The Two Administrations of Jesus Christ
By William Handschumacher
Rock of Offence Special Commentary
Taking Another Look At The First Jerusalem
Apostolic Council
In Acts chapter 15, the entire early church leadership came together in an official capacity as; The First Jerusalem Apostolic Council. Their job was to examine the argument previously stated ... and decide which doctrine was right.
In these days of transition, there were two "systems of faith" that governed how salvation is received - where each one was connected to a specific group of people. The believing Jews or Israelites embraced the "Gospel of the Kingdom", which required both obedience to the Law's Commandments plus faith in the Messiah who is Christ. This is the Gospel Jesus preached to His Jewish audience during His earthly ministry ... and included "Keeping the Commandments" as a requirement to be saved.
HOWEVER, THE CHURCH (OR "BODY OF CHRIST") IS
NOT UNDER THE SAME GOSPEL PROGRAM.
The New Covenant (also known as "the new and living way of Christ") came through Saint Paul and was designed for the Church; or Body of Christ. THE NEW COVENANT PROVIDES ETERNAL LIFE (SALVATION) AS GOD'S GIFT -- GIVEN BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH ALONE (SEE EPHESIANS 2:8-9). As a result, the New Covenant removes the requirement to "keep the Law and its Commandments" in order to be saved (See Romans 3:20, Romans 6:14, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:20-21, Galatians 3:1-4, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 5:4).
During this time of transition from the
Old Covenant - to the New Covenant of
Christ, it was correct to preach the
'Law plus faith in Christ gospel' (also
known as the "gospel of the Kingdom")
TO JEWISH PEOPLE AS MEMBERS OF "THE
HOUSE OF ISRAEL".
BUT IT WAS ILLEGAL TO PREACH THIS SAME
GOSPEL TO THE CHURCH THAT WAS MOSTLY
GENTILE (NON-JEWISH AND UNCIRCUMCISED)
The argument presented to the First Jerusalem Apostolic Council came from certain "believing Pharisees" who wanted to add Old Testament Law to Paul's Grace-based gospel for the "Gentile" Church. However, this is an act that invalidates Grace (also known as the unmerited and undeserved favor of God). Since Gentile believers in the Church ARE NOW ONLY "SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH" ... INVALIDATING GRACE ALSO VOIDS SALVATION AND CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK AT THE CROSS -- as described in the Scriptures quoted below.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: FOR IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY THE LAW, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN (Note: The word "vain" means that Christ's death becomes meaningless)." (Galatians 2:20-21 Emphasis Added)
"And if by Grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." (Romans 11:6)
"YOU HAVE BECOME ESTRANGED (SEPARATED OR CUT-OFF) FROM CHRIST, YOU WHO ATTEMPT TO BE JUSTIFIED BY LAW; YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE." (GALATIANS 5:4)
This is why the Jerusalem council condemned
the doctrine of the believing Pharisees and
wrote a letter to all the Gentile churches
warning that their teaching did not originate
from the council--and should be rejected.
Important Note: The Bible refers to the Jews or Israelites as "the circumcision" - while referring to the mostly Gentile Church (also known as "The Body of Christ") as "the uncircumcision". Jews were given this title because they were part of the Abrahamic covenant that required all males to be "circumcised" ... which proved that they were children of Abraham and authentic Jews. However, the New Covenant of Christ gave the "Gentile Church" no such requirement to keep, which is why the Bible refers to all its members as "the uncircumcision".
In his Epistle to the Galatians,
Paul provides more details
concerning these two "programs
of salvation" described in Acts
chapter 15.
"....the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me (Paul), as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas (or Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen (uncircumcised), and they (meaning James, Peter and John) should go to the circumcision (or the Jews)." (Galatians 2:7-9 - Emphasis and Clarifications Added)
The first thing we should notice is the two versions of the gospel mentioned by Paul in this passage; The gospel of the uncircumcision (given to the mostly uncircumcised Gentile Church) ... and the gospel of the circumcision (given to the Jews or Israelites as the circumcision). We should then notice that God called Paul and Barnabas to preach the gospel of the uncircumcision - but called James, Peter and John to preach the gospel of the circumcision - which is designed only for Jewish people, who Jesus also referred to as "the House of Israel" living during that time.
This separation of apostolic teams perfectly
aligns with Christ's original command
(discussed earlier) for His disciples to
"only go to the lost sheep of the House of
Israel" (See Matthew 10:5-6). Our Lord's
command included James, John and Peter, who
are the ones Paul specifically singled-out
in Galatians 2:7-9.
Many good Bible teachers and church leaders believe that these two gospels -- mentioned in Galatians 2:7-9 -- are the same. Convincing explanations are then offered from Scripture to make it seem that this is true. As a result, we understand that this long-standing argument will never be resolved here. Yet, Paul was obviously taking great care to keep these gospels separated (or 'divided'), which is a warning that they are indeed different. Additional evidence is created by the need for a unique ministry team to be assigned to each one. If both gospels were the same, it wouldn't be necessary to separate them in such a way ... and any of the leading apostles would be authorized to preach them to anyone. However, this was not the case. The gospel to the circumcision (or the Jews) taught a 'conditional salvation' that was obtained through obedience to the Law plus faith in Christ (the Messiah) ...
... While the gospel to the uncircumcision (or the Church) provides salvation by Grace - through faith in Christ alone (apart from works) with no dependence on the Law.
This 'removal of the Law' changed salvation from being "conditional" on obedience to the Law and its works ... to a benefit freely given to the Church according to Grace -- without works ... also changing it into "the gift of God" as described in Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5-7.
This is why Paul made the following
statment to the Church ... which is
also called "the uncircumcision".
"Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:4-6)
"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:14)
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