Lessons from the Jerusalem council What should we do? Lessons from the Jerusalem council

A problem in antioch What to do with the Law Some men came from Jerusalem and began to insist the non-Jewish Christians follow the Law of Moses This is a Gospel issue – bringing into question how people come to be saved This is a theological issue – bringing in to question how we treat the Old Testament promises and covenants

A solution in Jerusalem Organise a Meeting People at work spend a lot of the day in meetings. Meetings are important because they give everyone a chance to talk about work. Which is easier than doing it.

1) What God Did Peter and the Nations Peter’s vision in Acts 10 was the beginning of God’s work amongst the Nations “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” Acts 10:34-35 Rembrandt, The Vision of St Peter, c.1658, pen and bistre

2) What God is Doing Paul and the Nations Paul’s experience of mission amongst the Nations shows that God is truly at work through the Holy Spirit “The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.” Raphael, Paul Preaching at Athens, c. 1515, gouache on paper

The Bible and the Nations 3) What God Says The Bible and the Nations Prophets spoke of a time when God would cleanse Israel from sin, take away their shame, defeat their enemies and bring the nations to learn from them “That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name” Tissot, La Résurrection, 1890, gouache and graphite on paper

A solution for Antioch A Suitable compromise The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. We have heard that some went out from us without our authorisation and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul – men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

A Pattern for Roslyn What we learn from Acts 15 In our discussions as a congregation: Everyone will be heard We will pay attention to where we have come from We will pay attention to what has been happening recently We will look to scripture and test what we see there – paying close attention to the Gospel and any burdens we might inadvertently place on outsiders We will compromise where necessary