GOD
ESTABLISHES HIS CHURCH IN THE WORLD
What
is God Doing?
Acts
15:1-35
Jerry
A Collins
SCC
7/13/03
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Is salvation by faith enough to get us to
heaven?
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How should we respond to false teaching?
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What is the basis of unity in the church?
You will sometimes find
yourself exhausted by what you may only be able to describe as attacks against
you. They can be external type like you may receive at work from an honest
mistake you made or an irritated boss you have or a jealous co-worker you are
confronted with. Then it seems that while you are trying to manage these kinds
of attacks they also take place internally, at home, in your marriage and
family or in your own personal life. These alternating
attacks from without and within, externally and internally can mount
against you and bring discouragement as well as being depressing trying to
resist pressures from all sides. You have been there, So
was the early church in Acts 15. It had just experienced another external
attack in chp 14 and no another blow internally is
about to take place. Satan’s technique of attacking externally then internally
has been taking place since chp 4 (4 ext- 5 Int; 5:17ff ext- 6:1-7 int). How
did the church manage this and what can we learn about this for today?
1. THE INTERNAL ATTACK IS DOCTRINAL 1-5
(1) The question raised in
vs. 1 is originally having to do with salvation.
Apparently salvation was invalid unless you were also circumcised. The
simplicity of salvation has been attacked ever since. For instance, Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else for there is
no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be
saved. All throughout Acts Jesus Christ has been preached and believed. As simple as that. But that seems to
simple. There has to be more.
(2) Looking at vs. 5 tho, the issue seems to include more. These Pharisees were
believers. And in vs. 11 Peter takes for granted that salvation is by grace
thru faith in Jesus Christ. We can conclude that the real issue raised was not
so much whether Gentiles could be saved without circumcision but whether
necessary vs. 5 to impose the law as a rule of life on them. This seems to be
the main issue addressed in the council to follow. These were not agreeing with
those in error in vs. 1 but they wanted to use the occasion to press for a
pharisaical manner of life among the Gentiles.
(3) vs. 2-4 tell us that Paul
& Barnabas argued vigorously against this error before suggestion to settle
it in Jerusalem. Both on the way there and upon arrival in Jerusalem they made
it a point to declare Gentile conversions which they never doubted thrilling
some and informing others. It was God’s work. It is thrilling to labor in the
field of God. There you witness much of His power, see people changed, God at
work and a deepening of your commitment to His word and His gospel. Yet you
also understand that the truth is always challenged even from those from within
as you report back about that work. Laboring in God’s field also includes
confronting false teaching.
2. THE DECISION IS TO
CONFRONT THE ERROR AND AFFIRM THE TRUTH 6-21
The Jerusalem Council
decision has a three-fold witness.
(1) The experience of
Peter in Cornelius’ house 7-11. Peter stood up and 3 times
referenced faith (7, 9, 11). He says that the issue
was settled years ago when in the early days when God saved Cornelius
and his household apart from circumcision, law-keeping and ritual. Looking back
about 10 yrs ago they heard the gospel and believed. It was then that they also
received the HS and the sign that they had was their
speaking in tongues (10:44-45) just as the Jews had when they first received
the HS in Acts 2. There was no doubt that what had happened to the Jews had
also happened to the Gentiles. There is no need for more evidence vs. 10.
Imposing a yoke not imposed by God would challenge and question God’s gracious
gospel. There was sufficient proof they were saved and no need to impose a yoke
on them that Israel
was not even able To bear when they had it. Besides, since they
all realized that salvation was by grace, this imposition would prove nothing
anyway vs. 11.
(2) The miracles of
Paul & Barnabas 12. Here they paraded God’s
wondrous works before this assembly showing God’s stamp of approval on their
teaching and ministry.
(3) James recites OT
scripture 13-21. James confirms these experiences with the Word of
God. A) In 14 affirms God inaugurating this work upon Gentiles thru Peter. B)
15-17 the testimony of OT from Amos 9:11-12. The point being that this
testimony verifies that Gentiles will be in the kingdom too. Gentiles will be
saved as Gentiles without becoming Jews first. When the kingdom is established
there will be a saved group of Gentiles who are still gentiles and not Jewish proselytes.
While Peter began by stressing that Gentiles in the past were saved and not
circumcised, James affirms that this will also be the case in the future
according to OT. Therefore Gentile salvation should not be troubled with any
obligations to the Law. Vs 18 he affirms that what is presently being seen is
but the outworking of God’s purposes from the beginning. We may be surprised
God is not! So in view of the presence of Jewish synagogues
everywhere 4 offensive practices avoided by Gentile believers giving minimum
offense to Jews. (food offered to idols,
fornication, strangled & blood, dietary laws). The reason for this in vs. 21 limits applying
it in our own day. Not something that insisted upon for the church in NT.
3. THE HS BRINGS UNITY AS TRUTH IS ESTABLISHED
22-35
(1) Key word here 4 times seemed good (22,
25, 28, 34). Suggests an agreement
with the truth. This letter discredit’s the heresy being spread in vs.
1. 1st effect of their teaching unsettles soul 24. 2nd content given no instruction 24. 3rd
authority totally denied 24. There is no polite way to deal with false
teaching. NT commands us to fervently confront it. In contrast esteem attached
to Paul & Barnabas 25-26. They have the credentials risking their lives for
the truth. Do not be quick to turn away from those of proven Xian character to
men relatively unknown into error. In vs. 28 under grace the true stress falls
on our privilege rather than our obligation as here to lay upon you no
greater burden than… (2) 3 outcomes: 1. Believers strengthened 30-33
(encouraged & peace). Souls unsettled now consoled and added
ministries of Judas & Silas strengthens the work. 2. Companion
prepared for Paul 34. Unknown to Paul & Barnabas was approaching rif. God foresees it and plans for
it for now it seems good to Silas to stay in Antioch and a companion for Paul
is prepared when the need arises. In service of the Lord
contingencies for future service foreseen by Him. Faithfulness brings
provision. 3. Word of God taught &
proclaimed 35. Obstacles removed the Word of God can be ministered effectively.