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The Bible: Exploring Facts and Myths About the Word of God  /  Capital Error  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 8
In the Jerusalem letter (Acts 15), Bercot notes the apostles say nothing like “faith alone” and instead give concrete prohibitions to Gentile believers; what does that letter reveal about how the apostles expected grace, obedience, and communal holiness to function together, and what parts of modern church culture feel embarrassed by that kind of instruction?
Another way to ask: Since Acts 15 doesn’t say “faith alone” and instead gives Gentiles clear rules, what does that show about how grace and obedience were meant to work together? What parts of today’s church culture would feel uncomfortable with that kind of direct instruction?

Direct Answer Bercot presents the Jerusalem letter as showing grace removes the Mosaic burden (circumcision/keeping “the law”), yet still expects concrete obedience and community holiness. Modern church culture, in his framing, can feel embarrassed by straightforward moral instruction because it seems to contradict the idea that obedience is irrelevant to salvation.

Support from Transcript:

  • The letter rejects the false requirement: some said, “You must be circumcised and keep the law,” but the apostles say, “to whom we gave no such commandment.”
  • It still lays obligations: “to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things…abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
  • It ties obedience to well-being: “If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.”
  • Bercot highlights what is absent: “did the apostles say anything even remotely similar to Luther's gospel…faith alone…obedience plays no role? No, there's not even a hint.”
  • He argues this moment would have been ideal to teach “faith alone” if it were apostolic: “this would have been the perfect occasion to say that.”
Discussion Follow-ups Why do you think the apostles chose specific communal prohibitions rather than abstract doctrinal slogans? How do churches today react when leaders give clear behavioral commands?

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