The Battle For Salvation

Intro:

Did anyone watch the presidential debate? oh boy, here we go. A debate or an argument usually has 2 sides. In this case it’s left vs right, or Democrat vs Republican. That’s as far as i would go with politics on stage.

At the end of Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas return from the mission field, reporting all the amazing things God has done among the Gentiles. Yes they faced trial and hardship, but God used it for good. And things just keep going more and more amazing from there.

Ministry is supposed to get easier and the mission were supposed to go smoothly, but they didn’t! That brings us to Acts chapter 15, the battle between believers. The church’s leaders fight over what it takes to become a Christian. Do you have to be a Christian like me? Do you have to become Jewish to be saved?

Candidate #1: Believing Pharisees – To be a Christian you have to become Jewish and obey the law.

Acts 15:1 “Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Paul calls them the “Circumcision party” in Galatians. They are a group of Jews who say that to be a Christian you have to become Jewish. You have to get circumcised. Starting with Abraham, it was the way God marked the Israelites as his people, and gave them a great sense of cultural and ethnic identity.

Candidate #2: Paul & Peter – Cultural identity, circumcision, and law-keeping won’t save you. We’re saved by grace.

Paul and Peter don’t think you have to become Jewish to be saved. They argue that we’re saved entirely by grace, not cultural or ethnic identity, not any other thing we do. We’re saved by grace, not works.

Now, like any debate, there has to be a clear winner usually measured by the polls, there are usually a couple debates. There are usually 3 debates, sometimes less but on average 3. After the last debate, the polls show who the winners are according to the voters. Here’s the big argument in the first debate.

1st Debate Topic: Division - You have to become cultural Jewish and obey the law to be saved. (v1-5)

Here’s what happened. The Christians who are Pharisees, the pro-circumcision party, they sent a group from southern Jerusalem up north 300 miles to Antioch. Antioch is the place where Paul and Barnabas preached and where Gentiles (non-Jews) are coming to faith.

They’re the first church to send out missionaries, Paul and Barnabas, and seem like they’re willing to try new things and preach the gospel. They’re the young cool church, like NCFC EC. But the group of Pharisees do not like what they’re seeing. People aren’t becoming Jewish or obeying the law.

We can actually read about what these Pharisees taught in Antioch in Galatians chapter 2.

Galatians 2:4-5 (NIV) “This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you”

Paul takes their arguments really seriously. He calls them false brothers, and says he wouldn’t yield, even for a moment. Paul describes how those pro-circumcision, pro-law, pro-Jewish identity Pharisees convinced Peter to not spend time with non-Jews anymore (v13 Barnabas was also lead astray).

Galatians 2:11-12 (NIV) “When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.”

Why would Peter do that? Didn’t God give him a supernatural vision of clean and unclean animals coming down from heaven and God telling him to eat them all? Didn’t Peter see the non-Jewish Centurion Cornelius and his family get filled with the Holy Spirit simply by their faith in Jesus? Yes. He did. We don’t know why Peter stopped eating with the Gentiles. Maybe it was because the circumcision party convinced him that his eating with non-Jews was a stumbling block for Jews coming to faith in Christ in Jerusalem.

We don’t know. But what we do know is that this is a gospel issue. This happens in today’s world, sadly.

A lady I know was kicked off the worship team because she decided to wear dress pants one day instead of the long dress that reaches her ankles. She was told, “This is not what pleases God. Pants were meant for men and not women, especially in the holy place the altar. We don’t believe in women wearing pants or makeup”

Cultural differences and obeying old laws, our laws. These are laws and beliefs from my country, from Latino countries. I can’t speak for others but that’s what I saw and experienced growing up.

I led a youth group that were not allowed to lead worship in the youth service, their own service. Why? because they weren’t baptized in water yet. I finally convinced the Pastor to let them sing and wow, we found some amazing talent among the youth group. But then the Pastor had a change of heart and said they can only sing off the stage. So, we had to move all the instruments off the stage and put them on the floor in front of the exit door and near the first row of seats. None the less, we worshipped God and it was great.

Paul and Barnabas head to Jerusalem to argue their case at the Jerusalem council, a meeting of church leaders. Before they can do so the pro-circumcision party speaks.

Acts 15:5 (NIV) “Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

Do you get what they’re doing here? They’re saying Jesus + cultural identity + law-keeping (aka. circumcision) = salvation. See, what they’re doing is gate-keeping. Do you know what gate-keeping is? It’s a term used by today’s generation. I looked up the definition and it says:

the activity of trying to control who gets particular resources, power, or opportunities, and who does not:

Gatekeeping in a marriage:

Let's say your partner handles all the finances in your marriage. If they're limiting or withholding your access to bank accounts, money that's rightfully yours, or information about your financial status that could affect you, this can be an example of gate-keeping.

Gatekeeping - Immigration Officers

When people apply for residency in a country, they need to go through a bunch of hoops and jump a lot of metaphorical hurdles to get over the line.

It is the role of the immigration officer to make sure people have gone through those hoops. Examples include taking language and medical exams, showing proof of funds, showing proof of a job, and presenting your passport and biometrics.

It is the immigration officer’s job to act as the gatekeeper who will determine who can become a resident of the country and who cannot.

Gatekeeping in the church

Some Christians claim if you are not part of their “one true church,” you are outside of salvation, even if you acknowledge that Christ is Lord.

There are many other areas where Christians gate-keep. Christians who work in regular jobs locally and find ways to share their faith in those contexts are treated as “not real witnesses” compared to Christians who volunteer in rough cities or have traveled overseas.

Christians with narrow political views view anyone who doesn’t vote for the same party as a traitor to the faith.

Do we ever “gatekeep” Christianity?

What are the cultural and identity markers that we say, “If you’re this way, you’re a real Christian.” If you don’t become a Christian like me, you won’t really be saved.

How about gates we unintentionally put up? Do we require people to dress like us? Or talk like us? How about worship like us, quiet, with our arms down? Or speak the same language? We would never intentionally exclude anyone, but if we are not intentional about addressing our gates, we’re going to end up excluding more than we realize.

I read this in an article: “ if we are comfortable 70% of the time, we’re doing something wrong. In other words, if my cultural preferences are winning out all the time, that will naturally exclude others with different preferences.”

How about voting like us? We are going through an election season. Do you believe that to be a Christian you have to be a Democrat? Or do you believe the reverse? That to be a Christian you have to be a Republican? That’s gatekeeping. Jesus isn’t a Republican or a Democrat Joshua 5:13-15 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord[a] have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

He’s on his own side.

Do you ever gatekeep yourself? I know it’s about believing in Jesus, but really, I have to be a good person for God to love me. If only I can be better, then I’ll really get to heaven. That’s Jesus + works = salvation.

How many of the ways we think we need to be better are rooted in cultural identity? If only I read my Bible more, I’d be a better Christian. Don’t let a good thing, Bible reading and prayer, become gatekeeping. Isn’t the point to know Jesus, not beat yourself up? Jesus doesn’t gatekeep you that way. Why should we?

It’s so easy to put up well-intentioned gates that actually keep us from coming to faith in Christ Jesus. It’s tough because we have to discern “What’s a gatekeeping issue?” and “What’s a gospel issue?” Peter can help us figure it out. 2nd topic of the debate.

2nd Debate Topic) We are not saved by cultural identity or by works but by God’s grace. (v6-11)

Acts 15:5-6 “Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.”

We all, by nature, look for ways to “Keep” our salvation. Many churches I've been to teach and push this narrative but it’s only to gain control and power. The idea of contributing to one’s own salvation is universal. Here are some examples I found in an article:

1. The Work of Philanthropy

“I’m going to give money. I’m going to contribute. I’m going to give to the poor. I’m going to see someone in need, and I’m going to meet that need. I’m going to make charitable gifts, and as I give I really cannot imagine in the final day that the Almighty would damn me. After all, look at all the money I’ve given.”

2. The Work of Service

“I’m going to volunteer. I’m going to pitch in. I’m going to give my time. I’m going to use my skill and expertise. I’m going to get my hands dirty for Jesus. I’m going to work, to do good, and to serve—whether it’s shoveling my neighbor’s walkway or going to a food pantry. And, on judgment day, I just can’t imagine that God would watch a video of my life, of me serving on Thanksgiving Day with the homeless, and not let me into heaven”

3. The Work of Comparison

“Alright, I’m not the best guy in the world but I can point you to a million people who are far worse than me. If we’re looking at a bell curve, I’m on the plus side. By comparison, I’m in.”

4. The Work of Comprehension

“This whole thing is a riddle. And I’m going to figure it out and when I figure it out then I’m going to be in God’s good graces. If I learn enough about the Almighty, then I will be accepted. I understand and can articulate the salient points of the gospel; therefore, I’m a recipient of salvation.”

Peter gets up and recounts how God used him to share the gospel with the non-Jews (v7). And then to prove that he accepted the Gentiles.

Acts 15:7-9 “After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.”

He cleansed their hearts through faith, not cultural identity, not works.

v10 says: “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?”

We couldn’t keep God’s law. Why should we expect them to?

God’s Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works. Time to fact check these debate points with Ephesians 2:8-9:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Grace Alone. Faith Alone.

Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ. Our best efforts can never be good enough to earn salvation. We receive that grace through faith alone.

God even gives us the faith that trusts him. We are not saved by obeying a list of do’s and don’ts, but by grace through faith in Christ. Our salvation is in God’s hands. That’s Good News: the Gospel.

Then Peter sums up his argument:

Acts 15:11 (NIV) “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

His argument, and he knows what he’s talking about, is the grace of Jesus = salvation. You don’t need to become culturally Jewish to be saved. Neither do you need to become culturally Christian to be saved. Believing in Christian values won’t save you.

Believing in Christ will save you. Neither do you need to do good works in order to be saved (Eph 2:8-9). Paul actually addresses this in Galatians chapter 2.

Galatians 2:16 (NIV) “know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”

Paul and Peter want to make it very clear that we’re not saved by works or cultural identity but by God’s grace. We’re saved, then we do good works as a kind of fruit of our salvation (Eph 2:10). But God doesn’t measure our good deeds vs. our bad deeds to see if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, and then if they do you get into heaven. That’s not how it works.

Why? Because Christ Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross. He paid for it completely. He doesn’t need his blood plus your good deeds or your cultural identity to transform your life. He just needs his blood. His blood opened wide the way of salvation.

In debates, there is that key moment when one of the candidates say something that the news channels will play over and over again because it’s considered the “Knockout” statement. Well, here is the “knockout” statement.

3rd Debate Topic - God always planned to save the Gentiles by faith. (v12-21)

The crowd hears Peter and goes silent. Then James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the church, speaks.

Acts 15:13b-17 (ESV) When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

16 “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things

James quotes Amos 9:11-12 that says God always planned to rebuild king David’s nation, the Israelites. He always planned to build the people of God through the Gentiles (Amos: “all the Gentiles”). They too shall be “called by my name.” That’s amazing. That means it was always God’s plan to create one people out of Jew and non-Jew through faith in Jesus Christ. That means to become a Christian you don’t have to become Jewish, you have to become a Christ-follower. You have to know Jesus, nothing more, nothing less. You have to “call” on his name, the name of Jesus, an act of faith.

This is why in the last chapter of Galatians Paul calls the church “the Israel of God.” The church is the fulfillment of Israel, God’s ultimate plan coming to fruition. But it’s not Christians who have to become Jewish, but Jewish people who need to become Christians, followers of Jesus Christ.

So who wins the battle of the believers? Do the Pharisees win? Does Paul win?

Grace wins.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is all we need!

To be saved you don’t need to become one cultural identity or another. You don’t need to have your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds. You need to be forgiven by Jesus. And it’s amazing how even at the end of the passage God shows grace to the believing Pharisees, to the circumcision party. James get’s up and says that the Gentiles should “abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.” (v20) The non-Jews are to respect the Jewish customs, but understand that those things won’t save them. That’s a cultural compromise, but not a gospel compromise. Grace still wins.

Grace means receiving a gift we don’t deserve. Have you received it? That’s what salvation is. It’s a gift. If you feel like you have to align with certain cultural markers before you can become a Christian, it’s not true. Or if you’ve been working to earn your salvation, if you’ve been trying to be good for God to love you, it’s not true. Jesus loves you and forgives you for your sins. Believe in him. Grace wins.