Bible Studies for Life Series for July 29: Agreeing on the basics

Posted: 7/19/07

Bible Studies for Life Series for July 29

Agreeing on the basics

• Acts 15:1-2, 4-5, 12-15, 23-29

By David Harp

First Baptist Church, Stanton

C.S. Lewis, the great English author, wrote, “All the angels look upon you today to see which direction you will choose.”

The early church was exploding with new growth and soon had to meet to make some decisions that would impact all eternity. The year was around A.D. 48. The Jerusalem conference was called together because in the early days only Jews became believers. They were committed to the Jewish traditions and customs. They were Jews who had become Christians.

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Then, the Christian faith expanded and grew beyond the ranks of the Jews. In Acts 8, we read about Philip’s experience with the man from Ethiopia. In Acts 10, we read of Peter’s experience with Cornelius. In Acts 13, we learn of the emerging Christian church in Antioch, and the mission trip to Cyprus and Asia.

In each of these cases, not only Jews but also Gentiles were brought into the church. This rapid progress and growth of Gentile believers into the church presented the more conservative Jewish Christians with a serious problem. Before long, more Christians would be Gentiles than Jewish. The Jewish Christians were concerned so many new Gentiles in the church might lead to a weakening of the moral standards of the church. What would the church decide? What would they do? What do we do when we disagree at church?

Acknowledge the conflict (Acts 15:1-2, 4-5)

A serious debate arose in the church at Antioch. Some Jewish believers demanded Gentiles be circumcised in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas vigorously disagreed, standing firm on the doctrine of salvation by faith in Jesus. Since the disagreement could not be resolved, the church sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to ask for guidance.

At Jerusalem, they were welcomed and everyone was glad to hear what the Holy Spirit had done among the believers in Antioch. But the conflict grew when the Jewish believers added to their demands by requiring the Gentiles obey the law of Moses.

Conflicts are going to happen—even among believers! When a disagreement threatens a foundational belief such as salvation, the church must address the issue openly and honestly. A good leader will not be afraid to address an issue that threatens to divide the fellowship of the church body.

Evaluate in light of Scripture (Acts 15:12-15)

Peter testified to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Cornelius and the Gentiles. The work of the Holy Spirit in their lives mirrored the work at Pentecost. Next, the members of the assembly were captivated by the testimony of the Holy Spirit’s work in Antioch.

No one could deny the powerful work of God in the lives of Gentile believers. James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the church in Jerusalem, led the church through the process. Based on the testimony of the Holy Spirit through the apostles and Scripture, James judged no Gentile should be kept from coming to God based on some Jewish traditions (Acts 15:19). Literally, “we should not make it difficult for (impose no irksome restrictions on.)” Men and women, boys and girls could come to Jesus all the same way.

The impact of this for our lives is undeniable. Our righteousness with God is through faith and not the compulsive fulfillment of our own idea of what he requires.

This does not mean there are no disciplines for the living out of our faith. What it does mean is that our faith brings us into fellowship with God, who lovingly provides for us all things. We often want others to know or hear our opinion. What we can know as reliable is God’s word.

Identify the non-negotiable truths (Acts 15:23-29)

To give the church in Antioch some reassurance, the council wrote a letter. The council agreed with James’ summary—salvation by faith in Christ alone was a non-negotiable truth. Paul and Barnabas and Judas and Silas are chosen to deliver the letter. The letter significantly disassociates the Jerusalem church from the legalistic teachers and confirms the gospel of grace they had originally heard (v. 28). The letter appeals to the unity of the faith of all the believers—the Jews and the Gentiles.

The letter included four commands, but they were not requirements for salvation. They were written to preserve the fellowship of the church body. They were written so that together the Jewish and the Gentile believers could sit down together in a worship setting and later in a fellowship setting over a meal and enjoy the partnership they shared together in Christ.

The church was experiencing growing pains. When God decides to move we are given the opportunity of partnering with him in the gospel. We must not allow our personal preferences or personalities to get in the way.

I’m glad to report that upon receiving this letter the Christians in Antioch “read it and were glad for its encouraging message” (v. 31).

Discussion questions

• How can we listen to one another and to the Holy Spirit?

• How can we seek to learn from Scripture its teaching on “difficult” subjects?

• What are the essentials of our faith?

• What are some non-essentials that often distract us in our faith walk?