Does God still hold Christians accountable for the Jerusalem council's prohibitions even though they are under Grace?
Yes. Even though Christians are under Grace and not under Law, God still holds them accountable to abstain from meat offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. These prohibitions, rooted in Leviticus, were carried into the Gospel of Grace by the Jerusalem council’s written agreement.
Les explains that the Jerusalem church sent a written agreement to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, confirming that Gentile converts were no longer to be forced to keep the Law and practice circumcision. Yet that same agreement required them to abstain from meat offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. Les points back to Leviticus 17 and 18, noting that even though this was part of the Law, God could sanction its continuing alongside the Gospel of Grace. He firmly believes that although believers are under Grace and not under Law, God is still holding them accountable for not doing these things. He also observes that Satan worship often begins here, with drinking blood and immorality as part of initiation.