Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

2. Their name , Judaizers (verb- ioudaizō - to live as a Jew, Gal 2:14), depicts their teaching in that they taught that in order for Gentiles to be saved, they not only had to have faith in Christ (Ac 15:5), but also had to become like Jews, both in circumcision (Gal 5:3) and obeying the Law (cf. Ac 15:5).

3. The Jewish value of circumcision was that it was a sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. Ge 17:10-14). It perhaps included a hygienic value, but it had no value for salvation (Ro 4:9-10).

B. Paul and Barnabas were Sent to Jerusalem after the Debate (Ac 15:2).

1. Paul did not give in to this false teaching for a moment. The Judaizers’ teaching was doctrinally wrong and it would suggest that Paul’s ministry, teaching, and results were in vain.

2. Therefore, Paul and Barnabas became involved in a “great” (ouk oligos - no little) “dissension” (stasis - strife, discord) and “debate” (zātāsis controversy or debate) with the Judaizers.

3. Paul’s arguments were similarly outlined in the letter to the Galatians.

a) If Gentiles received circumcision, Christ’s sacrifice would be no benefit (Gal 5:2).

b) If Gentiles receive circumcision, they would be obligated to whole Law (Gal 5:3-4).

c) Circumcision means nothing for salvation, only faith in Christ (Gal 5:5-6).

d) False teaching left unchecked will spread and influences many (Gal 5:7-9).

e) Paul was completely unsympathetic toward the Judaizers’ false teaching (Gal 5:10-12; Tit 1:10; Php 3:2).

4. As a result, the church determined that Paul and Barnabas, along with some others, go up (in elevation) to Jerusalem to discuss this “issue” (zātāma - same root as “debate” - point of disagreement) with the apostles. However, Paul was never confused or incorrect on this issue (Gal 2:3-5).

5. This suggested that while the church at large accepted the inclusion of the Gentiles, the particulars were in question.

C. The Churches were Strengthened (Ac 15:3).

1. The church sent forth Paul and Barnabas (and some others) on their way to Jerusalem. However, Paul always kept his mission at the forefront and strengthened the brethren along the way.

2. The specific areas were Phoenicia and Samaria, where converts had been made after Stephen’s martyrdom (cf. Ac 8:5; 11:19).

3. A focal point of strengthening these believers was relating the great work God had accomplished in the salvation of the Gentiles.

II. THE COUNCIL OF THE SALVATION OF GENTILES (Ac 15:4-6).

A. A Ministry Report was Given in Jerusalem (Ac 15:4).

1. By this time, Paul and his ministry were accepted by the apostles and the church therefore they welcomed him and Barnabas.

2. Consistent with Paul’s mission, they shared the great success that God had brought in their ministry among the Gentiles.

B. Believing Pharisees Promoted Circumcision for Gentiles (Ac 15:5).

1. Nevertheless, while they were relating what God had done among the Gentiles, Judaizers present at Jerusalem, took issue with them.

2. Some Pharisees that had “believed,” though not necessarily saved (cf. Ac 8:13), spoke up in regard to circumcising Gentiles. These Pharisees were attempting to bring the Gentiles under the Law. Did they still believe they were under the Law?

3. Their view summarized the concept of Judaizing Gentiles. First it was necessary that all those Gentiles Paul and Barnabas led to Christ had to be circumcised. In addition, they had to be brought under the OT system of the Law.

C. The Apostles and Elders Took Council Together (Ac 15:6).

1. The apostles and elders assembled for the church’s First Council (Jerusalem Council). It would indeed set precedence for future convening councils to discuss doctrinal issues and errors that would threaten the church.

2. What was surprising was that there was “much debate” (Ac 15:7a, same word as vs. 2 but probably milder) in that Council, showing that the church had not completely dealt with the non-judaizing of the Gentiles.

III. THE FIRST DISCOURSE WAS BY PETER (Ac 15:7-11)

A. God Directed the Gentiles’ Salvation (Ac 15:7).

1. Peter began with one of the clearest discourses on the salvation of Gentiles as well as on salvation by faith alone.

2. Peter stated that it was God, who in the beginning of the church, chose to include Gentiles in His salvation.

3. Peter knew this because God appointed him to be the spokesman to share the gospel with the Gentile Cornelius (Ac 10:34). It was brought to light to Peter through divine revelation (Ac 10:11ff; 11:5ff), therefore it was under God’s direction (Ac 10:15).

4. God’s sovereign directive came to fruition as the Gentiles believed and were saved.

B. God Testified to the Gentiles’ Salvation (Ac 15:8).

1. God, who is the “knowing-the-heart” God, verified the salvation of the Gentiles. For when they had exercised faith in Christ alone, they were given the Holy Spirit, a seal of God’s salvation (Ep 1:13).

2. The Holy Spirit’s presence was verified to the on-looking Jews with the sign of tongues (Ac 10:45-46) and was equivalent to the same experience on the Day of Pentecost (Ac 2:4).

C. God Gave Salvation to the Gentiles Through Faith (Ac 15:9).

1. In regard to salvation, God showed Peter that He does not show partiality between Jew and Gentile (Ac 10:34).

2. Through faith in Christ’s redemption, all hearts are cleansed, both Jew and Gentile. But this also demonstrated that the Gentiles were saved without circumcision.

D. Circumcision and Law is an Unbearable Yoke (Ac 15:10).

1. By demanding that the Gentiles had to be circumcised and had to observe the Law, they were going against God’s provision and plan for the salvation of all men. To challenge God to go against His provision and plan, they would be putting God to the test.

2. Requiring circumcision would be placing a yoke upon the Gentiles that even the Jews themselves were unable to “bear” (bastazō - take up or carry) (Gal 6:13). It was the yoke of trying to obtain salvation through the Law, which cannot be done (Ro 3:27-28). The Law was given to show how man fails to keep it and therefore lead him to Christ (Gal 3:23-24).

3. In this sense, the Judaizers were attempting to put a yoke of bondage upon the Gentiles (Gal 5:1 cf. Mt 11:29-30).

E. Jews and Gentiles are Saved through Grace (Ac 15:11).

1. Peter understood the true meaning of salvation. It was “through” (dia with genitive - on the basis of) grace (charis - beneficence or favor), which is God’s unmerited favor.

2. This was the grace of “the Lord Jesus,” which shows that Christ’s work provided the basis for God’s grace (unmerited favor) (Jn 1:16-17).

3. The Judaizers were attempting to remove the Gentiles from grace and place them under the Law, which would cancel out grace (Gal 5:2-4, 6; Ro 11:6).

4. It was for this reason that Paul and the Council had to be dogmatic on this doctrinal issue.

IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS.

A. Salvation can only be by grace through faith (Ep 2:8). It must be “faith alone in Christ alone,” without works (Ep 2:9).This uncompromising truth is applied not only to the early church’s issue of circumcision, but to every age, every denomination, and every individual that attempts to add any work to faith in Christ (keeping the Ten Commandments, baptism, holy communion, last rites, giving, good deeds etc.).

B. The apostle Paul was dogmatic as well as conciliatory. He was dogmatic in God’s uncompromising truth of salvation but also conciliatory in the church’s method of settling this doctrinal dispute.

C. Paul also teaches us that in the midst of any problem, even those of the most of doctrinal importance, we must still keep our lives focused on the goal to which God has called us. He did not suddenly drop his mission and ministry because there was a problem (in this case a doctrinal dispute). Instead, he dealt with the doctrinal disputes at the appropriate times in the appropriate ways. At the same time, Paul continued to carry out his divine commission, namely, evangelism and discipleship.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516