Acts 15:1-29 Wednesday, May 2, 2018 Acts 15:1 2 (NKJV) 1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. In the previous chapter we read Acts 14:21 23 (NKJV) 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. So this is where these certain men went. They came down from Judea. Actually they went North which we would say, they went up. (Tradition of traveling to and from Israel, especially Jerusalem.) Most importantly is what they taught these relatively new disciples. Jour ney Distance (miles) Travel Time (days) Cost per Person (denarii)* First 1,581 53 237 As you can see, the time of the round trip mission trip was less than two months. Now that does not include time spent at each location. So let s double it and say that these converts were approximately 4 months old in the Lord. This suggests a couple of things to me. Page 1 of 8
1) The Holy Spirit s ability to lead new believers 2) Yet there is still a vulnerability, or that they are still very impressionable to the teachings of others, including false teachers. These certain men told these new believers, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. Such false teaching has stayed with us, even to this day. The false teaching that salvation is by grace plus works (Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah s Witnesses, Church of Christ, Roman Catholic Church) - The Bible says salvation is by grace without works and that works follow after salvation (Rom. 4:1-6; Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-8). The false teaching that baptism is necessary for salvation (Church of Christ) - The book of Acts teaches us that baptism follows salvation (Acts 8:36-38; 16:30-33; 18:8). There are too many false teachings floating around out there today, but I will mention a few more The false teaching of soul sleep, (Seventh-day Adventists). The false teaching that Hell is not eternal torment (Jehovah s Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists). - Jesus said hell is a place where the worm does not die (Mark 9:43-44). Revelation says those who receive the mark of the antichrist will be tormented forever (Rev. 14:10). Rich man, Lazarus & Abraham, Luke 16:19-31. The false teaching of replacement theology. By asserting and insisting that Gentiles must come under the law of Moses, first to become REAL Christians, and second to be truly saved, was to usurp authority OVER Paul and Barnabas, who, I will remind you, were sent out by the Holy Spirit. Page 2 of 8
We have no record of these certain men being sent out by the Holy Spirit. They were sent out on their own. That s how all cults start. People usurping authority and claiming to be somebody. When in the city of Antioch in Pisidia, Paul preached Acts 13:39 (NKJV) 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. These certain men from Judea would have objected, saying Jesus saves, but only after we have done all we can do to keep the law of Moses. But Paul taught that a man could only be right with God on the basis of what Jesus had done and not what we have done or what we add to the saving work of Jesus on the cross. At the same time we are not to use this liberty as an excuse to live a sinful life. There are those wanting to know how far you can go and still be saved. If that s truly your heart, I think you ve already gone too far. Acts 15:3 5 (NKJV) 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Let me just say this: For a Pharisee to become a true Christian, it would take more than a belief that Jesus was Messiah. What do I mean by that? He would have to forsake his attempts to justify himself by the keeping of the law and accept the work of Jesus as the sole basis of his justification. What we just heard is the foundation of a Pharisaical cult. Anything that is a belief based on Jesus AND or Jesus PLUS - is a cult. Page 3 of 8
Acts 15:6 11 (NKJV) 6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they. I m sure you will remember that in Acts, ch.10 Peter went to Cornelius the Centurion s house in Caesarea. The Centurion had gathered together family and friends to listen to Peter. And we read in - Acts 10:44 46 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God then they were baptized. What did Peter mean here in v.11 - we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they. Peter is speaking directly to the Pharisaical cultish mindset that they were not saved by the atonement of Christ s shed blood - PLUS - their works of keeping the law of Moses. NEVER can it be - - - Christ + Acts 15:12 15 (NKJV) 12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a Page 4 of 8
people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: Before we move on, this is James; known as James the Just ; the half brother of Jesus; the brother of Jude. He, not Peter, is the head, or the Pastor of the church in Jerusalem. Was Peter the first pope, as the Catholic Church claims? The answer, according to Scripture, is a clear and emphatic no. Peter nowhere claims supremacy over the other apostles. Nowhere in his writings did the Apostle Peter claim any special role, authority, or power over the church. Nowhere in Scripture does Peter, or any other apostle, state that their apostolic authority would be passed on to successors, as the Catholic Church claims. Yes, the Apostle Peter had a leadership role among the disciples. Yes, Peter played a crucial role in the early spread of the gospel. One false belief leads to another. The Roman Catholic Church sees Peter as the first pope upon whom God had chosen to build His church. It holds that he had primacy over the other apostles. The Roman Catholic Church maintains that sometime after the recorded events of the book of Acts, the Apostle Peter became the first bishop of Rome, and that the Roman bishop was accepted by the early church as the central authority among all of the churches. It teaches that God passed Peter s apostolic authority to those who later filled his seat as bishop of Rome. This teaching that God passed on Peter s apostolic authority to the subsequent bishops is referred to as apostolic succession. The Roman Catholic Church also holds that Peter and the subsequent popes were and are infallible when addressing issues ex cathedra. It teaches that this infallibility gives the pope the ability to guide the church without error. The Roman Catholic Church claims that it can trace an unbroken line of popes back to St. Peter, citing this as evidence that it is the one true church. Page 5 of 8
Where did they get this from? From a total misunderstanding of Matthew 16:18 - which says Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) - (Jesus speaking) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. We all know by now that the name Peter means rock. The Catholic Church then, claims that Jesus was speaking of him, Simon Peter, as the rock that Jesus would build His church upon. But the word rock in the verse means bedrock Peter is Petros - a rock, like one you might pick up and skip on the waters of the sea of Galilee. The rock that Jesus was speaking of is Petra. For any of you who have been to the Rock City of Petra, you now have a visual of this verse. What was the Petra that Jesus will build His church upon? Himself!! After all, while Peter may be a petros, Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. The statement that Peter had given Jesus was what kicked this conversation off. It was found earlier in v.16 You are the Christ, the Son of the living God That message is what the Church is based upon. Let me get back on text 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: Now, remember, this is James speaking - quoting Amos 9:11 &12 - and then explaining Acts 15:16 21 (NKJV) 16 After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things. (Now the explanation) 18 Known to God from eternity are all His Page 6 of 8
works. 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath. First, look all the way back to v.14 to see what James is saying - Acts 15:14 (NKJV) 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. The ancient Greek word for Gentiles (it could also be translated nations) is ethne. The ancient Greek word for people in this passage is laos. The Jews considered themselves a laos of God, and never among the ethne. For them ethne and laos were contrasting words. So, it was a challenge for them to hear that God at the first visited the Gentiles (ethne) to take out of them a people (laos). Next verse - - - And with this the words of the prophets agree James asserts that God has always planned to call a people to Himself out of the nations of the Gentiles. v.19 - Therefore I judge James is passing down a ruling - Therefore I judge. Others offered opinions and arguments - - - James gives the final ruling - BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD, THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS IN THE WORD OF GOD. Here it is - - -Peter, Barnabas, and Paul are right, and that those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed are wrong. V. 20 - But that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood: James decision that Gentile believers should not be under the Mosaic Law was also given with practical instruction. The idea was that it was important that Page 7 of 8
Gentile believers did not act in a way that would offend the Jewish community in every city and destroy the church s witness among Jews. Acts 15:22 (NKJV) 22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. Barsabas : Aram Gar-Shabba - son of the sabbath Joseph Barsabas, surnamed Justus, was one of the two candidates for the vacancy in the apostleship occasioned by the defection of Judas (Acts 1:23) The council of Jerusalem wisely sent out members of its own community, the church in Jerusalem, to Antioch to affirm the decision of the council. The handy carried a letter, which read Acts 15:23 29 (NKJV) 23 They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, You must be circumcised and keep the law to whom we gave no such commandment 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. Okay, now you have it. The issue is settled here, in the infancy of Christianity, and for all time: We are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, not by any conformity to the law, and such obedience comes as a result of true faith, after the issue of salvation has been settled. Page 8 of 8