We find deep, profound disagreements in churches, which cannot be solved through doctrinal answers. Each party bases its opinion on evidences from the Holy Bible, or interprets Scripture according to its own view. Love and brotherhood, however, are greater than logical disagreements. Mutual endurance in humility is the mystery for the continuance of the church.
When Peter, the most forthright of the apostles, brought the banner of the gospel into view, James, the brother of the Lord, stood up. He asked the assembled brothers to hear him, for he was the representative of the legalistic wing in the church. He could not easily accept Peter’s words and experiences, except through the confirmation of them by the prophets. The Holy Spirit guided this faithful lawyer until he found the incontestable proof of Peter’s words in the Book of Amos (9: 11- 12) and the Book of Isaiah (45: 21-22). He became calm and secure, understanding for the first time that God had offered salvation to David’s seed so that he might save all Gentiles and men through them. Thus, he who had before been versed in the Law submitted to true prophecy. He realized that Christ was not building His kingdom only upon those saved from out of the Jewish nation, but was determined from eternity to save men from all nations. The eternal Creator undoubtedly carries out His plan in ways He wishes. The salvation of the world is the design and will of God, and marks the end of His completed work. Dear brother, are you in agreement with this divine design? Does your work agree with the work of God? What sacrifices do you offer in order to preach to the world?
James did not say that the Gentile converts were not in need of circumcision. He suggested that they not be burdened with the Law of Moses, but that they should be given freedom. No one can oppose the work of God. James probably preferred that all the Gentile converts become Jews, for he did not think of a New Covenant, but spoke about rebuilding the fallen house of David. He submitted, nevertheless, to the guidance of Jesus, his eldest brother, and agreed to the new developments in the church, which was being delivered from the old law.
James firmly insisted that, in return for liberation from the law, the Gentile converts should abstain from idolatry, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. Do you consider such demands to be a relapse into legalistic thought? No, they are not. With this order the leader of the church was offering practical council to preserve the fellowship between Jewish and Gentile converts. The keepers of the law could not eat with people who deemed it lawful to eat things strangled, and which contained blood. These regulations were not intended to bring justification by fulfilling the law, but as a modus vivendi to keep the fellowship between believers from being interrupted. Love, and not the ordinances of the law, was the bridge and design for this suggestion.
James was aware that the Gentiles would come to a point of danger if they participated in banquets to entertain idols, which included dancing and committing adultery. He knew that it would be difficult for them to keep separate from the fellowship of their nation. Therefore, he suggested to them that they should firmly abstain from all pollution and impurity that was not in accordance with justification accomplished for them on the cross. He asked them to withdraw to God, for man cannot serve both the Lord and old or new idols. Moreover, the believer´s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and not a den of all iniquity. Paul later confirmed in his epistles these two demands, which James had made in order to clarify the way of practical love (1 Corinthians 10: 21; 6: 18).
James saw, besides a church of those who had been delivered from the Gentiles, a synagogue of the Jews. He could not jump directly from the Old to the New Testament, for he saw in the Mosaic Law an inspired revelation, a revelation which required obedience. He, nevertheless, by pointing to the existence of the synagogues of the Jews scattered throughout the cities of the world, drew the attention of the legalistic believers. There, in each synagogue, every law seeker could choose whether or not to submit to its judgments. By this declaration James did not confess that there was an equal or higher holiness apart from Christ’s holiness. He did, however, confer honor on the word of inspiration given to Moses. We thank Christ who, through Paul´s preaching, set us completely free from complexities and problems of the law, guiding us to the spiritual law in the love of Christ. The law does not press upon us an inapplicable duty. Instead, the Holy Spirit has become the motive of love in us. We cannot hurt anyone, and at the same time love our Lord with all our hearts.