“>
Council of Jerusalem (The Apostles Affirm Salvation by Grace Alone)
Meaning
The Council of Jerusalem happened in 49 AD. It was a meeting the between the Apostles of Christ and it included James the brother of Jesus who was the leader of the Jerusalem church. The meeting was regarding Gentile Christians and if they should adhere to the Mosaic laws. Many of the disciples of Christ spoke during this meeting and they confirmed that God had saved people by grace and not by works. And that this same grace was also taught and practiced by Jesus. And after the death and resurrection of Jesus God confirmed this very thing by visions and supernatural events in the lives of the apostles.
The result of this meeting was a letter drafted by the apostles and sent out to the Gentile Christian churches. They instructed that the Gentiles were not bound by the customs of the Mosaic laws. Instead the Gentile Christians should “abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.” Details of this meeting and results can be read about in the book of Acts.
“Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: ‘Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. ‘So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, nd made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.’ Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, ‘Men and brethren, listen to me: ‘Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’ ‘Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.” (Book of Acts 15:6-20)