We have endeavored to stand by and hold to sound biblical applications for our day (acts 15), however we firmly acknowledge the Lord Jesus and holy scriptures to be the final authority in all matters and above any written statement of faith & application.

We also realize that the may need arise to adjust some applications from time to time and may need be done so as led by the governing elders with the mind of the Holy Spirit in keeping with N.T. biblical principles along with unanimous congregation consensus Acts 15:28 (if possible) One individual should not hold up a proposal but if two or three do this may be a sign to reexamine the position (2 Cor 13:1)

Below we will examine how the early church considered a few necessary issue of their day.

Our Doctrinal Positions of Faith and Practise

The Jerusalem Council

50 A.D.

The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been

much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a

choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And

God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,

and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore,

why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our

fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the

Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs

and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James

replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them

a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

“‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;

I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,

and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of

old.’

Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should

write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what

has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those

who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from

among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and

Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and

the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia,

Greetings. Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words,

unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come

to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who

have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas,

who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy

Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what

has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual

immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together,

they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. And

Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many

words. And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had

sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord,

with many others also.

Acts 15:6-35 ESV