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Christian Challenge International
"Acts
15:1-29 The Apostolic Council of Jerusalem"
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To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Sun, 06 Oct 2002 19:06:25 -0500
Subject: [HF] Acts029 - Acts
15:1-29 The Apostolic Council of Jerusalem
Hebraics,
Gentiles are turning to the Lord by the multiplied thousands. To this
point the
church has been decidedly Jewish. Many ancient Jewish customs have been
taken
for granted. But the Gentiles know little about these customs. Yet the
Lord has
accepted them just as they are. How then are the Jewish and Gentiles
Christians
to have fellowship?
And so we turn to the most important study in the book of Acts. The
council of
Acts 15 is the only church council in history that can claim to have a
direct
bearing on the Christian conscience. Others may claim it, but only this
council
has been put in place by the apostles themselves, and has been made part
of the
sacred Scriptures. What happens in this council will determine the
direction of
the church throughout the age.
This is Acts029 - Acts
15:1-29 The Apostolic Council of Jerusalem.
Vs1:
"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.'"
....It will later be shown that these men had taken upon themselves to
teach a
necessity of circumcision. It is also likely that they put themselves off
as
representing James and the apostles in Jerusalem. After the decision of
the
council, this same group will continue to frustrate the work of the
gospel. (To
be covered later.)
Vs2:
"And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with
them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of
them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this
issue."
.... Keep in mind that Paul and Barnabas are apostles themselves. But
it was
crucial that the Church be of one mind. This issue could easily split the
church
into various factions.
.... The term 'apostles and elders' marks the government of the Church
in
Jerusalem. James was the presiding elder.
Vs3:
"Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing
through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of
the
Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren."
.... The word had been spreading and when the group from Antioch
brought
first hand reports of the Gentiles turning to Jesus, joy was the
overwhelming
reaction.
Vs4:
"When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and
the
apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with
them."
.... The church in Jerusalem had heard the reports also, and they
gathered to
listen to Paul and Barnabas. The apostles and elders in Jerusalem received
them
as special envoys of the church in Antioch. You can be sure that the
general
reaction was the same as it had been in other churches. The glory of the
Lord
was being revealed to all peoples! Of course there is a group who will
cause
deep concern at the meeting.
Vs5:
"But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up,
saying, 'It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe
the
Law of Moses.'"
.... The joy over Gentiles receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior was soon
dampened after Paul and Barnabas shared their report. Some of the the sect
of
the Pharisees went to work, demanding that the Gentiles be circumcised.
But this
is not something new that would disappear. There have always been groups
who
place additions to our salvation in Christ that are not Scriptural.
Another thing to keep in mind is that this group did not represent all
the
Pharisees. Many of the Pharisees truly loved Jesus and were not a party to
the
troublers. Paul himself came from the Pharisees.
Vs6:
"The apostles and the elders came together to look into this
matter."
.... The church is not mention here, but later verses allow us to
understand
that a greater part of the church was present. Feelings were running high,
and
all parties were allowed to offer their thoughts. You can be sure this was
an
exhausting moment. The apostles themselves may have not have participated
in
much of these discussions.
What happens next will cause everyone to get quiet. One of the the
apostles of the Lamb begins to speak. Peter is held in deep admiration by
all
parties. A hush comes over the assembly.
Vs7:
"After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them,
'Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you,
that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and
believe."
.... When Peter speaks of 'the early days' he is referring to
Cornelius. This
had happened several years ago. The council takes place in approximately
50
a.d. Cornelius came to the Lord several years earlier.
Vss8,9:
"And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the
Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between
us
and them, cleansing their hearts by faith."
.... Peter explains that God looks at the heart alone. In doing this He
made no
difference between Jews and Gentiles. This is something the Pharisees
opposers
did not want to hear, but truth is truth. What Peter is sharing is crucial
to the Christian faith. There are no conditions to be met for God's work
of
salvation other than believing in the message of Jesus Christ. Peter's
point
goes further. There can only be one body, and faith alone will determine
who
becomes part of the body of Christ.
Here it comes....
Vss10,11:
"Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon
the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have
been able
to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord
Jesus,
in the same way as they also are."
.... What a stunning statement! Peter tells the assembly what the true
message of the church is to be. We are all saved the same way. We are
saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Any other
gospel
that does not bring this emphasis cannot be accounted a true gospel.
Now its Paul's turn again...
Vs12:
"All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and
Paul
as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them
among the
Gentiles."
.... Can you imagine the presence of the Lord that revealed itself in
these
moments. Everyone else has had had their say, and now the great apostles
of the
church are speaking.
After Peter comes Paul and Barnabas. These men of God relate their
experiences, and share from the miracles and the many conversions. What
a spell-binding moment.
Next it will be time for James to speak. Let's take a moment to share a
bit on
James. Not only is James the brother of our Lord Jesus, but he is also
bishop of
the church in Jerusalem. (Bishop is the presiding elder.) We also need to
remember that Jesus appeared to James by himself. All these things count
for the
important role that James had in the Jerusalem church.
There is another reason that James held such esteem with the Jewish
Christians. James was of the house of David. This was a distinction of
great
honor among the Jews.
We can see why the Lord used James to give the Jerusalem church a
person of whom they could rally around. As for the the apostles, they were
never
given the role of being 'over' any local church group in the sense of
pastoring.
They were to lay the foundations. Each church would have its own governing
body.
James is going to sum up the proceedings. There is no question that the
apostles are in agreement, and that a spiritual consensus is in place. We
will
see this shortly. But the fact that James takes the lead should silence
any
notion of papal authority. Everyone remains quiet as James speaks.
Let's hear what he has to say:
Vss13,14:
"After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying,
'Brethren, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first concerned
Himself
about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name."
.... This is the only place in Scripture where Peter is referred to by
his
Hebrew name.
Vss15-18:
"With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,
'After these things I will return, and I will rebuilt the tabernacle of
David
which has fallen, and I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, so
that
the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called
by My
Name', says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago."
.... The essence of this prophecy is that God intended from the very
beginning to have a people from all the nations. The tabernacle (booth) of
David
has its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. There is more to this prophecy but we
can
deal with that if questions arise. (The tabernacle of David is a prophetic
picture of the new covenant. The tabernacle of Moses represented the
covenant of
Law.)
Vss19,20:
"Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are
turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that
they
abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from
what is
strangled and from blood."
.... When James says 'it is my judgment', he is making a summation for
the
apostolic council. The summation is not, however, an issue of making the
Gentiles responsible for the Noahide laws, while the Jews are responsible
for
the Mosaic laws. It is about table fellowship.
The actual problem centered on how to bring Gentile believers into
fellowship with Jewish believers, so that they could have things in
common, such
as table fellowship. The Jews were very sensitive about many things. Some
of the
problem area came from the traditions of the elders. Over time these
extras would
disappear.
The issue was this: The Jew was not to require more of his Gentile
brother than
these afore mentioned things, and the Gentile brother was not to concede
less
than these things to his Jewish brother. Paul lays this principle out in Romans
14,
and in other places.
Vs21:
"For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who
preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
.... The point James is making is that as the gospel goes forth, there
will be
many opportunities to minister to the Jewish peoples and in their
synagogues.
Therefore God's new people are to be careful to not offend the Jewish
peoples.
It is estimated that 10% of the Roman Empire at that time was Jewish or
Jewish
converts.
Paul later elaborates on this, when he says, "To the Jews I became
as a
Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under
the Law
though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are
under
the Law; 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." (1Co9:20,21)
Vs22:
"Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole
church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas-- Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the
brethren...."
.... The entire apostolic assembly came into agreement. The principle
was
established. Leading men from the Jerusalem church would accompany
Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch to give additional testimony concerning
the findings of the council.
The letter is sent as follows:
Vss23-29:
"and they sent this letter by them ...
'The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in
Antioch
and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.
'Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no
instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, it
seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you
with
our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the
name of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who
themselves
will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to
the
Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these
essentials:
that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from
things
strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such
things,
you will do well. Farewell.'"
Here are the things to take note of:
(1) The letter represents the full consensus of the apostles and elders
of the
church of Jerusalem. "Having become of one mind." The consensus
certainly would
include both Peter and Paul. These apostles had become close friends
through the
years.
(2) The letter includes the testimony of the Holy Spirit; "Seemed
good to the
Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these
essentials."
(3) The issue was that Gentile believers are under no obligation to
observe
Jewish traditions. It is certainly fine for Jewish believers to do so as
long as
these traditions do not nullify the freedom that belongs to the full
community
of faith, or, that these traditions do not become overstressed so that the
body
of Christ becomes divided.
There are other things to be considered, but let's leave the study open
for
discussion. Take your liberty to exchange thoughts.
The Lord bless you,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
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