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In Acts chapter 15, we read about the disciples dealing with a very emotionally charged dispute about the Gentiles and how they would be accepted into the church. It was the most serious thing the church had to face, early on. Try to go back, in your mind, to what the disciples and apostles knew, 2000 years ago. Try to roll back the clock and think about what they knew as they addressed the issue about the law, circumcision, and the Gentiles. They had the Old Testament scriptures; They had the apostles’ experiences of being with Jesus; They had the memory of what he had said.
Put yourselves in their shoes. What was available in the Old testament scriptures? there was no New Testament. Numbers 15: 14-15 address the stranger who would come to believe in the Lord. Other places talk about Gentiles coming to believe. They basically say, “obey what the Jews obey.” That is what they had in scriptures to guide them.
What did Jesus tell them while he was on earth? What did Jesus have to say about the requirements of the Gentiles being saved? He didn’t really say a lot. There was nothing said that would imply a moving away from the law. The apostles didn’t get that from anything that Jesus said. It was something so important to us. It was critical to the salvation of the World. What were his requirements? He never addressed the issue. Moreover Jesus had said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them." Matt 5:17-18
Jesus meant something that he didn’t explain explicitly. After the day of Pentecost, many years went on with the Jewish practices because they thought they were supposed to. It was a strange thought for them to not follow the law for the Gentiles who believed. Jesus could have scripted it all, but he didn’t. It was strange and very difficult to deal with.
"But the comfortor, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26
It is important to walk through how the issue was resolved in Acts 15. It was a very difficult decision, for allowing the Gentiles into the body of Christ was going to impact them all in a major way. It would have an impact on their families who would maybe later marry them. Many different things that they did in the "law" would be replaced. It would change their culture. How else would they fellowship the Gentiles? It would impact the Jews who were already saved and their relationship with Jews who were not saved? The other Jews would feel like it was blasphemy. This would bring on persecution.
There had to be a huge amount of trust maintained in the process. It could have been easy for some to say the scriptures were being violated. That element didn’t take place. They were accepting the apostles who had been with Jesus. The Lord called the apostles. Everyone recognized the authority of the Lord anointing them. Their role was important in establishing things. Jesus plainly told them that the Spirit of God would lead them and teach them in all truth. How did the Spirit of God show the apostles that? God had revealed to Peter a vision. The vision was a huge element in influencing the decision.
We can see how difficult this decision was. Why didn’t Jesus address the Gentile situation while he was still on earth? Maybe even the apostles were not ready to receive what Jesus didn’t tell them. Paul said, “I have fed you with milk and not with meat because you are not ready to receive it”. Could there be a time when a true minister might have to preach a simple message because people are not ready to receive the meat of the truth?
"I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:" John 16:12-14
Difficult decisions, many times, take a long time because of their impact. It requires patience. People may have been taught a lot of things and have been culturally taught, things that take a long time to change. Jesus wanted us to have a close relationship with him and not lean on just a teaching. The Holy Ghost had a lot to do with the resolution of this decision. Peter stood up and said, “let me tell you what the Holy Ghost did in the Gentiles who didn’t have any of the law”. God produced holiness in people who were not following the law.
As we walk with God, John says the comfortor teaches us all things. What he teaches is true. It will line up with the Word of God. But there are many situations in life that will come up that are not plainly addressed in the "letter" - the word. By not addressing somethings plainly, Jesus puts us in a position where we will have to seek the Lord for our help.
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