Studies by Book
01 Acts 15 01-21 THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL 01 Acts 15 01-02 Justified before God by faith in Jesus
📖 Acts 15:01-21
Acts 15 – Series 1/ Episode 01 – Wed, 21st Jan 2026 – *Justified before God by faith in Jesus* - _Acts 15:01-21_ – THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL – _Romans 03:24-26_
_Acts 15:1-2 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." (2) Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question._
We come to one of the most crucial theological issues that shook the church at that time. What was the teaching that was being introduced into the church at Antioch? It was, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved”.
Before we examine this teaching, let us be aware that the devil is furious and troubled at a growing church. Why is this so? It is because Jesus has defeated the devil on the cross. _Colossians 2:14-15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (15) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it._
This victory of Jesus on the cross has been given to the church. _Ephesians 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,_ The devil will trouble the church, since the church is expected to display the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
On the cross, Jesus wiped out the demands of the handwriting of the requirements of God. The handwriting of God, which is the law of God given to Moses, is good. _Romans 7:12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good._
We were not able to meet the legal demands of the law because there was sin in us. _Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,_
The Lord met the legal demand of the law in His flesh. _Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need._
Jesus fulfilled the law. _Matthew 5:17-20 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (18) For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (19) Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven._ Jesus said that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus fulfilled the righteousness of the law.
The devil is accusing humanity before God that we have not met the legal demands of the law. There was guilt placed on us for we had not met the righteous requirements of the law. Jesus nailed this guilt that was on us to the cross by taking our sin on Himself.
_I John 3:5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin._ / _I Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, *might live for righteousness*—by whose stripes you were healed._ / _II Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him._
What was against us was the death sentence. _Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord._ *Jesus took our death sentence on Himself and thereby abolished in His flesh the legal demands of the law of Moses.*
Righteousness before God is not by keeping the law of Moses, for by keeping the law of Moses, no one is justified before God. _Acts 13:38-39 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; (39) and by Him *everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses*._
It is through faith in Jesus that we are made righteous before God. _Romans 3:24-26 *being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (25) whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness*, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, (26) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus._