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- Oct 26, 2007
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"So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as [He did] to us, "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Acts 15:8-9
The early Church's first council in Jerusalem was called to settle two important matters. First, do Gentile believers have to be circumcised in order to be saved? Second, do Jewish believers have a duty to avoid eating and socializing with Gentile believers? These questions may seem easy to answer for us today, but they were fiercely debated at the time.
Thankfully, after much discussion, the apostle Peter stood up and said what's recorded in the verses above. Then the apostles Paul and Barnabas spoke. After they finished, the council's chairman, James (the half brother of Jesus), made a brilliant and Spirit-inspired proposal.
That proposal was approved by the apostles, elders, and "the whole church" (v.22). The first question was answered with an emphatic "no," but not the second.
When it comes to salvation, they believed God does all the work--from the inside out. The Good News is the same today.
Lord: Lord, thank You for Your good work You've done in me so far. Keep at it, please!
The early Church's first council in Jerusalem was called to settle two important matters. First, do Gentile believers have to be circumcised in order to be saved? Second, do Jewish believers have a duty to avoid eating and socializing with Gentile believers? These questions may seem easy to answer for us today, but they were fiercely debated at the time.
Thankfully, after much discussion, the apostle Peter stood up and said what's recorded in the verses above. Then the apostles Paul and Barnabas spoke. After they finished, the council's chairman, James (the half brother of Jesus), made a brilliant and Spirit-inspired proposal.
That proposal was approved by the apostles, elders, and "the whole church" (v.22). The first question was answered with an emphatic "no," but not the second.
When it comes to salvation, they believed God does all the work--from the inside out. The Good News is the same today.
Lord: Lord, thank You for Your good work You've done in me so far. Keep at it, please!
