In a recent teaching, Rabbi Kirt Schneider walked listeners through Acts 15, describing it as a defining moment when core Christian doctrine was formed.
“What we’re reading in Acts 15 is truly authoritative doctrine being formed in the early church,” Schneider said. “This is historical.”
The controversy centered on a crucial question: Was faith in Jesus enough for salvation, or did Gentile believers also need to keep the law of Moses and be circumcised?
Grace Under Fire
Schneider explained that certain believers from Judea, often called Judaizers, were insisting Gentiles must convert fully to Judaism to be saved.
“They were teaching Gentile believers that unless you are circumcised according to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved,” he said.
This message sparked sharp disagreement with Paul and Barnabas, who had witnessed Gentiles come to faith through grace alone. The dispute grew serious enough that church leaders traveled to Jerusalem to resolve it before the apostles and elders.
Peter’s Turning Point
According to Schneider, Peter’s testimony marked a decisive shift in the debate. He reminded the leaders that God had already given the Holy Spirit to Gentile believers apart from the law.
“God made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith,” Peter said, as quoted in Acts.
Schneider emphasized Peter’s conclusion: “We believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are also.”
That statement, Schneider noted, silenced the room.
James Brings Unity
James, the leader of the Jerusalem church, ultimately settled the matter. Schneider highlighted James’ authority and clarity.
“This is my judgment, that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,” James declared.
Instead of imposing the full law, James asked Gentile believers to abstain from four practices tied to idolatry and immorality. Schneider explained these instructions were relational, not salvational.
“These four things were the things that would have prevented the Gentile believers from being able to have fellowship with the Jewish believers,” he said.
Freedom That Fuels Growth
Schneider stressed that the decision protected both unity and momentum in the early church.
“We don’t want to put a yoke on these new Gentile believers that’s going to crush them,” he said, noting such burdens would have stalled the spread of the gospel.
At the same time, James pointed out that Moses was taught every Sabbath, allowing Gentile believers to grow gradually in understanding the biblical foundations of their faith.
An Encouraging Reminder for Today
Schneider concluded that Acts 15 offers lasting encouragement for believers.
“Salvation is by grace,” he said, while adding that understanding the Law and the Prophets enriches faith rather than replacing it.
The early church’s decision stands as a hopeful reminder that God’s grace brings freedom, unity and growth, and that faith in Jesus remains the unshakable foundation for all who believe.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
