Lesson 382

(Lesson 382)(08-31-12) Acts 15:12-29, "Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."

This is an odd lesson and appears to expose early Church leadership to be in disobedience of what God told Peter in the rooftop dream. I readily understand why the Gentiles were told to shun idolatry and fornication, and even the eating of meat that had been sacrificed to idols. But other than that, I can't find scriptural justification for their decision to restrict what else the Gentiles were to eat in light of Peter's rooftop dream.

We see that during this meeting of the Church elders, if was decided that a letter would be written to the Gentiles in the Church at Antioch telling them not to eat meat from animals that had been strangled. Neither were they to eat any kind of meat that contained blood.

In the dream, it should be noted, God told Peter that there were NO restrictions on what His people could eat. He said in Acts 10:15, "And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."

Therefore I don't understand why James insisted that the Gentiles be told not to eat these two things, which so obviously was in disagreement with what God had told Peter. And, what is even more confusing, is the fact that Peter and the others would go along with him, after having been witnesses that Cornelius and those in his house, all Gentiles, had already received the Holy Ghost without such a restriction on what they would eat!
This lesson does, in fact, demonstrate the inconsistencies within the very first Church, and is a perfect demonstration of how easily the message of the gospel can be distorted by well intentioned members.

Just as so many "Churches" today, even the very first Church members struggled to rid themselves of the burden of the law. We will see, as these lessons progress, that Paul fought desperately to keep the membership of the Church in line with the intent of the gospel of Christ.~

Lesson 381

(Lesson 381)(08-30-12) Acts 15:5-11, "But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

After the Church members from Antioch had returned to Jerusalem and met with the membership there, some of the Pharisees insisted that the newly added Gentile believers be circumcised before they could be accepted as the children of God. Peter reminded them of his experience with Cornelius and how God had indeed extended salvation and the Holy Ghost to the Gentiles, declared them clean and equal with the Jews.

Peter then asked the Pharisees a very important question. He asked, "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" One cannot put too much emphasis on the importance of what Peter says here! He has just told us that even the father's of the Hebrew people, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, none of them were able to live above sin! Their failure proved, and was, the necessity for sending Jesus to carry all the sins, of those who would accept him, to the grave and leave them there. Peter knew that making requirements beyond what Jesus had already done would make His supreme sacrifice of no avail. Peter made it very clear that the law had failed, or better put, the Jews had failed the law.
Peter goes further to say, "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."
He's telling us that no amount of good behavior on our part, is sufficient to achieve salvation, one MUST accept God's gift (Grace) and merely have absolute faith in the fact that Jesus has already lived the sinless life for us. We are no longer required to be perfect. Jesus stands as a permanent barrier that prevents our sins from being seen by the Father. Thanks to the sacrifice made by Jesus, (The complete operation of God), those of us who are saved, appear as perfectly sinless in the sight of God whether we be Jew, Gentile.

We will learn, as these lessons progress, of the struggle the disciples had maintaining the truth of the gospel as the young Church spread. Many of the Jews kept trying to add elements of the law to the gospel, which was sent to fulfill the requirements of the law, and thereby ending its authority.

The failure of many of today's 'isms' is that they, through their tenets, insist that in order to be a child of God, one must take upon oneself the responsibility for maintaining one's own righteousness, which is impossible, just as Peter said. ~

Lesson 380

(Lesson 380)(08-29-12) Acts 15:1-4, "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them."

This lesson documents the first dissention within the Church and the first attempt, by some of the early disciples (No doubt with the guidance and full support of Satan), to distort the gospel of Christ by holding on to elements of the Law of Moses.

In this example, the demand was that one must be circumcised before he can be saved, "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved."

Sadly, some elements of the law, such as water baptism, living completely without sin, and ritual observance of the passover meal, (communion) have, till this day, been wrongly incorporated into the tenets of many religious faiths.

We know, however, that the Law was fulfilled by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and that salvation holds no such requirements. In order to be eternally saved, one must ONLY BELIEVE in the testimony of Jesus Christ. Acts 16:31, "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Paul and Barnabus disputed with the men from Judea and decided to go to the Apostles and elders at Jerusalem to set the matter straight.

As they worked their way to Jerusalem, they proudly broadcast the news that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been offered to the Gentiles. When they arrived they were graciously accepted by the Church at Jerusalem.~

Lesson 379

(Lesson 379)(08-28-12) Acts 14:19-28, "And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples."

In this lesson, we find that the Jews from Antioch had followed Paul to Lystra and caused those who did not believe to stone him and leave him for dead outside the city gate, after which, Paul got up and backtracked through the cities where he had preached, reaffirming the faith of the new disciples he had made. Paul then called them all together, after he had warned them of the coming suffering for those who entered the Kingdom of God, he ordained elders from among them to oversee their work.~

Lesson 378

(Lesson 378)(08-27-12) Acts 14:1-18, "And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: And there they preached the gospel. And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them."

This lesson demonstrates how many have tried to impose cultural tradition and ritual into Christianity. Many of today's isms make this same mistake, not by making sacrifices, as the people of Lystra did, but by adopting ceremonial demonstrations such as water baptism and/or communion etc, as a required part of God's plan of salvation.

As is so clearly evident in the sermon Paul preached and recorded in the 13th chapter of Acts, nothing is required beyond the supreme sacrifice made by the Son of God, "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man" (Jesus) "is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." As we can so plainly see, the ONLY requirement for remission of sin is belief in the redeeming power of our Lord Jesus Christ." No amount of ritual can ever accomplish redemption.

After Paul and Barnabas had, through the power of the Holy Spirit, caused the lame man to walk. The people of Lystra began to look upon them as gods. The people came out to meet Paul and Barnabus with gifts to be sacrificed to them. They even referred to the two preachers as the gods, Jupiter and Mercurius (Mercury).
When Paul and Barnabus realized what was going on, they were so frustrated they tore their clothing and immediately began to explain how they were not gods, only messengers from the one true God, come to bear the news of redemption through the gospel of Christ.~

Lesson 377

(Lesson 377)(08-26-12) Acts 13:42-52, "And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious *proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost."

In this lesson Paul, for the first time, preaches to an assembly consisting of both Jews and Gentiles. He tells them how, because the Jews had rejected it, the gospel of Christ had now been given to the Gentiles also.

Again, we find an example of how many souls were saved with no mention of having been baptized in water, "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."~

*Proselytes: as applied in this text refers to Gentiles that have been converted to Christianity.

 

Lesson 376

(Lesson 376)(08-25-12) Acts 13:13-41, "Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you."

This is Paul's account of the gospel of Jesus Christ as he preached it in the synagogue at Antioch. This, to me, is the greatest sermon ever preached by an Apostle. Herein, Paul lays out the complete history of the Jews, from Israel (Jacob) through the sacrifice of Jesus. He, very clearly demonstrates the inability of the Law of Moses to provide deliverance from death, then, goes on to relate how Jesus, the Son of God, was sent through the lineage of king David, for the purpose of providing, not just forgiveness, but JUSTIFICATION for sin, "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses and thereby superceded it.

All that is required to be granted eternal life is so very clearly laid out in this simple message, "And by him all that believe are justified"~

NOTE: Water baptism is not mentioned, as a part of God's plan for eternal salvation, in this sermon.