Enlightenment

Acts 15:12–19, 28-29

“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. When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for His name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of humankind may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles who bear My name, says the LORD, who does these things’—things known from long ago. “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.”

The Apostle James, brother of the Lord Jesus, leader of the Church, decides on the First Council (of Jerusalem), that from as the Apostle Peter suggests “how God first intervened to choose a people for His name from the Gentiles (v. 14)” and he proceeds to supply the supporting precedent from the prophet Amos that beyond the restoration of the tent of David, beyond simply the borders of Israel, all nations who choose God’s name, His identity upon themselves will come together to seek Him and constitute God’s kingdom (Amos 9:11-12, vv. 15-17). For God’s tent is all-encompassing, He welcomes us all through the sacrifice of His one and only beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. By His blood, by His grace and faith in Him alone we can all approach the Holy of Holies like Israel’s priests. Because of the work of Christ, we gentiles may now receive God’s favour upon the seed of Abraham, Israel. St. Peter writes to us as well affirming this status: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (I Pet 2:9-10).” Christ is redemption and that salvation is not burdensome (v. 28), He has sole authority and He invites us all, “All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matt 11:27-29).” Everyone is now welcome to find rest in God, so let us be Christ-like, lighten the burden of those who seek Him in earnest and lower the barriers into His fold as we spread the Good News that is Jesus.