Contention and Declaration (021824)
Pastor Joseph Campbell
Truth in Love (2024) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 50:12
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Scripture Reading: Acts 11:19-30.
Title: Contention or Declaration
Review:
Stephen, one of the first deacons, is martyred for his faith in Christ. (Acts 7)
Saul - who will become the Apostle Paul - is saved. (Acts 9)
The Gentiles - through the Apostle Peter - are “officially” welcomed into the body of Christ. (Acts 10)
Which brings us to chapter 11 where will being to see the further outworking of Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Contention
Contention
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
They of the circumcision…
Some believe that these were Jewish believers who held that believers still needed to observe the Old Testament Jewish laws particularly that of circumcision
Others believe that these were those Jewish individuals - likely Pharisees - who taught that to truly be saved, an individual must not only accept the Gospel message but that they also must be circumcized; who added works to salvation.
The Apostle Paul would later go to battle against these Judaizers (as they became known) who began causing problems in the churches of Galatia.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
It must be pointed out that salvation has nothing to do with works!
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Now, these of the circumcision, back in Acts chapter 11, had a problem. They did not seem to have a problem with the fact that these Gentiles were being saved but their problem was with the fact that, as vs. 3, states, Peter ate/fellowshipped with these Gentile believers!
Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary ii. How the Great News Was Resented (11:2–3)
In their eyes, no more serious charge could be leveled against a fellow Jew. Peter had broken the religious taboo: he had ceremonially defiled himself, and he deserved to be excommunicated.
What is contention?
Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (1359 διακρίνομαι)
1359 διακρίνομαι (diakrinomai), διακρίνω (diakrinō): vb.; ≡ DBLHebr 9149; Str 1252; TDNT 3.946—1. LN 30.109 evaluate carefully, judge (1Co 14:29); 2. LN 30.99 prefer, judge as superior (1Co 4:7); 3. LN 30.113 make a distinction, to judge there is a difference (Ac 15:9); 4. LN 31.37 (dep.) doubt, be uncertain (Ro 14:23; Ac 10:20; Jas 1:6; Jude 22+); 5. LN 33.444 (dep.) dispute, argue (Jude 9+); 6. LN 33.412 (dep.) criticize, express disapproval (Ac 11:2+)
Strife; struggle; a violent effort to obtain something, or to resist a person, claim or injury; contest; quarrel.
Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy.
Is contention always wrong?
Jude 3 (KJV 1900)
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Galatians 5:1 (JPCS Ga): Truth is truth; error is error. The two are at war. There must be no giving in on a single issue where error is involved.
In a recent article (AFN):
An apologist agrees with a well-respected Baptist pastor's prediction that Christians need to gear up for "the war of 2024."
Each of the areas [noted by this pastor] – truth, fact, faith, marriage, and the Church – are areas Scripture clearly defines but today's culture has distorted.
"Truth is that which corresponds to reality. In other words, truth is the way things really are," McFarland gives as an example. "But we're living in a time when people have relativized truth; in other words, truth is my perspective."
So, yes, we are in a battle for truth. We should never compromise when it comes to the truth! We are commanded to contend for the faith - the truth!
Truth is compromised when something is added to it.
Truth is compromised when something is taken away from it.
Either way, as Bible-believing Christians our duty is to join in the battle to fight for the faith of the truth of God’s Word.
Exploring the Epistle of Jude: An Expository Commentary a. What Jude Determined (v. 3b)
When the great truths of Christianity are attacked, it is criminal to sit on the sidelines;
But that is not what we have before us here in Acts chapter 11…Henry Ironside wrote:
Lectures on the Book of Acts Lecture Nineteen: Peter’s Defense of His Gentile Ministry (Acts 11:1–18)
NO one, I think, can read this account thoughtfully without realizing how prejudices control and dominate the hearts of men. Most of us are more under the power of prejudice in things religious than we realize. Sometimes what we call “conscience” is, after all, only prejudice. We profess we cannot have any sympathy with this or that person (because he does not see as we do) on account of our consciences—whereas, if we were honest, we should have to admit it was just because of our prejudices.
Herein, at times, lies the problem: determining the difference between truth and our prejudice.
I recently finished reading a book entitled, Biblical Separation, by Ernest Pickering, a book which was originally published in 1979.
In the last chapter of the book, when talking about how to implement separatist convictions, Dr. Pickering made these statements:
Fundamentalists and separatists are accustomed to seeing things in blacks and whites. For them (theoretically at least) there are no grays. From God’s viewpoint that is true. Our problem is that we cannot always tells immediately what is the right or wrong course of action in a given situation.
We need to develop the ability to distinguish between controversies that are necessary to defend the faith or protect the people of God, and controversies that are inspired by [strong] personal [passions] or carnal pride.
So, how can we begin to discern between what is necessary contending for the faith and unnecessary and harmful contention amongst ourselves?
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
We must base our position upon Scripture, not personal opinion (Gal. 5:14).
We must base our position upon Scripture, not personal opinion (Gal. 5:14).
We must live in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16) and be led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:18).
We must live in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16) and be led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:18).
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
I think, however, that this is where we, as independent Baptists, sometimes have difficulty.
Are thinking goes something like this:
“I have God’s Word and I have my convictions. Why do I need the Holy Spirit?”
In the following verses, Peter gives a complete defense of his actions in going to Caesarea and to the home of Cornelius.
Fortunately, the Jewish believers in Jerusalem accepted Peter’s witness of what took place because we read:
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Scripture, now, gives us another way in which we can steer clear of the wrong type of contention when we read:
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Declaration
Declaration
Map of Acts 11:19.
We have a choice to make…We can either focus on Contention or we can focus on Declaration - the declaration of the truth of God’s Word.
This is where we see the establishment of the local church in Antioch (of Syria).
The attention of Luke, in the writing of Acts, now begins to turn from the activities of the local church in Jerusalem to the activities of the local church in Antioch.
Vs. 19 states that these from Jerusalem preached to none but unto the Jews only.
But in the next verses we read:
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
So, here in Antioch, we are seeing Jews and Gentiles responding to the Gospel message. There wasn’t time for them to get into improper contention.
The church in Jerusalem “heard” about what was going on in Antioch.
They send Barnabas to Antioch to see “first hand” what was happening.
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Cleave to the Lord? That’s good advice for anyone!
However, the work was great in Antioch and Barnabas needed help. So, he went to Tarsus to find Saul and bring him back to Antioch.
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Taught much people? What did they teach the people in Antioch that had responded to the Gospel?
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
They taught them the truth.
That is also our focus.
We want to be that church in Pineville where individuals and families are able to:
Find the truth.
Grow in the truth.
Learn to live the truth.
Learn to share the truth.
All in the love of God.
That is, I believe, exactly what Barnabas and Saul, for an entire year, attempted to do in Antioch.
What about us? Are we going to focus on Contention or Declaration?