Is It Worth The Fight? Part 1 (AM Sermon Notes)
GIST: The truth of Jesus’ salvation is worth fighting for, but our motivation has to be making His love known.
SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:1-35
This morning, we’re going to move through most of Acts 15. It comes right on the heels of the first missionary journey we concluded with last week. There, we saw this awesome movement of God as Paul and Barnabas faced persecution, but faithfully proclaimed God’s Word anyway. As a result, many Gentiles were saved!
Today, we see the controversial aftermath. As we’ve noted many times here, when God is moving, there will be opposition. Sadly, sometimes that opposition comes from within the Church itself. It’s a sad reality, but one of which we need to be aware. The message title I sent Darla was “Is Jesus Enough For You?”, because the answer to that question is what led to the controversy we’re going to see in this text. Therefore, I still want us to be thinking about that this morning as we move through this passage. However, I changed the title after the bulletin was printed to “Is It Worth The Fight?”, because this text records a dissension amongst the early Church and how it was handled.
What I want us to remember from this, our gist, is that the truth of Jesus’ salvation is worth fighting for, but our motivation has to be making His love known.
Again, we’re looking at a longer passage, so let’s pray and then break this down.
First, we see clearly that→
I. The Truth Of Jesus’ Salvation Is Worth Fighting For (1-7)
Let’s look at the first seven verses here. "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." It’s important to note here that people were coming from the Jewish center of the early Church actively teaching that salvation needed something more than Jesus. Remember, the converts they’re speaking to are largely adults. Circumcision in that context is no small request. Also, keep in mind, the customs of Moses have never been part of their lives. They had come to know Jesus as the God of grace. The one whose death and resurrection made a way for them--a way they could not earn for themselves. Now, they’re being told that grace wasn’t enough. They needed something more. Which leads to what happens next here.→
“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.” Paul and Barnabas had been risking their lives to point people to the truth of Jesus’ salvation. They can’t just stand by and watch these destructive, false teachings turn hearts away from Jesus’ love. There is much debate, and it eventually results in representatives being sent to Jerusalem, the headquarters of the early Church, to seek Godly guidance on the issue.→
“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.” I love this! Paul and Barnabas are in the middle of a super important decision right now. If this situation would have gone the opposite direction, Christianity would have been stopped before it really got started. The salvation Jesus came to establish, would have faded into a branch of Judaism and lost all its power. Still, their priorities remain. They were all about sharing the true Gospel they were fighting now to defend. So, as they traveled back, they told people about all Jesus had done, and there was great joy! In fact, when they arrived in Jerusalem, they did the same!→
“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." 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up…” So when they arrive, Paul and Barnabas proclaim Jesus, and the group wanting to see Gentiles become Jewish Christians further clarify their position. They want them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the Old Testament Law. Let me make two observations here. First→
Not All Confrontations Are Created Equal. I’m actually not a fan of confrontation. At least, not anymore. Many of you know I came back for my senior year of high school after living overseas with my parents. That’s when I first started attending church here. In the one year I went to West County, I started dating their homecoming queen, who is now my beautiful bride☺️, and was voted “most opinionated” by the class I had only been around for one year. I’ve mellowed a bit, and I’m sure my mom wishes that transformation would have come much sooner☺️. But here’s the deal, I understand the urge to stand up for what you think is right. I get the drive that makes you want people to see things the way you see them. BUT, and this is a big BUT (hehe…), not everything is worth fighting for. In fact, much of what is debated, even in churches, is not worth the damage it causes. If it is not a core doctrine of Christianity--that is, if it is not something central to the message of Scripture or Jesus’ salvation--it’s not worth the fight. Political parties, musical preferences, interpretive views on Revelation, modes of Baptism, stylistic preferences (be it in clothes, flow of service, or translations of the Bible) are not salvation-binding issues. They should be discussed cordially, and we should be very open to see the viewpoints of others in these and come to agreements which build unity (more on that to come!) and draw us closer to Jesus, but if they cause fights, we’re majoring in minors. Period. And we all need to be aware of what our “hot button” issues are. If they’re not core to what it means to be a child of God, then we need to pray for conviction and a change of heart.
That being said, the issue in this portion of the passage is different. Not all confrontations are created equal→
But Jesus Is More Than Enough. This is huge! How is someone saved? By grace alone through faith alone. Romans 10:9 “9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Does that mean that once you are saved, you can just live however you want and you’re covered? No. I love this phrase. You’re saved through faith alone, but not a faith that is alone. If we’re saved, we will be different. Salvation is transformative. We’re new creations with new desires. We’re being made more and more into the image of God. However, those changes are the result of you being saved; they aren’t part of what saves you. We are saved by the work of Jesus ALONE. If we try to add anything to that, we’re adding what Jesus did not add. Expecting people to be culturally the same as us in order to be really saved is just wrong. We cannot place requirements on salvation beyond putting full trust in Jesus. That was the issue here. Jesus is worth fighting for. In our world today, there are many examples of “Jesus +” doctrines. These are teachings that tell you salvation requires Jesus, but also doing these other “things” without which your salvation is incomplete. If we see that, we have to stand against it. →
II. But Our Motivation Has To Be Making His Love Known
The bulk of this passage then moves through how they addressed the issue. It’s really awesome actually. They didn’t name call. They didn’t get ugly. They just pointed to Jesus--because that’s what their lives were all about. That’s how we must stand, as well! First, we see the→
Witness Of God’s Movement (7-12) Peter speaks first. “7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.” He’s referring to when he was sent to the house of Cornelius the centurion and the whole group believed in Jesus. “8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.” When he went to Cornelius’ house, his sermon was cut short because the Holy Spirit fell on them just like on the apostles at Pentecost. This pointed to God doing the same thing in their hearts as He was with the Jewish believers. He had made no distinction but He cleansed hearts in both situations! Peter is pointing to their common salvation experience, and he keeps building on that. → “10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” The Old Testament pointed to the need for a Savior, but it did not save. Even in the Old Testament, people were saved through faith because no one could keep the Law. Peter is reminding them of this truth they knew. ‘We couldn’t be saved by the Law, so why in the world would we try and make this a requirement for them?!’ Then he ends with this awesome phrase.→ “11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” This is awesome. He doesn’t say ‘they will be saved, just like us’. He says, ‘we will be saved, just like them!’ They were saved by the grace of Jesus--and so are we!
After he spoke, Paul and Barnabas gave testimony. “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.” What is being said here? God was confirming this message as Paul and Barnabas went out. People were being saved and miraculous signs were being done as God’s way of saying, ‘I am in this.’
So, we see the witness of God’s movement. Then, after these men spoke, James got up. This is James the half-brother of Jesus. Mary and Joseph had children together after Jesus was born, and this is one of them—the same one who wrote the book of James. It is clear that when Peter devoted himself to evangelism, James became the leader of the Church in Jerusalem. When he gets up, he gives the→
Witness Of God’s Word (13-18) This is so key. Experience is great. We need to talk about what God has done in our lives. However, only His Word is definitive. It’s the standard, and James takes them there. Look at verses 13-18, “13 After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon [That is Peter’s Hebrew name. It is likely used because this was a Jewish issue they were addressing.] has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.'” He’s quoting Amos 9:11-12 and pointing out that Old Testament always pointed to the Gentiles being saved. Note that it doesn’t say they would be made Jews, but that Gentiles would be called by His name--as Gentiles!
So, they give the witness of experience and the witness of God’s Word. Then, it ends by us seeing that this is a→
Witness Of Compassion (19-35) I’m going to go ahead and read the last section of the text here as a whole because we’re given the same points twice. James continues with these words. “19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues." 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell." 30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 34 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.”
This ends on a note of unity. And that’s what this entire section is about. If you’re not careful, you could read this as James saying, ‘The Law doesn’t save these people, but let’s have them just keep a few of them to be safe.’ That’s not what’s being done here though. Remember how in opening we said not all battles are worth fighting? That’s a two-way street. Though the lives of Gentiles would be changed by Jesus’ salvation and they wouldn’t be living in sin if their salvations were genuine, that’s implicit, there were still many Jewish Christians who had grown up on the Law. It was their way of life. They obeyed these because they truly believed it was dishonoring to God not to. These perspectives weren’t just going away. So, in the interest of unity, James takes three major issues and tells the Gentiles to avoid these. They weren’t looking for Gentile and Jewish denominations. They wanted everyone to live this life together, so these steps would help.
Not eating food sacrificed to idols referred to the common practice of Gentiles selling meats that had been used in pagan sacrifices. Draining the blood was a reference to the Jewish custom of draining all blood from any meat before eating it. It wasn’t morally wrong to eat these, but the Jews had grown up believing it was very wrong. Eating meals together would have been nearly impossible if Gentiles weren’t sensitive to these customs. The sexual immorality point is twofold, and a little different. It is a moral issue. The Gentile groups at this time had very loose sexual practices, and most of their “worship” was associated with sexual acts. They also had marriage laws that allowed for sexually immoral practices. Both are being addressed here. These needed to be stopped because they were wrong, but also because they would be major stumbling blocks to their Jewish brothers and sisters. So, it was important that they realized this from the beginning.
We need to have the same kind of sensitivity. Not everyone will agree with us, but we should strive to live at peace with all men if it doesn’t mean sacrificing the core of what it means to be a Christian. Our purpose is proclaiming His Grace!
TAKEAWAYS
1. Is Jesus enough for you? Or are you looking for something else to really save you?
2. Are you willing to stand for Him and His Gospel? Or do you compromise to keep favor with the world? If you do that, you’re saying He’s not enough for you.
3. Are you willing to live compassionately with other believers? How understanding are you toward people who love Jesus, but worship Him differently? If it’s not sinful, is it worth your time to fight over it? No. Keep this in mind, our stand for Jesus will be diminished if we’re equally passionate about things that don’t matter.
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