Acts 15 Dissension- strife, controversy, insurrection...  A group of men came from Judea.. not sent from the apostles or elders.. to take a stand on the issue of circumcision for those Gentiles who were claiming to be Christ followers.  This issue was so important that the church sent Paul and Barnabas, along with some others to Jerusalem to bring it before the apostles and elders in the church. 

Both sides were presented.  Much discussion and investigation took place. The debate ended when Peter spoke up, reminding everyone about what God had done.. "Brethren, 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, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith."  

Peter continued with this great statement, "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are." 

God, Himself, affirmed the salvation of uncircumcised Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit. Both Jews and Gentiles are saved in the same way.. by faith in the grace of the Lord Jesus!  It was true then and is still the Truth.  So thankful for the grace of Jesus Christ that has brought us into the Kingdom of God!

It is James who has the final word.  "Therefore it is in my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles.. "  They only asked that the Gentiles "abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from things strangled and from blood and from fornication."  These would be moral or ethical issues that would keep the Gentiles free from the cultural idolatry and also  keep them from offending the Jewish believers. 

Dissension, of a more personal level, came when Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking Mark along on a second missionary journey.  It was resolved by Barnabas taking Mark with him to Cyprus and Paul taking along Silas back to Syria and Cilicia. Both groups went with the same purpose, to strengthen and encourage the churches. God was at work.. and He is still at work today! He leads His servants to the people who need encouragement and strength.. He leads His servants to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus.. so others will come to have faith in the grace of the Lord Jesus unto salvation! 

Father, when there is dissension.. may we learn to handle it like the church did back in that day.. listening, debating, and looking to what You have made clear by Your Spirit and the Word of God. Bring unity in Your church so that the message of the Gospel is not made a burden, but a great joy in the grace that You have poured out on us all. Our faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ, sent to be our Savior and King forever. We praise and worship You with thankful hearts. Help us to be conformed by Your Spirit and transformed by Your Word to the glory of Your Holy Name.  It is in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.