The Turning Point
Notes
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INTRO:
INTRO:
AG:There have been several turning points in history.
Death of Alexander the Great 323 BC
The Birth of Jesus of Nazareth ca. 1 AD
Constantine declares Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire 313 AD
The Magna Carta (1225/1297 AD)
The European discovery of the new world 1492 AD
U.S. Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria June 28, 1914
TS: There have been several turning points in history. Tim
TS: Today’s passage in is one such pivotal moment in church history. This first meeting of church leaders has been called the most important one. The doctrinal issue settled was critical.
The question was, “What must a person do to be saved?”
There is nothing more important than the answer to that question.
As we dig into this text, we will see the issue settled once and for all that we are saved by grace though faith with no works and no prerequisites.
RS:
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.”
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.”
The Debate Intensifies
The Debate Intensifies
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Some men-
Judaizers, false teachers who taught a works for salvation gospel.
They were attempting to keep a mixture of works and grace for salvation.
a. circumcision
b. the law (Gal. expands on this argument)
And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
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,
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.
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.”
The leaders of the church in Jerusalem were consulted.
Apostles
Most mature disciples
elders-
And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
1st mention of men who were pastor-overseers of the churches.
1st mention of men who were pastor-overseers of the churches.
Biblical pattern was for a plurality of men to share the load.
The church at Antioch consulted with the church at Jerusalem
both were leading churches in the spread of the gospel.
in some ways, this was a precursor to association meetings.
Pharisees who had become believers held onto the law.
“it is necessary to circumcise them”
They had no way of conceiving the uncircumcised being saved.
The Council Meets
The Council Meets
Acts 15:6
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
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.
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
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?
But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
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.
After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
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.
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
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?
But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
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.
1st Speech- Peter
1st Speech- Peter
v. 7-Peter gives a masterful defense of Salvation by grace
The focus- God saved gentiles in early days of the church without circumcision being required.
this is a reference to Cornelius and his household from and 11.
The conclusion then is found in Acts 11:17-18:
If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
V. 8- they had been given the Holy Spirit by God.
there could be no argument about the genuineness of the salvation of the Gentiles.
But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Catch the language?
All are saved the same way:
the grace of Jesus!
2nd Speech - Paul and Barnabas
2nd Speech - Paul and Barnabas
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.
They focused on the testimony of what God had done.
During their 1st missionary jouney, Gentiles...
a. had been saved
b. had received the Spirit
God had again saved and baptized with His Spirit uncircumcised Gentiles.
3rd Speech- James
3rd Speech- James
Acts 15:
Acts 15:
After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
“ ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,
that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
known from of old.’
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
“ ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,
that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
known from of old.’
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
James delivers the final speech and also defends salvation by faith alone.
For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.
James quotes
If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.
“In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old,
that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the Lord who does this.
God’s plan to include Gentiles wasn’t new!
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities.
The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’
Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ ”
No prophet foretold a great conversion of Gentiles to being circumcised and joining the Jewish faith.
Many include Gentiles in prophesies of God’s Kingdom
The Kingdom was bigger than the Judiazers wanted to admit or accept.
that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
James’ conclusion/proposal
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
1st and foremost- don’t trouble them!
don’t add unnecessary burdens and obstacles to their faith.
God didn’t require them to be circumcised, so there was no need for them to add that requirement.
2nd Instruct them in Morality
This is not to add a requirement for salvation.
This is to prevent a stumbling block for their Jewish brothers
They warned the Gentiles against letting their freedom in Christ lead to license to sin.
pagan idolatrous practices are addressed
1. Food offered to idols
cheap source of meat since the idols couldn’t eat it.
2. Sexual sins
temple prostitution and illicit sexual acts were deeply rooted in idol worship
3. Dietary- strangled and blood
these were so offensive, that it would add to divisiveness in the ranks of believers.
The Council Speaks
The Council Speaks
The Council Speaks
The Council Speaks
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.
Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,
it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:
that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
The word went out with a letter from the Council addressing the issue and carried by a joint delegation.
The churches were in harmony on this vital issue.
The initial debate was settled, not just in Antioch, but throughout all the churches.
Salvation is by grace through faith alone!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Here another great summary of this issue:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Today, we stand on the same ground our forefathers in the faith did.
Salvation is God’s gift given by His grace.
we cannot earn it
we will never deserve
It is impossible for us to repay it.
All we can do, is receive it by faith.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Today, I ask you to examine yourself.
What answer would you give if asked “What must I do to be saved?”
That answer must come from God’s word.
It must be God focused.
If you have never given up on making yourself acceptable and ready to answer HIS call, receive Him today!
We would love to talk to you about it in more depth.