Untitled Sermon (27)

What Saves?

Today i want to ask ourselves the question: WHAT SAVES?

How is it that we are brought from the depraved lost sinner condemned to hell into right standings with God?

Do we play any part in our salvation?

Do our works qualify us for salvation and a ticket into heaven?

Or is it possible to earn a higher level of salvation by the works we do for God?

Today we are going top be going over act chapter 10.

Acts 15:1–12 ESV

1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” 12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Lets pull up verse 1 and look at it closely.

Acts 15:1 ESV

1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

The information that the text gives us is that there were some men that came down from Judea that were teaching the brothers (christians) that they could not be saved without being circumcised according to the custom of Moses.

What we know about circumcision is that its origin was as part of a covenant requirement given to Abraham and his decendants. It was a physical sign on the flesh to show the promise God made with Abraham. It was actually an expression of faith somewhat similiar to the water baptism today. It was a constant reminder of the flesh of the covenant that God had made and seperated the Israelites from the Pagan world.

The circumcision held so much weight at that time that failure to do so would cut you off from your people. We see all of this in

Genesis 17:9–14 ESV

9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

NOw already right here we see that the circumcision of the flesh is a sign of the covenant but holds no salvific significance. It was never meant to save you nor was it ever a requiremnt to be saved.

This isnt to say that it was insignificant or that God didnt take it seriously. Because it was definitely taken seriously.

When Moses was on his way to egypt God was explaining to him atrt the things that were going to happen in egypt. Including God hardening pharoahs heart and also the killing of the first borns. Right after God finishes telling Moses this the scripture says this

Exodus 4:24–26 NASB95

24 Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26 So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”—because of the circumcision.

Moses had two sons. The first born was Gershom and the second was Eliezer. In this text it isnt clear as to who God was talking about when it says “the Lord met with him”. Most bible comentators say that its Moses and some say that Its moses’ son Gershom. Whether we place moses or his son as the “He” it doesnt make a difference. What it does show is that the Lord sought to kill him before Zipporah Moses’ wife took the sharp stone and circumcised Gershom.

It seems like there may have been a little bit of dispute between Moses and his wife about the circumcision of their firstborn. However Zipporah steps up and circumcises him on the spot.

This was a serious offense. But it had no salvific value.

There is however another circumcision talked about in the old testament. This was the circumcision of the heart.

The circumcision of the heart is something referred to in both the old and new testaments. It the work of God on the heart removing the stubbernness that prevents your obedience. God is the one that does that not human hands. This is clairified in

Deuteronomy 30:6 NASB95

6 “Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

This circumcision does what the circumcision of the flesh could never do. It actually aligns your heart with the Lord.

This is point 1: The circumcision of the flesh was never a means to salvation. It was a sign of the covenant and a seperation from the pagans.

Acts 15:2–6 NASB95

2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3 Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. 4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.

So we are seeing here that these men came down teaching that the christians had to be circumcised to be saved. We now know that circumcision never saved anyone and never will. We also know that there is a seperate circumcison which is of the heart. This is a work of God not man.

Verse two says that Paul and Barnabas debated this topic with these men and it says they had great dissension. They were not going to let this heresy enter the church. Thankfully they decide to take the matter to the other apostles and elders for clarification. Now the question is why is this so important? Why do these things matter so much? This is where we look at doctrine. Doctrine is the beliefs and understanding about different teachings in he bible. Doctrine is very important. You may not think you study any doctrine but let me point some of it out and you will see that you have been studying doctrine all along.

Lets start with the Doctrine of the trinity. We all know what the trinity is. We know that the trinity refers to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I hope that we also know that the word “trinity” actually isnt even in the bible. This was a term given to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the Westminster Larger Catchicsm

Question 9 says: How many persons are there in the Godhead?

Answer: There be three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by their personal properties.

There is so much scripture backing up the validity of the Trinity. Here is just a couple to show you.

Matthew 28:19 NASB95

19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

This is a clear explaination that there is 3 distinct persons. The Father , the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Another supportinmg verse of the three persons is

2 Corinthians 13:14 NASB95

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

However then if we look back in the old testament we will see God say several times that there is no other Gods but Him. Because these three are one.

Deuteronomy 6:4 NASB95

4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!

and

Isaiah 45:21–22 NASB95

21 “Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. 22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.

The doctrine of the trinity for short is that there is one God. There are three distinct persons - the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Each fully and equally God. Three persons one divine essence.

Another vital doctrine

Point 1: Circumcision never saved. Verse 1

Point 2: Doctrine Matters Verse 2-6

Point 3: Justified by faith Verse 7-11

Main Idea: Nothing man made, no tradition that gets you into to heaven. Only your faith is what justifies you with God. Watch out for the spec. Under a microscope as a christian.