Acts 15:1-29
"Let Us Reason" • 1.6.08 • The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission, Session #9
Intro.
- The life of Christ and His teachings sparked a radical movement, a movement initially limited to the people of Israel. Due to it's radical nature, it could not be contained to one race of people. Indeed, that was never the intention.
- Christ had commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel, the news of His life, death, resurrection, ascension and imminent return, to every creature, in every land.
- At first, that did not happen. The converts congregated, until persecution scattered them and before long, the Gospel broke out of the synogogues and into the streets.
- A little would happen here and then some there. Hints to what God was up to would break in. Then we come to Acts chapter 10.
- Peter, an elder of THE church, ends up in a Gentile's home, preaches the gospel and before he can finish, the entire household is speaking in tongues, filled with the spirit, saved like Peter!
- Using this as his impetus, Paul, the man that we are studying, takes this event and begins going out to the Gentiles, making great waves among the nations.
• Acts 14:26,27 : "From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles."
- There was acceptance of the Gentiles, but it seems to have been on a regional basis. Turn with me to Galatians 2. Paul describes the tension that existed over this issue.
• Galatians 2:11-13 : "Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy."
- This was the climate that was churning just prior to the chapter we have before us.
- Things came to a fever pitch with a theological question.
• Acts 15:1,2 : "And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.' Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question."
- Let me offer a summation of the rest of this section.
- What we have here in verses 1-5 is the controversy. The church responds with a council in verse 6. In verses 7-13, the Apostles testified regarding the Gentiles, providing confirmation.
• Acts 15:7-9 : "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."
- After hearing all of the data, the Apostle James, the lead Pastor of the Jersualem church, speaks up and offers this decree which spells out their concurrence.
• Acts 15:19,20 : "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."
- Finally, in verses 22-29, we see that the Church drafts a letter of consideration, which helps to clarify the issue between the Jews and the Gentiles.
• Acts 15:28,29 : "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
- Looking upon this episode, one cannot help but note the health of this body of believers.
- There are three marks of wisdom that this church displayed. As men in a church I would think that in an effort for maturity, we would seek to readily adopt the same.
Text
• Acts 15:2 : "Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question." : Verse 1 identifies the source of this contention as certain men from Judea.
- These men will later be known as the Judaizers. They majored on the argument that circumcision and the upholding of the Mosaic law was necessary for salvation to take affect.
- When Paul and Barnabas encountered these men, they fought against these ideas.
- It was this passion that sparked the need for the Jerusalem council to take place.
- The argument itself strikes at the very heart of what Paul and Barnabas were experiencing.
- Notice the next verses:
• Acts 15:3-5 : "So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, 'It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.'"
- "Gentiles are getting saved! Lives, destinies are being altered!" The reports are glorious. But here again, in their midst, are new believers with a very strong tie to the old ways.
- Pharisees who had come to believe in Jesus as the Christ, stood up and insisted that these new converts should be circumcised.
- It's interesting to note the contrast between the response of the apostles. To the "certain men" of verse 1, there is heated discussion. Here though, there is not as strong a response.
- The difference, I believe, might be in the phrase "Pharisees who believed." It may be that they were passionate about the Word, but confused as to the application.
- In my experience, as I am sure you can attest to as well, there are times when you fight against an outsider who just wants to provoke a response, and then there are times with a brother, who is just not informed theologically.
- My response to the former may be much more passionate than my response to the latter.
- The center of this issue is theological, biblical. It's grounded in the deepest part of God's heart for the nations. The ramifications are practical.
- Make no mistake about it: Theology and the study of God's Word is paramount to our survival! In the early church, they thrived on it. They lived for it. In many cases, they died for it!
- Turn with me to II Timothy. These are Paul's last recorded words to his protege. As such, they carry extra added significance.
• II Timothy 2:1-4 : "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
- Indeed for much of the church at large, the time has come for "itching ears theology" to dominate Christendom.
- The early Church was zealous, excited about God's Word. Today, I hear of people getting excited about the latest and greatest fad. I hear about this "great teacher" here, or there, and when I listen, there is little meat to glean. "Just another storyteller."
- Men, if your appetite for God's Word is waning, you had better check yourself and ask why that is and soon!
• Acts 15:6 : "Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute," : Seldom will this happen in the early church. We do not hear much about meetings between the brethren.
- However, when the occasion arose everything stopped and the group convened.
- Why? Because this was contentious! We have seen the tone prior to the meeting, and I read into verse 7 to show that the meeting itself was filled with "much dispute."
- This was not a slam dunk issue, especially for these first century Jews, for whom the law of Moses was deeply ingrained.
- Think of what the conversations must have been like? "Are we turning away from our faith and emerging into something else?" "Are we making it too easy to be saved?" "Why then did WE have to be circumcised and follow the law?"
- These issues were flying high in the hearts of these Apostles and elders. This had to be settled, for the sake of their collective conscience, but more importantly for the sake of their unity.
- Men, the message is simple: Unity is worth fighting for!
- Turn with me to Ephesians 4. Paul has been writing about the gospel, explaining in condensed form, the glory of the doctrine of Soteriology. What does he write next?
• Ephesians 4:1-3 : "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
- Notice the word "endeavoring." It's also translated "to be diligent" about something. It means to "exert oneself" in something.
- It takes effort. It sometimes takes painful effort to maintain unity within a body of believers. How much more does it take a denomination or an entire movement?
- Unity does not just happen. There has to be intentional discussions, some that carry on for a good deal of time.
- Unity is not cheaply arrived at! It's costly and thus highly valued! Within the church, we are called to this unity.
- What does unity mean? Does it mean that we agree on everything? That would be impossible! We're just people and as such, all sinners redeemed by Christ.
- The best quote that I have ever heard about the subject of unity continues to be the mantra to follow today. To my knowledge this quote comes from Augustine, who said that we are to have "Unity in the essentials and charity in the non-essentials."
- In our context today, the message of the gospel and our unifying behind it cannot be more strongly underscored.
• Acts 15:28-31 : "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement." : When the disciples, Apostles and elders met, there were questions posed, evidence examined and answers explored. It must have been an exhausting experience.
- What happens from there is pretty important. The leaders don't leave anything to chance. Imagine if they had just decreed verbally the things that had been learned?
- We would be one cut away from being another Jewish sect!
- I'm thankful that they took the time to write things out, clearly and concisely. Whenever salvation is involved, communication is a premium item.
- First of all, there is a clear dilineation of authority. "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit..."
- It's always a good thing to observe what was not said. Notice that they did not say, "We feel that it would just be better if you..." Neither did they say, "We have come to an agreement together."
- Their communication was based on the authority of what God had spoken and directed them toward. This was not just based on the Apostles' experience, but on the counsel of the Word.
- For deeper study on this particular point, please note verses 15-17. James recognizes that what he was hearing was in concert with what was written in Amos 9:11 and 12.
- The Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, confirmed the actions that Peter, Paul and Barnabas experienced.
- In my communication with other brothers, with the church at large, with my family or my kids, I want to first communicate what seems good to God. Then I want to acknowledge agreement.
- For example, a brother will come to me with an issue. I want to take him as soon as I understand his issue right to what God says about his issue, preferably with his own Bible.
- With my kids, I don't want to tell them, "I would prefer that you not cuss because that offends me." I want to say, "The Bible says, 'let no unwholesome talk proceed from your lips, except such as brings edification..." of course, in a kid friendly way!
- Second, the communication brought clarity. Salvation was not about circumcision. Believe in Jesus Christ and you are saved. But while salvation is not about circumcision, it is concerned with community.
- The Gentiles were now keeping company with Jews. it was necessary for them to live with some sensitivity. They could not just act any way that they wanted or had learned.
- Our communication is important, being clear and passing it on is a vital part of being part of the church.
- How often have we given lazy, thoughtless answers about things relating to God? How much worse to do this with someone's soul hanging in the balance?
- The result is easy to see and I might suggest, a proof that what has been given has been godly, and righteous communication. Verse 31 says that they rejoiced over the letter.
- When we communicate correctly, that will be the end result. There might be sadness initially, but joy in the understanding that Jesus Christ has brought forgiveness and cleansing for their sin.
Conclusion
- The marks of this church's maturity is found in their passion for the Word, their priority in achieving unity and their purpose in communication.
- This year, I pray that we can, as a church and as individuals, reach new heights in each of these categories.
"Let Us Reason" • 1.6.08 • The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission, Session #9
Intro.
- The life of Christ and His teachings sparked a radical movement, a movement initially limited to the people of Israel. Due to it's radical nature, it could not be contained to one race of people. Indeed, that was never the intention.
- Christ had commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel, the news of His life, death, resurrection, ascension and imminent return, to every creature, in every land.
- At first, that did not happen. The converts congregated, until persecution scattered them and before long, the Gospel broke out of the synogogues and into the streets.
- A little would happen here and then some there. Hints to what God was up to would break in. Then we come to Acts chapter 10.
- Peter, an elder of THE church, ends up in a Gentile's home, preaches the gospel and before he can finish, the entire household is speaking in tongues, filled with the spirit, saved like Peter!
- Using this as his impetus, Paul, the man that we are studying, takes this event and begins going out to the Gentiles, making great waves among the nations.
• Acts 14:26,27 : "From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles."
- There was acceptance of the Gentiles, but it seems to have been on a regional basis. Turn with me to Galatians 2. Paul describes the tension that existed over this issue.
• Galatians 2:11-13 : "Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy."
- This was the climate that was churning just prior to the chapter we have before us.
- Things came to a fever pitch with a theological question.
• Acts 15:1,2 : "And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.' Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question."
- Let me offer a summation of the rest of this section.
- What we have here in verses 1-5 is the controversy. The church responds with a council in verse 6. In verses 7-13, the Apostles testified regarding the Gentiles, providing confirmation.
• Acts 15:7-9 : "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."
- After hearing all of the data, the Apostle James, the lead Pastor of the Jersualem church, speaks up and offers this decree which spells out their concurrence.
• Acts 15:19,20 : "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."
- Finally, in verses 22-29, we see that the Church drafts a letter of consideration, which helps to clarify the issue between the Jews and the Gentiles.
• Acts 15:28,29 : "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
- Looking upon this episode, one cannot help but note the health of this body of believers.
- There are three marks of wisdom that this church displayed. As men in a church I would think that in an effort for maturity, we would seek to readily adopt the same.
I. Passion For The Word (v.1-5)
II. Priority For Their Unity (v.6)
III. Purpose For Their Communication (v.28-31)
II. Priority For Their Unity (v.6)
III. Purpose For Their Communication (v.28-31)
Text
I. Passion For The Word (v.1-5)
• Acts 15:2 : "Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question." : Verse 1 identifies the source of this contention as certain men from Judea.
- These men will later be known as the Judaizers. They majored on the argument that circumcision and the upholding of the Mosaic law was necessary for salvation to take affect.
- When Paul and Barnabas encountered these men, they fought against these ideas.
- It was this passion that sparked the need for the Jerusalem council to take place.
- The argument itself strikes at the very heart of what Paul and Barnabas were experiencing.
- Notice the next verses:
• Acts 15:3-5 : "So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, 'It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.'"
- "Gentiles are getting saved! Lives, destinies are being altered!" The reports are glorious. But here again, in their midst, are new believers with a very strong tie to the old ways.
- Pharisees who had come to believe in Jesus as the Christ, stood up and insisted that these new converts should be circumcised.
- It's interesting to note the contrast between the response of the apostles. To the "certain men" of verse 1, there is heated discussion. Here though, there is not as strong a response.
- The difference, I believe, might be in the phrase "Pharisees who believed." It may be that they were passionate about the Word, but confused as to the application.
- In my experience, as I am sure you can attest to as well, there are times when you fight against an outsider who just wants to provoke a response, and then there are times with a brother, who is just not informed theologically.
- My response to the former may be much more passionate than my response to the latter.
- The center of this issue is theological, biblical. It's grounded in the deepest part of God's heart for the nations. The ramifications are practical.
- Make no mistake about it: Theology and the study of God's Word is paramount to our survival! In the early church, they thrived on it. They lived for it. In many cases, they died for it!
- Turn with me to II Timothy. These are Paul's last recorded words to his protege. As such, they carry extra added significance.
• II Timothy 2:1-4 : "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
- Indeed for much of the church at large, the time has come for "itching ears theology" to dominate Christendom.
- The early Church was zealous, excited about God's Word. Today, I hear of people getting excited about the latest and greatest fad. I hear about this "great teacher" here, or there, and when I listen, there is little meat to glean. "Just another storyteller."
- Men, if your appetite for God's Word is waning, you had better check yourself and ask why that is and soon!
II. Priority For Their Unity (v.6)
• Acts 15:6 : "Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute," : Seldom will this happen in the early church. We do not hear much about meetings between the brethren.
- However, when the occasion arose everything stopped and the group convened.
- Why? Because this was contentious! We have seen the tone prior to the meeting, and I read into verse 7 to show that the meeting itself was filled with "much dispute."
- This was not a slam dunk issue, especially for these first century Jews, for whom the law of Moses was deeply ingrained.
- Think of what the conversations must have been like? "Are we turning away from our faith and emerging into something else?" "Are we making it too easy to be saved?" "Why then did WE have to be circumcised and follow the law?"
- These issues were flying high in the hearts of these Apostles and elders. This had to be settled, for the sake of their collective conscience, but more importantly for the sake of their unity.
- Men, the message is simple: Unity is worth fighting for!
- Turn with me to Ephesians 4. Paul has been writing about the gospel, explaining in condensed form, the glory of the doctrine of Soteriology. What does he write next?
• Ephesians 4:1-3 : "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
- Notice the word "endeavoring." It's also translated "to be diligent" about something. It means to "exert oneself" in something.
- It takes effort. It sometimes takes painful effort to maintain unity within a body of believers. How much more does it take a denomination or an entire movement?
- Unity does not just happen. There has to be intentional discussions, some that carry on for a good deal of time.
- Unity is not cheaply arrived at! It's costly and thus highly valued! Within the church, we are called to this unity.
- What does unity mean? Does it mean that we agree on everything? That would be impossible! We're just people and as such, all sinners redeemed by Christ.
- The best quote that I have ever heard about the subject of unity continues to be the mantra to follow today. To my knowledge this quote comes from Augustine, who said that we are to have "Unity in the essentials and charity in the non-essentials."
- In our context today, the message of the gospel and our unifying behind it cannot be more strongly underscored.
III. Purpose For Their Communication (v.28-31)
• Acts 15:28-31 : "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement." : When the disciples, Apostles and elders met, there were questions posed, evidence examined and answers explored. It must have been an exhausting experience.
- What happens from there is pretty important. The leaders don't leave anything to chance. Imagine if they had just decreed verbally the things that had been learned?
- We would be one cut away from being another Jewish sect!
- I'm thankful that they took the time to write things out, clearly and concisely. Whenever salvation is involved, communication is a premium item.
- First of all, there is a clear dilineation of authority. "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit..."
- It's always a good thing to observe what was not said. Notice that they did not say, "We feel that it would just be better if you..." Neither did they say, "We have come to an agreement together."
- Their communication was based on the authority of what God had spoken and directed them toward. This was not just based on the Apostles' experience, but on the counsel of the Word.
- For deeper study on this particular point, please note verses 15-17. James recognizes that what he was hearing was in concert with what was written in Amos 9:11 and 12.
- The Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, confirmed the actions that Peter, Paul and Barnabas experienced.
- In my communication with other brothers, with the church at large, with my family or my kids, I want to first communicate what seems good to God. Then I want to acknowledge agreement.
- For example, a brother will come to me with an issue. I want to take him as soon as I understand his issue right to what God says about his issue, preferably with his own Bible.
- With my kids, I don't want to tell them, "I would prefer that you not cuss because that offends me." I want to say, "The Bible says, 'let no unwholesome talk proceed from your lips, except such as brings edification..." of course, in a kid friendly way!
- Second, the communication brought clarity. Salvation was not about circumcision. Believe in Jesus Christ and you are saved. But while salvation is not about circumcision, it is concerned with community.
- The Gentiles were now keeping company with Jews. it was necessary for them to live with some sensitivity. They could not just act any way that they wanted or had learned.
- Our communication is important, being clear and passing it on is a vital part of being part of the church.
- How often have we given lazy, thoughtless answers about things relating to God? How much worse to do this with someone's soul hanging in the balance?
- The result is easy to see and I might suggest, a proof that what has been given has been godly, and righteous communication. Verse 31 says that they rejoiced over the letter.
- When we communicate correctly, that will be the end result. There might be sadness initially, but joy in the understanding that Jesus Christ has brought forgiveness and cleansing for their sin.
Conclusion
- The marks of this church's maturity is found in their passion for the Word, their priority in achieving unity and their purpose in communication.
- This year, I pray that we can, as a church and as individuals, reach new heights in each of these categories.
1 comment:
1 The church in Acts was passionate about the Word of God. Do you identify with their passion or is their passion foreign to you? Explain what contributes to your attitude about the Word. What things do you need to do practically to inspire passion with regard to God's Word?
2 The church in Acts prioritized their unity, meeting together to work out the issue of their day. How can we enter into the maintenance of unity with people around us, especially with those around us that belong to other Christian denominations? What issues derail us in the endeavor to keep the unity among us?
3 The church in Acts was had a purpose for their communication and the result was clarity and encouragement for the churches. What are the missteps that we make in communication? Where do you need to improve in your endeavor to communicate more effectively and in a more godly manner?
Post a Comment