Acts 15:1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Pharisees’ message: “You need to

_ like us, before you can

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one of us.”

Evangelicals vs. Nones (Pew Research Center)

· Politics: Conservative =

%

· Science: Human Evolution =

%

· Religious: Church Attendance =

%

1. Not all

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   _ fit into the stereotypical political, scientific, and religious views and practices.

2. Turning to Christ doesn’t mean you must morph into the stereotypical

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   ,
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   , and
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   views and practices to be saved.

Acts 15:7-11 Peter got up and addressed them… “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Acts 15:12 “The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.”

Peter, Barnabas, and Paul’s message: Salvation is by God’s grace plus your faith plus

.

Acts 15:13-19 When they finished, James spoke up…“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

James’ message: We close the gap by not making it

_ for those who are turning to Christ.

We make it difficult for those turning to Christ when we…

· Are responsible for

church experiences

· Insist on full agreement with all

Jerusalem Council Conclusion:

1. Our mindset: I will not insist that you conform to my picture of what it means to__ a follower of Christ before you

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   a follower of Christ.

2. Our message: Salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone in Christ

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