DELIVERED BY GRACE
Scripture Text: Acts 15:1-13
Introduction: What special custom or tradition do we hold so dear that it prevents the truth from being proclaimed and practiced? What prevents some from hearing and responding to the gospel message that we are delivered by grace?
An article from an online page of the associated press says, “(updated 8:42 p.m. PT, Sat., July. 26, 2008)
NEWARK, Texas - Here in the gentle hills of north Texas, televangelist Kenneth Copeland has built a religious empire teaching that God wants his followers to prosper.
Another says, “ATHENS - Greece’s holiest pilgrimage site on the Aegean island of Tinos has launched an e-mail service allowing those too poor or sick to visit in person to have their prayers read to its icon of the Virgin Mary.
Tinos, part of the Cycladic archipelago some 120 km (75 miles) from Athens, attracts around 1 million visitors a year to its church of the Virgin Mary, whose icon is revered in Greece’s Orthodox Church for its reputed healing powers.
Many pilgrims, especially at the August 15 height of the pilgrimage, crawl nearly a kilometer from the ferry wharf to the church on their hands and knees as a sign of devotion. Many fulfill a pledge to light a candle as tall as themselves.”
CANTERBURY, England - The head of the Anglican Communion said Sunday that the global fellowship faces "one of the most severe challenges" in its history, and he urged bishops at their once-a-decade Lambeth Conference to do the hard work of finding solutions.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said the Anglican family’s most immediate need is for "transformed relationships" so they don’t break apart over homosexuality and the Bible.
--The essence of legalism is trusting in the religious activity rather than trusting in God. It is putting our confidence in a practice rather than in a Person. And without fail this will lead us to love the practice more than the Person. (Jack Deer, Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, p. 151).
When the gospel was first preached in Jerusalem and Antioch; there was much competition between people. Was it better to be Jew? Greek? Hellenized? Gentile? And because of the primacy of the message first being given to the Jews and then the Gentiles; there was competition here too! Not only that, many of the Jews had maintained their rules, laws, and customs. Matthew Henry says, ““they therefore kept them up after they were by baptism admitted into the Christian church, kept up the distinction of meats, and used the ceremonial purifyings from ceremonial pollutions, attend the temple service, and celebrated the feasts of the Jews.”
Special consideration and thought was given to the idea that men should be circumcised in order to be saved.
Propositional Statement: Salvation is by grace through faith alone.
I. Looking into the Matter (v. 6)
A. The ones that asserted that salvation required circumcision also held that they were believers. One might consider what makes you a believer. Many had said that they were saved and yet they did not have the Holy Spirit. God had not worked a miracle in their hearts. Some Jewish believers; who claimed belief were saying that circumcision was necessary to be saved because they had some affinity towards the customs of Moses. In this case for the Jews, circumcision represented cutting away sin and being purified or cleansed. In my study, I came across the idea that there is a difference between a command that is given by God and a law that is enforced by human beings. Matthew Henry says, “The difference between ‘a law’ and ‘a command’ is that a law is enforced by sanctions from a society, while a command carries only the sanctions of the individual who commands. When, however, the people of Israel accepted the commands of God as the rules which they would follow and enforce, these became their laws.” Henry also follows up with some comments about why men enforce these customs and traditions. He says, “….it is common for proud impostors to enforce their own inventions under pain of damnation; and to tell people that unless they believe just as they would have them believe, and do just as they would have them do, they cannot be saved, it is impossible they should; not only their case is hazardous, but it is desperate. Thus the Jews tell their brethren that except they be of their church, and come into their communion, and conform to the ceremonies of their worship, though otherwise good men and believers in Christ, yet they cannot be saved; salvation itself cannot save them.’’
B. The message that these supposed believers were trying to bring was contrasted by the gospel message that Peter would later convey in these passages. (v.6 the ‘matter’). The key here is: the key elements of the saving gospel cannot be changed. Galations 1:8 says, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed.” How many world religions preach that angels were bringing another way of salvation because the prior method just did not work. Paul Washer gave this illustration about world religions:
He concluded that there are two world religions: One with a doctrine of works and another with a doctrine of grace.
We now know, partially because of these passages that it does not matter if the custom is a valid law or not; and ultimately it doesn’t even matter that it was the law; …. because all that mattered is that the individual comes to God the precise way that God desires.
After much speculation and consideration; Peter stood up and authoritatively explained how the message that was to be delivered to them was different than the message or ‘word’ that was being considered. (back to v.6). Paul would later say in Galations 2:3-5; “But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.” And in 5:1; “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
Transition: Peter made two arguments against the idea that men needed to hold to custom s to become Christians. The first was that God knows the hearts of men….God is literally a ‘heartknower!’ And secondly, that the Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles (other nations) just as it was given to them. At Pentecost, when the men from every nation heard others speak in their own languages after the Spirit had made a visible and audible appearance; the question was asked: “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?” Yes, the prophecies that speak of Egypt, Assyria, and other nations worshipping God in one place were beginning to come true. Isaiah 19:24 says, “….whom the Lord of hosts has blessed saying, Blessed is Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.”
Jonah was furious with God and wanted to disobey when commanded to go to Ninevah because of one reason: He had an idea that God would offer salvation to the Assyrians. The Assyrian’s long history with Jerusalem pitted the people against each other….heathen vs. the proud resident of Jerusalem…..the city of God. Jonah 4:2 says, “Jonah prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country?” Therefore, in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.” While Jonah disagreed with God; he clearly stated the truth about God: He is a God of lovingkindness! God ready to deliver all people from the pain of sin; but at the time…. People would not repent and accept the warnings of impending danger, slavery, and death. We find ourselves in a place where we will understand that God is no discriminator of persons. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. God was now working through Peter to explain that men are given the Spirit and are cleansed only by God.
II. The Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles just like it was given to the Jews. (v.8)
A. In fact, in following the prophets; Joel prophecied: “I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; …. it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered….(2:28-32)” When Pentecost occurred; Peter stood up and said, “this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel….” Certainly, all men would come to be delivered by the Spirit of God. Oh, how shocked the Jews would be here in Acts when James said of the Gentiles that they would be called “a people for His name.” We must understand that the Holy Spirit is only given by God by a supernatural act of God.
B. Not only did Peter say that God had given them the Holy Spirit; but that God had made no distinction between us and them. We should notice that Peter takes it upon himself to speak for God. I am sure that he was secure in the fact that Jesus would have said the same thing. Not only that, Jesus had personally had called him to be a disciple and witness; and later was affirmed to be a witness of the gospel message to the Gentiles. He further said that God had not only given them the Spirit; but that their hearts are cleansed by faith. Certainly, works do not deliver us; but they do show evidence of our salvation and further give us an assurance that we have the indwelling Holy Spirit. James re-enforced the fact that faith without works is dead; and surely his recommendations to stay sexually pure, for example do not take away from salvation but are meant to be evidence for salvation. Can we judge whether one loves God or not? You bet we can! Matthew 7: “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. …. So then, you will know them by their fruits.”
Acts 10:44-45 says, “All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.” “The Jews thought that the cleansing was demonstrated by outward ritual cleansing; but Jesus fulfilled the purification of baptism and circumcision when he died on a cross; was buried, and ultimately resurrected. This message was given to Peter in Acts 10: “A voice came to him, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” 1 Corinthians 9:21 says, “to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.”
Transition: God is not interested in your assessment of other people. He would rather have you glorify Him by spreading the right message than he would have you say how you are just too much different than others. Don’t go about making assessments of people that prevent your associating with them!
Don’t allow traditional views of your particular denomination skew the truth of the Bible as it is presented in the Bible.
We should not attempt to exercise power over people and make ourselves look good by ensuring that they jump through customs and traditions that add to deliverance by grace; subtract from Christ’s work on the cross and; divide the church.
Why do we imitate the ones described in Matthew 23:4? “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.” Would that burden that we place on others prevent them from learning of Jesus? Further, “why do we want to place that same burden upon our own backs?” In fact, the question is asked in verse 10; “Why would you test Him by enslaving those He has set free?” Peter affirms that neither himself, nor his ancestors were able to keep the law or any of the customs and barriers that they had erected to prevent themselves from sinning against God. They simply were not strong enough to bear the yoke! “I saw that just as Christian came up to the Cross, his burden loosed from his shoulders and fell off his back and landed in the sepulcher. Then was Christian glad and lightsome and said with a merry heart, “He hath given me rest by His sorrow, and life by His death.”—John Bunyan, in Pilgrim’s Progress ”
Conclusion: “The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.” (A.W. Tozer.)
Peter affirms in verse 11 that the doctrine that these Judaizers brought was contrary to the message of good news that they had learned and were testifying to. “But we believe that we are saved (delivered in Greek) through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are also.” (Notice that Peter says we are saved like they are; not they are saved like we are.)
“Of Him (Jesus), all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sin (Acts 10:43)” The promised Holy Spirit; and deliverance for all was promised long ago and the Spirit continues to testify of those who are His children.
“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified (Heb. 10:14)” “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7).” By one offering, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin; and the power of His resurrection gives us the certain hope of eternal life.
“in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” (Col. 2:11). “….circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God” (Rom. 2:29). The Spirit cleanses and makes whole. Circumcision involves cutting……..so are you cut to the heart? Psalms 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
Deliverance is only through Jesus. “Although out of pure grace God does not impute our sins to us, He nonetheless did not want to do this until complete and ample satisfaction of His law and His righteousness had been made. Since this was impossible for us, God ordained for us, in our place, One who took upon Himself all the punishment we deserve. He fulfilled the law for us. He averted the judgment of God from us and appeased God’s wrath. Grace, therefore, costs us nothing, but is cost Another much to get it for us. Grace was purchased with an incalculable, infinite treasure, the Son of God Himself." (Martin Luther, Daily Walk, May 5, 1992.)
“For by grace have you been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God(Ep. 2:8-9).”
