We really need to review where we’ve been to appreciate where we are in Acts 15.
Here it is in a nutshell. Just before he ascended back to heaven, Jesus commissioned the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for power from God to accomplish the witnessing work of bringing the gospel to the whole world. They waited, prayed, studied and replaced Judas with Matthias, so when Pentecost came there were 12 apostles. God’s spirit was moving on the face of the waters again and the light of the Lord was about to shine in the darkness. The Holy Spirit came and filled and brought together a huge crowd of Jews from all over to hear the message of Jesus, God’s Christ whom they had rejected and crucified, but whom God had raised from the dead. Peter proclaimed and the multitudes were moved and 3000 repented and were baptized that day! God added the saved to their number! But all was not roses. They faced troubles without and within as thousands and thousands continued to come to Christ. Jewish leaders without tried to shut their mouths. Deceivers within tried to destroy integrity and purity of their communion. Ministry to the needy threatened to disrupt their unity. But with each trial, God provided and guided and the church prevailed and grew. But they all stayed in Jerusalem. Then came Stephen’s death and Saul of Tarsus appears. God used a terrible persecution led by a powerful persecutor to scatter the disciples all over and spread the word of the gospel everywhere they went.
In Chapter 8 Philip goes to Samaria and brings the gospel to them. This was a stretch for the Jews, accepting Samaritans, but nothing like what will happen in chapter 10, when God opens the door for the Gentiles. Samaritans were one thing, but Gentiles? You’ve got to draw a line somewhere. Cornelius was about as good a man as one could be and yet he was still not saved. But God has a way of bringing in those he knows will listen. Just as he saved Saul the great persecutor, (chapter 9), now he will save Cornelius the first gentile, (chapter 10). For many Jewish Christians, Saul’s conversion was easier to swallow than Cornelius’. When God brought Gentiles into the church, the impact rocked the whole body and the effects are still in motion when we get to chapter 15. Those who were scattered because of Saul’s persecution went as far as Antioch preaching the gospel only to Jews. But some, brave souls that they were, began preaching Jesus to Gentiles and, lo and behold, they were believing and being saved! Thousands of Gentiles are obeying the gospel of Christ!
Once you let one in the door, watch out! Jerusalem sent Barnabas to see what was happening up there in Antioch, and Barnabas arrives and sees the grace of God and joins right in working with them and encouraging them. That’s what his name means. As God continues to bring in the Gentiles, Barnabas goes to get Saul, who comes and also joins in and helps. So… when God decides who he will send out to the Gentile world on the first missionary journey, who do you think he will send? The two Jewish guys who seem to be so excited about what God is doing to save Gentiles! Barnabas and Saul! A Levite from Cyprus and a Pharisee from Tarsus! What better team could you send? They go! God gives them great success and churches spring up in Cyprus and Galatia. Jew/Gentile churches that is. Much to the chagrin of the synagogues where Barnabas and Paul preached as they went.
You know how rumors fly. Oh, now this news is all over the Jerusalem church news papers and in their bulletins! This is getting out of hand! Some of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem team up and decide to do something about it.
Thus we enter chapter 15 of Acts.
1 And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
Where did these men go? It looks like they went wherever Jew/Gentile churches could be found. Some of them obviously made it up to Galatia as well as Antioch, as we see in the letter of Paul to the Galatians.
Aren’t you glad we don’t have problems like this in the church today? All the issues have finally been settled and we can just relax knowing exactly where all the boundaries of who’s saved and who’s lost finally clearly are… right? No disagreements any more, right?
Listen, I know God has given us a perfect plan, but we are still imperfect people. Thank God he still loves us and is working in us even in our imperfections, Amen? What we see in Acts 15 is a great example from God’s own word about how we can come together and discuss and even debate issues at times, as we seek to settle issues that disturb the peace and unity within the body of believers in Christ.
As I studied this chapter, there was one amazing thing that stood out to me. Notice that God didn’t just overrule and announce an authoritative answer to this issue by having an inspired apostle stand up and give the inspired answer right off the bat. No, even the apostles, who have the keys to the kingdom, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are involved in this struggle. Verse 22 is revealing. Look at the first 4 words: “Then it seemed good…” Seemed? The Greek word is dokew: to be of the opinion. You mean to tell me that they weren’t 100% positively certain? Could an inspired apostle make a mistake? Galatians tells us that Peter was clearly in the wrong about his reaction to this issue when he visited Antioch. Even Barnabas was influenced. Paul had to correct him to his face. Look at Galatians 2:11-16
11 But when Cephas, (that would be Peter), came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
15 "We are Jews by nature, and not sinners from among the Gentiles;
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.
Can you hear the ring of a confrontation in Paul’s words? Peter seems to get the point, and Barnabas and the rest of the Jews there in Antioch seem to have listened to Paul’s rebuke. Later, here in Acts 15, Peter stands solidly with Paul in this. (7-12)
Paul obviously wrote this letter to the Galatians before this visit to Jerusalem in Acts 15. When he writes, “these certain men from James,” (Gal 2:12), they may not have been from James at all, but may have been claiming to be from him. Paul calls them the “party of the circumcision.” The reason I say this is because of James’ statement in Acts 15:24, “whom we gave no instruction.” It looks like there have been claims made by the false teachers that they got their instructions from James or the apostles in Jerusalem. Or at least that James and the apostles agree with them.
Do you follow me here? I realize this is complex. Problems in the church are almost always complex involving many aspects and often hurting many relationships. Unity and peace in the church, which are so wonderful, sooner or later are confronted with issues that threaten to divide and destroy. We would be wise to be prepared. There is an enemy that seeks to ruin the communion and harmony of God’s love among his people. One of the worst things he does is get the people Jesus saved by God’s love to divide and be hateful to one another.
How do we prepare to face such an enemy?
A look at the practical lessons of Acts 15 gives us some help here.
Number one, we need to be able to recognize a real problem when it presents itself.
These false teachers that came down from Judea were dangerous. Their message was divisive even though their words were lifted from the Bible.
We don’t know all that motivated these false teachers, but one thing is certain, they were dedicated to the task and willing to take their cause on the road. They were effective in drawing off followers too, but a close look at the fruit of their labors shows its rottenness. Instead of centering on Christ and his death, burial and resurrection, there was another center, in this case, the Law of Moses. It had the ring of truth because it came from the scriptures but it was not based on faith in Christ, but on works of the law. The product was division, pride, self-righteousness and even being cut off from grace.
Any message that detracts from Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and redeemer is a false gospel no matter how religious and biblical it sounds.
Number two, when we recognize a real problem we must be willing to confront it. If Paul had seen what was happening with Peter and Barnabas and had ignored it, the church in Antioch would surely have split. If he hadn’t had the courage to speak up and confront what was happening as these Judaizers were dividing the church… well, thank God he did it.
The principle here is the Barney Fife principle: nip it in the bud!
One of the reasons homosexuality and immorality risen to such a crisis in our country today is because so many have ignored it for so long. One reason atheistic evolution has taken such a grip on our world view and engulfed our public education systems is that it was too long ignored.
Listen, if ignored, evil will spread. You will not like the results. If you ignore it, it will grow. Take time to shore up your children’s faith with discussions about what is true according to God’s word. Believe me, parents, there is a growing influence that is destroying the faith of our youth as it works insidiously to capture their hearts and minds against the truth of God. You are responsible to confront this!
Number three, gather with the proper authorities that God has set up, and include, when you can, even those who disagree. Notice that Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem where the apostles were to discuss and settle this. This city is where the problem had originated, and this was the place where it needed to begin to be settled. Jerusalem, with the apostles, elders and whole church – including, by the way, those that stood in opposition, all gathered to look into this matter.
There is nothing like getting everyone together before the Lord to find proper direction. This was an attempt at unity as well as truth. If early on, you shut out those that disagree, you will find them working harder against you, especially if they are sincerely standing for their cause. This was a case of diplomacy. Pull everyone together that you can before the Lord.
Number four, listen to everyone’s arguments and concerns. Hear people out. Seek to understand why people stand where they stand. This is not compromise. It is not agreement either. It is not condoning everyone’s views. It is simply giving respect to differing views and allowing all items to be set before everyone first. Conflict, left alone, will eventually grow beyond the possibility of this, but if at all possible, begin with respectful discussion and even debate.
Conflict can have a positive effect if properly handled. Relationships that endure conflict and work through it can often be stronger on the other side. But only if there is respect.
Number five, and most importantly: look for what God is doing in the matter and listen to what God’s word says about it all and form a conclusion accordingly. Some people would say this is all you need to do. This is certainly the real and vital matter. But God’s word reveals these other steps as well, so we don’t want to neglect God’s counsel about how to bring God’s counsel into a problem. We must look to God’s word for the purpose of discovering God’s will and walking together in God’s way. God was working in the evangelism of the Gentiles without circumcision or the Law of Moses being embraced or practiced. The law of Christ, the covenant in his blood and the grace of God poured out through his sacrifice on the cross… these are what the church is founded on. Jesus Christ, his death, burial and resurrection, by the way, are what the removal of flesh in circumcision and the Law of Moses all pointed to, which Jesus Christ fulfilled. They were the shadow of Jesus Christ, who is the object to which they all refer.
Finally, number six, take action to solidify and spread the unity that is built by God.
