Acts 15:5-21 (preacher: Keith Cooper)

Sunday, 5 January 2020 | Acts 15:5-12 // Keith Cooper | The Evidence Decides It // Some Jews considered that the Mosaic law should be applied to the new Gentile converts. This meant, for example, subjecting the new believers to circumcision. // // Peter makes the point that God has shown his approval of the Gentiles by giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit – without asking any additional legal requirements of them. Since God is not showing favouritism, the Jews should not subject the Gentiles to any form of bondage. Their confession of faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit was evidence enough that they were accepted. // // Next, Paul and Barnabas give testimony to the signs and wonders they were able to do among the Gentiles. Again, this shows the way I’m which God was accepting non-Jews. // // Finally, James speaks and he makes reference to prophecies that predict the salvation of the Gentiles. He then Laura down some simple guidelines for spiritual cleanliness; guidelines that would not be burdensome to these believers.