Pay off That Debt

Introduction

Acts 15:1–35 LEB

1 And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after there was no little strife and debate by Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this issue. 3 So they were sent on their way by the church, and passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. 4 And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to observe the law of Moses!” 6 Both the apostles and the elders assembled to deliberate concerning this matter. 7 And after there was much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Men and brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you through my mouth that the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by 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 So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way those also are.” 12 And the whole group became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 And after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Men and brothers, listen to me! 14 Simeon has described how God first concerned himself to take from among the Gentiles a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 ‘After these things I will return and build up again the tent of David that has fallen, and the parts of it that had been torn down I will build up again and will restore it, 17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’ 19 Therefore I conclude we should not cause difficulty for those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. 21 For Moses has those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” 22 Then it seemed best to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, men who were leaders among the brothers—23 writing this letter to be delivered by them: The apostles and the elders, brothers. To the brothers who are from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Greetings! 24 Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us—to whom we gave no orders—and have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your minds, 25 it seemed best to us, having reached a unanimous decision, and having chosen men, to send them to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from food sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things you will do well. Farewell. 30 So when they were sent off, they came down to Antioch, and after calling together the community, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they read it aloud, they rejoiced at the encouragement. 32 Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers by a long message. 33 And after spending some time, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord with many others also.

Pray

Luke begins by telling us of a major conference in Jerusalem. Which dealt with the issues surrounding all this gentile converts. Which Paul and Barnabas are very influential in bringing into the faith. Certain people these are Christians who are also Pharisees. They are teaching that you must be circumcised in order to be saved. Which is a logical argument. Christianity is still a sect of Judaism. The apostles were all Jews. Jesus was a Jew.

These Christians still see themselves as being Jews who have just seen the truth inside of the Jewish faith, But in all other respects they were still Jewish. From ancient times Judaism had provided for Gentile converts. They were to become proselytes. Which involved circumcision and submission to the full provisions of the Mosaic Law. Any Pharisee or even conservative Jew would have argued for this. If we were Jews most in this room would probably argue for this.

The problem with this is not that the Mosaic law is Bad. Jesus obeyed the Law. Jesus came to fulfill the Law. No it wasn’t that it was bad

But that it would effectively limit the Gentile conversions. Guaranteeing that Christianity would remain a Jewish Sect. Not being for the world. Because the very Laws which preserved Jewish identity were the ones found most offensive by the Gentiles.

They were trying to make it a works based religion. Which is a corruption of the teaching of God. That was well spread in the Jewish Faith. Judaism is not a works based Religion. That’s a misnomer. Judaism is a faith based religion that was corrupted.

Acts 15:10–11 LEB

10 So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way those also are.”

For Proof read verses 10 and 11. If they were saved by their works they would have failed long ago. But they are saved through the Grace of God. And so will they be.

They do list some things that would be good for them to follow. Not that these things save but that these things would allow the Gentile Christians and the Jewish Christians to get along. These things will Keep the Gentiles from being offensive to the Jewish people. As they would have contact with each other. No reason to be offensive to the Gentiles by requiring things like Circumcision that doesn’t save you. Nor to be offensive to the Jews, who are more conservative. And found it offensive with regards to food. Sexual impurities are just something that all need to watch out for. Corrupts the whole and destroys the family.

You Can’t Pay That Debt

Now when we read this passage we know that it is through Grace we are saved through faith. Not of our own works. We know this. But how often do we then turn and demand that others fall in line with our rules and regulations. Even though we know that it does not save us. Yet we want to enforce it on others.

Even worse we want to make sure everyone behaves like we are suppose to. Even when the world is not called to live a life of Christ. We Are. We have let This corruption into our faith. That we can be Good enough. Or that we can pay off our debt.

May people live like they have to pay off the debt that Christ has already Paid. I don’t like owing any one. We are either slave to righteous or sin. Not ourselves.

We will never be good enough. We will never be able to pay off the debt. We will never be able to follow enough Rules. No instead.

We should not focus on the rules but on the RULER. That is Jesus Christ. He is the one that saves. When we are living like Christ. When we are focused on Christ. Meaning we are letting him infiltrate our very being. Changing us. Healing us. We are living in his dust. So close that we are like him. Those rules just come naturally.

Next Steps

Following rules will never draw us closer to Christ. But drawing closer to Christ will keep the laws. How do we draw closer. Spending time with him.

Works has become the focus of too many people for too long.

Stop focusing on the law.

Draw close

pray