Reaching All People - Who's In and Who's Out?

Pastor Damian Thompson explains that Northshore has been studying Acts since January and has now reached chapter 15, where the focus shifts to the Gospel reaching all people. Jesus’ final command in Acts 1:8—to be witnesses to the ends of the earth—is the driving force behind this expansion of the church. Before diving into the passage, Pastor Damian raises two important questions: What did it mean to be Jewish? And what did it mean to be a Jewish believer in Jesus? Being Jewish wasn’t just a religion but an all-encompassing way of life marked by laws, festivals, sacrifices, and identity. With Jesus’ coming, many of these practices were fulfilled, leaving Jewish believers unsure of how to define themselves without them.

Acts 15 begins with a confrontation when men from Judea insist that Gentile believers must be circumcised to be saved. Paul and Barnabas strongly disagree and take the issue to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. On the way, they encourage others by sharing stories of Gentile conversions. However, in Jerusalem, some Pharisee-background believers continue to demand circumcision and law-keeping for Gentiles. This sparks a debate over the true gospel. Pastor Damian stresses that the gospel is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and anything added as a requirement for salvation becomes a false gospel.