The Jerusalem Council

2024-01-20

This Jerusalem Council was a pivotal event because even among believers, there was division about salvation. They would all have agreed that Jesus was the Savior; there was division over circumcision and the keeping of the Law.

Now, everyone in the early church before any Gentiles were saved would have been circumcised. They did not need to think about whether it was required for salvation because it was a given. All Jewish men were circumcised. When Gentiles started getting saved, it became an issue out of necessity; no Gentiles were circumcised. To be Jewish and to be one of God’s people was to be circumcised. “And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant” (Genesis 17:14). “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean” (Isaiah 52:1).

This statement shows a lot of confusion about the nature of salvation: “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). This is a rather absolute statement. Paul and Barnabas vehemently argued with these people until they all realized they needed to hear from the church in Jerusalem, where the remnant of the 12 were. Some of the former Pharisees in Jerusalem that believed also held to this doctrine when they got there. Even the testimony of Paul and Barnabas, through whom God had worked miracles to save many Gentiles, was not enough. “And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren” (Acts 15:3).

The deciding factor over the matter of circumcision was Peter’s testimony and James’ citing of Scripture.

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:7-11)

Peter witnessed a group of Gentiles who were saved just by hearing the Word of God. They did not have any time to run out and get circumcised or start keeping any Law. They believed and received the Holy Spirit, whom God gave to them, knowing their hearts and situation. If God saved them without circumcision, then it is not necessary for them to do it. They were saved the same way as the Jews were.

Again, James, the Lord’s brother and elder of the church, cited Scripture to support the claim. If one offers personal experience, it is only reasonable to support it with Scripture (in this case, Amos 9:11-12):

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:13-18)

We see that Gentiles are called by the LORD’s name. God knew He would accomplish this from the beginning. These heathens were saved as they were; otherwise, they would not have been called “Gentiles” or “heathen.”

Concluding that keeping the Law and circumcision are not needed for salvation, the council decided to send a letter to the Gentile churches to eliminate confusion, only commanding certain things of them: “But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:20). Does this mean that one cannot be saved if they partake in these activities? No, rather, we see a purpose clause in the next verse: “For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day” (Acts 15:21). The purpose of the command is because of Jews in the area; doing those things would cause an offense to the Gospel.

I feel that the one thing that is important is keeping from fornication, or more generally speaking, sexual immorality. Marriage reflects Christ and the church, and departing from that mandate leads to personally tragedy and is an affront to God. These other things are likely more an affront culturally to the Jewish people scattered throughout the world.

Things sacrificed to idols are not wrong in themselves, but because of the conscience of others and potentially yourself, you keep away from them. “If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?” (1 Corinthians 10:27-29). You do not want your testimony being connected to idols even though an idol is nothing in and of itself.

Not eating blood goes back to Noah’s day. “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat” (Genesis 9:4). This is a picture of Jesus’ blood being shed for us. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). But when Jesus comes, what do we see? “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:53).

I am not sure about the things strangled, but perhaps this is meant: “That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 22:8).

These dietary things might not be so much a problem in our current culture. We do need to ask ourselves, what things will cause an affront to people in that they would not accept the Gospel? I think that is the question that is most important. Otherwise, we know that we are saved by grace, by believing in Jesus’ name, and not by any statute, be it the Law of God or any other principle of law.