When Paul and Barnabas returned from the First Missionary Journey to Antioch, they were telling the people there about all the others who heard the Good News and were following Jesus. We know from Acts 10 and 11 that Peter had also shared the message of Jesus with Gentiles who were now believing and following Him. Then we read this at the beginning of Acts 15.

Acts 15:1 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.”

Well-meaning Jewish believers with the best of intentions were trying to place requirements on discipleship that God did not give us. Circumcision was indeed the sign that marked God’s Old Testament people as the ones who would bring the Messiah to the world. But no where does Scripture tell us that it was necessary for those who would follow Jesus.

Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to discuss this with the leaders of the church. They shared their stories of Gentiles coming to faith. And in Jerusalem there were those who had the same ideas they heard in Antioch:

Acts 15:5 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.”

After some discussion, Peter stood up and gave his testimony.

Acts 15:7–11 “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 made no distinction 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 the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers 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.”

We are all saved by grace. A good reminder for us all. Our attempt to live according to God’s Law is our response to knowing we are saved, not the cause of it. If Gentiles wanted to be circumcised to show they were following Jesus, that would be fine, but it was not a prerequisite.

We need to be careful still today to not place a burden on believers that Jesus did not put there. This Church Council Meeting in Acts 15 came to that conclusion, sending a letter to the Gentile believers that encouraged them to live lives that showed their faith without placing any legalistic requirements on them.

One of the men who delivered this letter was a fellow named Silas. More on him tomorrow.

Thank you, Father, for giving me the gift of forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. Help me to rejoice in your grace today. And lead me to respond to Your goodness by living the life to which you have called me as a disciple of Jesus. Amen.