The Rulings of the Emissaries and Elders of Jerusalem

Acts chapter 15 is quite a significant section of Scripture, as it relates the decisions of the emissaries and elders at Jerusalem concerning Gentile believers in Messiah. That ruling group proclaimed four requirements for Gentile believers to observe (15:28). But, after a careful study, we may discover some important points which will clarify the letter to the congregations further, and thus impact our views toward the instruction in this letter.
First, we will look at Acts 15:1, which explains why the letter was necessary to begin with. It seems some men from Judah went out to the congregations at Antioch preaching that they could not be saved unless they were circumcised. Now, we know that no action done by man can save. Salvation cannot be earned; not through circumcision, nor performing kind deeds, neither through any lifestyle. Salvation is a gift given by God, through the Messiah; it is a gift we do not deserve and cannot repay. So we easily see why this was an important matter for the leaders to address, for teaching that you cannot be saved unless you undergo circumcision is a false gospel! That false teaching is plain to see because it says that Christ crucified is not enough. Circumcision is not the problem we see in this chapter. God commanded circumcision, and all God's commands are good. What is not good is the teaching that man must "do" anything to "get right with God" before he/she can be saved, and this is the issue caused Paul, James, and the other leaders concern.
We see that the leaders met and discussed the problem. Now we look at Acts 15:19-22 to see the conclusion......(James is speaking)....."Therefore, my opinion is that we should not put obstacles in the way of the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from what is strangled and from blood. (21) For from the earliest times, Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, with his words (Torah) being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath."
These verses immediately jumped out at me and opened my eyes to these observations. To begin with, each of the requirements suggested by James are parts of Torah. Why would some of God's commandments be required, yet others omitted? Secondly, verse 21 implies that James looks at these requirements as the beginning for the Gentile believers, since he reiterates to the other leaders that the learning of Torah (words of Moses) will be an ongoing process in the lives of these Gentile believers every Sabbath in Synagogue. It is after this that the leaders agree, and the letter is sent to the congregations.
It is as if the emissaries and elders were giving these "newborn believers" milk to begin their walk with the Lord so as not to overwhelm them. This seems logical to me, as I look over my own walk with our dear Lord. The Lord grew me up into greater maturity and knowledge, greater faith, greater doing as he saw I was able. I would not begin my life as a mathematician with Algebra or Calculus, but with addition and subtraction, then as I mastered these concepts, new concepts of greater depth requiring greater skill and understanding could be added, which would over time (providing I was studying and applying) produce higher level abilities needed for Calculus, Physics, Astro-physics, etc.
In conclusion, let us also notice that James and the other leaders obviously valued continuing education in believer's lives. May each of us examine our lives according to the four basic requirements, and pause to reflect on the abundance of (or lack of) additional learning. Maybe the growth of joy, self-discipline, perseverance, patience, kindness, and love that we all desire is to be found by and in our study and application of the Almighty God's Torah - which was given to us for our instruction on how to walk with God in the way that is right from His perspective - through the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. Amen.
The love of the Messiah be with us all.