April 19, 2020 Keep Gospel Clarity! Acts 15

Keep Gospel Clarity! April 19, 2020 – Acts 15 Conflict in the Church at Antioch! Acts 15 (ESV) 15:1-3 1But 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.” 2And 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. 3So, 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. 15:5-11 5But 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.” 6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7And 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. 8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10Now, 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? 11But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” 15:19-21 19Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20but 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. 21For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” 15:30 – back at the Church in Antioch 30So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. Gospel conflict! (1, 5) Gospel praise! (2-4) Gospel clarity! (5-29) Gospel joy in the Church! (30-35) --- Revelation Demands Response --1. Keep Gospel Clarity everywhere, always! > Salvation is through the grace of Christ! (Peter, v.11) > testimonies of Gentile conversions (Paul, v.3, 12) > don’t “trouble” them (James, v.19) > no other gospel! (Galatians 1:6-9) Galatians 1:6–9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 2. Keep Gospel Clarity toward unbelievers! > Don’t put obstacles in front of unbelievers! > 1 Corinthians 9:23 and pre-evangelism – yield your rights to win more! 1 Corinthians 9:22–23 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 3. Keep Gospel Clarity in the Church! > Don’t put obstacles in front of believers! > Don’t blur the gospel and law! Galatians 2:14 (see 2:11-21) But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” Application questions on the back à Abide in the Word this week... I will build My Church! Keep Gospel Clarity!! (Acts 15:1-35) For the following application questions, review your notes from the front 1. Keep Gospel Clarity everywhere, always! Write out what clutters the simplicity of the gospel in your life. How can you keep it clear? 2. Keep Gospel Clarity toward unbelievers! Write out what kind of obstacles you can place in front of unbelievers which may close them from the gospel. Read 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 and write out how this truth helps you in evangelism. 3. Keep Gospel Clarity in the Church! Read Galatians 1:14 and write out how self-righteousness or fear shows itself in your life. 4. Keep Gospel Clarity as of first importance in the Church! Many Christians have endured some church conflict. From our study today, write out what you can learn about maintaining unity in the local church by exalting and keeping the gospel. How does gospel clarity resolve conflict? From our study, write out a prayer to the Lord thanking Him for what you have learned. Our vision is to know…follow…and love Christ! Building passionate followers of Christ!