Nothing Else Will Do
Notes
Transcript
A. Rapport for the time
Adding something to an item that is already finished. After the item is finished being worked on.
B. Reading of the text
C. Review of the text
We are moving along in Acts and have come to the end of Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas. They have spent the time going from city to city and we even learned their pattern for the spreading of the Gospel. They would go into the local Jewish synagogue and share begin to share with the Jewish people who have an understanding of the Old Testament. Around the synagogue would also be gentiles that are truth seekers and they would start sharing to them as well.
Paul and Barnabas also ran into some obstacles along the way but ultimately were led by the Spirit of God to share Christ our Savior in the midst of a world filled with Idolatry.
Which is the world in which we still live this day.
D. Relevance of the text
As we glance at the end of Chapter 14 and move into chapter 15 we have our first conflict from within the church and it is all about answering the question “What must I do to be saved?”
I. Door of Faith Opened
I. Door of Faith Opened
24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,
26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.
27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.
Acts 13 & 14 has covered some two years of ministry from Paul and Barnabas
Entire Journey posted on screen on how they went out and came back
Paul used the term “open Door” in his writings to speak about opportunities
9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord,
3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
This door was and is the provision of God sending his son to purchase us with a price. This is the perfect lamb that was slain for the world.
Did you ever get lost as a child and could not find your parents? That feeling as a child is such an empty feeling because you feel like you are never going to find your way back home and don’t even know how to begin the journey.
For Gentiles before the coming of Christ this is the feeling that they had. The Jewish people are to share the good news of God with others but instead they kept it to themselves and even established rules around their “religion” to keep others out. Even looking down upon the Gentiles as less than because they are not chosen by God.
T.S. This leads us to the problems that occur in chapter 15 both outside and inside the church.
II. Faith and .......
II. Faith and .......
1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
Beloved the question of what must I do to be saved has been around since the moment that we sinned and separated ourselves from God. How are we to restore the relationship with our creator? The thing to understand in this text is that the Men from Judea in vs. 1, the Pharisees that are believers now, the Apostles, and the elder would all agree that Jesus Christ is the answer. He alone could save. They would agree that it is repentance and faith in Christ. The problem is that they have been raised to believe that their is much to earn to obtain our salvation in the keeping of the Law of Moses and in the pursuit of that loved. Making it difficult to grasp that the gentiles get to walk into the Kingdom of God.
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ”
20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”
21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Impossible for Man to save himself. Everyone has idols in their heart that are placed their because of Sin and it has caused us all to feel like we need to redeem ourselves. All hearts understand this truth. Whether they want to admit it or not.
1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
These men from Judea are Judaizers who are false teachers in their day described by MacArthur as “Self-appointed guardians of legalism, teaching a doctrine of salvation by works.”
Meeting in Jerusalem of Apostles and Elders-
Two issues—1. whether Gentile converts should submit to jewish proselyte requirements, especially to circumcision 2. How fellowship could be maintained between Jewish and Gentile Christians.
9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,
13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.
14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”
4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”
5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Martin Luther Quote...
Acts: New Testament, Volume 6 Overview
Namely, that wherever we preach faith and God’s grace, there whatever belongs with and is stated by works must be discarded and abandoned. These two—works and grace, faith and law—will not and cannot tolerate being placed side by side. One alone must win as far as the conscience is concerned. Works may and ought to be performed, but as long as the conscience does not depend on them and does not place its trust in them. Instead, works are freely performed to honor God and to help our neighbors. The conscience must depend only on faith, on the Word and on the grace of God.
Pelagianism---in today’s world as well
Sacraments do not save—Baptism—Lord’s supper
Repentance and Faith in Christ alone
Lord’s Supper>>>