37. Gentiles… Yes or No? - Pt.1

And that’s where we are at in the beginning of this story… Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch, taking a break from missions, engaging in fellowship/ministry with those in Antioch…

Certain men came down from Judea, what did they have to say in vs. 1?

Acts 15:1 NKJV

1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles had been growing significantly, and the news was spreading… (Read the end of 14:27)

Not everyone was too excited about this new growth though. Certain Jewish believers from Jerusalem had heard the news, and they were uncomfortable with the thought that Gentiles could become believers with no strings attached.

What specifically was their issue in vs. 1? (Circumcision is necessary for salvation)

Circumcision = The physical ritual done to all Jewish men which would be a symbol of your Jewish identity, all Jewish males were circumcised.

When God made His promise to Abraham that He would be the father of a great nation, the way to know they were different was circumcision.

For all the Old Testament, who are God’s people? (The Jews alone)

So, in a Jew’s mind, if you were to become God’s child, there’s no way around being circumcised and following Moses’ Law, that’s what made a person God’s person.

So, they’re saying that you need to become a proselyte first, and then you can receive salvation in Jesus.

Why is this belief problematic? (Faith + works)

Can you think of any other religion that teaches this? (Catholicism, Orthodox, Anglican)

Why do you think people have a hard time embracing salvation by grace alone? (Because we are proud, we want to feel like we’ve earned it)

Illustration: Ever feel guilty receiving a gift from someone? It’s because you did nothing for it, you don’t feel like you’ve earned it!

Now, would you say these guys from Jerusalem are false teachers? (Absolutely they are! But I’m not sure they intend to be)

These are Jewish believers in Christ…

Jesus was a Jew, so were the apostles, and God’s people of the OT were Jews… Do you see why there’s a struggle here?

Vs. 2

What did Paul and Barnabas think of this (vs. 2)?

Acts 15:2 NKJV

2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

They had a major debate on this! They would not let this one slip through the cracks.

What part of vs. 2 shows us this debate escalated into something pretty serious? (The Church in Antioch sent Paul, Barnabas, and a few others to solve this in Jerusalem)

The church in Antioch saw this debate important enough that they sent these men to the big church, the big boys…

What’s on the line in this debate? (The Gospel, salvation by faith alone)

Think with me what awful things could happen here… Jerusalem and Antioch are the two major centers of Christianity at this point, what could happen through this debate? (A major church split! You’d get your first denominations: Antioch = Gentile Christians, Jerusalem = Jewish Christians)

So, do they need to figure things out? (Absolutely!!)

2. Paul & Barnabas - vs. 3-4

Vs. 3

Acts 15:3 NKJV

3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

Map of journey:

- Antioch to Jerusalem

- Over 400 kms, that takes a month by foot!

- Stop by churches along the way

Vs. 4

What happens when they get there? (Well received by the church, the apostles, and the pastors)

Here’s something so important, they give a report of all the things that happened during their first missionary trip.

Who does Paul give the credit to all these things? (God)

Why is that bit of information important to this debate? (God is behind the salvation of the Gentiles!)

3. Peter - vs. 5-11

Vs. 5

But vs. 5,

Acts 15:5 NKJV

5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Are these just Pharisees? Or is there something different about these people? (Pharisees who believed)

These are not false teachers (intentionally)! They’re people who don’t have a full understanding of how the Gospel reflects in their religious life. They’re pushing for a ceremonial change in the Gentiles.

Illustration: In our churches, we’ve got people who want change and have a stronger conscience, and then we have those who are stricter and have a harder time with change. That’s these Jews…

The mindset behind this is that the Gentiles are ceremonially unclean, and I can’t fellowship with an unclean person. Because of that, I’m going to push you to change who you are, and go through the conversion process to become a Jew. That would make you purified, and I can have fellowship with you.

What am I saying about Gentiles then? Can God accept Gentiles as they are? (No, I’m saying that the Gentile must leave his old identity, become a Jew so that he can be saved)

These were Christians, but they were Christians who struggled with traditions from their past.

If I’m a Gentile, and you’re a Jew telling me that I need to cut off all my personality wo be saved, is salvation going to be appealing to me? (No, this would kill almost all the witness to the Gentiles)

They’re effectively saying…

Forsake your culture

Abandon your family

Don’t associate with your friends

This is not too appealing, and it’s definitely not in line with the Gospel!

Vs. 6

So, the leaders get together and discuss the issue…

Vs. 7-8

Who gets up first in vs. 7? (Peter. Surprise surprise!

Acts 15:7–8 NKJV

7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

What story is he bringing to mind here? (Roof top vision, salvation of Cornelius and his household)

God knows the heart = He looks at us on the personal scale, not physical

He gave the Holy Spirit

What does it say about me if I have the Holy Spirit? (I’m saved!)

Is there such a thing as a half Christian? Holy Spirit + Jewish Law? (No, I have all of salvation if the Spirit lives in me)

Vs. 9

On top of that,

Acts 15:9 NKJV

9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

We’re all on an equal scale

What does Peter say in the end? (They are purified)

I think Peter had that rooftop vision in mind…

Acts 10:15 NKJV

15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

Vs. 10

So Peter goes on to say, “Why are you testing God? Why do you add these rituals to their shoulders?”

God has cleansed them, He has obviously worked in them, so why challenge God?

Vs. 11

Acts 15:11 NKJV

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

This is where he shares how you become a Christian…

You’ll hear people talk about the “Fundamentals of the Faith”, these are the truths that are non-negotiable, if you don’t believe in one of these things, you are not a Christian…

(This is where our name comes from)

What truths would you say are fundamental to our faith? Things that if you don’t believe, you are not a Christian?

Salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone

Deity of Christ

The Virgin Birth

Jesus’ death

Resurrection of Christ

Inerrancy of the Bible

We learn in this passage so far that we must stand for the Gospel!

Mr. Stearns Chart…