Through the Problem

When the Good News of total forgiveness and eternal life was preached to the Gentiles in Antioch by unnamed preachers (11:20-22), they gladly received it by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Their joy faded as a certain, unauthorized men travelled from the church in Jerusalem and began to teach that the Gentile believers needed to follow the law of Moses concerning circumcision in addition to placing their faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved from their sin (15:1) This was a serious, spiritual attack on the Gospel from a “trusted source.” It was decided by the beliers at Antioch that Paul and Barnabus would travel up to Jerusalem to ask about this teaching (15:2). This is commonly called the Jerusalem Council. After describing the problem to James, the pastor, the church at Jerusalem choose to go through the problem in a way that leaves an example for us today. Note: The only way through a problem, is through the problem.