Acts of the Apostles CH 15

Recap

Last Week we saw Paul and Barnabas were called by the Holy Spirit and embarked upon what we often refer to Paul’s first missionary Journey.

We saw they started in Antioch and from there traveled to Cyprus, Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and then ultimately they returned to Antioch in Syria.

Through this journey they began their process by preaching the Gospel to the Jews and gentile believers in the synagogues and then to the gentiles in the towns. Many believed, but many also rejected and later opposed Paul’s teaching. Paul and Barnabas dealt with many trials in their journey from false prophets, false religions, and open opposition that led to physical violence against themselves.

Still they rejoiced in their trials because they saw that God had indeed opened the door to the gentiles.

As we Jeff point out in our first lesson. Through out acts we see the Holy Spirit arriving, dwelling, and working, and we will observe transitions. Indeed we see the Holy Spirit Working and transitions from the Law to Grace.

Fasting - A practice, not a Command.

Fasting -The practice of abstaining from food (and probably drink). This could be done as an expression of remorse for wrongdoing, as an expression of mourning for a loss, or as a spiritual discipline meant to help one focus on spiritual matters.

There is not a command, it is a choice, and connected with prayer, Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus teaches us how to fast, right after he teaches us to Pray Matthew 6:5-13.

I just want to point out between these two practices Jesus emphasizes forgiveness.

Common Grace

Common grace, as an expression of the goodness of God, is every favor, falling short of salvation, which this undeserving and sin-cursed world enjoys at the hand of God; this includes the delay of wrath, the mitigation of our sin-natures, natural events that lead to prosperity, and all gifts that human use and enjoy naturally.

Acts 15

Let’s Dive in to Acts Chapter 15. We left off Paul and Barnabas were a in Antioch reporting everything that God had done especially the inclusion of the Gentiles in faith.

Then Acts 15 opens where men came from Judea and began to teach.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 15

“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

The idea here is that in order to be saved one cannot simply believe in Jesus and repent, but one must be circumcised, essentially become a Jewish convert then your faith in Christ would be complete.

Paul and Barnabas engaged in argument and debate.

Argument - A reason offered for or against a proposition, opinion, or measure; a reason offered in proof, to induce belief, or convince the mind; followed by for or against. - - Websters 1828 Dictionary

(Modern dictionary add the emotional element, an exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one.)

5 parts - Claim;Reason;Evidence;Warrant(justification or authority);Acknowledgement and Response.

Debate - A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting in which opposing arguments are put forward.

Greek - dissension (standing) and dispute (questioning).

There was further need to discuss this matter with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So Paul, Barnabas, and others were sent to Jerusalem. When they arrived they reported all that God had done. We then see people who believed in Jesus and belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and made their argument that it was necessary to be circumcised and follow the Law.

The Jerusalem Council

If we think about this argument, it is not far off for these early believers who were Pharisees to say this after all the Pharisees were keepers of the law.

So the apostles and the elders gathered and they too debated this issue.

Peter Speaks

Acts 15:7–11 CSB

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”

We are saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ!

Indeed There is no other way to be saved. Peter reminded the Council that Peter shared the gospel message to gentiles and they not only believed but they also recieved the Holy Spirit.

So in requiring to adhere to the Law which the Jewish people themselves could not bear was to burden gentiles and to do so was testing God.

James Speaks

James affirms that God has intervened to make believers among the Gentiles.

He quotes from the prophets:

Acts 15:16–18 CSB

After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name— declares the Lord who makes these things known from long ago.

James affirms that according God’s word his plan was to restore David’s tent, which is done through Christ, for the purpose of bringing the rest of the world, gentiles, to himself.

James’ Judgement

The law would cause too many difficulties for the gentiles. But to ask those that turn to God to

Abstain from things polluted by Idols

Sexual Immorality

Eating of strangled

Blood

The Letter to Gentile Believers

The apostles and elders sent a letter with Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch but also Judas and Silas, to be their witness.

Acts 15:23–29 CSB

They wrote: “From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts, we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth. For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements: that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.”

Notice the Four requirements are slightly different :

Abstain:

From food offered to Idols

From Blood

From eating and anything that has been strangled

From sexual immorality

The Letter Causes Encouragement and Joy

The Church at Antioch Gathered and rejoiced because they indeed found it encouraging because they could now live and minister to one another without the burden of the law.

Judas and Silas where prophets and they share a “long message” v.33

After spending time with them these two were sent back to Jerusalem in peace

Lesson Points

1. What do we do with the law today?

The Law was begun at the end of the book of exodus, but what comes to enforcement is the Levitical laws.

God, The Law, and His people

Exodus 40:35 CSB

Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

God Created man in Genesis to walk with him and care for his creation, but we see the events of the corruption, catastrophe, and confusion. So got enters a covenant with his people so that he may reside with them. But they are a sinful people as we know that we all are

Leviticus 19:2 CSB

“Speak to the entire Israelite community and tell them: Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

I believe this is the key to understanding the purpose of Levitical laws

God is Holy and so for his people to be holy they needed to follow the laws for holiness to be in God’s presence.’

Leviticus 1:1 CSB

Then the Lord summoned Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting:

Numbers 1:1 CSB

The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai, on the first day of the second month of the second year after Israel’s departure from the land of Egypt:

Do the laws apply? (Clothing of 2 materials, boil a calf in the mothers milk, )

Not in the judicial sense, but there are many great things we can learn from the law, the psalmist spoke in

Psalm 119:97 CSB

How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long.

In His fulfillment of the Law and Prophets, Jesus obtained our eternal salvation. No more were priests required to offer sacrifices and enter the holy place (Hebrews 10:8–14). Jesus has done that for us, once and for all. By grace through faith, we are made right with God: “He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).

Ephesians 2:11–21 CSB

So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Christian Disagreements

How can we disagree with one another and yet remain in fellowship together?

Sin (An immoral act or transgression against God)

This is serious and must be dealt with, Matthew 18:15-20 - Addresses issues about how to deal with sin.

Orthodoxy (Correct Teaching) and Orthopraxy (Correct Practice)

“Sound doctrine” simply means the teachings of the Bible—the full concourse of truth that God revealed in the Scriptures. Sound doctrine includes not merely the precious realities about God, creation, redemption from sin, and Christ crucified and resurrected, it also includes Scripture’s demands for repentance, personal holiness, and the rules established by Christ for his church.

Sound doctrine is thus fundamental to faithfulness. Orthodoxy and orthopraxy are never at odds. “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching, and persist in them,” Paul commanded Timothy, “for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim. 4:16). Life and doctrine are so inextricably connected that you cannot effectively watch the one without the other. They cannot be safely separated.

Wills, Gregory A. “Pastors, Watch Your Doctrine.” 9Marks. Last modified June 30, 2020. Accessed February 12, 2021. https://www.9marks.org/article/pastors-watch-your-doctrine/.

How we reconcile

Romans 14

1. Be welcoming

2. Those who have freedom of conscience must not look down on people who do not

3. The inverse is true also.

4. We each need to be convinced why according to (God’s word and spirit never conflict), partake or refrain is the others glory of God.

5. Be true to your conscience.

Questions

Are we putting a burdensome yoke on disciples today? How?

Or are we not allowing them to put on the yoke of Christ in the name of “freedom in Christ”

How can we disagree with one another and yet remain in fellowship together?