Pastor Reynold Lim (CBC Kota Damansara, English)
Prayer is not easy, it is fighting against ourselves. It is a change agent and we don't like to pray because we don't like to be changed. Prayer brings refreshing and revival. It changes us first. It fights against our mind, our will and our whole bring. Prayer reveals the will of God which we usually fight against. We need to submit and let God does His work.
Psa 25:4-5 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. (5) Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Prayer is a change agent and it re-aligns us with God's values.
Relationships bring conflicts. If we handle them well, it can bring benefit in life.
The background
Before we can understand the Jerusalem Council which decides our future, we need to understand the background. At the end of Acts 14, Paul & Barnabas on furlough in their home base of Antioch of Syria. The served their 1st term as missionaries in Cyprus and Galatia. They planted at least 4 churches in Galatia in the cities of Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra & Derbe. They had gone back to each of these churches & installed elders (Acts 14:23).
A worst case scenario: Acts 15:1 (AD 48) – Some church leaders visited the Galatian churches and contradict the essence of salvation. The 1st Gentile churches planted in Antioch in Ad 45 – Uncircumcised Gentiles professed faith in Jesus Christ, God of the Jews (Acts 11:23;26).
When the Jews heard that Gentiles became Christians without observing the whole spectrum of the Jewish customs, they were not happy. Herod took advantage of this and persecuted the Christians. He killed James the brother of Jesus and attempted to capture Peter.
Act 12:1-3 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. (2) He killed James the brother of John with the sword, (3) and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
The notion that uncircumcised Gentiles could profess to be Christians was so radical &
A worst case scenario - The Jews remained mono-cultural and enthno-centric. Salvation did not removed their racism.
Two developments:
The face-to-face theological debate between Paul and these Messianic Hews (Judaizers) in Antioch resulted in the convening of the Jerusalem Council.
The unsettling news from the news churches provoked Paul to write his first epistles - to the Galatians.
The issue of the Gentile circumcision is by all measurements one of the most crucial missiological challenges in the entire history of Christianity.
The Epistle to the Galatians is Paul's response to these tumultuous events, before the Jerusalem Council.
Gal 1:6-7 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- (7) not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
If we understand the background in Acts 15, we can appreciate better Galatians.
Act 13:38-39 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, (39) and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
Paul's 1st recorded sermon was met with anger.
The foundational nucleus of the church at Antioch was made up of Gentiles who had become Christians and elders in the church without being circumcised.
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Paul was furious at the insistence of Jews to circumcise the Gentiles believers.
Paul described the Judaizers in Gal 2:4 as false brethren secretly brought in.
Gal 2:4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in--who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery--
If there was no Jerusalem Council, men today need to be circumcised and worse, Satan would have nullified the work of Jesus on the Cross. Satan made many attempts to do so, in Queen Esther's time, and the time when Jesus was born.
In Gal 2, we see the conflict between Paul and Peter regarding Gentiles conversion.
Gal 3 deals with problems arising from Jews and Gentile believers (formerly Gentile proselytes).
Gal 4 deals with problems arising from pagan Gentiles, including the God-fearers.
Gal 5 shows that both of the problems can lead to the works of the flesh as opposed to the fruit of the Spirit.
Four steps to conflict resolution:
1. Acknowledge the Issue (1-2)
What was the issue? The central question was What should a Gentile do to be saved?
Justification by faith was not seen as enough – one must keep the Mosaic Law and be circumcised.
The response to this question would affect the entire history of Christianity and determine the way we view salvation today.
We need to put down the issue.
2.Look at the Issue (5-12)
a. Method of Discussion: Show respect to both sides of the question. Allows for much debate (Acts 15:7a, cf 1 Tim 2:24-25
b. Testimony of Peter (Acts 15:7b-11) God who knows their heart gave them the Holy Spirit. Peter reminded that God used him as a vessel to bring good news to the Gentiles. He then reminded that the Gentiles are saved in the same way, i.e. through faith by grace and he confirmed the salvation of the Gentiles. Paul pointed out that the Jews were trying to imposing the yolk that they themselves they could not bear on the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas then shared their testimonies of God's miracles among the Gentiles.
3. Look at the Scripture – James, who was seen as the chief elder presented a Theological Pattern with 4 Strands of Thoughts (v13-21)
a. God is doing this, not man (v 14)
b. It had been God's plan all along. The Word of God is being fulfilled, not contradicted. (vv 15-18)
c. The basis of salvation is grace, not law (v19)
d. A lifestyle of obedience and love must follow salvation, not license (Acts 15:20-21, Gal 5:13)
When we consider the Scripture, we need to look at what God has been doing in the church. Elder James was not telling the people he ignored all their rights. He recognized four things that offend the Jews greatly.
Act 15:28-29 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: (29) that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
4. Reach a Consensus - a Written Statement (v 23b-29; 30b-35)
Act 15:23-29 with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. (24) Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, (25) it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (26) men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. (27) We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. (28) For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: (29) that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
Two points stood out.
- Restricting one's liberty is a burden. Limitation is burdensome but love motivates us to bear them to protect weaker believers from stumbling.
- These restrictions are essential. Harmony in the body of Christ depends on our willingness to forgo a privilege.
A public announcement was made in Acts 15:30b-35. Paul, Barnabase, Judas and Silas (v22) sent to Antioch with the letter in hand. The response to the council's decision was tremendous. The people rejoiced, were encouraged and strengthened. They felt a sense of peace. They continued to preach the Gospel.
Application
Let's ask ourselves some hard questions:
- Do we really believe in God's grace?
Do we welcome in to our fellowship those who look different than we do? Who talk differently whose pasts may littered with failures or sin Do we shim rough-edged new converts? Do we shun divorcees or single parents? Are we willing to listen to others' opinions? Why can't we accept? Could we be prejudiced / self-centred / arrogant?
- Chapter 15 of Acts is not just about Gentile salvation – it's about being open to change.
How do you take to change Are you flexible when grace make changes to your own law?
God's grace always challenges us to be open to any change that better communicates the Gospel. Is God pushing for a grace change in your life right now? What it is? Resistant to this change? What do you need to do to be flexible?
- Conflict handled properly can sharpen us.
English Puritan Richard Baxter says, in necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.
Does your disagreement centre on a necessary thing or secondary issue? Is it truly worth fighting for?
In "all things," are you holding to "charity" as your goal and motivation? What's in your heart?
Conclusion
We must focus on the fundamentals: God's grace, salvation through faith alone, freedom in Christ and making loving sacrifices for another.
Legalism – emphasis on Works, impact is Guilt. "If you don't achieve, you are a failure."
License – emphasis is on self, impact is Offense. "Do it your way, don't worry about others' feelings."
Grace – emphasis on Christ, impact is Love. "Love others as Christ has loved you."
Grace is the middle of the two extremes. It is the essence of a Christian life.
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