04/12/2010

Good Morning!

I have to admit that I was not thrilled when our Bible study group began to study the book of Acts several months ago. I was much more inclined to study one of Paul’s letters or one of the history books in the Old Testament. But we are now a little past midway in the book of Acts and I am finding our study quite enlightening. Yesterday’s lesson was really good because we studied about a conflict that arose in the early church. Let me share just a little about it with you this morning:

Acts 15:1-21 (English Standard Version)
The Jerusalem Council
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." 2And 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. 3So, 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.[a] 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. 5But 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. 7And 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. 8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10Now, 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? 11But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
12And 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. 13After 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. 15And 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,
17that the remnant[b] 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.'
19Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20but 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. 21For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues."
Footnotes:
a. Acts 15:3 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 22
b. Acts 15:17 Or rest

The issue was over what it took to be saved. Now we all know what it takes to be saved, don’t we. Well, maybe there are differing opinions amongst those of us who read the Good Mornings. The Bible teaches that one must receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior – and that’s it. Paul writes: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Period – end of story. So why didn’t these teachers who came to Antioch just teach that message? Well, we have to remember that the Church was in its infancy at the time – and Jesus was Jewish so these men thought that “The Way” was just another segment of the Jewish religion. We have assigned a name for these men – Judaizers. And many people who hear the term “Judaizers” immediately think bad thoughts about these men. But I am convinced that these men were really concerned about the Gentile believers who had not been circumcised because circumcision was more than just a ritual – it was what set people apart as being part of God’s chosen people.

So there was a big disagreement between these men and Paul and Barnabas. How was the conflict handled? Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem and spoke with the leadership – the apostles (Peter, John and the other disciples still there) and the elders (James, and other leaders). For me one of the more critical statements comes in verse 12. After Peter has told them that God didn’t decree circumcision (that really what he is saying), Paul and Barnabas shared what they had experienced in their mission journey. They didn’t just say where they had been and how many folks they had baptized. They related how they saw the Holy Spirit come upon the people and how a change had occurred that convinced them that God had accepted these people just as they were. In short, they gave a witness to the Council – and it convinced James, the half-brother of Christ, of the validity of their claim.

If we read further in Acts, we see that the Council sent Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with a clarifying letter. We also see that the Church continued growing as the conflict was resolved.

Some “wrap up” thoughts for this Good Morning:
- Conflict is going to come – and sometimes it comes within the Body of Believers. We need to learn to not demonize people for their true concerns but to seek the wisdom from God and from those He has placed in leadership roles within the Body.
- Sharing real life experiences where God has revealed His direction to you can resolve conflicts. It is important that we become sensitive to God’s working in our every day life to be able to share.

Well next week we take on the personal conflict between Paul and Barnabas. I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for us then.

Have a blessed Monday.

Agape’

Mr. Jim
Fatdad5@comcast.net
"Preach the Gospel everyday - and if you have to, use words" ... St. Francis of Assisi