Freedom From Entrenchment Part II

Introduction

Isaiah 5:20 ESV

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

John 16:2 NLT

For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 NLT

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

And as I shared last week, Proverbs 14:12

Proverbs 14:12 NLT

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

and

Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

This week...really every day in our nation...people lean into their own understanding...and it leads to death. Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist was murdered on live tv. It was an evil act. The person who perpetrated must have thought...somehow...that it was the right thing to do. Evil.

We live in a dangerous world where evil is called good and good called evil. We live in a world of “relative truth”...and its fruit is death.

The danger and evil of “relative truth”...as if that really exists....is that it is illogical and tries to affirm and deny the same thing at the same time. It’s not logically possible to do that. In fact, that is a recipe for chaos and human suffering.

The Bible affirms that God brings order out of chaos...like at the creation of the cosmos...in Genesis 1.

1 Corinthians 14:33 NLT

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

God is not glorified by disorder in worship or in our conduct. God is glorified by order and peace.

James 3:16–18 MSG

Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats. Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

That’s James’ message to the early church.

Jesus’ message and James’ message...the Bible’s message... to all believers in every time and place...is: Do not believe in lies.

Relative truth...truth is whatever you or I say it is...is a lie. It leads to chaos, hatred, and death. That’s how you know it is not from God.

As Christians...we know truth is not from ourselves...it comes from God alone. Which we know best through Jesus...who was personified truth. Jesus told it like it was. He didn’t ask his disciples their thoughts about scripture...or how some truth about God made someone feel; he spit the truth...24/7. And it got him killed. Just as nothing evil can stand before God...evil can’t bear to hear the truth.

The truth Jesus spoke of was biblical truth...not relative truth...but truth that brings order...rails/guidelines to our understanding of truth. God provides that for us out of his immeasurable love and grace. When we seek our own understanding and do what we think is right...well just watch the daily news and see how that plays out.

Church Seeking Truth

The early church...through murders...assasinations...martyerdom and opposition from every side...had many points at which to discern what is true. To determine what was God’s truth and mission for them and how best to move forward with that.

Jesus said John 8:31-32

John 8:31–32 NET

Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Later in John Jesus says he IS truth.

Truth sets us free...lies entrap us. Lies make us fearful. LIes make us think that we must take matters into our own hands instead of trusting in God.

Truth makes us brave...the early church facing death every day...like many in the church around the world today...they kept on...keeping on. Following faithfully the great commission...preaching the gospel to all the world...even (perhaps esepcailly) to those that wanted to kill them.

It’s amazing what truth does to a person. I

t’s heartbreaking what lies do to a person.

Acts 15

In our reading this morning from Acsts 15...the church was at a crossroads. Many of the Jewish Christians welcomed how the gospel had been so successful among the gentiles but still thought to truly be Christian, they must follow the Torah...be circumcised...participate in feasts and festivals (we see that in the modern church as well).

However as we heard read today...Acts 15:1-2

Acts 15:1–2 NLT

While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question.

The question of what is true and how to live what is true is not just a secular issue....it’s an issue in the church as well and has been since God formed the church.

This is a question of truth. What is “necessary” for salvation? Some thought following the Torah...including circumcision, was the truth.. Others said faith alone in Christ alone was sufficient for salvation. All came from a good place...desiring salvation for all who believe and not wanting to lead people away from God.

So what did the church do? Did they say, “Well that’s your truth. Go and tell whoever you want...what you believe; I’ll go tell them the truth.”

No. They came together. Like good presbyterians (presbyter is Greek for elders) they formed a committee! More like an assembly. Like James said...they worked to get along with each other and treat each other like Jesus...with dignity and honor.

The church gathered just like we do today as Presbyterians. We have session...then Presbytery...then Synod...and finally General Assembly when representatives from all over the country come together to seek the min,d of Christ in making decisions for the church.

Are there Presbyterians who disagree with decisions made? Yes! Always. But we remember we are all seeking Christ’s will and we still live with one another while still holding to our God given convictions. Remember this truth: “God alone is Lord of the conscience.” Our faith is personal as well as communal. We won’t always agree...but we seek to please God.

Paul, Barnabas, and Peter

Paul and Barnabas went and met with other elders of the church and what happened?

Testimony time! LIke we had a few weeks ago.

Paul and Barnabas told how God had been moving among the Gentiles and Peter stood up and validated this by saying I”’ve seen it myself...the holy spirit has come to Gentiles just like us and we are all saved by the grace of Jesus Christ...not by torah observance or anything else.”

They testified to God’s work. They also turned to scripture to show other how God had foreordained this my quoting the prophet Amos

Acts 15:13–17 NLT

When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written: ‘Afterward, I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord, including the Gentiles— all those I have called to be mine. The Lord has spoken—

The church discerned God’s will...seeking the mind of Christ and his mission for the church...by sharing testimony...supported by scripture...and came to their conclusion. Acts 15:19-20

Acts 15:19–21 NLT

“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”

The church came to the conclusion of broad guidance that covered the heart of the law of Torah. Mainly to pay attention to what you do and why you do it. Check yourselves against all of God’s word. Gentile Christians, take note of your Jewish Christian brothers and sisters...live in a way that is acceptable to them...not for salvation but for mutuality...selflessness...dying to self...living to Christ.

Jewish Christians...don’t hold gnetile Chrsitians to the Torah standards as though it is the law that brings savlation...it doesn’t...salvation is through teh one who came to fulfill the law...not abolish it. Focus on Christ and have grace for your gnetile brothers and sisters in Christ.

Closing

So how are we to then live?

Presbyterians call it “mutual forbearance”. That simply means we care about one another. We can disagree about particular issues...but find our unity in Jesus Christ. We can love God, serve God...and love our neighbor as ourselves best...when we don’t force our way of thinking on others. The early church found this an adequate solution. Do we?

Not conformity, but Christ is our unity as the church. May we always preach Jesus...crucified, risen, ascended, and coming back soon! And may we always bear with one another in our disagreements seeking always Christ’s will in our lives and the church. Thanks be to God. AMEN.