Sermon Tone Analysis

GETTING THE GOSPEL RIGHT (2): TRUTH DEFENDED

(Acts 15:7-21)

September 11, 2022

Read Acts 15:7-21 - There's trouble in Antioch.

Paul preaches salvation is by grace alone, thru faith alone, in Christ alone.

But now some legalists from Jerusalem show up, "It's not Christ alone; it's Christ plus circumcision - and the whole Jewish law."

The "Jesus plus" movement has come to town.

So, P&B and others were sent to the apostles Jerusalem to settle the issue once and for all.

They made a triumphal march of reports of Gentiles coming to faith in Christ.

And they were welcomed warmly by most in Jerusalem.

But there were some dissenters.

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."

So is it Christ alone; or Christ plus?

Much debate went on.

But then Peter, Paul and James speak, and the issue is soon clearly decided.

It's Christ alone as pictured in the OT and taught in the NT.

To add to Christ isn't just a minor faux paux.

It nullifies Christ's atoning death.

You can't add to Christ without cutting Christ off completely: Gal 5:4a: "You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by law."

It's not a minor point; it is eternally fatal to add to Christ.

That's what we'll see today.

Last week we saw Truth Distorted; today Truth Defended; next week Truth Delivered.

Here's how we know it's Christ alone.

IV.

The Definitive Consideration

Others appealed to tradition; Peter, Paul and Jas appeal directly to God to make their case.

It's not a matter of human opinion; it is a matter of divine revelation.

By the time they are done, they've presented an airtight case.

A. Appeal to God's Gifts Proves Salvation by Faith Alone

1. God's Gift of the Spirit - Peter reiterates his experience at Cornelius' home a decade earlier - long enough that some had apparently forgotten!

7b) "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."

This is a pivotal event.

God sent him against his own inclination to Cornelius in answer to his seeking heart.

God had instructed Cornelius where to find Peter and promised, Acts 11:14: "He will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household."

So Peter went, taking along 6 companions.

When he got there, he found a ready-made audience consisting of Cornelius and "his relatives and close friends" (Acts 10:24c) - "many persons" (v.

27).

Peter began to preach the gospel.

"Jesus, despite coming from God, doing much good and many signs, was crucified by His own people.

Yet God raised Him and He appeared to many, including us here today.

He will judge the living and the dead - but "everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name" (Acts 10:43).

He didn't mention circumcision, feast days or Law.

Just repent and believe in Him - the gospel.

And amazing happened!

Peter didn't even finish his sermon.

Acts 10:44: "While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.

45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles."

Even as these people listened, their minds got it, and their hearts responded.

Bam! Just like that saving faith was unleashed and the HS came to them.

No raised hands; no going down the aisle; no filling out a card; no oral confession of faith; no special prayer - just hearts reaching out to God in faith and God responding with the HS He gives to all believers.

But how did Peter know the HS came?

Acts 10:46: "For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God."

A visible representation of the Spirit was given - the speaking in foreign languages.

This didn't happen every time, but it did then to show Peter and his group it really happened.

The Spirit had come.

These people were genuine, fully accepted by God -- without circumcision or ritual or human add-on.

They were just as saved as Peter.

We know tongues was not the norm bc when Peter reported to Jerusalem later, he said.

Acts 11:15: "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning."

He doesn't say, "The HS fell on them as He always does on new believers in our church."

He says, "The HS fell on them just as on us at the beginning," - at Pentecost.

So, the first Jewish Xns of the church age, and the first Gentile Xns had the identical experience of the Spirit's presence shown by the external expression of speaking in other tongues.

And his point in Acts 15 is, "There's proof positive of the presence of the HS and the justification of these people without circumcision or Jewish ritual of any kind.

So we can't say Gentile believers must be circumcised.

God says differently as shown by the coming of the HS at Pentecost in Jerusalem and little Pentecost at Cornelius' house."

This had all been settled 10 years earlier.

After Peter's report, the Jerusalem believers, Acts 11:18: "When they heard these things they fell silent.

And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."

It had been settled.

But only ten years later, it is unsettled, reminding us the gospel is under constant attack.

We must be ever alert for gospel distortions!

God doesn't always give physical evidence.

But He gives enough the rest of us can get there by faith based on hard evidence.

Thomas missed the 1st appearance of the risen Christ.

He refused to believe until he saw for himself.

A week later, he did, and Jesus said: John 20:29: "Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

That's what Peter is providing - eyewitness testimony that Gentiles are saved without any human works.

The gift of the HS proved that.

2. God's Gift of Salvation - Peter doesn't stop at the gift of the HS.

He next notes that the gift of salvation has always been by faith and not works.

The Lord had "cleansed their (Cornelius' house) hearts by faith" (v.

9b).

But it wasn't just them! 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 is extremely important.

Peter is saying, "You've forgotten.

Even Jews were not justified by this yoke of the law.

Our fathers couldn't keep it and neither could we."

So how were they justified in the OT? How?!

By faith, looking forward to Christ.

The 1st Jew - Abe. Justified by obedience?

No. Rom 4:2-3: "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."

Abe was justified by faith, looking forward to Christ.

Not faith plus; it was faith alone.

Not Christ plus; but Christ alone.

But weren't people in Moses' time saved by keeping the Law?

Never, Salvation came by means of a substitutionary sacrifice, executed by faith.

Justification came by faith as exhibited on the Day of Atonement.

Trying to be saved by keeping the Law creates a yoke around one's neck that kills.

That's what the Pharisees did.