All Stand Together
Notes
Transcript
In 1970, the Apollo 13 mission faced a life-threatening crisis when an oxygen tank exploded in space. The astronauts aboard the spacecraft, along with mission control teams on Earth, had to quickly and clearly communicate under extreme pressure to solve the problems that unfolded. Everyone involved shared a single purpose: to bring the astronauts home safely.
Despite the challenges of limited resources, malfunctioning systems, and intense stress, the teams remained united. Engineers and astronauts worked tirelessly to devise a solution using only the materials available onboard. Every instruction from mission control had to be clear and precise, as the smallest misstep could mean disaster.
Their shared goal and effective communication preserved unity between the crew and mission control. This collaboration ultimately led to the astronauts’ safe return to Earth.
The early church faced its first major doctrinal dispute. They wondered if Gentile believers had to adopt Jewish customs to be saved?
If you have your Bibles, go to 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.”
2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad.
4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5 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.”
This is the first known conflict in the church. These were traditions that the Jewish people held. And this was a problem among the Jewish people. If you remember, Jesus was constantly going against tradition.
As believers, it is important for us to understand, we must not add any requirements to salvation by grace.
The church sends Paul, Barnabas, and others to seek clarity from the apostles and elders.
When disputes arise, it is important that we address these disputes through wise counsel and spiritual leadership.
We can see how this counsel deliberated.
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
7 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.
10 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?
11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
13 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’—
18 things known from long ago.
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
In front of the counsel Peter gives testimony, then Barnabas and Paul and then finally James stands and gives a message. They each made it a point to make they push the fact that Salvation is done by grace alone
11 “In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be,
12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the Lord, who will do these things.
God confirmed His plan all along was to include Gentiles.
The leaders didn’t want to place unnecessary burdens on Gentile believers.
There are times that we place unnecessary burdens on salvation. When trying to live a Holy life, we say, “you must do ABC.” When in reality we just have to love and accept Jesus as our savior to be saved and maintain a right relationship with Him.
I remember growing up thinking there were things that were wrong, but no where in scripture did it say they were wrong.
If you want to be saved, then ask Jesus to be your Savior and you will receive salvation through Grace.
The Counsel found a solution.
Acts 15:22–35 (NIV)
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers.
23 With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.
25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.
28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:
29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.
31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.
32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.
33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.
34 but Silas decided to remain there.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
There are some things that some believers think are okay and others don’t believe it is okay. As we mature as believers it is important that separate ourselves from those activities so that we avoid offending or misleading anyone.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?
11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
I use to think, I’ll do what I think is right. However, if what I am doing causes someone to stumble then I am in the wrong.
If you are a recovered alcoholic and I feel it is okay for me to drink, If I drink in your presence and you stumble, I am partly to blame. We must be conscience of one another. This is what the counsel presented to the Gentiles. As believers we must think about one another.
We live in a selfish world. A world that Jesus saves by His Grace. We must watch and pray for one another.
We are in this together.
As believers, it is so important that we communicate with one another. This creates unity and joy as we work together to populate the kingdom of God.
Acts 15 is important for the church. It teaches us to guard the truth of the Gospel. This counsel also encourages us to rely on Scripture. And each of us can work together to seek unity in the Spirit.
This church will never reach its full potential unless we seek to have unity with the Holy Spirit.
My question to you this morning is are you standing firm in the
Gospel of grace while promoting peace and unity in your relationships and the church?
This week I want you to trust God to guide you through any conflicts you may have and use His Word and ask the Holy Spirit to help you to uphold the truth in Love.