A WAY FORWARD

Acts 15:1-29

Thursday, 24 July 2025

The apostles and elders met to consider this question. – Acts 15:6

The first church was expanding its boundaries, but trouble was brewing as well to impede it. The growing Gentile Antioch church was met with a few unauthorized visitors from the Church at Jerusalem confusing the very bedrock of their salvation— “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” (V.2). Here is a situation that needed a quick intervention before it could affect the Lord’s work that was advancing far and wide. How did the first church resolve the issue and find a way forward for the work of the Lord to continue?

Let’s look into our text to understand how the problem was resolved 

• Seeking right help

Paul and Barnabas were sent to the mother church in Jerusalem to communicate the problem that had risen in the local church and seek their help. The apostles were looked up to as those God had put in charge and were consulted in the matter. Ephesians 2:20 reminds us that we are members of God’s household built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. They were ordained by God to lay the principal foundation with the teaching handed down from Christ, the Chief cornerstone. 

• Meeting to discuss

While the matter was brought up, a group of believers from the Pharisees group reiterated their stand on circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses. The leadership met to discuss how to tackle this issue. The matter was tackled amongst the apostles and leaders (not outsiders/ non-believers). Today we see many believers instead of seeking godly counsel from older believers or leaders, try all sorts of secular options. 1 Cor.6:1 says: “If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?”Problems amongst believers are especially to be sorted out amongst themselves. 

• Considering Confirmation

While things were being discussed Peter gave a testimony of how God used him to reach a group of Gentiles and how God without any preconditions had touched the Gentiles and filled them with His Spirit- for God had purified them by faith. He argued: “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?” (V.10). Paul and Barnabas too added that God confirmed their work among the Gentiles through the signs and wonders He performed through them. All this was conviction enough!

• Taking Decision

Soon James the leader among them brought things to a conclusion. He confirmed through the word of prophecy as well, that Gentiles too were to be partakers of God’s Salvation. Hence Gentile believers were to be informed of only this requirement: abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood (V.20). This brought great relief for Paul and Barnabas who were ministering among Gentiles.

• Implementing the Decision

The next step was to send the information by way of a letter (the means of communication those days) through these men and two others from the mother church to confirm the words of the apostles. This was duly carried out and we see that this was a big boost for the Lord’s work in the Gentile regions.

Brothers & sisters, these lessons from the first church should be guidelines for us to resolve several obstacles or issues in our lives as well as with the work of the Lord. Prov.13:10 NASB:“Through overconfidence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.” Wise counsel for a believer comes through God’s Word and the elderly and mature in faith. When we seek help from the right godly sources and decide to implement it in our lives, we will surely reap the fruit of His goodness and mercy all the days of our life!

Prayer: Lord Jesus help me to seek Your counsel through Your Word and people you have put over my life. Amen.

Listen: 'Shepherd of my soul'