Acts 15:1-35 The First Church Council | Terri Brady

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1. Conflict over Circumcision (Acts 15:1-5)
   1. The main thing stayed the main thing.
   2. Who?
      1. “Certain men”(15:1) but Galatians 2:4 in parallel account calls them “false brothers”
      2.  “Circumcision party” (not an event, a type of people)
   3. What?
      1. Disagreement over Circumcision – they argued that it needed to be done in order to be a believer.
   4. Where?
      1. Still in Antioch
      2. Then they go up the mountain to Jerusalem
   5. When?
      1. After those Jews tried to stone Paul, now the fellow believers are in disagreement too.

Principles

• It’s easy to get steeped in traditions and lose sight of Truth.
• It’s easy to get surrounded by the World and lose sight of the Word.
• “Legalism will always lead to more legalism”- Chris Brady

Applications: Is there anywhere in my life where tradition has eclipsed Truth?

1. Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:6 – 29)
   • Who? “apostles and elders”
   • What?
     • A meeting
     • Topics:
       • “…and they reported all things that God had done with them.” (Acts 1:4)
       • Circumcision debate
         • Not as in “Should we put the new guy through what we went through?”
         • But, “Don’t they HAVE to be circumcised to be saved?
     • Where?
       • “up” in Jerusalem
     • Why?
     • To become in agreement on a serious matter: “What must one do to be saved?”

Peter:

• God already acknowledged Gentiles with the Holy Spirit, who are we to add a requirement to that to test God?(15:10)
• The Law was a yoke we couldn’t bear. [There’s a new yoke we need to attach. Matt 11:28-30]

 Every sincere Christian is struggling for balance between these two extremes: license and pseudo-legalism; liberty and responsibility. – Stephen Davey

James:

• Four requests of James:
  • Abstain from things contaminated by idols.
  • Abstain from fornication.
  • Abstain from what is strangled.
  • Abstain from blood.
• Why rules?? I thought the point was grace??
• Charles Swindoll: Wishing to avoid needless and often unintentional offense, James wanted to remind the Gentile Christians to love their Jewish brothers and sisters by voluntarily restricting their liberty in these kinds of practices.  “Don’t flaunt your freedom,” James was saying. Restricting one’s liberty is a burden – but limiting our freedom for the sake of others shows maturity. Harmony in the body of Christ often depends on our willingness to forego a privilege. This is not capitulating to legalism, it is a sign of maturity and love.

1 Corinthians 7:23 LSB, Gal 2:20-21

• You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men

Principle: Reading God’s Word leads us to God’s advice.

• We are saved by faith alone – that’s what Peter is saying.
• God’s Word says Gentiles will be saved – that’s what James is saying.

Applications:

• Would I know the Word enough to answer biblically if confronted?
• Do I look at people who ask questions as “enemies” or as “slaves under the wrong yoke”?

1. Continuing the Message (Acts 15:30-35): The men continue to preach, keeping the main thing the main thing.

Titus 1:13-14 LSB

This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, [14] not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

Principles:

• Know the Word, Show the Word and Go with the Word.
• Grace...For the rest of the notes email WOW@Shepherds