Dr. Goodluck Ofoegbu Prof. Oby Ofoegbu Banking Blessings Ministry San Antonio, Texas USA

Transcription

1 Dr. Goodluck Ofoegbu Prof. Oby Ofoegbu Banking Blessings Ministry San Antonio, Texas USA

2 What We Will Learn Paul got Timothy circumcised To team with him for 2 nd missionary journey Despite Jerusalem ruling On circumcision of Gentile believers Removed potential questions Regarding circumcision of Timothy To focus on spreading gospel with him Acts 15 and 16 2

3 Paul Takes Timothy into His Team Paul with Silas met Timothy in Lystra Early in 2 nd missionary journey Circumcised Timothy To take him along for the mission Visited several towns in the area To deliver the Jerusalem decision Acts 16:1 5 3

4 Acts 16 (NIV) 1 He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 4

5 Acts 16 (NIV) 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5

6 Acts 16 (NIV) 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. 6

7 Background Information On Jerusalem Decision At the church in Antioch Men from Judea taught about circumcision Gentile believers have to be circumcised To be saved Paul and Barnabas disputed the teaching Church sent delegation to Jerusalem Led by Paul and Barnabas Acts 15:1 2 7

8 Acts 15 (NIV) 1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 8

9 Jerusalem Consultation Team proclaimed conversion of Gentiles On the way to Jerusalem And in Jerusalem on arrival Pharisees demanded Gentiles circumcise Meeting of apostles and elders convened To discuss the matter Acts 15:3 6 9

10 Acts 15 (NIV) 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. 10

11 Acts 15 (NIV) 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 11

12 Peter s Address to the Consultative Council Recalled experience at house of Cornelius God accepted Gentiles Showed it by giving them the Holy Spirit Accepted Jews and Gentiles alike Why place additional burden on Gentiles? That God did not require of them? Acts 15:

13 Acts 15 (NIV) 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 13

14 Acts 15 (NIV) 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." 14

15 Dr. Goodluck Ofoegbu Prof. Oby Ofoegbu Banking Blessings Ministry San Antonio, Texas USA

16 Additional Contributions to the Consultative Council Paul and Barnabas described experience working among the Gentiles James cited scriptures To support expanding gospel to Gentiles Proposed turning to God should not be made more difficult for Gentiles Acts 15:

17 Acts 15 (NIV) 12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 17

18 Acts 15 (NIV) 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: 16 " 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' 18 that have been known for ages. 18

19 Acts 15 (NIV) 19 "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 19

20 Decision of Jerusalem Consultative Council To Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia Circumcision message was not authorized Gentile believers need only abstain from Food sacrificed to idols Blood Meat of strangled animals Sexual immorality Acts 15:

21 Acts 15 (NIV) 22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23 With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 21

22 Acts 15 (NIV) 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 22

23 Acts 15 (NIV) 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. 23

24 Timothy s Circumcision Timothy did not have to be circumcised Based on Jerusalem decision Father was Greek and mother was Jew Went through circumcision on Paul s advice To forestall potential challenge from Jews 24

25 Timothy s Circumcision cont d Paul must have reasoned To focus on the gospel And mentoring Timothy Avoid distraction from potential challenges If Timothy were not circumcised Chose to avoid the battle To focus on the war 25

26 What We Learned: Choose Battles to Avoid Paul circumcised Timothy Despite the Jerusalem decision To forestall potential challenge from Jews And focus on the gospel And mentoring Timothy Choose battles to avoid To focus on the war 26

27 What We Learned: Parent-Child Churches Church in Antioch Recognized Jerusalem church As parent church Consulted with Jerusalem church To resolve an internal dispute Value of parent-child relationship Among churches 27