Acts 15

Many believe Acts 15 provides a strong basis for faith only. It has verses that say they would be saved through faith. Yet again, we don't question the involvement of faith, we question faith only as defined by evangelicals. Acts 15 is a meeting about keeping the Law of Moses, especially Circumcision, in order to be saved.Act 15:1  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 

It was never a question about repentance toward Christ but repentance toward Moses. Plus they were already brethren, they were addressing keeping Moses after becoming a christian. They were already converted and baptized.

We can trace the gentile conversion and they were commanded to trust Christ and to repent. Baptism was commanded in Acts 10:42.

Act 11:18  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

This repentance was toward Christ. Faith has as its origin repentance toward the person and their teachings, as it means to be faithful for a long period. The origin of the word faith means to yield to someone's word or teaching.

Act 15:5  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 

Act 15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 

They did not meet to discuss baptism or repentance to Christ, but to discuss keeping Moses. It isn't written to dismiss baptism as Baptists use it. It seems to affirm the entire faith, not just faith itself.

Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

We see their hearts were purified, this does not mean forgiven by faith alone.  A purified heart does not mean past sins were forgiven though many see it that way. A purified heart would mean future decisions were sincere. They had the righteousness of faith required for salvation. Then, they were forgiven of past sins through the Gospel plan of salvation. This also worked through faith.  This verse in Greek has a definite article before faith,  Young's literal translation has the article, most do not. Literally, "by the faith purifying their hearts" Compare this with I Peter 3:20-21 where baptism gave a good conscience. It is pretty much the same idea. God used "the faith" to purify their hearts. This would include repentance and baptism. It encompasses the faith as a whole.

Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

They would be saved future by an ongoing grace apart from the law even as the Jewish Christians, it is the "grace of the Lord Jesus Christ", that delivered by him. It is identifying origin. It includes repentance and baptism. Neither repentance or baptism are without grace. By grace those commands were given and by grace forgiveness comes when we comply.

Then he gives some basic necessities.

Act 15:19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 

Act 15:20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 

As you can see, they did not end with faith only, but gave some necessary directives not tied to the Law of Moses but to Christ's commands..

They wrote letters explaining. Those letters include.

Faith toward Christ

Repentance toward Christ

Baptism in Christ's name

Abstaining from the sins above

We can also see how they used terminology,

Preach Moses is identified with his commandments, not just his name or person.

Act 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

so that preaching Christ should also be identified with his commands.

Act 15:35  Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 

The word of the Lord includes the plan of salvation and commandments.