sign in sign up
<<
Home , Acts 15

THE SUMMIT :27—15:35 ACTS 14:27-28 • “On arriving there (), they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.” (NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” THE PRESSING ISSUE Acts 15:1-4 ACTS 15:1-3 • “Some men came down from to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’ This brought Paul and into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they …”

“The Jerusalem Summit” ACTS 15:3-4 • “traveled through and , they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.” (NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” THE ISSUE • Must the Gentiles become Jews in order for the to become ?

“The Jerusalem Summit” ACTS 15:1 • “Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught My Moses, you cannot be saved.’” (NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” :11-14 • “When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” (NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” THE ENSUING DEBATE Acts 15:5-21 ACTS 15:5-8 • “Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.’ The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: ‘Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, …’”

“The Jerusalem Summit” ACTS 15:8-12 • “‘who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord that we are saved, just as they are.’ The whole …”

“The Jerusalem Summit” ACTS 15:12-15 • “assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up: ‘Brothers, listen to me. Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written …’”

“The Jerusalem Summit” ACTS 15:16-20 ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things that have been known for ages.’ It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them.’” (NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” IN RESPONSE ... • Peter appeals to God’s guidance. – “God made a choice … that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.” (Acts 15:8, NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” ACTS 15:10-11 • “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks … a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” IN RESPONSE ... • Peter appeals to God’s guidance. • Paul and Barnabas appeal to God’s miracles. – “They listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles.” (Acts 15:12, NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” JAMES’ POSITION OF AUTHORITY • He is the chairman of the council in Jerusalem. • Peter makes sure that James is informed about his escape from prison (:17). • James is mentioned first in the list of the three pillars of the church (Galatians 2:9). • What James says and how he says it is indicative of his position of leadership (Acts 15:19). • Church history tells us that when he was martyred in Jerusalem (62 A.D.), it was because he was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. “The Jerusalem Summit” IN RESPONSE ... • Peter appeals to God’s guidance. • Paul and Barnabas appeal to God’s miracles. • James appeals to Scripture. – “Brothers, listen to me. Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this …” (Acts 15:14-15, NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” THE UNANIMOUS DECISION Acts 15:22-35 ACTS 15:22-24 • “Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and , two men who were leaders among the brothers. With them they sent the following letter: ‘The apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile believers in Antioch, , and : Greetings. We have heard that some went out from us …’”

“The Jerusalem Summit” ACTS 15:24-28 • “‘without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following …’”

“The Jerusalem Summit” ACTS 15:28-29 • “‘requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.’”

“The Jerusalem Summit” WHY? • “For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath … You will do well to avoid these things.” (Acts 15:21, 29, NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” ROMANS 14:13; :9 • “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” (NIV) • “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” (NIV)

“The Jerusalem Summit” APPLICATION • Proper doctrine is worth fighting for.

“The Jerusalem Summit” APPLICATION • Proper doctrine is worth fighting for. • The gospel of grace is affirmed. Since we are under grace, we are not to make non-biblical requirements of others.

“The Jerusalem Summit” APPLICATION • Proper doctrine is worth fighting for. • The gospel of grace is affirmed. Since we are under grace, we are not to make non-biblical requirements of others. • Simple cultural matters are to be rejected as salvation issues (we don’t need to be Christians culturally).

“The Jerusalem Summit” APPLICATION • Proper doctrine is worth fighting for. • The gospel of grace is affirmed. Since we are under grace, we are not to make non-biblical requirements of others. • Simple cultural matters are to be rejected as salvation issues. • The unity of the church must be protected. Because we are under grace, we gladly restrict our freedom for the sake of others.

“The Jerusalem Summit” APPLICATION • Proper doctrine is worth fighting for. • The gospel of grace is affirmed. Since we are under grace, we are not to make non-biblical requirements of others. • Simple cultural matters are to be rejected. • The unity of the church must be protected. Because we are under grace, we gladly restrict our freedom for the sake of others. • All people (The Jewish nation, David’s tent, Gentiles) are rebuilt, not on the law, but on the gospel of hope in Christ Jesus.

“The Jerusalem Summit” THE JERUSALEM SUMMIT Acts 14:27—15:35