The Early Church with both Jew and Gentile believers were having a great time as multitudes were getting saved, healed and delivered. For example, read Acts 8:5-12. There was great joy in the Church and the men and women who had become believers were being baptized in water.
However, when we get to Acts 15:, some religious Pharisees began preaching that unless they were circumcised and followed the Law of Moses, they could not be saved. Paul had a heated argument with these men who were greatly perverting the Word of God; he and others made a trip to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders in what was the very first Church Council meeting to determine who was right.
The apostles and elders sided with Paul and Barnabus. Peter even said that trying to keep the Law of Moses was a ‘burden that even they could not bear’ so why put it on the Gentiles. What was their conclusion? The same as was written by Paul in Ephesians 2:8; “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Read Acts 15:7-9.
Many today are in a great deal of religious bondage, not sure if they have done enough to please God; nor do they even know if they are saved or not. If that describes you, cast all that bondage from you and get back to simply enjoying everyday life with Jesus. At that first Council Meeting they gave out a list of what Christians are not to do; if you are interested in seeing what’s in that list, read Acts 15:22-29. God bless.
