R³ Devotional - Day 327

Here in Chapter 15, Paul and Barnabas are up against it once again. The council at Jerusalem, which was comprised of delegates from the churches in Jerusalem and Antioch, were meeting because of an “urgent” question for the early church. It concerned the conversion of Gentiles. This real problem for the Jewish Christians was not whether Gentiles could be saved, but whether Gentile believers also had to adhere to the laws of Moses and other Jewish traditions. The test of following these laws was circumcision. One group of Jewish Christians insisted that following the law, including submitting to the rite of circumcision, was necessary for salvation. The Gentiles, however, did not think they needed to become Jewish in order to become Christians. The Jewish Christians were also worried because soon Gentile Christians would outnumber Jewish Christians. And they were afraid of weakening moral standards among believers if they did not follow Jewish laws. So, Paul and Barnabas discussed this problem with the leaders of the church. Paul, Barnabas, and the other church leaders believed that the Old Testament law was very important but was not a prerequisite to salvation. The law cannot save; only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ can a person be saved. The council upheld the conviction expressed by Paul and Barnabas that following the Jewish laws, including being circumcised, was not essential for salvation. It is helpful to see how the churches in Antioch and Jerusalem resolved their conflict: (1) The church in Antioch sent a delegation to help seek a solution; (2) the delegates met with the church leaders to give their reports and set another date to continue discussion; (3) Paul and Barnabas gave their report; (4) James summarized the reports and drew up the decision; (5) everyone agreed to abide by the decision; (6) the council sent a letter with delegates back to Antioch to report the decision.
 
This is a wise way to handle conflicts within the church. Problems must be confronted, and all sides of the argument must be given a fair hearing. The discussion should be held in the presence of leaders who are spiritually mature and trustworthy to make wise decisions. Everyone should abide by the decisions.

The end of Chapter 15 and beginning of Chapter 16 deal with the split of Paul and Barnabas and the agreement that they form separate teams which opened up two missionary endeavors instead of one. Their disagreement had involved Mark and whether he should work with. Paul ended up working with Silas on his second missionary journey. This journey was beginning approximately three years after Paul’s first one ended. This journey laid the groundwork for the church in Greece. Paul and Silas traveled together to many cities to spread the good news. This teamwork demonstrated the church’s unity after the decision at the Jerusalem council.
 
At this point, Paul selects Timothy and has him circumcised to give him an edge over the Jews he would be facing. Paul and Timothy continued their travels through towns delivering the “decisions reached by the apostles and elders.”