“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 did not discriminate 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 Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?” How gracious were the Apostles and leaders at Jerusalem. They agreed to rehear something that had already been settled. In Acts 10:1 – 11:18 they had accepted that the Gentiles were received by God as He had clearly directed to Peter. They had all agreed that the Lord called these Gentile believers who He filled with the Holy Spirit and cleansed. The Lord had told Peter not to call dirty what He called clean. And now this same issue had arisen again. It seems that Pastors speak on a topic on Sunday and on Monday the lesson is often already forgotten! Some were confused, being loyal to their past culture and tradition, they thought that the gentiles ought to obey the law rather than walk in the freedom of God’s love through grace.
Peter spoke to the truth of the matter, God looks at the heart of a person. He did it for David (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). In fact He does it for all of us. Though we continue to bumble in our walk He looks at our hearts. Now that is not an excuse or permission to sin, but a fact that God understands His plans for us much better than we do. He knows our hearts and is pleased with a heart after His heart.
God had powerfully come upon the Gentiles as He had come upon the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2). God does not discriminate between Jew and Gentile. He does not only give the Jew or the Gentile the offer of salvation, but desires that all would be saved (1 Timothy 2:4).
Peter told them that in their insistence upon the following of the law they were testing the work of Christ. They were saying that the work of Jesus was not able to fully save but that something else was needed. They were reverting to the law for salvation, even though the law could not save any of them because no-one can fully keep the law. If one is looking to be saved through the law then they must perfectly keep keep the whole law because to violate one law is to bring condemnation as if violating all the law. God’s standard to live in peace with Him is perfect holiness, and none of us can live up to that.
“No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” There is something in here that it would be easy for us to miss. Notice that Peter did not say to the Jews, who were proud of their heritage as keepers of the Holy Scriptures, that salvation has come to the Gentile through grace just as it came to the Jews. No, He told the Jews that grace came to them just as them just as it has come to the Gentiles. We may not notice this, but we can be certain the Jews did. Peter was telling them not to be proud, telling them to not feel that only Jews could be blessed by God, or that the Gentiles had to do something extra to receive God’s grace. He was saying that we all come to God the same way. Peter was also stressing to them that is no difference between Jew and Gentile or between man and woman, between all people on how we come to favor with God. We all come through the grace and faithfulness of God who draws us to Jesus. God does the work and cleanses us all through faith alone. Let no man attempt to dirty this pure genius of God.
Family and Friends, let us celebrate the goodness of God who desires that we all be saved by faith in the work and person of Jesus. God did not want the way back to Him to be hard, but to be easy. He cleared the way for us to have peace with Him. He did it through Jesus. Let’s cling on to simple truth of God that we love and cling to Jesus and we shall be saved. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.