Jerusalem Turning Point
Notes
Transcript
The geography
The geography
*** Map: Mediterranean, with Antioch & Judea
The controversy
The controversy
Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”
Ceremonial laws
Ritual requirements
Dietary restrictions
Feasts / Fasts calendar
*** Image: Jerusalem council
The main thing
The main thing
Acts 15:11 (NRSV)
On the contrary, we believe that we [Peter is speaking: “we” = Jewish believers in Jesus] will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
*** James icon
Acts 15:13 (NRSV)
After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers, listen to me...
Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God,
but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood.
*** Image: Papyrus 23. Epistle of James, for illustrative purposes only
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials:
that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
Avoid idolatry & immorality
Avoid idolatry & immorality
Main things:
Loyalty to the Triune God
A commitment to the authority of the Bible, as read with Christians throughout Church history
Loving others in tangible ways
Growth in Christian commitment (sanctification)
Secondary things:
Place of worship
Style of worship
Etc.
Jerusalem turning-point
Jerusalem turning-point