In Acts 15, the Jerusalem council of the early church ruled that a Gentile did not have to first become a Jew – by being circumcised – in order to become a Christian. To communicate their decision, they sent Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch, the church where the controversy originated, with a letter explaining their decision. Acts 15:31 describes the result: And when they (the church at Antioch) had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. Why were the believers in Antioch encouraged? Because they were recognized, by the “mother” church whom they looked to as a spiritual authority, as full and equal brothers and sisters in Christ by virtue of the same work of the Spirit of God in their hearts through faith and the grace of the Lord Jesus…period!
The apostles, elders, indeed the entire church of Jerusalem, wisely applied two steps to resolve the potentially divisive conflict. One, they sent two leading men of their own number – Judas and Silas – to accompany Paul and Barnabas. This would confirm the message and remove any doubt concerning the acceptance of the Gentile believers in Antioch and elsewhere by their brethren in Jerusalem. This was especially important since it was some men from the Jerusalem church who originally came and sought to implement the requirement of circumcision in Antioch (v. 24).
Second, they addressed the main issue directly in their letter by not requiring circumcision of the Gentile believers. This, more than anything else, would distinguish the Christians from the Jews, but would no longer preclude their full standing in the church of Jesus Christ. They also gave four provisions, including abstaining from fornication, designed to distinguish their lifestyle from the unbelieving Gentiles from which they came and to which they would be tempted to return. It is good for us to recognize that this was also part of the message that caused the believers in Antioch to rejoice. More importantly, it should motivate us to think about whether my life and lifestyle choices or our church’s testimony distinguish us from the world, or follow its pattern such that there is no recognizable difference. The more we are like the world around us, the less we will impact it – and the more we will stray from the will of God.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).