The Verdict Of Salvation’s Great Application Series

To the Ends of the Earth, Part 23

The verdict of salvation’s great application

Acts 15:23-41

Introduction

- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”

-- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise)

-- And we looked ahead, anticipated the coming & victory of Jesus (Revelation)

-- But, in order to get to the end, we have to be busy doing the work now (Acts)

- Last time we saw how a meeting of the church clarified salvation

-- Legalism had taken root (circumcision & Law abiding required) in the church

-- God brought unity to the church in the form of: This is how people are saved!

-- Determined through testimony of what Jesus said & (IMP) what God did!

- Today, we will see the after-effect of the Jerusalem Council’s official decision

-- We will also take a look at honest conflict, and its results (both good and bad)

- Read Acts 15:23-41 / Pray

Point 1 – The Jerusalem Council’s Resolution

- RE: A great decree is issued to the Church: “salvation is by grace alone”

-- Now, watch how this is delivered to the church and to us …

a. Understand this: There is a humble attitude that brought the decree (v23)

No one was exalted in this; this is not an “I told you so” moment

• They affirmed that this decision was that of the entire Church

• The great decree of salvation is found in humility; humbleness before God

o The brothers have a common standing – all saved the same way

o No one had the authority to rule over another

o This shows the genuine fellowship they have

b. The decree: Ritual and Law are not necessary for salvation (v24)

- BIG: Salvation is, and always will be:

• By the grace of the Lord Jesus and Him alone (v11)

• By the miracles and wonders of God and Him alone (v12)

• How? By turning to Christ and begin forgiven of your sin (v19)

- Some were troubled by this however, even with a clear direction

• This led to false teachers having to be rebuked & corrected

• Why? They troubled the believers with their words

• The also subverted the believers souls; they caused confusion on this

o Greek: anaskeuazó; unsettle

• Also … these were never commissioned by the church to teach!

- Don’t miss how clear the rebuke is from Paul – they are not part of the Church

-- That is, those teaching false are NOT participating in the same ministry!

c. Men were chosen to preach the truth (vv25-27)

- The church sent Barnabas and Paul back to proclaim what they heard

-- It is still an instruction to how churches must call men today to preach

• There must be a willingness to proclaim the truth (salvation by grace)

• APP: We must not add to this determination with our requirements

• What the church needs is people who will serve Christ with their lives

o Greek: martus; messenger; martyr, witness

- Bonus: Judas and Silas are also sent to confirm the message

-- They were chosen specifically to confirm the message of the church

-- Why? For validation and authority of the Church’s agreement in Christ

- TR: What is passed onto the church? The same thing decided by them!

Point 2 – Affirmations and Results

- Take a moment to clarify “consuming blood” from v20 and again in v29

- In the Greek, the reference to blood is the word “haimatos”

-- When used in this, it refers to the blood of the righteous, or the blood of a person

-- Sometimes, it can even refer to the physical flow of blood in the body

- RE: God held very sacred the “shedding of blood” for the forgiveness of sin

-- The only one qualified to do that – for humanity’ sake – is Jesus Christ

- So, when that is removed what is the very common sin known to man?

-- Crimes against one another, such as murder (acts that deal with bloodshed)

- The original transcription in Greek says is this: “apecho kai tou haimatos”

-- Which means: “To hold back (or to abstain) from blood”

- So, the verb “consuming” is not in the original text … EXCEPT …

-- It implies “doing something”, although it’s not really called out originally

-- Thus, it is easy in a transliteration to tie those words together (not an error)

-- Rather, this is trying to make the Greek and the English “make sense”

- What we now see is a breakdown of how the agreement is to be applied:

a. There were few rules that were necessary (vv28-29)

• FACT: The Holy Spirit was heavily directing this decision