17th Jun 26 | 05:17
Studies by Book
Overcoming our barriers
📖 Acts 15:23-24
Acts 15 - Series 2/Episode 05 - Sat, 11th Apr 2026 - Overcoming our barriers - _Acts 15:22-35_ - THE ANNOUNCEMENT - _Ephesians 02:14-16_
Acts 15:23-24 They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. (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-
Antioch, Syria and Cilicia were the places that were impacted by the Judaizers, with the doctrine of salvation by the keeping of the law of Moses. The concern for the Jerusalem Council was for the churches everywhere. Acts 15:1 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."
Though the doctrine of the Judaizers was addressed through the Jerusalem Council, we can see that the Jew-Gentile divide was deep, and this is what the Lord is setting right through the cross.
We were created in the image of the Triune God. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
This image of God in us was marred, an aspect of which is that we are now divided. In Christ, we are being restored to the image of God. Colossians 3:10-11 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, (11) where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
This is the middle wall of separation between Jew and Gentile that was broken down by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Ephesians 2:14-16 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, (15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, (16) and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
The legal expectation of the law of commandments and ordinances was the middle wall, which was broken down in Christ through the cross. When Judaizers were once again insisting on the law of commandments and ordinances to be saved, they were re-erecting the middle wall of separation.
The church is now made up of both Jews and Gentiles. There is no middle wall that separates us. Ephesians 2:18-22 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. (19) Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
This middle wall of separation, though, has been broken in Christ; the effect of this breaking down does not become a functional reality immediately in many people's lives.
This is what took place when Paul returned to the Jerusalem church several years later. Acts 21:19-20 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. (20) And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;
The elders advised Paul on a certain course of action since the message that was being spread about Paul was that he was teaching the Jews to forsake the law of Moses. Acts 21:21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
Paul's teaching was otherwise. I Corinthians 7:18-20 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. (19) Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. (20) Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
The elders of the Jerusalem church, too, had difficulty in overcoming the barrier between Jew and Gentile. Galatians 2:11-13 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; (12) for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. (13) And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
Are we trusting the Lord to overcome our barriers?
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