Standing in God’s Way
Lessons from the 1st Century Church | A Study through the Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 7 viewsOne can be standing in the way of God and not even realize it. it is through the spoken Word of God and the Holy Spirit that one is shown this truth.
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Focus Passage | Acts 11:1-18
Opening Passage | Acts 11:1-3
1 Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, the Jewish believers took issue with him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Outline |
Are You Allowing Legalism to Stand in God’s Way (vv. 1-3)
As we look at our text, I wish to bring out the difference between the KJV and the NASB for clarity sake of the message. We read within our text, the Jewish believers took issue with him. The KJV makes it a little clearer of who these brothers and sisters are.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
Where both translations are correct, the KJV emphasizes that they were of the circumcision. They were devout, orthodox Jews. These Jews let their legalism stand in the way. How do you know this? How do you know when you are allowing legalism to stand in the way of God’s way?
You are more concerned with delivery than you are with the reception of the gospel (v. 1)
You are more concerned with the how than you are with the face they did (v. 2)
The Jewish brethren and sisters that were mentioned within our text were orthodox. They were Jews that every other Jew strived to be. If you will, they were the core of the Jewish community. They would be those that are the core of the church today. They are there every time the doors are open. They are there every time there is a need. They are read their Bible every day, several times a day. They pray morning, noon, and night. They memorize the Law and live by the Law. They expect others to live out that same Law.
For them, they being legalistic in ignorance. They thought they were being faithful to God. They did not have the full cannon of Scripture as us. They did not realize the Gospel moving forward according to God’s plan. They felt that if someone was going to accept Christ, they had to become a Jew first and then they could find Christ. Yet, as we look within the Scripture, we find that this was just the Great Commission of Acts being fleshed out before them, but they were not seeing it..
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
There is nothing wrong with progress and change. Although, we do not like change, there’s nothing wrong with it. What I believe God wants us to see within our text, is that the message remains the same…
12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
…The delivery, means by which we share the gospel, and the audience continues to change. No longer was it just the Jews that were being exposed to the Gospel, it was the Gentiles hearing the gospel, accepting the Gospel, and being redeemed by the blood of Christ. This leads to another point that reveals you are standing in God’s way.
You are allowing differences to stand in the way of unity (v. 3)
The Jews were understanding of other Jews coming to know Christ. However, when they heard that Gentiles were being saved, that was a whole other story. They were over looking the fact that these men and women were getting saved and having their souls changed for eternity. They just knew that they were considered unclean and wanted nothing to do with them. They were beneath them.
What does this look like within the church today? Many make these same judgment calls when we do not think those with tats can be saved. We make these same judgment calls when we think the convict and the felon cannot be saved. We make these same judgment calls when we think the addict, the long haired hippie, the gay couple next door, or the guy with rap sheet three days long on the other side of town cannot be saved. Even worse, if they can be saved, God I’m not the one to share the gospel to them and nor is my church. That’s the church’s job down the street, but not ours.
News flash, it is our duty. More so, our privilege to go and share the gospel to everyone despite, sexual orientation, despite style, despite skin color, despite socioeconomic status, despite past, rap sheets, or current, past addictions. We are called to share. We must learn/be reminded of the lessons learned by the Jews that day today…
There is no difference between any of us in the Lord (Galatians 3:28)
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Whereas at one time there was a difference, God broke down the wall of division through Christ on the cross (Ephesians 2:12-16)
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.
You at one time were lost just like them. Someone shared the gospel with you, despite you, and you called upon the name of Jesus. You are no better than they…Go and share. (Ephesians 2:1-5)
1 And you were dead in your offenses and sins, 2 in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
If God can save you, He can save them…Stop letting legalism stand in the way.
Are You Allowing Religion Stand in the Way of God (vv. 4-14)
Within vv. 4-15, Peter begins to details what transpired as he went up on his roof that fateful day that God revealed His plan of furthering the gospel message from the Jews to Gentiles. To emphasize the point of truth and drive of God behind this revelation Peter details that the vision happened three times and then the mentioning of three men coming. This is no accident. Three within the Jewish people was a number of finality or completion. It was as if God was saying, “Finally, the gospel is headed to Gentiles.”
As we look over this text, we are reminded of Peter’s personal testimony and the importance of one’s personal testimony. No one can deny your story. It’s your story. It’s what has happened to you. Some of us have been raised in church our whole life. Some of us have a nasty past and one that we would like to deny. However, God’s grace is sufficient for both. For Peter, he was a Jew, a faithful Jew. As he told God…
8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
What other truths do we find that we can apply to our lives and realize that our personal righteousness is no excuse to not follow God’s plan. We should not allow previous religious baggage to keep us from being obedient to the Lord.
Peter’s personal testimony declares three points of evidence in his defense
Peter’s vision from God (vv. 5-11)
The Spirit’s witness (vv. 12-15) - ‘…And the Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings…And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us as the beginning…’
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; 14 and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.
The Word’s witness (v. 16)
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
Who are You and I to stand in God’s Way (vv. 17-18)
17 Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
If people are coming to Christ, get out of the way (v. 17)
If people are coming to Christ, stop griping about how they are coming to Christ - ‘…they quieted down…’
If people are coming to Christ, start praising God - ‘…and glorified God…’
Conclusion |
Whereas delivery changes, the message remains the same. No matter whether a church uses the KJV and sings out of the Heavenly Highway and Baptist Hymnal, or uses the CSB and sings contemporary songs, as long as the gospel is shared, who cares? Whether a church has a music minister and choir, and even has the full orchestra, or lead worship leader with a praise team and band, as long as they are glorifying God, what does it matter? If a church has a pastor who wears a suit and another church has a pastor wearing shorts on Sunday morning, as long as the gospel is declared, who cares? We need to get out of religious dogma and begin to care about whether the Word of God is being preached and taught. We are to be concerned with the gospel being shared and people being saved. We are to be about the true gospel being shared.
Peter did just that. He declared the gospel. He declared the truth. He declared that salvation was found in Jesus Christ alone. He declared that salvation was found through one putting their faith in Jesus Christ and repenting of their sin. As he told the brothers and sisters that day…
17 Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ? Have you called upon His name?
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
13 for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
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