The Letter to the Gentiles
Notes
Transcript
Last week we looked at the coming together of the church to settle one of the most important conflicts that separates us from the law of the Old Testament.
The issue was circumcision, and weather one that followed Christ also had to follow the law.
It was ultimately decided that following the law was not the right way to follow Christ but that it was a way to point people to Christ.
The Councils Proclamation (vv 22-29)
The Councils Proclamation (vv 22-29)
The Council’s proclamation has been called one of the most courageous documents in the annals of history because its authors declared the truth even though they knew it would fully antagonize the Jewish establishment.
From this time on, Christian work in Jerusalem became very difficult.
While still trying to carry on a ministry to the Jewish nation, the apostles heroically refused to do or say anything to impede the progress of the gospel among the Gentiles.
With the major doctrinal issue resolved, James turned to practical matters of fellowship.
He and the other leaders were concerned not only that the Jews not trouble the Gentiles, but also that the Gentiles not trouble the Jews.
The danger was that the Gentiles, reveling in their freedom in Christ, would pressure the Jewish believers to exercise that same liberty and violate their consciences.
The Four Things to abstain From.
The Four Things to abstain From.
Things contaminated by idols.
Refers to food offered to pagan gods and then sold in temple butcher shops.
Idolatry was a repulsive, blasphemous matter to the Jews.
The Old Testament is replete with warnings against it. Ex 20:3
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
17 “You shall not make for yourself any gods of cast metal.
7 “ ‘You shall have no other gods before me.
Fornication
Describes sexual sin in general, and the orgies associated with the worship of pagan gods in particular.
Illicit sex was an integral part of the pagan Gentile worship.
Temple priestesses were often little more than prostitutes.
Abstain from what has been strangled and from Blood
26 “You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.
James set forth these as minimum requirements for fellowship.
As noted above, freedom in Christ does not grant the right to sin, or to offend another believer.
The Result (vv 30-35)
The Result (vv 30-35)
The apostolic church thus survived the greatest challenge it had yet faced and established the doctrine of salvation by grace.
Satan’s attempt to inject heretical teaching was thwarted.
So also was his attempt to split the church along racial and cultural lines.
With the vitally important truth about salvation safeguarded, the church experienced greater days of ministry than ever before.
There has always been, and always will be, only one way to be saved.
No one expressed that truth any clearer than the apostle Paul when he penned the familiar words,
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Eph. 2:8–9).
