Principles for Dissension-- Acts 15

Prayer psalm 133:1

Introduction

Turn to Acts 15

Over the last several chapters in Acts

The Gentile church has been saved by grace.

Gentile Disciples have been strengthened by grace.

But today, we are going to see that the Honeymoon is Over… and these diverse christians that make up the unviersal church of Christ have got to learn to live together.

The issue of Jews and Gentiles that has popped up every now and then throughout the Book of Acts is coming to a head, and the way the church handles it is not only amazing and full of wisdom but also offers 3 principles that will aid us in dealing with similar issues!

And these principles are so important to live the Christian life in fellowship with other Christians and the world around us.

Because in the church, in our church, there are various beliefs, traditions, backgrounds and stances on things that provide great opportunity for division and dissension and is one of the most blatant attacks of the Enemy to maim or mar the image of Christ.

And as we grow numerically, bringing in more and more people who are different in background, but also different in maturity, how do we maintain unity?

How do we handle the differences and inevitable dissensions we will face?

That’s what we are going to see today in Acts 15.

So let’s begin by reading our text, and familarizing ourself with the ISSUE at Hand, and then take some time to disect the 3 Principles together.

The Issue

Dissension (1-2a)

Acts 15:1-2 “But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.”

Context

Paul and Barnabas had recently returned from their first missionary journey where they saw churches planted with multitudes of disciples. And they are now in Antioch continuing to celebrate Acts 14:27 “how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.”

When some men came down from Judea.

Okay, so this is AD. 49. Christ was Crucified in AD 30. So 20 years after this whole thing got started, a dissension is occurring.

AS one pastor put it… the HoneyMoon is over. Now these Jews and Gentiles have to learn to live with each other.

And they came down… not because Antioch is geographically south but because its down hill. Jerusalem sits on a hill.

And the reason for their visit is that they had heard about these Gentile Church’s, and were mad that Paul and Barnabas weren’t requiring Circumcision and Adherence to the Mosaic Law for salvation.

But Paul and Barnabas “had no small dissension with them.”

and the implications of this dissension were enormous. Either salvation was by grace alone, or by Grace + Law.

Debate (2b-7a)

Acts 15:2-7 “Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate...”

So Paul and Barnabas and a few others rise up and head to Jerusalem to meet with the proper authorities of the Church, the apostles (Peter as Chief) and the Elders (James, the brother of Jesus as head of the church in Jerusalem).

And hilariously they kind of go on a campaign march through Phoenicia and Samaria, building support for the cause.

When the arrived they “declared all that God had done” vs. 4.

Acts 15:5 “But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.””

So here’s the question at play: Do Gentile converts have to become Jewish as it regards Jewish ritualistic religion in order to be Christians?

This is a HUGE question, because it is question regarding the Gospel!?

What is actually required for salvation? Is it Grace through faith!?

Or is it grace + Law?

And church, these weren’t bad people. Look at vs. 5 BUT SOME BELIEVERS...

These were believers. Other Christians. It would be so much easier to dismiss these Judaizers if they had horns. If they were evil. But they aren’t. They are Christians. Followers of Jesus Christ.

And their understanding of salvation isn’t crazy. If you put yourself in their shoes you’d acknowledge:

For most of the last 20 years, all Christians were Jews.

Jesus was a Jew, and Jesus taught salvation comes from the Jews.

And previously if Gentiles wanted to convert to Judaism they needed to be circumcised and obey the Torah to convert. Why should that change now!?

From a strict Jewish standpoint there was no salvation apart from belonging to the Covenant Community, Israel. And to be a part of Israel, a Gentile must take the covenant adherence of circumcision and adopt the law of Moses.

And their dissension and debate with Paul and Barnabas isn’t crazy either. If you put yourslef in their shoes you’d see:

They are just products of their upbringing. These guys are Pharisees.

Think of their immersion in Mosaic Law and tradition.

Think of the pride they felt as being the chosen people of God.

The pride of attaining the level of a Pharisee, how he must have burst with satisfaction as he put on the dignified robes of a leader of God’s people.

They were just leaning into their backgrounds and training to ensure that no Christians slipped past Sinai on the way to Calvary.

These guys aren’t much different than you and I. They are just products of their upbringing.

We all are. Each of us brings with us our own doctrinal or practical distortions of church or of discipleship because of our past experiences of environments.

And 7a, There was a lot of debate around this… but finally it came to a head.

Declaration (7b-21)

Acts 15:7-11 “And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.””

Credibility of Experience (7b-11)

The Chief Apostle Speaks

Peter reminds them of Acts 10 and Acts 11. The vision of the sheet with animals, and the salvation of Cornelius and all his household.

Reminds them that God made no distiction between the Gentiles or Jews when he gave His Holy Spirit to them just as he had to Peter in Acts 2. And the ony thing that was required then was FAITH.

Then he says, “Why then place a yoke on their necks that neither you or our faithers have been able to bear!”

Why require GRACE + LAW?

Peter is reminding the Jews, that the LAW was too much for them. IN fact the whole point of the Law was to show how impossible it was to follow, and consequently reveal their sin and need for a Savior!

So Peter’s conclusion: SALVATION IS THROUGH GRACE ALONE.

Peter, Paul and Barnabas (12)

Acts 15:12 “And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.”

Paul and Barnabas knew when to seize a moment so they jumped in and began corrobating Peter’s Cornelius story with their own about Sergius Paulus (acts 13), and the disciples in Antioch in Pisidia, Lystra, Derbe (acts 14).

So Peter institutes a Declaration driven by experience, and supported by Paul and Barnabas.

And all the assembly fell silent.

Credibility of Scripture (13-21)

But next, James institues a declaration driven by Scripture.

Acts 15:13-18 “After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from 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 I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’”

Now the Chief Elder speaks.

This is James, the half-brother of Jesus, not James the Apostle (he was killed by Herod remember).

This James was leader of the church in Jerusalem, and held the nickname James the Just. In fact, it was reported that when he died his knees had callouses due to how often he hit his knees in prayer throughout his life.

In essence, his voice carried weight!

And his argument was based on the credibility of Scripture.

He quotes Amos 9. “That the remnant or rest of mankind, aka GENTILES the Goyim, the nations outside the nation of Israel will seek the Lord and be called by His name.”

He reminds his hearers that the inclusion of the Gentiles was long foretold by prophets of Old and christ himself.

With Peter and James in agreement… the matter is settled. The Decision is instituted.

Decision (22-35)

Acts 15:19-21 “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.””

Do not trouble them… AKA Layoff. It is grace alone.

But, then he confusingly provides some mosaic ritualistic restrictions (we will get there in a second).

So they decide to send the decision with a delegation to the Church in Antioch.

Acts 15:22-29 “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to …”

Acts 15:30-31 “So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.”

And Judas and Silas who were gifted in prophecy, remained in Antioch to Acts 15:32-35 “encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.”

Conclusion

The Issue Defined: What is actually required for salvation?

The Decision reached: Grace Alone, yet 3 restrictions for Gentile Believers.

So let’s now take a deeper look into the Principles at Play that can aid us with similar dissensions today.

The Principles

Principle #1: Resist False Gospels (vs. 2)

To be a church that is unified, we must RESIST FALSE GOSPELS.

The issue at hand was a question of the Gospel, what is acutally required for salvation.

The true Gospel teaches Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, but the Judaizers were preaching a Gospel (+) salvation.

Gospel + Law. And church this gospel is alive and well today too.

Legalism is a Christian life all about obeying rules and regulations, a series of do’s and don’ts.

This is contrary to the True Gospel of Grace Alone. As we talked about last week, Grace is effort, but it is opposed to earning. Legalism is earning. Doing certain things to earn standing or favor with God.

What does this sound like today?

You need to be baptized to be saved.

You need to practice sabbath on a particular day if you’re really christian.

You better not drink, have sex, or cuss if you want to be saved.

Dancing is of the devil, and rock and roll is Antichrist.

Do certain things, avoid others… then you can be saved.

Church this is Gospel +, and anything that is added to the Gospel of Grace is a False Gospel.

Anything added to the cross of Christ belittles his grace!

And we must resist False Gospels.

So let me just quickly say… YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CLEAN YOURSELF UP IN ORDER TO COME TO CHRIST. AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CLEAN YOURSELF UP TO COME TO THIS CHURCH.

But there are a few more False Gospels prevalent in our day and age that I want to call attention to

First- The Prosperity Gospel

The prosperity gospel teaches that Jesus is a means to health, wealth, and prosperity as opposed to a Savior that reconciles us to God.

Scripture is quoted often in the prosperity gospel, but always out of context.

And this is appealing, because who doesn’t want to live their best life now!?

It teaches that if you only have faith, then you can be healed of all infirmities, claim that next bonus and paycheck, and live the blessed life that Jesus offers.

But you won’t hear much about Jesus as a Suffering Servant. You won’t hear about the Cost of Discipleship, or the well directed effort of grace.

Church, we must RESIST this false gospel because it is an active attept to dethrone Jesus and enthrone mankind.

It makes your desires for materialism, wealth, and health the ultimate aim… not Jesus’s desires to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God!

It is a False Gospel, and it must be Resisted. Debated. And Dissented

Secondly- The Self-Help Gospel

The central fallacy here is that the Gospel is primarily about you. This is the “me-first” movement.

And churches are full of it…Sermons sound like motivational Ted Talks.

Full of Scriptural references (so it sounds right!), but the focal point isn’t on the God of the Bible it’s on you.

And this is sooooo popular because who doesn’t want to hear a sermon about self every week!

How you can defeat the goliaths of your life, part your red seas… 3 avenues for overcoming anxiety. 4 steps to a better marriage, etc, etc, etc.

If you’re discerning, you’ll notice its all about you and consequently Jesus is here to aid you in self-improvement, rather than a means of redemption!

Now, does the Bible speak on anxiety? Marriage?Of course! But, those things are not the primary message of the Gospel. Jesus will improve and transform your lives and marraiges, and everything else… but it won’t sound like Dr. Phil or Oprah.

The Self Help Gospel is a false gospel, and it must be resisted. Debated, and Dissented. Christ is the center of Christianity, not self.

Finally- the Political Gospel

This is a message that has really emerged strongly since 2020. It’s a message that teaches people to place their hope not in the God that is Sovereign, but in the Elephant or Donkey.

Our hope is not in political parties or candidates. Now of course politics are important. And government has massive implications on our lives, and we aren’t called to ignore that.

However we are called to engage it differently. To live in allegience to a Greater King, and call others’ attention to that King (regardless of red or blue).

When governments are gone, the church will remain. Our hope then cannot be in political parties, but in the Prince of Peace.

Resist this gospel. Debate it. Dissent it.

That’s what Paul and Barnabas, Peter and James did here. They didn’t capitulate. They didn’t choose passivity. When it came to a question about the essence of the Gospel, they resisted. They debated. They dissented.

But we must take it a step further, we don’t just resist false gospels we require the true gospel.

Principle #2: Require the True Gospel (vs. 19)

Secondly, to be a church that is Unifed we must Require Faith by Grace Alone.

Peter emphatically stated in vs. 11, “But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

James jumped in and said in vs. 19, “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.”

We shouldn’t add any additional requirements on them. The only requirement is faith by Grace Alone.

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

Church, your salvation… the fact that you get what you don’t deserve, because He in his mercy and grace took what you do deserve… is all because of Him.

I try to illustrate the Gospel to my kids all the time. Here’s one way I’ve tried, but it really backfired.

Deserved a Spanking.

I choose to take his spanking for me, in essence illustrating Chris’t substitutionary work.

My Oldest… No dad. No. I can’t.

My Middle… Wore me out.

So the illustration backfired, but you still get the point.

He choose to take it for us. All because of His Grace.

So we Resist False Gospels, Require the True Gospel, but James actually gave us a final principle.

We Restrict Freedoms for Fellowship

Principle #3: Restrict Freedoms for Fellowship (vs. 20-21)

Acts 15:19-21 “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.””

James says… Grace alone, but then immediately lists 3 restrictions on the Gentile Believers.

Was he being hyprocritical? Was he trying to show us how to properly ride a fence? What’s going on here!?

3 Restrictions- first what are the 3 restrictions.

Food to Idols

Eating food offered to idols was part of pagan idolatry, and Gentile culture. But that was massively offensive to to the monotheistic Jews. But as Paul wrote, in Christ “there no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one”. So there isn’t anything inherently wrong with eating food offered to idols, but James says…

Don’t do it though, so as not to needlessly offend the Jewish Brothers and Sisters.

Sexual Immorality

Sexual promiscuisty was an obvious offense, but that’s not what is meant here. Gentile religions revolved around sex rites, temple prostitution, and orgyistic rituals… so James was saying… have nothing to do with these former ways of worship. Even attending those ceremonies is sinful and this is repulsive to the people of God.

Strangled Animals

Strangled meat retains blood. Jewish law though demanded that any animals eaten must have the blood completely drained.

Eating the blood of animals was one of the most offensive Gentile practices to the Jewish community, so in order to avoid needless offense restrict your eating.

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with a rare steak, but have it done medium well for the sake of fellowship.

Here’s the Principle: although free from these rituals, embrace them for the sake of fellowship.

There were Jews scattered throughout their cities, and by being sensitive to these matters the church may be able to win them to Christ!

Paul addresses this directly in 1 Cor 8, 9, and 10 and concerning food to idols he says, “We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this RIGHT OF YOURS does not somehow become a stumbling block to others.”

Paul was free from the law, because Christ is the end of the law for all who believe (romans 10:4), but in approaching Jews he would conform to Jewish practices that would enable him to win the Jews.

And as long as Gentile practices confirmed to God’s moral laws he would conform to them, to win them to Christ.

He writes, All things are lawful… everything is permissible, but not all things are helpful or constructive or profitable for fellowship.

So, restrict some of your own freedoms for the sake of fellowship.

Avoid actions that may be permissible for you, if it hinders the faith of others.

Lay down your rights and your preferences, instead of asserting them.

So… what does this look like!?

is alcohol impermissible!?

Some in this room say no, some say yes. Is it a Gospel issue? No.

So what do we do? Do we debate and dissent and divide? No. We restrict our freedoms for fellowship.

Should Christians vote red and some blue?

Some in this room say red, some say blue. Is it a Gospel issue? No.

So what do we do? Do we debate and dissent and divide? No. We withhold our preferences, isntead of asserting them for the sake of fellowship.

Now… are there political issues that pertain to biblical morality? Absolutely. Debate them, discuss them.

but at the end of the day, can somebody who votes different than you be a Christian?

Should the music be traditional or contemporary? KJV or ESV? Alter Calls or not? Homeschool or Public School, and on and on and on we could go.

Learn from Acts 15: Is it a Gospel issue? No.

So what do we do? Do we debate and dissent and divide? No. We restrict our freedoms for fellowship.

In the church, in this church, there are various beliefs, traditions, stances on things that bring division and dissension, and if its not a gospel issue, we restrict our freedoms, lay aside our preferences and fight for the fellowship of the faith.

Conclusion

3 Principles for a Grace Centered Community

Resist False Gospels

Require True Gospels

Restrict Freedoms for Fellowship

Due to the wisdom of the church leaders here in Acts 15 two massive outcomes came about:

The Gentile Mission wasn’t jepordized, but neither was the fellowship of Jews and Gentiles.

And I believe we can learn from this here today too.

And if we can apply these principles our Mission won’t be jepordized, and neither will our fellowship with those different than us.