8-19-18 Sermon Notes
“A Dispute”
Acts 15:1-35
This is week twelve of our thirteen-week series, “All In – The Early Church” from the book of Acts. The goal of the series is to inform us of the principles of the early church and to apply them to today’s church.
Introduction
Last week we traveled with Paul and Barnabas to Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe and back again. They were chased out of Iconium and fled to Lystra where Paul healed a lame man and later was stoned and dragged out of the city with the assumption that he was dead. However, after the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went back into town. What a scene that would have been – a dead man walking back into the very place that the attempted assassination took place. The next day they went to Derbe where they evangelized the whole town and made many disciples. And then, powered by the Holy Spirit, they turned around and went back to Lystra and Iconium and then on to Antioch of Syria. Now we shift to a dispute in Antioch, then on to Jerusalem to settle the dispute and then back to Antioch to deliver the settlement of the dispute.
Read Acts 15:1-35
Dispute in Antioch
15 “Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!” 2 But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy.3 When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers.
4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses!”
The Jerusalem Council
6 Then the apostles and the elders assembled to consider this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.10 Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12 Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they stopped speaking, James responded: “Brothers, listen to me! 14 Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name. 15 And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
16 After these things I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
I will rebuild its ruins
and set it up again,
17 so the rest of humanity
may seek the Lord–
even all the Gentiles
who are called by My name,
declares the Lord who does these things,
18 known from long ago.
19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers. 23 They wrote this letter to be delivered by them:
From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,
To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Because we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts, 25 we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things.
Farewell.
The Outcome of the Jerusalem Letter
30 Then, being sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. 31 When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and strengthened them with a long message. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the message of the Lord.”
Message
This message is divided into four parts.
The dispute in Antioch – verses 1-3 The Jerusalem Council – verses 4-21 The Letter to the Gentile Believers – verses 22-29 The Outcome of the Jerusalem Letter – verses 30 -35
Part 1 – The dispute in Antioch was over whether or not circumcision was required as a condition of salvation. There were those from the Jewish background from Judea that said that circumcision was a necessary requirement for the Gentile believers. After all, the Jewish believers had already undergone the ‘procedure.’ In order to settle the dispute, Paul and Barnabas headed to Jerusalem to find out if the church ‘fathers’ considered that as a requirement.
Part 2 – Upon their arrival, they gave a report to the Jerusalem Council about how the church planting went along with Gentiles being converted. Sure enough, there were some members of the Council (namely those who belonged to the party of the Pharisees) who came down on the side of circumcision being necessary in order to obey the Law of Moses.
There was a lengthy debate among the council members.
What followed was an explanation by Peter, Paul, and Barnabas why circumcision should not be a requirement. First, Peter hammered home the point that there was no distinction between Jew and Gentile. All who believed were considered by God to be in the fold. He went on to question them by saying, “…..why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?’ He then followed up by saying, “On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
Then there was silence.
Then Barnabas and Paul gave their report describing the wonders and signs that had taken place among the Gentiles.
Then James, the brother of Jesus (considered by many Bible scholars to be the pastor of the Jerusalem church), gave an “Amen!” to what Peter, Barnabas, and Paul had to say about the matter. He did, however, add a strong recommendation: “Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.” It does not sound like a requirement, but the implication is that he wanted to make sure that the new Gentile believers would not ‘fall back’ into some of their previous pagan practices.
Part 3 – A letter was then composed to be sent back to the church in Antioch. Notice that the decision to send Judas and Silas to go along with Barnabas and Paul to deliver the letter was unanimous (showing that there was unity in the settlement of the dispute) and the decision not to require circumcision was the Holy Spirit’s along with the leaders of the Jerusalem church. Also notice the ‘admonition’ to “abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” And the positive outcome by writing, “You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things.”
Part 4 – The outcome was ‘a happy dance’ by the Gentiles and rejoicing in the encouragement of the letter. The implication is that peace and harmony returned to the church. Judas and Silas gave a long encouraging message and then went back to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Paul remaining to continue their evangelizing.
Concluding Thoughts and Application
Pride seems to be at the center of the dispute – much like an ‘upper case’ Christian vs a ‘lower case’ Christian. Sometimes, we put ‘yokes’ on ourselves. If only we would do ______ to ‘earn our salvation’ or to ‘keep’ our salvation. Disputes are not bad if they are out in the open and dealt with by all those concerned in a timely manner. Let us depend on the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to help us settle disputes if they should arise.
Next Week – “Parting Company”