When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Acts 15:2
Sometimes things in the Scriptures that are very clear to you and me are not clear at all to others. For example, many Christians are led astray by the errors of Calvinism, and are nearly impossible to convince that they are in error, because they misapply certain scriptures. They insist they believe the Bible like you and I do, but they do not see the same truth. However, everyone who believes the Bible has no problem with such fundamental truths as the Gospel pillar of salvation by faith alone. This is because of the clear and unambiguous way in which many different portions of Scripture present this truth. If somebody comes along and insists that we also need to be circumcised or baptized in order to be saved, we can quickly dismiss that as error. But what if no Bible verse is available, as in the situation described in our text? That’s when good brethren need to come together to talk.
We can understand why Paul and Barnabas would challenge the false teachers from Judaea who insisted that circumcision was needed for salvation. These two men knew better. They had just witnessed the conversion of a great many uncircumcised Gentiles, who gave no doubt that they were truly saved. But the false teachers could not be persuaded of their error, and the contention was likely very sharp. There was one thing on which they could agree, however. That was to refer the matter to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. There were certain men on whom everybody could have complete confidence on spiritual matters. We don’t have apostles among us today on whom we could have the absolute assurance that was available in the early days of Christianity. But we do have elders and Bible scholars with solid reputations of wisdom and godliness. And we should not hesitate to take important issues to these brethren when we need guidance.
Until the canon of the New Testament was finalized, early Christian leaders gathered several times to debate and decide on several important issues. These councils helped to establish truth and unify the saints. Do we need such councils today? For example, would such a council help to resolve disputes over the contentious issue of divorce and remarriage that divides some of us. A case could be made. However, we do have the Word of God in its completed form, and those who study it well and allow the Holy Spirit to unveil its truths can reach conclusions on which we can rest. One of the great purposes of teaching at our conferences is to help unite the saints on those things in which we most surely believe. One of the activities in which our preaching brethren are most often involved is the explanation of Scriptural truths to various individuals and Assemblies.
When questions and disputes arise over what the Bible teaches and what God desires, we have a valuable resource in the godly Bible students among us. -Jim MacIntosh