The Obstacle of Clarity

Two Indians who had been watching a lighthouse go up came over to see the thing open on the big day. It was all set up with the lights and the bell and the horn; but the day it was due to open, the worst fog of all fogs came in. One Indian said to the other, "Light shine, bell ring, horn blow, but fog come in just the same." We've never had more lights shining, and bells ringing, and horns blowing in the church than we have today. We've never had more fog.

In fact, today churches are filled with uncommitted members paralyzed by the fog of a contradicting culture. And just like the rising sun burns away the evening fog, so gospel clarity melts the mist of religious confusion. Ok, some of you are asking, “What did he just say? What do you mean by gospel clarity, Rusty.”

BACKGROUND

Well, I’m glad you asked because I believe that being clear about the gospel was an obstacle that even the early church had to overcome. You see, they reach a clear crossroads in Acts chapter 15. Now, we’ll talk about that crossroads in more detail in a minute, but for now I just want to show you the conclusion that the early church reached about what the message of the gospel was. Peter, addressing a group of early church leaders, said it like this in :

Acts 15:11 NKJV

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

That was quite a statement for Peter to say and for the Jerusalem Christians to hear. It was a powerful statement of grace. Having been saved as Jews, those Jerusalem Christians had not fully appreciated what Christ’s death and resurrection meant for their observance of the ceremonial Jewish law. Many of them still went to the temple and may have even offered sacrifices. This says that nothing in the law saves them, it is only by faith in the Grace of God through Christ’s death on the cross. It was a statement of grace . . .

And it was a statement of irony. Notice how the statement ends: But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved (watch!) in the same manner as they. When Peter says “they,” to whom does he refer? He is talking about the Gentiles and he is saying that our salvation will come in the same way that their’s comes. The Jew thought HE was in control of salvation and had the privilege of setting the agenda. Peter is telling them that both the Gentile, who doesn’t keep the law, and the Jew who has abided by it consistently will be saved in the same way.

In saying this, Peter is seeking to be very clear about what the gospel is. He is specifically identifying what is needed for salvation. He is echoed by Paul in . Paul says there,

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NKJV

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, Now it was extremely important that the early church nail this down.

Now it was extremely important that the early church nail this down.

NEED

And maybe you’re kind of shaking your head, inwardly at least. You’re saying, “Ok I can see why the early church needed to get this hashed out, but I don’t think that this is the problem of the church today, at least not in THIS church. If there is one thing Peace church is clear about, it’s the gospel.”

Well, maybe—but I have to tell you that these people probably thought they had the gospel nailed as well. They could have told you what the gospel WAS, but what the gospel was, wasn’t their problem. Their problem was that they were adding some requirements to the gospel and by adding what the gospel wasn’t to what the gospel was, they lost the gospel!

And the truth is, today’s evangelicals may make a few additions of their own! Some add Christian ordinances and rituals to salvation. There’s a whole denomination that teaches that, unless you are baptized, you do not go to heaven. Others say that you must measure up to certain behaviors before you are saved. (Of course, salvation will bring life change, but not as a prerequisite to faith in Christ. The change comes AFTER salvation, not necessarily before.) Others think that you must have a certain political stance of you can’t be saved.

ordinances and rituals to salvation. There’s a whole denomination that teaches that, unless you are baptized, you do not go to heaven. Others say that you must measure up to certain behaviors before you are saved. (Of course, salvation will bring life change, but not as a prerequisite to faith in Christ. The change comes AFTER salvation, not necessarily before.) Others think that you must have a certain political stance of you can’t be saved.

And the result of all these “additions” to the gospel is nothing but the fog of confusion that hides the truth and destroys the opportunity to grow. And just like the rising sun burns away the evening fog, so gospel clarity melts the mist of religious confusion. So, today, I want to explain why I believe the Bible teaches that gospel clarity is so imperative to growth. You see it in our text. Read it with me:

Acts 15:1–5 NKJV

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.” 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. 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. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 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.”

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.” 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. 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. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 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.”

TRANS

What are the benefits of gospel clarity? Well, in the first place, gospel clarity:

Gospel clarity defeats legalism.

D1: DEFEATS LEGALISM

EXP

Chapter 14 ends with Paul and Barnabas completing their first missionary trip evangelizing the Gentiles and returning to their sending church in Antioch, a city of primarily Gentiles. Evidently the news of their success reaches the church in Jerusalem and some of the people are pretty upset. They think that Paul is compromising the gospel to reach the Gentiles and a group of people come to Antioch to set them straight.

Of course, if you understand Judaism, you know that circumcision was the outward sign that you were Jewish and, for the Jew, it was a non-negotiable prerequisite for anyone who wanted to go to heaven. The Christians in Jerusalem believed this and they also were probably afraid that the rapid progress of the gospel to the Gentiles threatened their Jewish beliefs. If things continued as they were going, pretty soon there would be more Gentile believers than Jewish believers so these conservative Jewish Christians had the answer: Those Gentiles who wanted to become Christ-followers had to become Jewish first. They had to be circumcised and obey the law. They preached that this was necessary in order to be saved.

And these sincerely mistaken believers were having an impact. Imagine being a Gentile and being told about the wonderful grace of Jesus and what He did for you on the cross. Under the powerful conviction of the Holy Spirit, you might have turned to the person who was sharing Christ with you and asked: So what do I have to do to be saved? Their reply: “O, it’s no big deal, we just have to circumcise you.” That would have been confusing to say the least. Jesus gave His life to save you by faith, but, before you can receive the gift, you have to DO something first.

You would have been left with a dilemma: Either you would have been circumcised and actually and have to DO a WORK to be saved, or you would have rejected the message because you just didn’t want to submit to becoming Jewish. But, even if that explanation would seem so foreign to our ears, it had an impact on the church. In fact, the book of Galatians, which deals at length with this controversy throws open a window on the church and shows you what was going on. Here’s how the NLT translates :

Galatians 2:11–13 NKJV

Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Paul had to stand up to this heresy and he does. Finally this controversy comes to a head in and the church has to decide the issue once and for all. The conclusion that they reach is what Peter states in v 11: But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved. It is gospel clarity that delivers the early church from the trap of legalism.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. [1]

And it is gospel clarity which will deliver our church from legalism. Which might lead someone to ask, “Well, Rusty, that’s great, but what do you mean when you say ‘legalism?’” Well, legalism is when any standard, rule, or preference becomes a PREREQUISITE to salvation or is used to determine one’s standing in Christ. I say that because that is what the Bible says. says it like this:

Titus 3:5 NKJV

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

APP

And the church today needs to here this. I say that because of the destruction of legalism. Why are there fewer and fewer Americans attending church today? I believe it is because they have never had a real relationship with Jesus and attending church was just something that was expected. As our society has grown more secular, attendance is no longer expected so they don’t go. Church is relevant to their lives because Christ is not relevant to their lives. Depending on rules instead of relationship leads you to either give up in despair, quit in boredom, or be deceived into thinking that you are “holy” when you are not. Legalism will always substitute rules for relationship.

ILL

H. B. Warner

In 1927 the director Cecil B. DeMille cast British-born actor H. B. Warner as Jesus in his famous silent film King of Kings. Warner, who 19 years later played the druggist in It's a Wonderful Life, was kept on a short leash during the filming of King of Kings. Cecil B. DeMille was concerned that any behavior by the lead actor deemed inconsistent with the image of Christ would result in negative publicity for the film.

As a result, DeMille enforced strict measures to ensure that Warner kept up a good Jesus-image (or what DeMille thought would be a good representation of Jesus). Both Warner and his co-star Dorothy Cumming (who played Mary, the mother of Jesus) had to sign agreements that barred them for five years from appearing in film roles that might compromise their "holy" screen images. During the filming, Warner was driven to the set with blinds drawn, and he wore a black veil as he was delivered to the set. DeMille separated Warner from the other cast members, even forcing him to eat alone every day. Warner couldn't play cards, go to ballgames, ride in a convertible, or go swimming.

Unfortunately, the regimen of rules and regulations didn't make Warner more holy. Instead, all of the pressure to be more Christlike without having the power or forgiveness of Jesus seemed to drive Warner over the edge. During the production of King of Kings, rather than act more like Jesus, Warner merely relapsed into his addiction to alcohol.

over the edge. During the production of King of Kings, rather than act more like Jesus, Warner merely relapsed into his addiction to alcohol.

TRANS

I tell you, legalism will deceive you. It takes the power of the gospel—the CLEAR gospel—to defeat legalism. That’s what gospel clarity does. It defeats legalism and then it

Gospel Clarity sets priorities.

D2: SETS PRIORITIES

EXP

I don’t know if you caught it when I read from Galatians while ago, but there seems to have been a very strong rebuke of none other than the Apostle Peter himself by Paul. says,

Galatians 2:11–12 NKJV

The gospel values truth over conformity.

Peter caved to the legalists and Paul was willing to call him out. Paul did that because he, evidently, valued truth over conformity. Which just tells us that the truth of the gospel—the clear gospel—is more important to conforming to the expectations of others. The gospel values truth over conformity . . .

The gospel values grace over religion.

And the gospel values grace over religion. What the Judaizers missed was that the Gentiles had been powerfully saved WITHOUT becoming Jewish. says

Acts 15:7–9 NKJV

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. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

The Gentiles were obviously saved.

Peter tells the council that the Gentiles heard the word about Jesus, believed the word about Jesus and received the filling of the Holy Spirit. The Gentiles were OBVIOUSLY saved.

The Gentiles were equally saved.

But they were also EQUALLY saved. Don’t miss what Peter tells them. He tells these staunch Judaizers in v9 that God has made no distinction between us and them and has purified their hearts BY FAITH. The equalizer was not the work of circumcision or keeping the law, the equalizer was Grace!

And Peter goes even further. He calls out the very Judaizers who may have earlier intimidated him. In v10 he asks,

Acts 15:10 NKJV

Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Peter, in essence, tells them to stop blocking the way of salvation for the Gentiles with their religion. They needed to get their priorities straight. Salvation trumped their rules. And that is what always happens when you have gospel clarity. The clear message of grace will cause you to prioritize what is really important. Gospel clarity sets priorities.

APP

And that is true for us as a church: The pure message of the gospel will prevent people from religious confusion. When we preach it, the pure message of Christ’s death and resurrection will release the Spirit’s power. After all, it was Jesus Who said, And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men to me.

O church! We must keep the message clear. Satan will always seek to sidetrack us by getting us to turn to a list of rules so that he can kill with religion what the Spirit seeks to build in the heart. No one ever gained spiritual power through conformity. But when the Spirit invades a life, that life changes!

TRANS

I tell you, it is gospel clarity that defeats legalism and it is gospel clarity that sets priorities. Then it is gospel clarity that

Gospel clarity unites believers.

D3 UNITES BELIEVERS

EXP

The next person to speak at the council is James. James was the half-brother of Jesus and the undisputed leader of the church at Jerusalem. When James spoke, people listened. He begins his speech with a powerful sentence that you miss if you don’t know the background. He says in v14,

Acts 15:14 NKJV

Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. This is a powerful verse, but it’s power is missed by us because we don’t read the Greek behind our English translation. Usually, when the Gentiles are referred to, the word Ethne is used, a term which literally means nations. It is a generalized, non-personal term. When the Jews are referred to, the term laos is used, which means “people.” That is a personal reference indicating God’s special relationship with His people. But, when James uses the two terms here, he does not speak of God taking a people IN CONTRAST to the Gentiles, (that is that God called out the Jews to be His people in contrast to the Gentiles). No, God calls a people CONSISTING of the Gentiles. Now the believing Gentiles AND the believing Jews have been joined together in one family.

This is a powerful verse, but it’s power is missed by us because we don’t read the Greek behind our English translation. Usually, when the Gentiles are referred to, the word Ethne is used, a term which literally means nations. It is a generalized, non-personal term. When the Jews are referred to, the term laos is used, which means “people.” That is a personal reference indicating God’s special relationship with His people. But, when James uses the two terms here, he does not speak of God taking a people IN CONTRAST to the Gentiles, (that is that God called out the Jews to be His people in contrast to the Gentiles). No, God calls a people CONSISTING of the Gentiles. Now the believing Gentiles AND the believing Jews have been joined together in one family.

Then he backs up this claim with Scripture. He quotes the book of Amos in v 15:

Acts 15:15–16 NKJV

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;

Amos is speaking of the time when the Kingdom of David will be re-established. Now the average Jewish person would have know THAT, but the shocking reason James gives for this must have shaken his listeners. Why is God going to re-establish David’s kingdom? V17

Acts 15:17 NKJV

So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’

The very point of God re-establishing David’s Kingdom would not be to re-establish Jewishness nor the sacrificial system; it was to unite Gentile and Jew together under the authority of Christ. And the point is this: It is through Gospel Clarity; it is through the clear message of the gospel that we are united.

It is through the gospel that we realize that:

· That nationality doesn’t matter. There will be brothers and sisters in heaven from Russia, from China, from Iran, from Pakistan, from Mexico. All will be united under the Gospel

· It is through the clear gospel that we realize that race doesn’t matter. Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in his sight.

· It is through the clear gospel that we realize that our past sins do not matter. Paul would go on to make this clear in where he says:

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NKJV

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 9–11 NKJV

Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

1 Cor

· It is through the gospel—the clear gospel that you can realize that your diagnosis doesn’t matter. Heaven will be your home for eternity be it sooner or later—it really makes little difference. You belong to Him and that’s all that matters.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

· It is through the gospel that you realize that NONE OF THESE THINGS MATTER. The only thing that matters is that you understand and believe the clear gospel: We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus we shall be saved . . . We believe that God has made no distinction between us but instead He purifies our hearts BY FAITH. It is THIS message that unites us!

ILL

Serve day

I have experienced that unity. In January, I felt impressed by the Lord to gather with other pastors to pray. As I was thinking about that, I received an email from Gary Combs about getting together to pray with pastors and, on January 31 of this year, a few pastors got together to pray. Since then, we have met monthly to pray and have been doing things together.

This has meant a lot to me! It has changed the way I see the other pastors in this town. I no longer view them as competitors, but as teammates. We are working together to build the big “K” Kingdom, not our own little empires. Just a couple of weeks ago, probably 200 members from 10 or so churches gathered to serve our city together. It was such a joy!

But that’s not the most important part. The most important part is what unites us! Yes, we don’t see eye to eye on every little point, but we do agree on this one thing: The clear gospel. We agree that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and we agree that He’s coming back.

Now you need to know that we are not going to invite every pastor in town into this group. We are being very clear about that. Why? Because there are some who are not clear about the gospel and, without gospel clarity, there really isn’t unity.

APP

Unity fails when you base it on unanimity.

You see, unity based on the gospel can’t help but succeed, because it is based on the truth and empowered by the Spirit. Unity attempted on any other basis can’t help but fail, because it is based on man or his own efforts. The problem with our unity is that we so often try to based it on the wrong thing. We try to base unity on unanimity. We think we have to all think alike on every point. That fails for one very important reason: We DON’T all think alike! But listen, when gospel clarity comes, we don’t have to force ourselves into one another’s grids. We begin to experience the Spirit’s unity because we are together on the message that matters. Our unity fails when we base it on unanimity.

Unity fails when you base it on conformity.

And, by the way, it also fails when we base it on CONFORIMTY. Unity based on conformity will fail because after a while, our sinful nature will just get tired of going along to get along. Only the power of the Spirit operating deep within us can really bring unity through the clear gospel.

TRANS

Gospel clarity defeats legalism; gospel clarity sets priorities and gospel clarity unites believers and last of all, gospel clarity:

Gospel Clarity motivates tolerance.

D4 – MOTIVATES TOLERANCE

EXP

Acts 15:19–20 NKJV

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

Now, vv19-20 can almost seem like a contradiction if you miss the context of what James is saying. It starts well enough. James says, Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God . . . so far so good. He says, I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, BUT that we should right to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. What’s going on? We were free through grace in v19, but it seems like we’ve added works in v20.

Well, what James mentions in v20 were probably matters of the law that would have seemed especially significant to Jewish believers. Eating food offered to idols or drinking blood or eating meat that had not been drained of blood was very offensive to them. All of those were ceremonial practices specific to Judaism that would not have necessarily been binding on the Gentiles.

Now, when James mentions sexual immorality, he was probably speaking of the specific laws in the OT about marrying cousins, etc., which would have also been a Jewish specific. He is not talking about sex outside of marriage. So, the point is that all of these things would not have necessarily been binding on Gentiles, yet James tells the Gentiles that they needed to abide by these Jewish laws as well. Was he adding something to the gospel?

I don’t think he was. What he was doing, here, was telling the Gentiles that they needed to be sensitive to the background of their Jewish brothers. That’s why he says in v21,

Acts 15:21 NKJV

For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

In other words, he says that the Gentiles need to realize that these specific things that he mentions have been drilled into their Jewish brothers and sisters and that they need to be sensitive to them in order to maintain unity. Why should the Gentiles do that? Because of the gospel! It is gospel clarity that should help them to realize that unity and spreading this clear gospel is more important than my getting to eat food offered to an idol or getting to marry my cousin.

And here’s the point: It is the gospel that supplies us with the love necessary to put aside our own preferences and embrace others who may struggle with certain things.

APP

So let me ask you, is there anywhere in your life where you are allowing your own preferences to cloud gospel clarity? Are you refusing to partner with someone who may be more legalistic than you because you don’t want to be bound by their preferences?

ILL

Testify to love shirt

Many years ago we took some of our students out to minister in churches in the summer. We rehearsed music and learned a drama we could present to students. It was a great experience, but one of the most teachable moments we had in the whole endeavor was when we discussed what we would wear as we went into churches. Even though we felt the freedom to wear shorts, we realized that many of the churches we would minister to felt that was wrong, so, in order to spread the gospel effectively, we dressed the way they expected us to dress. We were not compromising what we thought was right; we were making sure that our preferences didn’t cloud the clear message of the gospel.

That’s the first question: Are you allowing your own preferences to cloud gospel clarity? Here’s the second: Are you contradicting clarity with religion? Are you adding anything TO the gospel? Sometimes people will ask you when you are sharing Christ with them, “Will I have to stop doing this or that when I get saved?” Now that is always a tricky question to answer. The truth is that coming to Christ DOES mean a complete surrender. But my answer to that question is always this: You come to Christ first! You trust Him! He’ll tell you what you need to do. You see, I trust the Holy Spirit and the word of God to draw that person to the truth.

So what about you: Are you contradicting gospel clarity with religion?

And last of all, are you compromising clarity for conformity? What I mean is this: In our world you will find many people who want a religious experience apart from any specific commitment to Jesus. They don’t want you to tell them that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, but anything less that that is not the CLEAR GOSPEL! And, if it is to be effective, the gospel must be clear. It is the clear gospel that defeats legalism, sets priorities, unites believers and motivates tolerance.

VIS

truck

One man wrote that he I recently took a 45-minute drive in an old, beat-up van with a guy he barely knew. Along the way they ended up talking about Jesus and whether this man would give his life to Christ. His response laid out humanity's resistance to the gospel with striking clarity. He said, "My biggest problem is pride. I can't humble myself. And you wanna know the reason I can't give up my pride?" He leaned up onto the steering wheel and paused for effect. "Because it's brought me so far."

The man said that he couldn't believe his ears. He knew that this man’s pride had brought nothing but great pain. It was all he held onto while growing up in gangs—while his father died of a drug overdose and his mother was in the mafia. He knew that this self-made man beat his wife regularly, that he was unemployed, that he had just gotten out of prison. In fact, he found out a week later that this was on his way back into prison!

In a separate conversation, his wife said that this man’s young daughters were terrified of him, that he was an alcoholic, and that she was planning to leave him. She even said that the old van he was driving was going to be repossessed in a week.

Yet despite all the differences, the man said that he couldn't help but notice that in some ways, this guy and he were similar. He said that he struggles to lay down his pride, because it's brought him so far—or so he thinks. What it's really brought, he said, is pain, isolation, and ruined relationships.

And the only thing that will cut through the pride of our hearts is the empowered, clear gospel. It is believing that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scripture. It is believing that if anyone is in Christ he (really is) a new creation; old things ARE passed away, and ALL things have become new!

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