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This legalism in the Jerusalem church slowly chokes out faith. Finally, the faith of the church is
made a shipwreck.

We are to “grow in the grace and knowledge.” These two work together. What sustains faith is
the knowledge of God’s grace (Romans 4:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Galatians 2:1-11 tells us another side of this same meeting. Before the church-wide
conference, Paul, Barnabas, and Titus had met with church leadership and the Judaizers in a
private meeting (verse two). Peter and Paul were both vindicated before the leadership and
told to preach freely, Peter to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles. But before the end of the
meeting, another issue was introduced, “only they would that we should remember the poor”
(verse 10).

The same thing done to the church at Antioch was done to Paul: legalism trying to exercise
control over grace. Legalistic people are jealous of grace. Although Paul graciously agrees to do
this, it was unnecessary. It had nothing to do with the issue at hand. Paul will never preach
about any of these issues after this conference. He will address this subject and meeting in the
Thessalonian epistle, but will only mention the one scriptural sin of fornication (1 Thessalonians
4:1-3, 9-11).
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the
synagogues every sabbath day.

Most cities in Gentile countries have a Jewish synagogue where many local Jews attend
meetings each Sabbath. James is telling the Gentile converts they should refrain from these
things so they will not offend their Jewish brothers.

NEW GUIDELINES SENT WITH PAUL AND BARNABAS TO ANTIOCH

Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men
of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas,
and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Not only do Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch, Jerusalem sends representatives back with
them to give the new guidelines. The leaders in Jerusalem want to be in control. Not only does
James want to give the edict to the Gentile believers, he wants his own men to be there to read
it. Again we see legalism making a mountain out of a molehill.

Although Paul and Barnabas do not say anything, they are probably glad to be getting out of
Jerusalem. They have come to resolve a major issue on legalism and have had to settle for a
compromise.
Here not only do we see legalism and church doctrines, but also in church politics. Judas
(Barsabas) and Silas are both prophets (verse 32) who have risen up in the Jerusalem church
since the last mention of leadership (chapter 6). They have been raised up in a legalistic church