Unity in the Gospel
Acts 15:1–5 (NASB95)
1Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. 4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”
In these verses, we encounter a critical moment when some men from Judea arrive in Antioch and insist that Gentile believers must be circumcised according to the customs of Moses to receive salvation. This demand, rooted in longstanding Jewish tradition, sharply contrasts with the understanding that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, not something earned by strict legal observance or works. The insistence on fulfilling Mosaic rituals challenges the mission that had already begun through God’s miraculous work, forcing the church to confront how best to honor its heritage while embracing a broader Gentile mission. The tension that arises marks one of the pivotal crossroads in early Christianity, as leaders like Paul and Barnabas prepare to take the matter to Jerusalem for further deliberation, seeking a resolution that upholds the unity of God’s people without imposing unnecessary barriers on those coming from different cultural backgrounds.
Today, our church faces similar challenges as we navigate the balance between honoring our traditions and ensuring that our expressions of faith remain accessible to all. Just as the early church wrestled with the question of whether external rituals were necessary for salvation, we too must guard against practices that inadvertently create division or elevate cultural norms above the unchanging gospel of grace through Jesus. Let us strive to build communities that welcome all believers by focusing on the transformative power of God’s love rather than on legalistic requirements. In doing so, we honor our heritage and our call to a global mission—affirming that the true mark of the Christian life is the grace of Jesus and the shared faith that unites us beyond the confines of tradition.