Acts Series

1. Power 120 Acts Series

2. Matthew 28:19 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . . • Next to Pentecost, what happened at the Jerusalem Council is the most important event in Acts. • What happened here would influence whether the Christian Faith remained a sect of Judaism. • Or, would become a world-wide movement encompassing people from all backgrounds. • Nothing less than the future unity of the Church was at stake here. • Would it split into 2 groups or remain one.

3. As a review, here is the summary of the debate: Acts 15:1-2 – While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: "Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question.

4. Bottom-line: The Judaizers believed Gentiles: • need to be circumcised • follow the Jewish laws • faith in Jesus for salvation • Paul & Barnabas believed that faith in Jesus alone is the only requirement for salvation. • The debate ensued. • Luke describes the debate as quite contentious. • In fact the same Greek words are used elsewhere in the New Testament as riot and insurrection. • Sounds like some of the church business meetings I’ve been in.

5. The real heart of the issue is what missionaries call contextualization. • It means to put the Gospel in the local context. • The trick is to clothe the Gospel in the receiving culture and not the sending culture. • It’s like taking a guy from a tribal culture . . . Guess what? • Most people from his culture will reject our message and rightfully so. • It looks and feels so foreign. • He will think, “This is not me.”

6. Jesus is the Lord of all the earth &of every culture. • Jesus can feel local wherever He is. • He can relate to every person on the planet. • And, that is how we need to present Him. • He isn’t an American Jesus, but the Lord of all. • 90%+ of Muslims & Hindus reject Jesus not based on theological issues, but based on cultural ones. • They feel if they become believers, they will have to commit cultural suicide. • And, be separated from their families and society. • It’s a difficult decision for them to make.

7. This is essentially what is at stake here at the Council of Jerusalem. Question: Do the Gentiles have to become Jews culturally in order to be accepted by God? • If this were to happen, he would have to reject his Gentile culture and heritage. • Forsake his family and friends and assimilate into the Jewish Culture. • Tough decision and few would’ve made the transition just like few Muslims &Hindus do today.

8. Those who are embracing Jesus are doing it because of signs, wonders, visions and dreams. • The supernatural is attracting them. • Once again, you see the importance of the miraculous in spreading the Gospel. • Today, when attempting to clothe the Gospel in a new culture, missionaries grapple with many questions: What are the non-negotiable beliefs? Which need to be reworked to taste and feel like they are local and not foreign?

9. For instance, think about all these practices we observe in the church: • Music • Offerings • Sermons • Congregation sits & pastor stands • Robes • Ties & Suits • Types of Church Government • “Christian” Wedding • “Christian” Funeral, etc.

10. The Bible does not spell out how to do these things. • They are all culturally based. • I believe the Holy Spirit did this, so He can breathe through our individual cultures and develop forms of worship that are distinctly local and not foreign. • We are not called to make “little American Christians.” • But, we are called to make “little Christs” who are Mexican or Guatemalan or whatever country.

11. Good Shepherd in Nigeria • Why do you not eat with utensils? • Cleanliness • Paul and Barnabas were trailblazers. • They didn’t have a World Missions Training School to attend. • They were writing the book as they went, and they did a great job. • I wish others through the ages would’ve paid better attention to what they did. • Cultural considerations are so important in communicating the Gospel.

12. As I’ve said many times before, Acts is a missionary book, and Paul was a missionary! • Having been a missionary gives me a unique understanding of this book that many commentators don’t bring to the table. Acts 15:1 – While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: "Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved." • This is faulty contextualization. • They must become Jewish culturally and religiously in order to acceptable to God.

13. 2 Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. • This was a wise decision. • The believers in Antioch decided to send them to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles to settle this issue once and for all. Should Gentiles be circumcised and follow the Laws of Moses or not?

14. There is something of a Pharisee in all of us. • We may unwittingly mistake upholding tradition for obeying God. • The test: the Gospel brings freedom and life, not rulesand ceremonies. • Some try to hold onto the past at the risk of losing what the Holy Spirit desires to do today. • Fighting tradition and routine is something we have to deal with.

16. 3 The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone's joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted. • “Sent on their way . . .” • The Church at Antioch financially backed them as they traveled to Jerusalem. • This is certainly in keeping with what Paul did throughout his ministry.

17. Romans 15:24 – I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey. • Romans was a support letter sent by Paul asking the churches in Rome to help support his trip to Spain. • As they traveled to Jerusalem, they stopped in churches along the way. • They shared their stories of ministry among the Gentiles. • This delighted the believers! • The word used here to describe their joy is where we get the English word mega from.

18. There are 3 reasons, it is good to have missionaries share in churches as Paul and Barnabas did here: • It stimulates the local church’s vision for worldwide missions. • Keeps the local church from narrow mindedness. • Generates prayer and giving from the local church.

19. The Debate 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. 5 But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, "The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses." • This was a public meeting with the apostles and elders present. • James, Jesus’ half-brother, was the moderator. • The fact the apostles were present showed that they understood the significance of this meeting.

20. Of the sect of the Pharisees – They knew the Word, but they were not listening to the Holy Spirit. • This often happens when He wants to move in a new way in our midst. • Many will resist it. • Perhaps MHOP was meeting simultaneously. Mary’s House of Prayer. Remember, the church met in her house to pray while Peter was in prison? • Since the devil was trying to derail the growth, it is very probable that the intercessors were praying. • Luke doesn’t tell us this. . .

21. 6 So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. 7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: "Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe.8 God knows people's hearts, and He confirmed that He accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts through faith

22. Jerusalem Council = AD 50 • Cornelius’ House = AD 40 • Notice that Peter did not start with theological arguments. • He simply retold what happened at Cornelius’. • As I have stated before, good theology follows experience. • As a good Jew, he would’ve naturally resisted going into a Gentile’ house for whatever reason. • But, through the direction of the Holy Spirit, he entered and saw the Holy Spirit fall on the Gentiles just like he did with the Jews.

23. Meaning: The Holy Spirit came because they had faith and not because of works. • This must be the only way to salvation—faith in Jesus alone. • This may have been why God sent him to Cornelius’ house in the first place. • He was in the position to swing this council’s decision in the correct direction. • The Judaizers certainly respected Peter and what he said carried weight.

24. Peter’s Advice 10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus." • Wow! How clear is that? • Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way—through the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. • Yoke = When a Gentile proselyte was circumcised, he was said to take up the yoke of the Kingdom of heaven.

25. Ephesians 2:8-10 – God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. • This is where the Pharisee/Judaizers missed it. • They confused Perfection with discipleship. • We aren’t saved by works, but works come because we are saved.

26. Some say: • You have to quit smoking to become a Christian. or • You must be circumcised to be a Christian. • But, the truth is, you come to Christ as you are, and He cleans you up. • Incidentally, this is the last time Peter is mentioned in the book of Acts. • His advice was a major contribution to the growth of the Christian movement. • It appears that all debating ended at this point.

27. 12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. • The emphasis was not on what they did, but on what God did through them. • The signs and wonders show God’s endorsement on what they were preaching. Mark 16:20 – And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. • You can almost feel the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of the people present.

28. 13 When they had finished, James stood and said, "Brothers, listen to me.” • James, the half-brother of Jesus, stood up and took charge of the meeting. • He is also the writer of the book of James. • At one time, he and his siblings all thought Jesus was out of His mind. John 7:5 – For even his brothers didn’t believe in Him. What made the change? • James saw the resurrected Jesus! 1 Corinthians 15:7 – Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles.

29. Then, shortly thereafter, we see him in the Upper Room praying: 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. • The early church nicknamed James “Camel Knees” because he spent so much time praying. • He was also called James the Just because he was considered so wise. • We see his wisdom in how he conducted this meeting.

30. He let all sides talk it out and then at the right moment he stood up and gave his assessment. • He was able to set the Gentiles free while satisfying the Judaizers at the same time. 13b Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for Himself.   • Before this phrase had only been used for the Jewish people. • Now, James is saying that God is calling people out of the Gentiles for Himself as well.

31. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written: 16 'Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, 17 so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord,including the Gentiles—all those I have called to be mine. The Lord has spoken—18 he who made these things known so long ago.' 19 "And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

32. He then takes the experience of Paul and Barnabas and then quotes from Amos 9:11-12. • He showed that the Prophets taught this would happen. • Gentiles coming to Jesus apart from the Law does not contradict the Old Testament. • Once again, what we believe must be based on Scripture.

33. 20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 21 For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations. • 4 Things to abstain from: • Food dedicated to idols • Sexual Immorality • Eating Strangled Meat (blood stayed in) • Eating Blood

34. These requirements would not only make them pleasing to God but able to get along with Jewish believers. 22 Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. • This was of the Holy Spirit. • Everyone seemed agreeable. • Judas = Jewish • Silas = Gentile

35. 31 And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message. • The Gospel has gone forth unhindered ever since—To the ends of the earth!

36. Power 120 Acts Series