Did the Acts 15 Jerusalem Conference free us from keeping God’s law?

In this post, learn the true meaning of Acts 15 Jerusalem Conference. Discover whether it really abolished God’s commandments or not and what is its deep spiritual implications for us, Christians, today.


Get a FREE copy of “The Shocking Biblical Truth About the New Covenant” by sending me a message at joshuainfantado@gmail.com.

With so much confusion over the teachings of the New Testament Church, it is not surprising that the majority of Christians today misunderstood Acts 15. For a lot of people, they believe that the decision made in Jerusalem was an approval for us, Christians, to ignore God’s laws and do whatever we want.

However, is this teaching, though popularly taught in the Christian world, true? Did the Jerusalem Conference mentioned in Acts 15 freed us from the need to obey the laws of God? If not, what was really decided in Jerusalem, and how does it apply to us?

Let’s find out.

A Quick Summary of the Jerusalem Conference in Acts 15

Acts 15:1-29 is a bit long for me to quote it here. So, I highly recommend you read these verses first before you continue reading.

Let me just give you a quick summary of the Jerusalem conference. 

We come to the first verse of Acts 15 where we are introduced to the main problem:

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.”

We are presented with the issue. Some Jews insisted that Gentile converts needed to be circumcised to be saved. This is actually a huge issue throughout the first-century Church. You can just imagine how more and more non-Jewish converts inevitably had to interact with Jews who still believed gentiles are unclean people.

So, you can definitely see why some men insisted that Gentiles should be circumcised to be fully clean and therefore be saved.

In verse 2 we read, the issue was so divisive and prevalent that Paul, Barnabas, and certain men went to Jerusalem to settle this matter. They are quickly faced with the opposing Pharisees who said:

“It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5).

For this, Peter argued how God has worked with Gentile converts and has given them the Holy Spirit even when they were not circumcised (verse 7-9). Peter went on to say that people who teach that circumcision is still needed put a “yoke on the neck of the disciples” (verse 10). 

Peter continued that it is not through circumcision that we are saved, but by “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved” (verse 11).

In verse 12, Barnabas and Paul declared “how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.”

As a result, the conclusion of the Jerusalem conference was this:

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:19-20).

Did the Acts 15 Jerusalem Conference free us from keeping God's law?
Did the Acts 15 Jerusalem Conference free us from keeping God’s law?

The reason for the four restrictions

In Acts 15, the Jerusalem conference concluded by enumerating four restrictions. The New Testament Church, including Jews and non-Jews, need to abstain from the following:

  1. Things polluted by idols
  2. Sexual immorality
  3. Things strangled
  4. Consumption of blood

What is the main common denominator for these four restrictions?

Idolatry.

Each of these restrictions is deeply and strongly associated with the idolatrous pagan worships common in the cities and areas where God is calling new people.

Now, notice why James, the leader of the Jerusalem Church, said that the Gentile converts should stop doing the four restrictions and therefore stop participating in idolatry. Pay special attention to verse 21:

19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath” (Acts 15:19-21).

Did you notice that, friends? Many people didn’t catch the reason why James had to add at the end of His message that the reason the Gentile converts should stop doing idolatrous acts was because Moses had been preached in every city and read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

What does stopping idolatrous acts have to do with Moses being preached and read in synagogues?

Here’s the answer:

The apostles wanted the new converts to have immediate access to the Scriptures and they can only usually listen to it through the synagogues every Sabbath. 

Remember, printing machines were not yet invented at that time and copies of the Scripture were scarce and only the wealthy and those who have connections could afford getting a copy.

Now, for the Gentile converts to be accepted to the synagogues, they need to abandon their idolatrous worship to pagan gods. Remember, the four restrictions are direct violations to biblical commands listed in the Torah, which include:

  • Exodus 20:2-6
  • Leviticus 20:10-20
  • Genesis 9:4
  • Leviticus 7:26-27

The problem with the Jews at that time was that they were imposing circumcision as a requirement for the Gentile converts to join them in the synagogue. The Jerusalem convention made it clear that they don’t need to get circumcised, but they need to forsake their idol and pagan worship by following the four restrictions.

To help you further in understanding what the New Covenant means, please request a free copy of my eBook, “The Shocking Biblical Truth About the Covenant.” Just message at Joshuainfantado@gmail.com and I’ll send you a copy.

Why did the Gentile convert needed to attend the Synagogues?

You may ask, why not the Gentile converts simply create their own group if they are not being accepted by the Jews?

I have mentioned one reason already above. For one, the Scripture, which was at that time, only composed of the Old Testament, was not readily available to everyone and they were more commonly available in Synagogues.

Second reason is that the synagogues were a great place to learn the basic teachings of the Holy Scripture. For the new converts to grow their faith, they need to hear God’s word.

Paul confirmed this in Romans 10:17:

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Since the Holy Scripture used by the Jews and Christians were the same, Paul was comfortable to instruct Gentile converts to simply attend synagogue services each Sabbath. 

That’s why we read in the books of Acts many instances where Paul was teaching in the synagogues with both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences (Acts 17:1-4; Acts 17:10-12; Acts 17:16-17).

Since Paul needed to be always in the move and travel often, he can simply focus on explaining the role and mission of Yahshua (Jesus Christ) in the New Covenant. Once he leaves a city or an area, he can simply ask them to learn more about the Scripture every Sabbath in the synagogues.

The real meaning of Acts 15

Now that we have a good understanding of the historical background of Acts 15, we need to establish the fact whether the Jerusalem conference really did away with the law of God.

We read in Acts 15:5:

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Now, we have read how the Apostles and the church leaders refute this claim by some of the sect of the Pharisees. We don’t need to circumcise the Gentiles anymore, but what can we say about the claim we need to still “keep the law of Moses?”

What did the Pharisees mean when they said, “Law of Moses?”

Obviously, they are referring to the need to circumcise as well as some of the rituals and ceremonies related to circumcision written in the law of Moses. They could also refer to the temple worship rituals that include animal sacrifices.

In this verse, when the “Law of Moses” was mentioned, it NEVER included the laws and commandments of God that define sin and righteousness.

How do we know? How can we be sure?

Consider this: if Acts 15 Jerusalem conference got rid of the moral law of God, then it follows that we are only to observe the four restrictions — namely, “to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood” (verse 20).

However, this was never the intention of Acts 15, because if it is, then are we free to do other immoral things not included in the four restrictions!

Since Acts 15 didn’t mention about “you shall not murder,” does it mean we are free to kill other people? How about honoring our parents? Since Acts 15 didn’t mention this command, does it mean we are free to disrespect our parents? Not only that, but does it mean we can commit other evil things simply because we are only to abstain from idolatry?

Obviously, NO!

So, don’t believe people when they say that Christians should only avoid idolatry based on Acts 15:20. The main intention of Acts 15 was not to abolish God’s commandments, but to address the division among Jews and Gentiles.

To help you further in understanding what the New Covenant means, please request a free copy of my eBook, “The Shocking Biblical Truth About the Covenant.” Just message at Joshuainfantado@gmail.com and I’ll send you a copy.

In Summary

As we have read and studied, Acts 15 is an important conference held to ensure Gentile converts get access to the Holy Scripture. They can only do this by renouncing their idolatrous works and beliefs. The Apostles then gave a list of things they need to abstain from to show their willingness to abandon idolatry. By doing so, they can be accepted in the synagogues where they can listen and study the Holy Scripture.

Acts 15 is a wonderful reminder to us Christians, today, that idolatry can separate us from God. Pagan worship could prevent us from learning more of God’s ways and blind us to His truth.

And that my friend is the meaning of Acts 15 Jerusalem conference.


(P.S. If this blog has inspired you or this website has helped you in any way, please consider supporting this noble work. Learn at least five easy and quick ways to help.)