The Mission: Demonstrate an Uncompromising Faith

Happy Reformation Day! It is fitting that we are in Acts 15 today because, Paul and Barnabas had something in common with Martin Luther. On Oct 31, 1517 Martin Luther publicized his paper containing his 95 thesis and legend states he nailed it to the door of the castle church in Wittenburg, Germany. Luther did something which monks and and the common populace were discouraged from. He read and studied the Bible for himself.

During this study, he discovered 95 ways He believed the Bible contradicted Catholicism and he spent the rest of his life defending Scripture against people who were doctrinally incorrect. His main points, of course were that money and baptisms, and confession did not secure salvation. Repentance, through faith, in God was the only was a person has ever been saved and will ever be saved.

The many reformers in our passage, including Paul and Barnabas, did not nail a historical document to the doors of the church, but they did contend fiercely for the faith, as Luther did, against wolves in the congregation and they believed, as Luther, that salvation was a matter of faith.

Reformation Day is a day we should praise God for cloud of uncompromising men and women who have gone before us who fiercely protected the faith and it should be a day that strengthens our resolve to boldly carry and defend the reason for the hope that is within us.

(SLIDE)

A Question of Salvation (15:1-2a,5)

Things were going along nicely for the church overall. People of all nationalities and colors were being saved and radically transformed to Christ’s image by God’s power. The church was in trouble, the people who make up the church encountered a crisis about the message of salvation. In Acts 15 a question of salvation raged in the Antioch and Jerusalem churches, and we find in verse 1 that “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.””

People were preaching a....

A compromised salvation message (v1)

These visitors were probably Pharisees. These men had come from Judea and they were proclaiming the same message as the Pharisees mentioned in verse 5. We know Pharisees loved deceiving others with their appearance, so they probably wore their most official looking church clothes. These visitors could also quote scripture with authority because they cared to a certain extent for spiritual things. They looked godly, they sounded godly, but their salvation message didn’t match Jesus’ salvation message.

These 35 verses reveal this topic was the most hotly debated topic of that day. Why did the church leaders spend so much energy on this? Why didn’t the Gentiles just compromise with the Pharisees, get circumcised and move on with their lives? After all, it was only one more thing to ensure their salvation, right?

Wrong! The church leaders knew that salvation is by Scripture alone, by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the Glory of God alone, plus nothing!

The problem is the works-based salvation these men were preaching. They claimed, “no one can be saved unless they depend on works that began at the time of Moses.” Pharisees loved religion but scorned faith. Salvation depended faith PLUS their laws. Salvation was God’s grace plus their own goodness. Salvation PLUS works was for their glory, not to God’s glory.

Paul and Barnabas believed it was, “by grace, we have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves. it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any one should boast.”

Gentile salvation was designed by God to remind Jews just like these visitors that faith alone is the basis for salvation. These visitors were were jealous because Gentile Believers clung to a different version of the Gospel… the authentic version of the Gospel. The Antioch believers would not compromise and by God’s grace they were led by...

Uncompromising leaders (v2-4)

If you recall, the Antioch church was Paul and Barnabas’ home base and it was congregation they both had greatly invested in. Do you remember Acts 13:3? “Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” The Antioch churches pastors and teachers laid hands on Paul and Barnabas to make a statement. We authorize you to preach the Gospel wherever you go and we give you our full blessing and authority do do whatever is necessary to defend the faith.

I had a similar experience as we were preparing to come here in January. It was during our last Sunday with the brothers and sisters in Saint Louis, when our pastors called my family and I to the front of the church after the service. They laid hands on me (not in a showy way) and prayed with us, conveying their agreement that I should defend the faith with their blessing.

When you contacted me just about one year ago, you also gave your blessing and permission for me to teach the whole counsel of God here in Randolph through the ministry of First Baptist church. You have also blessed or commissioned our deacons to also defend the faith and protect our flock.

This is important.... these Pharisee visitors were not given permission by Antioch church leadership to teach the congregation, but they taught anyways. Paul and Barnabas remembered Jesus’ words in Mt 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” so they debated the faith/works issue with these doctrinally incorrect visitors.

Why Antioch? Antioch was the hub of gentile believers just like the Jerusalem church was the hub for Jewish believers. It was logical then in verse 3, that the uncompromising leaders from both churches would convene to discuss this growing theological problem. Please follow along Acts 15:2-4...

Acts 15:2–4 ESV

2 And 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. 3 So, 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. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

Here we find....

A Report of Salvation (15:2-6, 12)

Please catch this… Even though Paul and Barnabas were very prominent Christians, they always tried humbly submit to other believers. We have seen this happen over and over again, and we will continue to see this over and over again. Look at the wording in verse 2. These great heroes of the faith, Paul, Barnabas, and these other representatives were not above authority. What did they do in verse 2? They humbly submitted to the Antioch leaders.

Leaders are not above authority, for they must work in tandem with the rest of the body. They set a primary model… they submitted to other believers and those other believers also submitted to them. God’s people demonstrate...

An uncompromising submission to church leadership (v1)

I must chase this important principle for a couple moments because a pattern is apparent throughout Acts and I may not have a better opportunity than this to address this important principle.

These early church leaders had been faithfully protecting their flock from the wolves, but the wolves were not the problem! The wolves, these Pharisee visitors were not the problem here! (Pause)

Humans are great blameshifters, Amen?! Glance at verse 1 again. It says... “the pharisees were teaching the brothers” but the pharisees were not the problem, the Christians who tolerated heresy were the problem. Christians in the congregation willingly chose to sit under the Pharisees leadership. The same believers who had commissioned their own church leaders left the safety of the sheepfold. Sheep wandered off, willingly sat at the wolves dinner table and asked, “Wolves, what are we eating tonight?!?!”

Brothers and sisters, we are in danger whenever we wander off on our own. I know a Christian widow who began dating a man without the counsel or blessing of her own spiritual leaders. That man does not attend a church of like faith. She listened to the wolves and her life is in danger.

Brothers and sisters, you are in danger when you don’t participate in ministry opportunities which your own pastor and deacons decided to be spiritually profitable. (With much grace) You appointed us to lead you and to promote things for your eternal benefit, so we offer Sunday School, Morning Worship, Prayer Meeting, Growth Groups, Youth Group, fellowship times, outreach events, and partnerships with like-minded missionaries. We submit to you, yet many of you don’t submit to to your leaders or to each other by being faithfully involved in these things.

Beware, sheep who stray from the fold will fall prey to wolves. (PAUSE)

Barnabas had been away from Jerusalem, his home church, for a long time. Paul, through the sister church in Antioch, was also accountable to Jerusalem Christians. What do missionaries do when they visit? They give a missions update! They tell how God is working through them to carry the Gospel abroad. They demonstrated an...

An uncompromising accountability (vv3,4,12)

We read of this in verses 3,4, and 12.

Acts 15:3–4 (ESV)

3 So, 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. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

Acts 15:12(ESV)

12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas had a twofold approach as they gave their missions update…

First they declared God’s power to the Gentiles. God completed many mighty signs and wonders just like He had for the Jews. Signs and wonders were powerfully used by God. If it was not for these signs and wonders, many people would have doubted God’s inclusion of the Gentiles in His great plan of salvation. God used that evidence to help this council reach a favorable verdict for the Gentile believers.

Second, in their missionary presentation, Paul and Barnabas found it necessary to defend the faith. All Christians needed to know what the wolves were up to., so by declaring this situation with the wolves, they defended the faith from tolerance of works based salvation which was a problem in the Jerusalem church long before it became a problem in Galatia. We find in verse 5 and 6 that...

Acts 15:5–6 ESV

5 But 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.” 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

You may remember that early in Acts many Pharisees had converted to Christianity, but it seems some of these men still kept a foot on either side of the fence. They believed salvation was faith plus something else...

This was why the church leaders gathered in the first place. Some scholars liken this scene to a trial for Paul and Barnabas, but that is very wrong. Godly churches were never had one church, one leader, or even a group of leaders presiding over the whole denomination.

This was not an inquisition. but many Jerusalem leaders had compromised their faith causing this very great debate. This Jerusalem church was once the very model of perfect Christian unity, but false doctrine caused them to become a model of disunity, so this debate about salvation ensued.

A Debate about Salvation (15:7-18)

Paul and Barnabas were not on trial. This was a debate about salvation for the sole purpose of winning over the brothers. I believe Paul, Barnabas, and the other Antioch church leaders traveled to Jerusalem to bring evidence to a struggling and divided congregation. They came as helpers, not as jailbirds. This was another example of Paul and Barnabas strengthening believers. Paul and Barnabas did not tolerate apostasy. Please turn to...

Galatians 2:11–13 (ESV)

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Peter, James, and even Barnabas had at one point in time compromised under pressure from the circumcision party, probably somewhere between Acts 11 and 15. It is quite possible this very same issue, Gentile salvation, caused John Mark to abandon Paul and Barnabas after ministry on the island of Crete.

We know Paul didn’t often interact with the other apostles, so Paul may not have known that Peter and James had already repented of their compromise. Paul may have been fully prepared to contend with these Jerusalem church leaders as well. This is why verses 7-11 are quite refreshing. Even though salvation and circumcision was heavily debated...

Peter was no longer compromised. (15:7-11, 11:12-18)

If you recall it was Peter who had the vision of the net containing all kinds of animals and he was the one God used to lead Cornelius and his household to Christ. There, Peter witnessed the same signs of the Holy Spirit the the Jews also experienced, so his testimony on this topic was critical for this debate.

Acts 15:7–11 (ESV)

7 And 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. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, 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? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

This was a debate to present evidence to a group of people who probably did not know the history of Gentile salvation. Many years took place between Acts 10 and Acts 15. In Acts 11 Peter traveled back to Jerusalem to testify that salvation was also for the Gentiles. Listen to his speech from Acts 11:12-18 and compare what you hear with Acts 15:7-11. (mention the similarities)

Acts 11:12–18 (ESV)

12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

Please catch this… when the Jerusalem congregation...

18 heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Why would the Jerusalem congregation accept faith-based salvation there with a standing ovation, but fight against it four chapters later? (PAUSE) It was an issue because several years occurred between these chapters. Herod severely persecuted Jerusalem believers and God continued growing His church in Jerusalem. Much turnover had taken place! This new congregation had probably not heard Peter’s initial account in chapter 11.

In summary, Peter boldly debated these facts in Acts 15...

God made a choice among you. You were the cause of Gentile salvation in the first place.

He also said. “God knows the heart.” Actions don’t earn salvation, looks don’t earn salvation. Salvation is a matter of the heart.

Salvation is not faith plus something else. He said, “God cleanses the heart by faith.”

And he also said the Holy Spirit is proof of Gentile salvation in the very same way The Holy Spirit is proof of Jewish salvation. Circumcision of the heart, not of the body is the issue.

Peter said what Paul had been saying all along.... “Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in God alone.” It is God’s salvation. Faith in God alone is the way, the truth, and the life!

(PAUSE) Peter was no longer compromised and....

James was no longer compromised. (13-18)

At some point in time between chapters 11 and 15, Peter had transitioned out of the Senior pastor role and James transitioned into it. James’ not only confirms the testimonies of those who spoke before, but his speech ended the debate.

James replied… in verses 13-17...

Acts 15:13–17 (ESV)

“Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon-Peter has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from 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 I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old..’

All the scriptures said about Gentile salvation was that God was going to also set Gentiles aside as a people for His name. God never commanded Gentile circumcision anywhere in Scripture. This was the final verdict. Salvation was faith plus nothing. James knew from all those years walking next to Jesus that every time Jesus healed a person it was because of a person’s faith supplied supernaturally by God. Jesus never granted salvation as faith plus something else. James was determined to live with uncompromised faith.

The debate was over, but a matter was still unresolved. Do you remember the illustration I used a couple weeks ago that the Gentiles were like hungry dogs, begging for the scraps they could glean in Acts 13 from the Christian faith. Remember how excited they were when they didn’t just get scraps, they got the entire meal?! The Gentiles then must have been terribly discouraged by this debate. Jews had set obstacles in the Gentiles path to trip them up in their faith. Were the Gentiles even saved at all? Had they been duped? So James wisely thought to send a letter and messengers to Antioch informing them of the outcome of this debate.

This was an encouragement about their salvation.

An Encouragement about Salvation (15:19-35)

Let’s read Acts 15:19-35

Acts 15:19–35 (ESV)

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but 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. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them 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 themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” 30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

This letter and the representatives were sent to Antioch with the message… “we believe you are indeed saved and because you are saved, make personal holiness your highest priority.” This encouraging letter has much application for us. These verses teach us that personal holiness is the ultimate proof of our salvation.

James’ letter was both an encouragement and a warning to Antioch and to us because God does not tolerate sin.

We must have an uncompromising commitment to personal holiness.

James’ letter encourages us to separate from idols, from blood, and from sexual immorality. That blood bit and “things sacrificed to idols” is another matter, but idolatry and sexual immoralty? One would think James wrote that letter to be read in 2021!

Our nation is a mess because Christians have not made personal holiness a priority. Christians have replaced opportunities to worship God with idols. Sunday School, morning worship, growth groups, prayer meeting, and fellowship times are designed as encouragement and reminders to restrain sin in our lives. Sheep who make other things priorities are setting up idols and are at risk. Christians who tolerate sexual immorality are at risk. We know we are Christians when we can say no to sin. We know we are Christians when we stand up to Nebuchadnezzar and say, “No, we will not worship anyone but God.” We know we are Christians when we, like Joseph flee sexual temptations the moment they appear.

We do not have the gift of the Holy Spirit to waste it. We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to fully live under His control and power and not pollute our bodies with any form of sin. We must face this battle every single moment of our lives. Yes, the battle with sin is very hard and even overwhelming sometimes. Personal holiness was a priority for Paul, yet the battle was real for him too. He said in...

Romans 7:18, 24, 25(ESV)

18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

James’ letter was both an encouragement and a warning to Antioch and to us because works prove our faith.

We must have an uncompromising faith.

Matthew 7:15–20 (ESV)

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

James 2:17 (NASB95) “faith, if it has no works, is dead”

Antioch believers were encouraged because God radically changed their lives. They had, like Paul...

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

20 been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Faith was and is a precious gift from God that enables us to live as God designed us… in fellowship with God. Such a faith produces works that please God and God rewards such faith. If we want to God to bless our lives we must live wholly dependent on Him through faith.

We must contend using God’s uncompromising words.

Paul and Barnabas told people God said this in His Word. God’s word must be true because he did x, y, and z that exactly line up with His word.

Peter quoted God’s words to him and then spoke of God’s faithfulness in keeping His Word. God saved Cornelius’ and company just like He said.

James testified by quoting God’s words. The Pharisees compromised Gospel clearly opposed God’s words and it was Scripture that James quoted which ended the debate.

1 Peter 2:15 ESV

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Of course the “good” mentioned here is speaking and doing all the good things that God’s uncompromising word decree.

Brothers and sisters, we must live with an uncompromised personal holiness, through uncompromised faith, because of God’s uncompromised words. Watch and see what God will do in response!

Prayer:

Holiness.

Thanksgiving for reformers, Paul, Barnabas, etc.

Strength to stand in this evil day

victory, clarity, joy