Sermon Tone Analysis

GETTING THE GOSPEL RIGHT (3): TRUTH DELIVERED

(Acts 15:22-35)

September 18, 2022

Read Acts 15:22-35 - Can despair ever be a good thing?

Isn't it always bad? Spurgeon once said, "I have never heard yet of anybody who derived any good from despair."

Then he continued, "Let me correct myself, there is a kind of despair which is the work of the Spirit of God; I wish that you all felt it-a despair of self-salvation, a despair of washing away your own sin."

How I join him in wishing we all had that despair.

Eternity is at stake on that.

In our series we've seen the "Jesus plus" movement came to Antioch on the heels of P&B, claiming salvation is by faith in Jesus, plus circumcision and keeping the Law.

They lacked despair at futility of their own human efforts.

P&B contended aggressively for salvation by faith in Christ alone.

No human merit involved.

But the offenders persisted, so the leaders in Antioch sent a delegation to Jerusalem to get clarity.

Last week, we saw Peter, Paul and James create an airtight case that salvation is by faith alone apart from works as shown by the Word, by the miracles attached to the message and by the outpouring of the HS on the Gentiles at Cornelius' house.

No circumcision!

The answer was clear.

Now it had to be communicated.

In this effort, the leaders in Jerusalem aimed at encouragement, clarity, unity and stability.

They arrived at a beautiful way to defend and confirm the message of the gospel.

And since this battle is in every generation, including our own, there is help here on how we need to deliver the message.

I.

The Explicit Response

In their response to Antioch, the apostles were faithful to "contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).

They realized if we lose the gospel, we lose everything.

Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again (I Cor 15:3-4).

This is the gospel that must be defended at all cost.

It is eternally relevant.

We must contend with civility, gentleness and respect, but we must contend.

The Jerusalem response is a model in this regard.

A. Clarity in Tone and Content - The written response is beautifully done.

23) "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders [highest church authority on earth], to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings."

These Jewish leaders acknowledge the Gentiles in Antioch as brothers from the start.

How welcoming!

Then they show they understand the issue.

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."

"Troubled you with words" translates ταράσσω which originally meant to plunder a town.

Someone had plundered the peace of mind these people had concerning salvation That's a despicable thing to rob someone of.

It unsettled their minds.

The plunderers had seemed real; claiming to be authorized by Jerusalem.

But they were not; thus, the apostles were anxious to undo the damage done by these imposters.

They continue, 28 "For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements" which had nothing to do with circumcision but were suggested limitations to accommodate tender Jewish sensibilities.

The burden imposed by the false pretenders was lifted.

And to make sure the message was clear, they didn't just send a letter; they sent two of their best - Judas and Silas - returning with P&B.

B. Confirmation of Previous Witness - The letter confirmed the ministry of "our beloved Barnabas and Paul".

This assured these new believers: "Yes, they got it right.

They are beloved by us and they got it right.

Judas and Silas will confirm that."

They are keen to bolster the faith of this growing flock in Antioch.

Justification is by faith alone in Christ alone.

No circumcision needed.

No law-keeping.

Just Jesus!

Sending Judas and Silas was a genius move by the Jerusalem leaders.

The issue in Antioch was contentious, pitting Jews, who had been circumcised against Gentiles who had not.

The written response, no matter how carefully crafted, could still be subject to interpretation and question.

Judas and Silas were equipped to go beyond the letter to explain further.

And Judas, being a Jew, along with Silas who was a Roman citizen, covered both sides of the controversy.

They left no ground for misunderstanding.

Written words can confuse.

Like the prof who wrote, "Woman without her man is nothing."

He then instructed his class to punctuate the sentence.

The men wrote: "Woman, without her man, is nothing."

The women wrote, "Woman!

Without her, man is nothing!"

Judas and Silas were to prevent any such misunderstanding between competing parties in the controversy.

C. Direction and Unity of the Spirit - Now the most critical part of the letter.

They were not communicating their opinion; it was the word of the HS.

28) "For it has seemed good to the HS and to us."

So, how did they know?

What did they do?

They studied the Bible together in community.

When they agreed on what the Bible taught, they said, "That's what the HS is saying, so that's what we say as well."

It's a beautiful illustration of the need for one another in gaining insight into God's Word.

Can you be saved without being part of a church?

Sure!

But to some that means, "I can decide for myself what God wants of me.

That's between me and God.." Yes, BUT when we come together and study the Bible together, we have more confidence that we're reading it rightly.

We all have prejudices and biases.

So, God urges, Heb 10:24: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some."

Can we hear God alone?

Yes.

But coming together helps overcome the blindness we all bring to the task.

These people sought the authority of the Wordtogether.

They didn't go by feelings or emotions or personal experience.

They studied the Word to discern His leading and could therefore say, "This is what seemed good to the HS and to us as well."

That's a good place to be.

They had the right authority.

D. Unifying Instruction - So, they clarified no circumcision or law-keeping.

But they do give 4 prohibitions.

29 "that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality."

These are not for salvation.

That issue is settled.

These restrictions are about fellowship.

They concern being sensitive to the long-held beliefs of other Christians to avoid conflict.

Food offered to pagan idols obviously went uneaten.

So it was sold in temple shops or the marketplace.

But idolatry was so blasphemous to the Jews that anything associated with it - including meat which was harmless in itself - was anathema.

They'd been taught to avoid meat with blood in it, which could result from strangled animals.

So, the letter urges Gentile believers, for the sake of fellowship, to avoid these meats which were harmless in themselves but would offend Jewish consciences.

Paul addresses this principle in I Cor 8 where speaking of food offered to idols and then sold to the public: 8 "Food will not commend us to God.