Scripture Reading : Acts 15:1-35
Theme : The Council of Jerusalem
- The serious difficulty. The men who came down from Judea were Jews who were Judaizers (those who taught that salvation is achieved by obeying the Old Testament Law e.g. circumcision). These Jews came from Jerusalem, but were false believers, because they taught a different gospel that was not endorsed by the Apostles (15:24).
- The serious debate. Paul and Barnabas debated with the Judaizers, Paul was a Pharisee who kept the Law to the best of his ability, but would later come to full understanding that salvation is by faith alone in Christ. He was the best person to debate with the Judaizers. Nevertheless, a delegation was sent to the church in Jerusalem to verify with the Apostles regarding this matter.
- The serious decision. The leaders of the church in Jerusalem gathered and discussed the matter and came to the decision that salvation is by faith alone is Jesus (15:11), firmly rebutting those who taught otherwise. Throughout the history of the church, church leaders have met to debate and settle on doctrinal issues, using the Bible as the authority. At this point in the Book of Acts, however, the Bible was not yet complete and the Apostles were the ones who had authority from God to decide on such issues. The things to be avoided were things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, animals that were strangled and blood. The first two were closely related to idolatry, while the latter two had to do with stumbling Jewish believers.
Praying the Scripture
- The difficulty of salvation by works or by faith alone arose in those days, and would persist throughout history until today, when some churches still teach that Christians must obey the law (e.g. keeping the Sabbath, but on Sunday). Pray that we will fully recognize our spiritual poverty, that we cannot do anything to please God and earn our salvation.
- Pray that we will read and know the Bible well, so that we can guard ourselves and the church against false teachings, because the church is “a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).
- Even though Christians do not need to obey the Old Testament law, we are actually “under the law of Christ” (1 Cor. 9:21). Pray that we will not abuse our Christian liberty, but will set ourselves apart from the world and not do anything that might stumble other believers.
经文：使徒行传15:1-35
主题：耶路撒冷的公会
- 严重的争议。从犹太下来的几个犹太人是犹太教的教徒（他们教导人要守旧约侓法，如割礼，才能得救）。他们虽是从耶路撒冷来的，却是假信徒，因为他们教导的另一个福音，是不被使徒们认同的（15:24）。
- 严肃的辨论。保罗和巴拿巴二人与犹太教教徒进行争论。保罗曾是一个坚定持守侓法的法利赛人，但后来全面了然唯独信靠基督才能得救；由此，他是与犹太教教徒辨论的最佳人选。即便如此，众门徒还是差派代表团往耶路撒冷教会，与使徒们确认事实。
- 严谨的决定。耶路撒冷教会领袖聚集商讨这事，最后裁决救恩是唯独信靠耶稣蒙受的（15:11）， 并坚定地驳斥凡教导有误的。在教会的历史中，教会领袖都是以圣经为权柄辩论教义上的分歧，再取得结论。然而，当这争辩发生时，圣经还未完成，而神给予使徒们权柄解决这方面的事。所要禁戒的事包括拜偶像（指向偶像献过祭的肉）、行淫，并勒死的动物和它们的血所带来的污秽。前两项与敬拜偶像息息相关，后两项则是为了不绊倒犹太信徒而特别提起。
用经文祷告
- 救恩是单靠信心，或是凭行为呢？这困扰或许会一直从历代延续至今，因为仍有教会教导基督徒必须守旧约侓法（如在星期天守安息日）。祈求我们能完全承认自己灵里的贫穷，叫我们晓得我们不能凭自己的言行举止蒙得神的喜悦，为自己取得救恩。
- 祈求我们能勤奋研读并明白圣经，叫我们能保守自己和教会，不陷入假教义的诱导，因为教会是“真理的柱石和根基”（提前3:15）。
- 虽然今天的基督徒无需守旧约侓法，但我们实际上是“在基督面前正在律法之下”的（林前9:21）。 祈求我们不会滥用基督徒的自由，倒要与世界分别出来，避免行出能拌倒别的信徒之事。
