1) What are some absolutes when it comes to what you believe? What are some issues that you are clear and firm on?
2) Freedom in Christ. What does it mean? What does it allow us to do?
3) How do you handle disagreements? Are there some issues that can not be resolved?
A controversy emerged in the early church (1-2). The issue was no small matter; it had everything to do with salvation. The question was whether a Gentile had to follow the Jewish rite of circumcision to be saved. We must be absolutely clear on this: “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved.” (see verse 11)
The Gentiles didn’t need to become Jews through circumcision in order to be saved. However, the church instructed them to follow some of the Jewish practices (19-21). Why? To honor those with Jewish backgrounds. While we have freedom in Christ, we choose to honor others by the way we live.
“They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.” This phrase, found in verse 39, seems out of place in the Bible. We expect to read of harmony and reconciliation and certainly that must be our goal. However, even in the midst of human difficulty, the work of God continued. In fact, two groups set out on missionary journeys, not just one.
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