Circumcision conflict
Witness to the World: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 47:02
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Handout
Conversing through conflicts
Conversing through conflicts
Change, fear of the unknown can bring about conflicts. That as well as miscommunication or no communication. There is conflict that is arising within the early church and we can learn historically from it. Hopefully we can find some application along the way too.
Question (not on screen) What are some of the causes of conflict in our society today?
(Transition) Book of Acts, the history of the early church has lots of conflicts put before us to learn from. Here is what we have seen thus far.
Conflicts over what people thought (Act2:13-14)
People thought the apostles were drunk
Conflicts over serving table (Act6:1-2)
Conflicts over serving the Hellenistic Widows
Conflicts from outside (Act8:1)
A great persecution that brought a scattering
Today we get to some conflicts from within (Act15:1-35)
The journey, the mission team on the first missionary journey have seen much happen along the way.
Opened the door of faith to Gentiles (Act14:27)
Paul reported on the return trip, in Antioch how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles
Brought personal salvation (Act13:6-12)
the Pro-consul - Sergius Paulus is converted by faith, proven by signs at the hands of Paul/Barnabas
Brought many to salvation (Act13:42-49)
In Antioch of Pisidia there were many Gentiles who wanted more and Jews that encouraged more grace that comes to Jesus by faith. Faith that was seen and spread to the whole region.
Brought unlikely salvation partners (Act14:1)
Jews and Greeks, Jews and Gentiles alike are getting the gospel and are being saved by belief.
(Transition) So it was not long after there was questions that started to rise between Jews (Jewish Christians) about the Gentiles (Gentile Christians).
Do Gentiles need to be converted to Judaism first?
Do Gentiles need to be circumcised, and keep the Law of Moses?
(Conflict picture inserted here)
(Transition) after a long time in Antioch (14:28) came some conflict concerning the Gentiles and that is where we are at today and here is what we are looking at.
The Conflict (Act15:1-3)
The Conference (Act15:4-21)
The Conclusion (Act15:22-35)
The Conflict
The Conflict
We should not be surprised when conflicts arise. As is the case before it, did not have to look for conflict it came looking for them (our mission team).
If you are like me I sure don’t go looking for conflict, I do everything I can do to avoid it if possible. Though have learned that some conflict is unavoidable and can be healthy. Depending how you deal with it. We will see throughout this lesson tonight the conflict, the thoughts, the response, and the take away from the conflict presented.
27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
1 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.
Focusing on (15:1-2) what did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Pulling from the scripture:
Question: Who brought the conflict (v.1)?
Question: What was the conflict (v.1)?
Certain men from Judea came to Antioch
They were teaching unless there is circumcision there is no salvation.
Question: What was the conflict resolution that Paul and Barnabas offered (v.2)?
Having tried everything to resolve the conflict Paul and Barnabas were determined.
Determined to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders regarding the conflict (question) about circumcision and salvation.
So, certain men came from Judea, interesting that some believe the certain men included Peter (see Gal2:11-16) and that is a possibility since Peter did come to Antioch to see Paul and the work going on, but personally I think unlikely due to Peters recorded response in Act11 regarding the Gentiles and their conversion.
Now in looking at (v.2) we had certain men in (v.1) who came down, now look at (v.2) you see certain others were going to go up to Jerusalem. So I offer that the certain others are Barnabas since he was with Paul in Antioch and add to that possibility of Titus when you loop in Gal2:1-2.
1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.
Pulling from the scripture.
Question: Why did Paul go up to Jerusalem (v.2)?
Paul went because of revelation. Went to present the gospel in which he was preaching.
Application/lessons to learn:
Don’t go looking for trouble, but don’t run from it either
Be ready to defend/contend, or give an account for your faith (consider 1Pt3:15)
One more verse before moving on
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.
Question: You have to think back on this question, who sent them on their way (v.3)?
Sent on the way by the church at Antioch (Act14:26); which is also the same church that sent them on mission trip in the first place (Act13:1, 3-4)
Question: What did they do along the way (v.3)?
They described conversion of Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brethren.
Application/lesson to learn:
Be ready to share, describe what God has done, is doing in your life. If you find anything praise worthy in it, give Him the praise by sharing it, it can bring great joy, the joy of the Lord to others.
You don’t have to be in a destination to do it, do it “as you go” kind of like Mt28:20 “go make disciples” which means “as you go” be ready to share, describe and bring great joy which is only found in Christ Jesus!
The Conference
The Conference
Paul, Barnabas, Titus journey to Jerusalem to address the question, the conflict that certain men from Judea brought down to Antioch. It is dealt with in stages, from reception, to private audience to public conference.
Reception (Act15:4-5)
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.”
Pulling from the scripture
Question: Who received the mission team when they came to Jerusalem (v.4)?
The church, the apostles and the elders received them.
They heard from the team all that God had done with them.
Question: Back in (v.1) we see certain men came down, now in (v.5) we learn more about who the men were, what do you see, learn about the men?
They were of the sect of the Pharisees
And it was the same conflict that was brought down to Antioch, so the originators of the problem were certain men that were Pharisees
Private audience (Act15:6-11; Gal2-1-10)
Now as we get into this section, you may detect a little difference, Peter speaks up.
6 The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10 “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
Question: In the private audience who came together (v.6)?
The Apostles, the Elders came together, and you can assume with Paul, Barnabas and Titus since that is who came from Antioch.
A few facts to clean from Peter’s preaching, defending, trying to resolve the conflict.
We were chosen long ago, to bring the gospel to the Gentiles through us (v.7)
Proven through the Holy Spirit (v.8)
Purified by faith (v.9)
Don’t yoke them (Gentiles) with something we (Jews)
Public conference (Act15:12-21)
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:
14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘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; 17 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.’
18 Says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago. 19 “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,
20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Now may we pull some things from the scripture
Question: After Peters comments (vv.7-11) what did the multitude do (v.12)?
The multitude kept silent and listened.
We do not know what Barnabas and Paul said, but we do see a speaker change in (v.13); James now addresses the multitude
Question: looking at (vv.14-17) James confirms something (focus on v.15) what is it that he confirms?
He confirms that the Gentiles salvation was fulfilling the words of the prophets
In (vv.16-17) is a quote from Amos9:11-12
See God had a plan, an eternal plan (v.18) and it always was salvation for all, through the Jews, through the line of David (being Jesus Christ) for this to happen
Question: what was James judgment (v.19)?
Not trouble the Gentiles who were turning to God.
Question: what was James direction (v.20)?
To write to them, and instruct them
Abstain from things polluted by idols
Abstain from sexual immorality
Things strangled , and from blood
Question: what was James reason (v.21)?
This is what Moses and all the generations preached
And what James was doing was going a long ways to keeping peace between the Jewish and the Gentile converts
(Transition) So we have the testimony of Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and James, supported by signs, wonders and the words of the prophets the conflict was quickly resolved.
The Conclusion
The Conclusion
So, the conflict, the conference, the resolution agreed to, now is the time to let the people know the conclusion. We will see the delegation, the return and the reception
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
Question: We see “chosen men” that pleased the apostles and elders, who were they (v.22)?
Accompanying Paul and Barnabas was Judas, and Silas
Now comes the letter itself:
23 They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment—
Need to stop just or a minute
Question: what fact(s) do you learn in (v.24)?
There was no instruction from the elders for what was told to them that disturbed them.
25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
Things acknowledged by the letter (vv.25-28)
They were of one accord (v.25); and that Barnabas and Paul risked their lives for the name of Jesus (v.6)
They do not want to lay any greater burden on them (v.28)
29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” 30 So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message.
Question: What was the result of the letter being red to them (v.31); and what happened what happened (v.32)?
They (the people of Antioch) rejoiced and were encouraged.
They got a long message of encouragement and strength from Judas and Silas.
And the end result, well, let the scripture speak.
33 After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren in peace to those who had sent them out. 34 But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others also, the word of the Lord.
The mission team grows, Silas is added to the team, and surprise, surprise, surprise more preaching the word of the Lord. Judas was sent back, and Mark, is about to go back, but that is another sermon for another day.
(Conclusion) Circumcision conflict was an issue in the early church for there was still division and misunderstanding:
(Salvation by grace alone picture inserted here)
It is not grace + law = Salvation
It is not works to earn favor = Salvation
It is not grace+ works = Salvation
it is grace alone through faith = Salvation
(encouragement expanded- challenges today may not be circumcision but still try to change, do that which is contrary to Gods scheme of redemption ) (Prayer)