Acts 15:12-21
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the issue at stake: how are we saved
- some from Judea were teaching the necessity of circumcision for salvation
- some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees were saying it was necessary not only to be circumcised but also to keep the law of Moses
getting the doctrine of salvation right is critical because our eternal future depends on it
why is salvation necessary? all have sinned and the wages of sin is death
who can be saved? those who acknowledge their sin and repent and believe
repent and believe
who will repent and believe? apart from God’s grace, no one
12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
“assembly”
v.6 - “the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter”
“signs and wonders God had done through them”
God was doing the work
prior to his death Jesus commissioned 70 disciples and empowered them to do miracles
after his resurrection it appears that this gift was given primarily to the Apostles
only two non-apostles are recorded doing miracles: Barnabas and Stephen
, - Paul mentions the miraculous gifts including healing (Corinthians written around A.D. 55)
last recorded miracle is the healing of Publius’ father in
miracles in the OT authenticated Moses, Elijah and Elisha
miracles in the NT authenticated Jesus divine authority
miracles in the NT a declaration the kingdom of God had come (Mt 12:28)
miracles authenticated the Apostles’ message
miracles proved to the Jews that Gentiles were included in the kingdom
while we don’t see the kinds and numbers of miracles performed in the bible God is still at work
the greatest miracle - raising someone from the dead - happens spiritually every time someone comes to salvation
God appears to be doing miracles amongst new believers in areas of the world where there is no bible and no witness
it appears that as God’s people grow in grace the occurrence of miracles decreases
“among the Gentiles”
not among the Jews who had hardened their hearts against the Gospel
13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
Acts 15:1
Acts 15:13-
James: the head of the Jerusalem church
Jesus’ step brother
after his resurrection Jesus appeared to James ()
is listed with Paul and Peter as the 3 pillars of the church ()
according to Josephus James was stoned to death at the behest of the Jewish High Priest around AD 62
James cites Peter’s account of the visions he and Cornelius had been given and how the Lord brought them together and saved Cornelius and those who were with him
“to take from them a people”
- God had many in Corinth even though they had not yet been saved
- God chose Israel as a special possession out of all the peoples of the earth
a way of describing salvation:
God takes people out of the world
God calls them and because his call is a life giving call they must come
example of Jesus calling Lazarus out of his tomb
speaks to the sovereignty of God
speaks of the irresistible power of his call
speaks of the effectiveness of his call
“for his name”
tells us why God takes some people out of the world for himself: for his glory
everything God does is done to highlight his glory
for his glory
God chose his people for his glory
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
God created us for his glory
14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
6 I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,
7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
2 Cor 4:14-
God called Israel for his glory
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
3 And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
Php 1:
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
God rescued Israel from Egypt for his glory
7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 1:6-
God raised Pharaoh up to show his power and glorify his name
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
God defeated Pharaoh and his army at the Red Sea for his glory
4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
Ex
Ex 14:18
God spared Israel in the wilderness for the glory of his name
14 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.
God gave Israel victory in Canaan for the glory of his name:
23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?
Who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? ()
God restored Israel from exile for the glory of his name:
20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
God did not cast away his people for the glory of his name:
22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.
Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord . . . For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake. (l Samuel 12:20, 22)
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.
23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
God saved Jerusalem from attack for the glory of his name:
For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David. (; cf. 20:6)
Jesus told us to do good works so that God gets glory:
God restored Israel from exile for the glory of his name:
Thus says the Lord God, It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name.. . . And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name. . . . And the nations will know that I am the Lord. (; cf. v. 32)
The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (:l8)
Jesus told us to do good works so that God gets glory:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (; cf. )
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? ()
Jesus said that he answers prayer that God would be glorified:
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ()
Jesus endured his final hours of suffering for God’s glory:
God forgives our sins for his own glory:
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again’ ().
Father, the hour has come; glorify your son that the Son may glorify you. (; cf. 13:31-32)
God gave his Son to vindicate the glory of his righteousness:
25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
God put [Christ] forward as a propitiation by his blood . . . to show God’s righteousness . . . It was to show his righteousness at the present time. ()
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
God forgives our sins for his own sake:
For your own name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. ()
I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. ()
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son of God:
For your own name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. ()
Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ()
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son of God:
He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ()
God tells us to serve in a way that will glorify him:
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (l Corinthians 10:31; cf. 6:20).
11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
God tells us to serve in a way that will glorify him:
Jesus will fill us with fruits of righteousness for God’s glory:
Whoever serves, [let him do it] as one who serves by the strength which God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (l Peter 4:11)
Jesus will fill us with fruits of righteousness for God’s glory:
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
It is my prayer that . . . [you be] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (, )
They became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images. (, )
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
For all havesinned and fall short of the glory of God. ()
Herod is struck dead because he did not give glory to God:
Even in wrath God’s aim is to make known the wealth of his glory:
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory. ()
Jesus is coming again for the glory of God:
They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed. ()
22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
Jesus’ ultimate aim for us is that we see and enjoy his glory:
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ()
Even in wrath God’s aim is to make known the wealth of his glory:
Everything that happens will redound to God’s glory:
Desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, [God] has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory. ()
God’s plan is to fill the earth with the knowledge of his glory:
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. ()
Everything that happens will redound to God’s glory:
because God is most concerned for his glory those who belong to him share that concern
Rom 11:36In the New Jerusalem the glory of God replaces the sun:
In the New Jerusalem the glory of God replaces the sun:
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives its light, and its lamp is the Lamb ().
because God is most concerned for his glory those who belong to him share that concern
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
James quotes from
- God’s certain judgment on his people for denying his Word through the prophets
proclaims the absolute certainty of judgment - no one will be able to escape
no matter where they flee God will find and destroy them
- just as God’s judgment was absolutely certain so also his restoration
God will pour his his blessing after he has destroyed the sinners
that blessing will fall not only on God’s chosen people, the Jews, but also the Gentiles who are called by his name
James saw this passage as being fulfilled in his day
all the Gentiles who are called by my name
- “I have many in this city who are my people”
though they had not yet heard the gospel nor come to saving faith they were God’s people
they had been chosen by him and would certainly be saved through Paul’s ministry