No Distinction between Us and Them

“On that day I will raise up
The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,
And repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins,
And rebuild it as in the days of old;
That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,”
Says the Lord who does this thing. Amos 9:11-12 NKJV

The famous quotation from Amos was uttered by James in the Jerusalem Council in A.D. 50, which was held after the Paul's first missionary journey (46-48 A.D.). The Church Council was met to discuss and decide whether the Gentiles should keep the Law of Moses, especially like circumcision, in order to be saved. Having been discussed quite a while on the issue, Apostle Peter stood up and talked quite convincingly that the Gentiles were saved by faith just like the Jews. Paul and Barnabas testified what had happened during the missionary journey in Asia Minor. Finally, James concluded the meeting by quoting the words uttered by Prophet Amos. What a wonderful meeting that must be! The apostles and elders gathered together and talked freely in the Spirit and unanimously made a decision fully and completely guided and inspired by the Spirit of God and the Son Jesus Christ. Here is the full account recorded in the Book of Acts.

“Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of 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 will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’

“Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath. Acts 15:8-21 NKJV