Legalism Versus Faith:  Acts Chapter 15

By Pastor William R. Cunningham
For October 16, 2005

Introduction

It is amazing how many additional requirements people place on those that would be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.  It is also amazing how people who are already saved have more rules and regulations placed upon them that are supposed to confirm their salvation.  Each denomination, religious organization or churches have their own set of rules and regulations for salvation.

However, we know that true salvation is received by faith in Jesus Christ.  This does not preclude other proper behavior and things that we should do as Christians, but these things should not be construed as a requirement for Christianity.

We are going to look at the Jerusalem Council, which is found in Acts 15.  This was the first test of the fundamental belief of the Christian faith.  This was the first test that the church faced in regards to how a person is saved.  We would do well to remember what took place at that council and consider its implications in our own lives as we strive to live godly and protect ourselves from those that would place another false gospel upon us.

Scripture Lesson

Acts 15:1 (NKJV) -- {1}And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Here we see that Judaizers came from Judea to Antioch and were teaching that there were other requirements for salvation than faith alone.

A Judaizer was a Jewish Christian that believed that true salvation came after observing the Mosaic Law in addition to faith in Christ.  There were still others that believed that Christians must observe the basic laws given to Noah.  Judaizers were legalists.

Note that it also states that they taught the brethren.  This implies that they were talking to those who were Christians already.

Do we accept false doctrines that others who seem to be in authority teach us?  We should be careful of what we accept as truth, which means that we should know the truth for ourselves.  Remember that Jesus said that there are many false prophets.

Matthew 7:15-16 (NKJV) -- {15}“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. {16}You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

So we should be careful of what we believe and what we accept as truth regardless of who the teaching is coming from.

Acts 15:2 (NKJV) -- {2}Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

Paul and Barnabas disputed with these Judaizers about their teaching.  We know that Paul taught that one is saved by faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:28-30 (NKJV) -- {28}Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. {29}Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, {30} since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Paul, Barnabas, and the Judaizers at Antioch agreed that Paul, Baranabas, and certain others should go to Jerusalem to question the apostles and elders about this matter.

Note that there was no hierarchical structure of churches.  Jerusalem was considered the “mother” of the churches if you will.  It was given respect as the birthing place of the churches.  Each church was headed by an elder.

We should take note at the agreement to a procedure to resolve the dispute between the two parties.  They at least agreed on seeking guidance and resolution from the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

We too should be sensitive to methodologies that may help resolve an issue instead of merely arguing our point.  It is far better to expend energy for a solution than for mere defense.

Acts 15:4-5 (NKJV) -- {4} And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. {5}But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Imagine that you are giving a wonderful testimony of God’s mighty works.  Then all of a sudden someone jumps up and makes a legalistic statement that just throws a damper on the whole testimony.  That’s what happened here.  Paul was describing the things that had happened with them in their ministry and some “Christian” Pharisees stood up and said that those Gentiles in Antioch must be circumcised.

Acts 15:6-12 (NKJV) -- {6} Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. {7}And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. {8}So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, {9}and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. {10}Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? {11}But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” {12}Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

Peter argued that God did not make a distinction in regards to nationality when the Holy Ghost came upon them.  All that was necessary was faith in Jesus Christ.  From that experience, Peter stated that Gentiles and Jews are all saved the same way, namely through faith in Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:13-17 (NKJV) -- {13} And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: {14}Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. {15}And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: {16} ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; {17} So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’

Here James confirms what Peter said by referring to the Scriptures (the Prophets).  See Amos 9:11-12.

Acts 15:19-20 (NKJV) -- {19}Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, {20}but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

Here James recommends that they do not place the observance of the Law of Moses on the Gentiles as a requirement for salvation.  He does state that they should be told to abstain from things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, things strangled, and from blood.  These concessions were more to keep the peace than they were a requirement for salvation.  He recommends that the standard method for salvation is faith in Jesus Christ, but that Christians should live a certain way and practice certain things.

Acts 15:22 (NKJV) -- {22}Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

Now the apostles and elders at Jerusalem sent Paul, Barnabas, and certain others to return to Antioch to inform them of their decision on the matter.

The Decree of the Jerusalem Council

Acts 15:23-29 (NKJV) -- {23} They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. {24}Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— {25} it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, {26} men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. {27}We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. {28}For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: {29} that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

This was a circular letter that was read in the churches listed and probably more.  Note that those cities do not represent a single church in that city.  There were several churches in each city and this letter would have been circulated to all of them.

Note that they did not send the original Judaizers to preach that the gentiles had to observe the Law of Moses and be circumcised.

This decree basically said that salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ and nothing else.  They also stated that the Christians should abstain from foods that were sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and sexual immorality.

The Results of the Jerusalem Council

The Jerusalem Council was a major decision in Christian history.  If they had gone the other way and agreed with the Judaizers then Christianity would have become a mere sect of Judaism.  However, the church went a different direction and this caused a defined distinction between Christianity and Judaism. Christianity could no longer be considered a sect of Judaism.

We should not forget the Jerusalem Council as it represents a principle that we should always keep near to us.  We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ.  Another thing that it reveals is that there are those that would corrupt the gospel with false teachings just as the Judaizers did.  We should be on guard when we listen to others teaching.

This same situation was not the last.  It continues to rise throughout history.  Paul had to deal with this at the church at Galatia.  The Reformers had to deal with it with the Catholic Church.  We deal with it today with various legalistic teachings.

There will always be a battle between legalism and the truth.  Legalism strips the redemptive act of Jesus Christ because it places the emphasis on what we can do and not what God has already done.  Legalism leads us away from God instead of towards him.
This is not to say that laws in general are not good or that we should not subscribe to some particular behavior model.  It is important however to realize that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  You cannot be saved regardless of how many laws or traditions you keep.  Amen.