Amazing Grace

Acts 15:1-35

BI: We are saved by grace through Jesus alone so use our freedom in Christ to love other

Well if there’s one thing I’d change about the Asian culture it’d be this: learn how to deal with conflict. don’t get me wrong, there’s lots i love about being asian the food, family, friends loyalty. But conflict, we’re just so bad at it. We don’t face it. confront it. Work through issues together. We just swept our issues under the carpet. You do that long enough, and things will eventually just blow up. I have seen many churches where people have left, issues unresolved, people have just avoided each other. it’s sad. it’s not just an asian thing, stress in the workplace costs the Aussie economy $14.81 billion a year. Stress from conflict costs $10.11 billion a year. that’s a lot of money.

But here’s the thing, conflict is not always a bad thing. I wish I understood that growing up. The Bible does not speak about it in negatively. More than that, sometimes it’s necessary. It helps us clarify things. It has certainly helped me to understand a situation more fully, be more humble at my lack of understanding and pride, understand how I contributed, understand my own expectations and desires. Conflict is not necessarily a bad thing. Whoever you are, this side of heaven, there’s going to be conflict. Even in the church. And sometimes the most productive times in the church, our most important doctrines have been clarified because of conflict. We get it now because people fought about it in the past. We understand the Trinity – the nature of God that he there is one God in three persons, Father Son and Spirit because blokes like Arius denied Christ was fully God. He’s wrong. Christ is fully God, fully human but fully God. The truth has been clarified through conflict.

The Big Issue: You need to become a Jew (15:1-6)

Here in chapter 15 of Acts we have the first big theological conflict in the Bible. And it’s not just between two people. Actually, its the first big council of Apostles and elders coming together to consider and debate this issue.

How did it arise? This problem started in Antioch, in Syria. This is the first mixed church of Jews and Gentiles. We saw this in chapter 11. It was going okay for a while but it didn’t last. Look at what happens in verse 1 –

Acts 15:1 ESV

But 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.”

See the issue? These men insist that Gentile believers need to become Jewish to be saved. they need to be circumcised. and verse 5 they need to obey the Old Testaement law. Now this was a huge issue. Is it Jesus + Judaism? Is that how Gentiles are saved? Is that how we are saved? The church was divided. So Paul and Barnabas had a huge disagreement with them. Come to verse 2

Acts 15:2–5 (ESV)

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. 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. 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. 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.”

Friends, this is still the biggest issue our world faces. they just don’t know it. How can we be right with God? You have to get that right. it’s spiritual life and death. this is the issue of our time. So, given how big the issue is, the church leaders need to settle this matter. So they appoint Paul, Barnabas a few others and gather to discuss - verse 6 have a look

Acts 15:6 ESV

The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

They come together to debate. God doesn’t come in a dream or a vision. There was good old fashioned debate.

1. The solution: We are saved by grace alone in Christ alone (15:7-18)

In this debate, we find 3 key speeches. 3 really important speeches. Peter speaks, Paul and barnabas get up and then James concludes proceedings. And what was the outcome? It is profound. Here’s the solution. We can only be saved by grace alone in Christ alone. It’s that important that they got it right. you and I wouldn’t be here if they got it wrong. Let’s look at the speeches in turn.

1.1 Peter’s speech

First Peter. Peter the leader of the 12 Apostles, gives his personal account of what God has done. He has saved Gentiles and given them the Holy Spirit! verse 7 half way in

Acts 15:7–9 (ESV)

“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. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Peter shared the Gospel with Cornelius and his whole family. These were Gentiles. We spent weeks looking at this. It’s that important. God saved even the Gentiles. There was no doubt. God gave them the Holy Spirit, just he gave the Jews the Spirit at Pentecost. So there’s no distinction between Jew and Gentile anymore. If he gave them the Spirit, he must have forgiven them. He must have cleansed them. They too are saved by faith in Jesus.

So Peter is a bit flabbergasted by their issue. He asks a piercing question.

Acts 15:10 (ESV)

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?

Why are you testing God? You know the Jews can’t obey God’s law. Our forefathers fathers couldn’t keep them. The law is like an oxes yoke. A yoke helps cows to pull together on a load. i’ve never seen it in action myself. But if the load is too heavy, the cows are going nowhere. It’s futile. The OT laws are too heavy to bare. it’s going back to slavery. They couldn’t keep it. There’s 613 of them! They failed over and over again. We see this littered all over the Old Testament.

So Peter tells them straight. Here’s the key verse

Acts 15:11 ESV

But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Salvation come through Jesus alone. It’s grace. It’s a free gift. Nothing else. For the Jew and Gentile. It’s Jesus plus nothing else. No circumcision. No laws. That’s the first important speech.

1.2 Paul and Barnabas

The second speech comes from Paul and Barnabas. What they do they describe their mission to the Gentiles. Come to verse 12

Acts 15:12 ESV

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 show us what God’s been doing among the Gentiles on their mission journey. Miracles and signs accompany the fact that many people are believing in Jesus. It’s happening everywhere. See signs and miracles in Acts shows Jesus is alive. It shows Jesus is victorious. He has defeated death and sin. He rules and reigns. Salvation comes by grace alone in the victorious Christ alone. Jesus shows them He’s truly ruling by signs and miracles. the second speech.

1.3 James the brother of Jesus

And to cap it off, the third big speech comes from James – Jesus’ own brother. He goes back to the Old Testament. God himself tells us He would accept the Gentiles. It’s not a plan B. Interestingly, James takes us to Amos. Come with me to verse 13

Acts 15:13–18 ESV

After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, “ ‘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, 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.’

Amos said that God would rebuild David’s fallen tent. But what does this mean? It means that one of David’s descendants will be the king forever. He will rebuild, restore the tent forever. This King is clearly Jesus. Jesus is from David’s line. He is the one who Amos predicted. Jesus has come and died and risen again to rule as God’s king forever. This prediction has come true. So, if that’s happened, it’s not surprise then that the Gentiles would come to faith in Him. it’s all part of God’s plan.

There you have it. Three compelling speeches. we are saved by grace alone in Christ alone. That’s the key. The Apostle testified. God has given the Holy Spirit, worked miracles, given the Gentiles faith. They have equal standing. They are purified because of Jesus alone. and this is no surprise. God said in Amos He will save the gentiles when his King comes. It’s always his plan.

Let’s put it altogether. Here’s the solution: Gentile Christians need only rely on Jesus to be saved. Nothing else. Faith in Jesus alone. Jesus alone. Grace alone that saves us. That’s it. Nothing else. Anyone who believes is saved. This has always been God’s wonderful plan.

Implications: Friends isn’t this truth just so wonderful? You are saved by grace alone in Christ alone.This is what makes Christianity so wonderful. It’s not about performance. good works. It’s just not. and it does not matter how much you’ve sinned, how guilty you might feel, it’s a free gift. Trust in Jesus. that’s how you are saved. you know the hymn Amazing Grace the first verse

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

Brothers and sisters – what a God we have. God has lavished on us amazing grace on us. Wretched people like us! what a great God we worhip.

2. Love others for the sake of the Gospel (15:19-35)

Now you might be thinking, issue resolved. Time to call an end to the meeting. But here’s the thing. Yes, while the conflict has been resolved theologically, there is a still a real problem in the church. How are they to love the Jews? James doesn’t just say tell them to just deal with it. He doesn’t say well stop circumcision altogether. In fact Paul circumcises Timothy in the next chapter so as not to offend the Jews they are ministering to. He says love your brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s not just theology, it’s about relationships. Be sensitive, be willing to be flexible. Love And we get this don’t we intuitively.

I remember going to a friends house. They’re Chinese right. Outside his house said “shoes off please.” I’m looking at my Asian friends here, wonder if that’s you. When I go inside his house, I don’t want to cause offense by keeping my shoes on. Personally I don’t really care you can wear shoes in my house go for it. And there’s nothing in the Bible that says you got to take your shoes off when you walk in your home right. But I’d do it because the relationship matters. I don’t want to be rude, I don’t want to cause offensive. For my mate who I’m trying to reach with the Gospel, I’d take my shoes off, no dramas.

Remember the key issue: You are saved by grace alone in Christ alone. Now that you know that, love others. Love your brother, your sister in Christ. Love others by limiting your Christian freedom. Love others because of the Gospel. It’s fascinating how James expresses this. Look at verse 19

Acts 15:19 ESV

Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

Did you see what James is saying? He’s saying don’t trouble the Gentiles who turn to God – that’s the principle – it’s by faith in Jesus alone, grace alone. I’ve said it a lot. I hope you remember it. but noitce verse 20 it’s interesting

Acts 15:20 ESV

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.

Hmmm… Is James adding law after he has just said you are saved by grace? No. He’s saying use your Christian freedom to love your fellow believers. There are things in the law of Moses – we won’t deal with them in detail. But lots of it was to do with food that was just so offensive to the Jews. Gentiles ate meat sacrificed to idols. They ate meat from strangled animals, still had blood in it – they’re not tucking into medium rare steaks. They drink blood of animals. They didn’t know. But it’s all forbidden under Jewish law. The Jewish believers folllower Leviticus 17. Here it details how eating meat from an animal that’s been strangled, drinking it’s blood..it’s just not kosher. You don’t do that. And the other issue are Gentile sexual practices. Leviticus 18 sets a whole list of laws of who you can and can’t marry, how you should conduct yourself sexually. I think the Gentiles are violating that. Againt they have no idea, they’re Gentiles!

Now we need to be clear here – there’s nothing wrong with eating meat that’s not kosher. Jesus himself declared all foods clean. My mum used to mix beef blood with soup. Said it good for me. It’s okay. Gentiles did not come under Jewish law. But it’s just not wise, not good for relationship. In fact, it was offensive. The Jews found some Gentile food and sexual practices offensive. It’s hard to preach Christ when you are doing these things in front of them.

And he tells us why. Verse 21 this is important

Acts 15:21 ESV

For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

James says, use your Gospel freedom to love others, be mindful think sensitively about others. Don’t intentionally rile them up. there’s no need. James acknowledges that the Jews loved Moses. They heard him read, sung, memorized. Every Saturday they are at the Synagogues listening to the Old Testament. It’s deeply rooted in them. It’s hardwired in them. And the majority of the church at this point are Jewish converts. So think about the relationship. Think about how you can use your Gospel freedom to serve and love others. These are issues of love, fellowship and being sensitive to people.

James is making the point: you don’t need to obey Jewish laws to be saved. Of course not. But you don’t have to disobey them. There’s nothing to say you have to have a lobster mornay. James is being mature. He’s being considered. He wants them to be sensitive. Don’t just think about theology but also think of relationships. Be considerate. Be mindful. do you hear what he’s saying?

Well, the Apostles and the elders in the whole church agreed that this was helpful and thoughtful. They sent some men back to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas with a letter of their decision. There letter is taken, delivered and the issue is sorted. Fellowship is restored, people are glad and men sent back to Jerusalem in peace. Pick it up with me for the last time in verse 30 – it’s an encouraging ending

Acts 15:30–35 ESV

So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Friends this is the first big theological debate in church history. It would have been hard to live through. Godly Christians arguing with each other. But it was productive, so important to get right. Two issues were clarified. First, the big issue: what’s essential for Christianity – you are saved by grace in Christ alone by trusting in Jesus. Secondly, things that are not essential – we need to love – love others because of the Gospel.

Two things I want us to take away today – I’ll pose them as questions

Firstly – Implication 1: Are you saved by grace? Friends there’s only one thing essential to being a follower of Jesus. its that you rely on Jesus. You are saved by grace. Jesus has died and risen for your sins. He purifies your heart. Peter says it verse 11 again: “But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. That’s what it means to be a Christian.It’s not Jesus plus giving to the poor. It’s not Jesus plus all the good that I try to do. It’s not Jesus plus coming to church. It’s not Jesus plus I need to be baptised. It’s not Jesus plus I am a presbyterian. It’s Jesus alone. Trusting in him alone.

And friends, this is the greatest news that you can ever hear. This new year, if you are new come to trust in Jesus. come and trust in Jesus. it’s a free gift. it’s called grace. This wonderful God who loves you sent his Son to die for your sins. Come to him. Believe and find true life. In this fearful and uncertain world, you need Jesus. you need to be right with God. Trust in Him.

Implication 2: Are you thoughtfully loving others because of the Gospel?

Secondly – for the follower of Jesus, are you thoughtfully loving others because of the Gospel? Brothers and sisters, let’s consider how we can love others because of the Gospel. Let us act with love and with sensitivity. This is what James tells us. Use your Gospel freedom to love others.

If it means taking your shoes off when you come to an Asian household, you don’t stomp around with your shoes on. be thoughtful, think about the relationship for the sake of the Gospel.

My mum used to ask me to wear a shirt for Church when I’m up speaking – I do it now – but back at a Chinese church, I probably caused offence. I wasn’t thoughtful. I wasn’t thinking about relationships, being mindful of those who this might cause offence. I did whatever i wanted because i knew the truth. James teaches us its profound isn’t it? limit your freedom in Christ by loving others for the sake of the Gospel.

And here’s the thing – we say these things because we have a greater goal don’t we? We want to further the work of the Gospel. We want to lay minimal barriers so others might hear the Gospel and be saved.

I want to conclude with a quote from Martin Luther the great theologian. It’s a great quote. He says as concerning faith we ought to be invincible, and more hard, if it might be, than the adamant stone, but as touching charity, we ought to be soft, and more flexible than the reed or leaf that is shaken in with the wind, and ready to yield to everything. Friends, we are saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus alone – never budge on that. But knowing this, love others, be mindful, flexible because of the Gospel. Let’s pray.