ACTS 15

Precursor: The Council of Jerusalem was not just a meeting, but a pivotal moment in early Christianity. It was held to decide if non-Jewish (Gentile) converts to Christianity needed to follow the Jewish law. This question, which arose during Paul's missionary journey, caused a lot of arguments among believers. The church in Antioch had many Gentile members. Some Jewish Christians from Judea insisted that these Gentiles must follow Jewish laws to be saved. Due to this argument, Paul, Barnabas, and other believers travelled to Jerusalem to ask the apostles and elders for a decision. The Council's decision would shape the future of Christianity and its acceptance of non-Jewish believers.

PIVOTAL MOMENTS:

Conflict/Disagreements: (1-6)

We see that Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch when some men from Judea (Judaizers) began to preach that people needed to be circumsized as required by the law of Moses in order to be saved. I need to note here that these men were associated with the Jerusalem congregation but not authorized by it (Acts 15:24 “Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds,” ). Identified with the Pharisees (Acts 15:5 “But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”” ), these teachers were “false brethern” who wanted to rob both Jewish and Gentile believers of their liberty in Christ. (Gal 2:1-10,5:1) They were just simply ignorant (unknowing) of the relationship between law and grace. This was during a time of transition from the law to grace and it was difficult - change is hard but it doesnt always mean it is wrong. They were trying to pour new wine into very old wineskins (Luke 5:36–39 “He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise the new will be torn, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, ‘The old is good.’ ”” ) They literaly were blocking the new and living way to God that Jesus had opened when He died on the Cross. They were rebuilding the wall between Jews and Gentiles that Jesus had torn down on the cross! They were saying “A Gentile must first become a Jew before he can become a Christian! It is not sufficient for them simply to trust Jesus Christ. They must also obey Moses. “Unless you participate in our ceremonies and keep our rules, you cannot be saved - they were adding to the gospel and denying the finished work of Jesus Christ. Paul writes in Galatians to make it very clear that salvation is wholly by God’s grace, through faith in Christ plus NOTHING. Galatians 2:2 “I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain.”

From this comes the Disagreement between the Judaizers (Gentile Christians/believers who adopted Jewish customs and/or those who encouraged such practices (or Gentile) and Paul & Barnabas. They argued with much passion, without any sort of agreement or solution - so the church sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to talk to the Apostles and Elders about the disagreement in question. the discussion of whether Gentiles be required to follow Jewish tradition in order to be saved, caused a lot of tension. Paul and Barnabas realized how important this was and willingly went to Jerusalem to bring to the elders to figure it out and bring a solution to the disagreement.

This also teaches us the importance of dealing with conflicts and seeking wise advice. The church leaders gathered to discuss and find a solution together through faith and prayer.

2. The Gospel is for all people: (7-18)

I think it is great to note that on their way to Jerusalem (vs 3) they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit with the believers. They “described in great detail” - they shared testomonies - that the Gentiles were being converted to Salvation and becoming believers. This brought and stirred Great Joy and I am sure Great Faith within the Believers.

We see as they (Peter, Paul and Barnabas) meet in Jerusalem with the elders, that they share the amazing stories of how God was working among the Gentiles. Peter reminded everyone that God had given the Hoy Spirit to the Gentiles just as He had to the Jews, showing that God makes no distinction between them (Acts 15:8–9 “And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us.” )

Peter boldly shared how God had led him to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, and how the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the message (Acts 10:44–48 “While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.” ). This was a clear sign that God's grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit were for all people.

God made a choice that Peter should preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 15:7 “After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers.” ). Jesus had given the keys of the Kingdom to Peter (Matthew 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”” ) and he had used them to open the door of faith to the Jews (Acts 2), the Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17) and the Gentiles (Acts 10). We see in Acts 15:8 that God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles to bear witness that they truly were born again. Only God can see the human heart ( the seat of our emotions) so if these had not been saved, God would never have given them the Spirit (Romans 8:9 “But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” ) They didnt receive the Spirit by following the law but by believing God’s Word. Acts 10::43-46 and Gal 2:3) God erased a difference (Acts 15:9 “and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us.” , Acts 15:11 “On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”” )

For centuries, God had placed a difference between Jews and Gentiles and it was the task of the Jewish religious leaders to protect and maintain that difference (Leviticus 10:10 “You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;” )Ezekiel 22:26 “Its priests have done violence to my teaching and have profaned my holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” Ezekiel 44:23 “They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.” )Jesus taught that Jewish dietary laws had nothing to do with inner holiness (Mark 7:1-23) and Peter had learned that lesson again when he had that vision on the housetop in Joppa (as we spoke of earlier). Galatians 3:28 “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”

3. Focus on grace, not rules/works and avoid unnecessary friction - vs 19-29

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Could use the visual of acetone with styrofoam - works are temporary but Grace and Faith are the basis of it all and last forever. Salvation is the acetone - styrofoam with works on them…. grace and faith in different materials that the acetone wont dissolve. Wrap cotton around the styrofoam - serve with Holy Spirit’s direction….