Why did Paul refuse to require circumcision and the Law of his Gentile converts?
Paul refused because his Gentile converts, recently come out of idolatry, were now saved by grace through faith plus nothing. Requiring circumcision or Judaic Law would contradict that salvation. At the Jerusalem conference he withstood them to the face, insisting no such burden be placed on them; Peter later agreed, and the pillars gave fellowship.
Les teaches that Paul went to Jerusalem and withstood them to the face, saying there was no way he would ever teach his pagan converts, recently come out of idolatry, that they had to keep the Judaic Law or practice circumcision, because they are now saved by grace through faith plus nothing. A great conference followed, and Peter, by the work of the Holy Spirit, remembered that God had sent him to the house of Cornelius twelve years earlier and showed him He could save a Gentile. Peter then said Paul was right, and they gave in. Later, James, Cephas (Peter), and John—the inner core of the twelve—perceived the grace given to Paul and gave him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, shaking hands in agreement. Les explains this shows God changing the program: coming out of Judaism and legalism into the age of grace, so they were not the pillars they once thought they were. They agreed Paul should go to the heathen.