The Advent Truth.
Acts 15 is one of the most misunderstood chapters in the New Testament because many people assume it is answering a question it never addresses.
The controversy wasn’t, “Should Christians keep God’s commandments?” It was, “Must Gentiles be circumcised and become Jews in order to be saved?” (Acts 15:1, 5). False teachers were insisting that salvation required circumcision and the ceremonial requirements of Moses. The apostles rejected that idea completely.
So why did they only mention four things for the Gentile believers to avoid?
Because these were urgent issues connected to pagan worship and fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers. The council wasn’t writing a complete list of every Christian duty. If it were, then murder, theft, lying, coveting, dishonoring parents, and countless other sins would suddenly be acceptable simply because they weren’t listed. No Christian believes that.
The key is verse 21:
“For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.”
James expected these new believers to continue learning God’s Word as it was read every Sabbath. The four instructions were a starting point for converts coming out of idolatry, not the entirety of Christian living.
Notice also that nowhere in Acts 15 do the apostles say the Sabbath has been abolished, the Ten Commandments have ended, or that obedience no longer matters. The issue was never whether God’s moral law still existed. The issue was whether sinners are justified by grace through faith or by becoming Jewish.
The answer is clear: we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ. But the same grace that saves us also teaches us to deny ungodliness and live obedient lives (Titus 2:11-14).
Acts 15 doesn’t abolish God’s commandments. It abolishes salvation by works.
Where in Acts 15 do the apostles actually say, “The fourth commandment has been removed”? If that’s the claim, the text should plainly say so.
Acts 15 is one of the most misunderstood chapters in the New Testament because many people assume it is answering a question it never addresses.
The controversy wasn’t, “Should Christians keep God’s commandments?” It was, “Must Gentiles be circumcised and become Jews in order to be saved?” (Acts 15:1, 5). False teachers were insisting that salvation required circumcision and the ceremonial requirements of Moses. The apostles rejected that idea completely.
So why did they only mention four things for the Gentile believers to avoid?
Because these were urgent issues connected to pagan worship and fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers. The council wasn’t writing a complete list of every Christian duty. If it were, then murder, theft, lying, coveting, dishonoring parents, and countless other sins would suddenly be acceptable simply because they weren’t listed. No Christian believes that.
The key is verse 21:
“For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.”
James expected these new believers to continue learning God’s Word as it was read every Sabbath. The four instructions were a starting point for converts coming out of idolatry, not the entirety of Christian living.
Notice also that nowhere in Acts 15 do the apostles say the Sabbath has been abolished, the Ten Commandments have ended, or that obedience no longer matters. The issue was never whether God’s moral law still existed. The issue was whether sinners are justified by grace through faith or by becoming Jewish.
The answer is clear: we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ. But the same grace that saves us also teaches us to deny ungodliness and live obedient lives (Titus 2:11-14).
Acts 15 doesn’t abolish God’s commandments. It abolishes salvation by works.
Where in Acts 15 do the apostles actually say, “The fourth commandment has been removed”? If that’s the claim, the text should plainly say so.
The Advent Truth.
Acts 15 is one of the most misunderstood chapters in the New Testament because many people assume it is answering a question it never addresses.
The controversy wasn’t, “Should Christians keep God’s commandments?” It was, “Must Gentiles be circumcised and become Jews in order to be saved?” (Acts 15:1, 5). False teachers were insisting that salvation required circumcision and the ceremonial requirements of Moses. The apostles rejected that idea completely.
So why did they only mention four things for the Gentile believers to avoid?
Because these were urgent issues connected to pagan worship and fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers. The council wasn’t writing a complete list of every Christian duty. If it were, then murder, theft, lying, coveting, dishonoring parents, and countless other sins would suddenly be acceptable simply because they weren’t listed. No Christian believes that.
The key is verse 21:
“For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.”
James expected these new believers to continue learning God’s Word as it was read every Sabbath. The four instructions were a starting point for converts coming out of idolatry, not the entirety of Christian living.
Notice also that nowhere in Acts 15 do the apostles say the Sabbath has been abolished, the Ten Commandments have ended, or that obedience no longer matters. The issue was never whether God’s moral law still existed. The issue was whether sinners are justified by grace through faith or by becoming Jewish.
The answer is clear: we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ. But the same grace that saves us also teaches us to deny ungodliness and live obedient lives (Titus 2:11-14).
Acts 15 doesn’t abolish God’s commandments. It abolishes salvation by works.
Where in Acts 15 do the apostles actually say, “The fourth commandment has been removed”? If that’s the claim, the text should plainly say so.
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