Exposition of Acts: Formula: Law or Grace
Click Above to Listen!
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. DISPUTE SURFACED
A. CASE PRESENTED
1. DIVIDED
Acts 15:1 But some men came down [to Antioch] from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2. AUTHORIZED
Acts 15:2 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.
(also Acts 15:11; 10:43; Rom 3:23-24; Rom 10:4)
B. CHURCH’S RESPONSE
1. WELCOMED
Acts 15:3-4 So, 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. 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.
2. REPEATED
Acts 15:5 But 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.”
(also Ex 12:48; Is 56:6; Acts 14:14-15; Gal 1:6-9)
II. DISPUTE STRENGTHENED
A. CONSIDERATION
1. STUDIED (APOSTLES/ELDERS)
Acts 15:6-7a The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate,
2. QUESTIONED (APOSTLE PETER)
Acts 15:7b-11 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. And God, Who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, and He made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
Now, 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? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
B. CHALLENGE
1. RELATED (APOSTLES PAUL/BARNABAS)
Acts 15:12 And all the assembly kept silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul relate the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
2. SUMMARIZED (ELDER JAMES)
Acts 15:13-18 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, ‘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, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord, Who makes these things known from of old.’
(also Mt 13:15; Jude 1; Jas 1:1; Amos 9:11-12)
III. DISPUTE SETTLED
A. CLARIFICATION
1. LIMITED
Acts 15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we shouldn’t disturb those Gentiles who turn to God,
2. REFRAINED
Acts 15:20-21 but 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. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
(also Lev 17-18)
B. CONCENSUS
1. AGREED
Acts 15:22-23a Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter:
2. RESOLVED
Acts 15:23b-27 “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 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 such instructions, 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, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will confirm the same things by word of mouth.
3. ANSWERED
Acts 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: 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.”
IV.DISPUTE SQUELCHED
A. CONGREGATION
1. DELIVERED
Acts 15:30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
2. REJOICED
Acts 15:31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
B. CONTINUED
1. ENCOURAGED
Acts 15:32-33 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a lengthy message. After they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.
2. PREACHED
Acts 15:34-35 It seemed good for Silas to remain in Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.