Chapter Fifteen: A Church United

What is a heresy?

In Christian usage, “heresy” has come to mean a false doctrine, which is so serious in its falsehood that the church must consider the heretics who believe it to have abandoned the true Christian faith

What are false teachers?

2 Peter 1:20–2:3 CSB

20 Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 1 There were indeed false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved ways, and the way of truth will be maligned because of them. 3 They will exploit you in their greed with made-up stories. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.

What is the Truth?

What are essential doctrines?

Doctrines that are non negotiable

The Trinity

One in being three in persons

God is the father, God is the Son, God is the Spirit

The Father is not the Son or Spirit

The Son is not the Father or Spirit

The Spirit is not the Father or Son

There is only one God

The persons of God are present at all times, the Father doesn’t become the Son then become the Spirit. The three persons are unified in being.

The Deity of Christ

Jesus was fully God and fully man

He lived a sinless life

He is resurrected from the dead

Salvation

We are saved by Christ’s work on the cross. It is by faith in Jesus that we are saved, not by works.

The question of what doctrines are essential is answered today in our story.

We seek to know the truth with discernment

The Jerusalem Council

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 15

Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 After Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue. 3 When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.

4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Judaizers create a schism by teaching that unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.

The question: Are the gentiles required to follow all the Old Testament law? Specifically the law of circumcision.

Circumcision: The Old Testament version of baptism. Paul says that it was given to Abraham as a sign of the covenant God had made with Him. The relationship came before the ritual. The Judaizers claimed that only those that were of the circumcision party could be called Christians.

Put it in context: imagine someone was teaching that you had to be baptized in order to be saved. What would you say to that claim?

This question led the early church leaders to come together and decide together what the truth really was.

We seek to know the truth with discernment

We defend the truth in love

Acts 15:6–11 CSB

6 The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter. 7 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. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 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? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”

What does this mean?

For both the Jews and the Gentiles, salvation was a matter of faith and not of works of the law. God did not withhold His Holy Spirit from the Gentiles but poured out the Holy Spirit on them in the same way He had done for those that were Jews. If God did not make distinction between the two, why should the Apostles.

Peter says that not only were their fathers unfaithful to the law, but all are unfaithful to it. Rather than restrict the gentile believers with the Mosaic law, Peter reasons to allow them to live in the law of liberty, which is the New Covenant of grace that Christ has paid for by His death and resurrection.

The Old Testament law was never meant to be the means for our salvation. It serves as a mirror, revealing our sin, and pointing us to Christ who is our salvation.

Acts 15:12–21 CSB

12 The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name. 15 And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: 16 After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, 17 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 18 known from long ago. 19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”

The events of Acts were promised long ago in the prophets. God was using the Apostles and the early church to bring all nations into the kingdom of God.

We seek to know the truth with discernment

We defend the truth in love

We share the truth boldly

Acts 15:22–35 CSB

22 Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers. 23 They wrote: “From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts, 25 we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements: 29 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.” 30 So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. 31 When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord.

The early church leaders didn’t wish to burden the Gentile believers, but they still gave them a list of things to avoid. This can be helpful to us today as Christians. To help the new gentile believers the Apostles gave them ways that they should separate themselves from the culture. As new believers they may have asked themselves, “where do I start?” This calling to abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality would have given them action steps to take as they sought to follow Jesus. God was teaching them through these things that He was worthy of their worship, that He was the giver of life, that He fulfilled every need, and that as Christians they were called to live holy lives, to walk as Jesus walked.

We seek to know the truth with discernment

We defend the truth in love

We share the truth boldly

We live according to the truth in humility

Galatians 2:1–21 CSB

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you. 6 Now from those recognized as important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism)—they added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised, 8 since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9 When James, Cephas, and John—those recognized as pillars—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I had made every effort to do. 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?” 15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

We seek to know the truth with discernment

We defend the truth in love

We share the truth boldly

We live according to the truth in humility

We pass the truth on to future generation of Christians

Nicaea (325 AD)

The Christian church was beginning to split. Emperor Constantine gathered up the leaders of the church from every district and held a council to determine the truth. It took place in the town of Nicea.

The issue on the table was a man named Arius that taught that Jesus was not fully God. This heresy was known as Arianism.

Argument

Arianism: Jesus was created by God the father. Neither the son nor the spirit existed but the father only until He created them. Jesus is like the father but not equal to Him.

“Jesus is the begotten son of God”

“Jesus is the firstborn of all creation”

Defense

Jesus existed in the beginning. Through Him all things that were created were created through Jesus (John 1) In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God. Jesus is equal to the Father because He is God. He was with him (distinction) He was Him (unity) The triune God is one in being three in persons.

Genesis uses plural pronouns in the creation account. “let us make man in our image” “In the image of God He created him” (Gen 1:26-27)

Emperor Constantine was present

This council ironed out some of the practices of the church but most importantly dealt with the issue of Arianism.

•Arius set his beliefs to hymns

The uncreated God has made the Son A beginning of things created, And by adoption has God made the Son Into an advancement of himself. Yet the Son’s substance is Removed from the substance of the Father: The Son is not equal to the Father, Nor does he share the same substance. God is the all-wise Father, And the Son is the teacher of His mysteries The members of the Holy Trinity Share unequal glories.

Hopefully when you hear that you think to yourself, “That isn’t true” St. Nicholas punched Arias in the face because of this heresy.

The important role of these councils

condemned heresies and created Creeds (statements that clearly defined belief systems

The Apostles Creed (no later than the 4th century)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,       creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,       who was conceived by the Holy Spirit       and born of the virgin Mary.       He suffered under Pontius Pilate,       was crucified, died, and was buried;       he descended to hell.       The third day he rose again from the dead.       He ascended to heaven       and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.       From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,       the holy catholic* church,       the communion of saints,       the forgiveness of sins,       the resurrection of the body,       and the life everlasting. Amen.

Canonical books of the Bible

How do we know the Bible is true?

God cannot lie

The Bible is inspired by God

“I urge you, therefore – yet not I, but the love of Jesus Christ – partake only of Christian food, and keep away from every strange plant, which is heresy. These people, while pretending to be trustworthy, mix Jesus Christ with poison – like those who administer a deadly drug with honeyed wine, which the unsuspecting victim accepts without fear, and so with fatal pleasure drinks down death” (Ignatius, Trallians 6).

The Bible we have now was recognized to be authoritative by Christ and the early church.

Old Testament Canon

If the books in the old testament were wrong (The Law, the Prophets, the Writings) Jesus would have corrected any mistakes that were made. Instead Jesus affirmed the books of the Old Testament by using them to teach.

New Testament Canon

Apostle-Attesting: The books of the New Testament were written by Apostles or people closely associated with them. The Apostles themselves referred to each other’s books as Scripture equal in authority to those of the Old Testament

Eye Witness Accounts: There were eye witnesses in the early church that would know if the writers were lying about events. Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Well Jesus appeared not only to the Apostles but hundreds of eye witnesses over the next fifty days.

Embarrassing Testimony: The Apostles don’t make themselves out to be great leaders but are honest about their mistakes and failures.

Martyr’s Testimony: People died for what the Apostles wrote. Not only that but almost every Apostle died a horrific death. Nobody will die for something they know isn’t true.

These councils didn’t fabricate a list out of thin air. They simply affirmed what the church as a whole already believed to be true about the Biblical Canon