Acts 15

v1-5: It should bring us great joy when we hear about the progress of the gospel.  Every conversion, every addition to the family of God is worth celebrating, "because the family will never be any poorer because of the vast numbers of its children. In Christ and heaven there is enough room, and enough inheritance, for them all."

v6-21: We should not be surprised "if people are devoted to customs that have been passed on to them from previous generations and that they have been brought up to think of as sacred."  Yet we must be careful not to make them conditions for our acceptance of others who have faith in Christ.  Our acceptance of them is to be same as the conditions "God has set as the conditions of their acceptance with him."

v22-35: Church leaders "do not have the authority to make new laws, but only to see that the laws of Christ are properly carried out, and to enforce their observance."  They should  "impose only necessary things, matters Christ has made our duty, which truly lead to building up the church" and "to the uniting of Christians."

v36-41: "Even those who are united to one and the same Jesus, who are sanctified by one and the same Spirit, see things differently; even they have different opinions, views, and feelings about practical courses of action. It will remain so as long as we are in this state of darkness and imperfection; we will never all be completely in harmony until we reach heaven, where light and love are perfect."

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Here is a direction to the pastors of the churches: when difficulties arise, they should come together in formal and godly meetings for mutual advice and encouragement, so that they may know what one another thinks, strengthen one another, and act together.