Sermon Tone Analysis
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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:
The Debate Intensifies
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)
The leaders of the church in Jerusalem were consulted.
Apostles
Most mature disciples
elders-
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
Acts 15:6
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:
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.
Catch the language?
All are saved the same way:
the grace of Jesus!
2nd Speech - Paul and Barnabas
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
Acts 15:
Acts 15:
James delivers the final speech and also defends salvation by faith alone.
James quotes
God’s plan to include Gentiles wasn’t new!
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.
James’ conclusion/proposal
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 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:
Here another great summary of this issue:
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.
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.
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