Acts 15 - Don’t Make it Difficult
Acts 15 NLT
In Judea and Antioch, some of the "circumcised believers" (Jewish followers of Jesus) were still struggling with the idea of letting Gentiles also be followers of Jesus. They had been unable to let go of some of their old religious traditions and didn't like the idea that these non-Jews could simply believe, be baptized and be considered equal to them in God's eyes. They taught: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." (vs 1)
Of course, this didn't sit well with Paul & Barnabas so they set up a big meeting in Jerusalem to debate and clarify the matter with the other leaders. Everyone had a chance to express their opinions.
The Pharisee believers - "The Gentile believers must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." (vs 5)
Peter - He reminded everyone that God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles and that their hearts were purified by faith, not by some ritual. Why would you want to "put on the necks of the (Gentile) disciples a yoke (the Old Testament Law) that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?" (vs 10)
Barnabas & Paul - Talked about the miraculous signs & wonders that God had done among the Gentiles through them apart from any of the religious traditions. (vs 12)
James (brother of Jesus) - "It is my judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God." (vs 19) So it was decided. There would not be any added requirements from the old Jewish law added onto the Gospel.
This is a good lesson for us to remember today. Jesus plus nothing. Not Jesus plus circumcision (the issue of that day). Not Jesus plus good church attendance. Not Jesus plus dressing a certain way, or cutting your hair a certain way. Not Jesus plus giving a certain amount of money. Jesus plus nothing.
A letter from the Jerusalem church leaders was brought back to the Gentile believers in Antioch by Paul, Barnabas and a few others that told them about this. They were all encouraged and strengthened in their faith.
Footnote to the chapter was that Paul & Barnabas had a disagreement and ended up parting ways after many years of doing ministry together. Paul took a new guy named Silas with him to return to the places where they had been on the last missionary journey while Barnabas took John-Mark with him to Cyprus for their own journey.
I love Paul's idea: "Let's go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." (vs 36) This is so much of what I'm doing these days. Barnabas moved on and God continued to use them both.
Prayer: Lord protect me from the mistake of ever adding anything to Jesus' simple message: "come follow Me". Let's not make it difficult on people to respond to this invitation. Let's not complicate it by tacking on all kinds of extra requirements or expectations. And protect me from the enemy who would want to whisper in my ear, "you're not good enough", or. "how can the cross be enough?" Jesus, you are everything and you ARE enough. Lord I believe. Just like those early Gentile believers. Fill me with your Holy Spirit too. In Jesus name. Amen.
