Prelude to World War 3
The Council of Jerusalem
After our Lord Jesus had taught His disciples for about 3 years, He told them to make disciples of all nations and to teach them to observe all His commands. Ten days after His ascension and at Peter's preaching, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost saw the salvation of 3,000 souls.
The Apostles and disciples (about 120 in total) were tasked to disciple these 3,000 new converts. Without any written record of Jesus teachings, they could only disciple the new converts from their memory.
Immediately, they form the Council of Apostles and Elders to review what Jesus had taught them.
Council of Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem
Acts 15:4, 6 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them... Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
The main objective of the council in Jerusalem was to standardize the Christian faith or creed, the doctrines as taught by our Lord for evangelism and discipling, to evaluate the accuracy of the recollection of the teachings and commandments of Jesus and also, the settlements of disputes and heresies in the faith.
Acts 15:4, 6 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them... Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
The main objective of the council in Jerusalem was to standardize the Christian faith or creed, the doctrines as taught by our Lord for evangelism and discipling, to evaluate the accuracy of the recollection of the teachings and commandments of Jesus and also, the settlements of disputes and heresies in the faith.
Calling of Apostle Paul
Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."
Before God gave the salvation to the Gentiles, God raised up Apostle Paul, who was a devout Jew, a Pharisee of Pharisees, highly learned and knowledgeable of the Law, zealously and blindly guarding Judaism against heresies. He showed extreme zeal in his mission to arrest Christians, whom the Jewish leadership considered as deviant or heretic.
On the road to Damascus Jesus miraculously saved him. Jesus, having taught him personally for three years, sent him to reach out not only to Jews but to Gentiles and kings and to disciple them.
Judaizers in Action
Acts 15:1-2 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
Paul, having encountered Jesus personally, saved and taught by Him, knew that salvation is by grace for both Jews and Gentiles, he stood firm on the word of God. He rejected the unbiblical demands of some Christians to circumcise the new gentile converts. This issue of circumcision of gentiles was to be brought before the Council of Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem.
The New Covenant of Grace
Acts 15:24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” to whom we gave no such commandment.
The Council of apostles and elders in Jerusalem with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, forbade new converts to observe all the Jewish laws, feasts, beliefs, culture, practices, etc. which our Lord Jesus had fulfilled through His death and resurrection.
The Mosaic Law was for the Jews, being the Old Covenant with the Israelites. The New Covenant of Jesus blood (grace) is for all mankind (both Jews and Gentiles). Believers of the new covenant are Christians and they must forsake all their previous religious beliefs and practices.
Paul's epistles are doctrines taught by the Lord Himself, that compliments His words. In line with the commands of the Council of Elders, some of his writings specifically condemn keeping the Old Covenant which was made obsolete by the New Covenant of His blood.
Gal 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.