August 3, 2014
Morning Service

Acts 15:1-12

 

            In chapter 13 we saw the Apostle Paul heal a man, reject being called a god, pointed people to the true God.  He was stoned, and left Iconium, and traveled to Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe.  Here we find some very interesting people, such as Lydia, and Timothy, and the first council meeting of the church.

 

So let’s begin:

 

Act 15:1-41  And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 

·         Certain men, more than likely Jews. 

·         Let’s look at when circumcision was given to the Jews.

·         Gen 17:10  This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.  Gen 17:11-14  And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.  (12)  And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.  (13)  He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.  (14)  And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

·         So we can understand why they felt this way.  This question will be answered at the first council meeting of the church, a little later in this chapter.

·         We need to understand that this will not be the last question, or the last article of discussion, that could split the church.  BUT LET’S NOTICE HOW THIS QUESTION WILL BE ANSWERED, AND EVERY QUESTION THAT ARISES SHOULD BE ANSWERED IN THE SAME MANNER. 

 

WHAT ABOUT QUESTIONS THAT ARISE TODAY?

1.        Can I make heaven without being baptized?

2.       Am I, as a Christian, obligated to keep the Sabbath?

3.       What church should I belong too?

4.       What Bible should I use?

5.       How should I dress as a Christian?

6.       Will smoking keep me out of heaven?

7.       Can I drink alcohol and make heaven?

8.      What should be said over someone being baptized?

These are just a few of the questions that circulate around churches today.  There is a right teaching on each of these, and it should come from the teachings of the Bible.  Distributed by the authority of the church.  There is no substitute for knowing your Bible. 

 

Also, we should recognize that the church that Jesus said He would build is not left without someone being in charge, or in authority.  We believe, and teach, that the Apostle Paul set all this in order when he wrote to Timothy, and Titus.  These are the pastoral epistles. 

1Ti 3:1  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

1Ti 3:8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

We saw in chapter 6 of Acts, the Apostles, who were in charge of the church affairs, ordain the first deacons. 

We also recognize the five fold ministry that is given in Ephesians 4. 

Eph 4:11-12  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  (12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 

So what we are seeing at this council meeting is the church authority in action.  The question has been ask concerning circumcision in the law of Moses.  Does one have to be in order to be saved?

 

(2)  And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 

·         Paul and Barnabas are arguing strongly against this teaching.

·         This is the same manner in which questions today should be solved, using the Bible, the teachings of Jesus, and the Apostles.

(3)  They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 

(4)  And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.  (5)  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses. 

·         The Pharisees were the strictest religious group in Judaism.  They would be sticklers of keeping the laws of Moses, however, they were believers in the Lord Jesus.

·         It would be like asking the old time holiness people to set the dress code for Christians.  Peter teaches us well in chapter 3 of IPeter.

·         But now we go to the authority of the church.  The Apostles, and elders.

(6)  And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.  (7)  And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.  (8)  And God, which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;  (9)  and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.  (10)  Now therefore why tempt ye God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  (11)  But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.  (12)  And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 

·         Peter is the first to speak concerning this matter, and he calls the law of Moses a yoke, which neither our fathers, or we are able to bear, or keep.

·         Something we must remember is how the Apostle Paul describes the law, ( holy, just, and good).  We must also remember that Paul said, “all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, and instruction in righteousness.”

·         And the key is rightly dividing the Word.  Just as Peter said, “cleansing their hearts by faith.”

·         And what I find in the scriptures is a gospel of love, mercy, forgiveness.

Tonight we will see the conclusion of this first council meeting.  James, who is said to be the Bishop of the church in Jerusalem, will make the final decision on the matter.

Almighty God, help us to study to show ourselves approved, and help us to rightly divide Your Word.