Acts chapter 15 is where we are today. It's the centre of the book. We're kind of halfway.
! But in many ways Acts 15 is the centre of our faith. Acts 15 addresses what is the core of Christianity.
It talks about an issue that if you take it out of Christianity, the whole movement kind of comes crumbling down.
It's 15 years have passed since Acts chapter 2. 15 years ago the Holy Spirit came upon the church and we have seen in the book of Acts the gospel go out from Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth.
The last two chapters saw Paul and Barnabas spreading the gospel all over Asia Minor but the churches are still very young and very fragile.
Any major disruption could cause the movement to spiral.
And this chapter involves key places, key people and a critical time.
In terms of places you've got Jerusalem. It's like the religious epicentre of the world.
It's where all the core leaders are located.
What happened in Jerusalem on a religious level had implications all over the world.
All across the Middle East. All across Asia.
It's a bit like Westminster.
And so decisions that are made in Westminster, well the rest of the country we feel the force of them.
On the other side there's Antioch, another city.
And Antioch is the kind of cultural, social, economic force of the time.
It's a cosmopolitan crossroads.
And it was a key place for the gospel movement of those who weren't Jewish.
It's a bit like kind of Hollywood really.
The kind of cultural centre.
And Hollywood decides on something and that spreads all across the globe doesn't it?
And Antioch was a bit like that.
It was the kind of cultural centre of the world.
Trends in Antioch affected all over the place.
And at the centre of this newfound faith you have Jerusalem with Jewish believers.
You have Antioch with the non-Jewish believers.
Paul and Barnabas are sent off on their missionary journey from the church in Antioch.
And when they come back from their journey they land right where they started.
But it wasn't just places that are important in Acts 15.
And there are people.
Giants of the faith.
Heavyweights like Paul and Barnabas.
Like Peter and James.
The big beasts of Christianity.
And all of this leads up to one main issue.
There's lots of things you can look at in Acts 15.
But I want to focus in on one issue.
So there are four parts of the story.
And they all begin with D.
A demand.
A debate.
A decision.
A delivery.
A demand.
A debate.
Delivery.
A decision.
And then delivery.
So the first few verses of Acts 15.
There are grey clouds and a storm is brewing.
It's got the potential to fracture the Christian movement.
And it all revolves around a demand in verses 1 to 5.
There are a few guys that come up from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Where tons of Gentiles are being saved by the good news of Jesus Christ.
But they don't come up with encouragement.
They come up with a demand.
And they basically say if you want to be in God's family.
Believing in Jesus is not enough.
You've got to follow the laws of Moses.
And you've got to be circumcised.
The claim is that to follow Jesus is not enough.
But you have to adopt the Jewish customs to be a real Christian.
And it threatens the very foundation of the Christian message.
The gospel is good news.
We have great news for this city.
And the good news is that Jesus has done all the work.
Jesus has paid all the price.
So that sinners like you and I can be saved from the penalty of sin.
And be brought back into a relationship with God.
Into the family of God.
Jesus has done it all.
And the gospel is free.
This morning you don't have to do anything to earn your right.
Into the family of God.
Paul and Barnabas have risked their lives spreading the good news.
That people could have a relationship with God again.
That there's a door that was opened for them.
Opened by the Lord Jesus.
And there's nothing that you can do.
And there is nothing more to be done.
But this group come from Jerusalem.
And they say well actually to enter into God's family.
You've got to become Jewish.
To be a real follower of God.
You've got to become Jewish.
Imagine you've got a friend who works for Legoland.
Children have you been to Legoland?
You've been?
Or have you been?
So imagine you've got a friend who works for Legoland.
And he comes to you and he says.
Here are some tickets for your family.
Go to Legoland on me.
Probably want to throttle him.
But he says to the family.
Go to Legoland on me.
Free tickets for the entire family.
You can go whenever you want.
You kind of work hard to clear your schedule.
You put it on the family diary.
And so you can take all the family there.
Everyone is super excited to spend a day at Legoland.
You get everyone ready to go.
You pack your lunch.
You queue up in the enormous queue.
And the person at the gate says.
Ah come on in.
Welcome to Legoland.
You're riding the rides.
You're enjoying the displays.
You're loving the day.
It's a wonderful time.
And then somebody from Legoland.
Who's employed by Legoland.
Comes up to you and says to you.
Can I see your tickets?
You hand the free tickets over.
And they say.
They say.
I'm really sorry.
But you either have to leave now.
Or you have to pay the full price.
Can you imagine the confusion?
And the frustration.
You say.
No, no, no.
Our friend.
They gave us these free tickets.
They work for Legoland too.
And the person says.
No, you either have to leave now.
Or you need to pay the full price.
For the whole family.
And you're thinking.
Who am I supposed to believe?
Am I supposed to believe my friend.
Who works for Legoland.
Who gave me the free tickets.
Or am I supposed to be.
Believing this person.
You say.
Is there no one else.
I can talk to.
Can I speak to a manager?
Is there anyone higher up.
That I can speak to?
We've sacrificed a lot.
To be here.
We've cleared our schedule.
We're enjoying our time.
It would be so confusing.
Wouldn't it?
Well the Gentile Christians.
In Antioch.
Were probably feeling that.
Times a million.
It was deeply unsettling.
For them.
To hear.
That they had to become.
Jewish people.
In order to be true Christians.
Who do you believe?
Do you believe.
Paul and Barnabas.
Who told us the message.
Or do you believe.
These people.
Who've come from HQ.
Who are coming on the scene.
Who seem to have authority.
Who do you believe.
Can you imagine.
Being told.
You have a free gift.
And then afterwards.
Being told.
No.
You've got to pay a steep price.
Not just a financial one.
But one that would affect.
The whole of your life.
From now on.
I'm sure there were loads of men.
In this group.
Desperately hoping.
That the.
The Jerusalem delegation.
Was wrong.
The issue is so central.
It couldn't be.
Ignored.
It couldn't be.
Accommodated.
And so.
Paul and Barnabas.
Quickly confront these guys.
Because they're.
Out of line.
With God's way.
And God's message.
The demand.
Become.
To become Jewish.
Would fracture.
The early church.
But if Jerusalem.
And the leaders.
Of the church.
There in Jerusalem.
Agreed.
With the people.
That had been sent.
It would mean.
There would have to be a break.
There would have to be.
A fracturing.
There was no way.
That these two things.
Could go forward together.
Either the gospel.
Was a message.
Of free.
Unimaginable grace.
Or it was.
That you had to become Jewish.
People could not.
Coexist.
There's a lot on the line.
And so.
What would.
The leaders.
In Jerusalem.
Where would they stand.
On this issue.
The Pharisees.
That is the religious authorities.
Weren't just challenging.
The doctrine.
Of grace alone.
But they're also challenging.
Aren't they?
The credibility.
Of Paul and Barnabas.
And so the church.
In Antioch.
They get a convoy.
Convoy together.
They get a delegation.
With Paul and Barnabas.
And they send them.
Up to Jerusalem.
200 miles away.
They stop.
At different places.
On the way.
And they share.
About what God.
Has been doing.
Among the Gentiles.
They are.
They are pumped.
About it.
And once they arrive.
In Jerusalem.
They're received.
Well by the church.
There.
And again.
They share.
What God has been doing.
All over Asia Minor.
So are the Pharisees.
Going to be right.
Demanding.
That all people.
Become Jewish first.
In order.
To enter into the family.
Of God.
That's the demand.
Here's the debate.
The debate is in verses 6 to 11.
If you look there.
The debate begins.
People from different.
Side starts speaking up.
There's probably a good deal.
Of energy in the room.
And commotion.
And Peter.
Takes the stage.
Steps up to the mic.
Peter reflects back.
His experience.
From a few years ago.
When God showed him.
That the Gentiles.
Are to be included.
In God's family.
Remember Cornelius.
He said.
The Gentile.
Who asked Peter.
To come down.
And Peter.
Comes and goes into his house.
And he starts preaching.
And as he preaches.
The Holy Spirit.
Descends.
On this.
Non-Jew.
This Gentile.
Cornelius.
And all his family.
Before they were ever circumcised.
Before anything had happened.
God gave them.
The Holy Spirit.
Just as he'd given.
The Holy Spirit.
To the Jewish people.
In Acts chapter 2.
God had made.
No distinction.
On who he was going to.
Pour his grace on.
Notice how Peter.
Again and again.
Shows that God.
Is the initiator.
Of his work.
Verse 7.
God chose.
Peter.
To speak to the Gentiles.
Verse 8.
At the beginning.
We see that God.
Is the one.
Who knows people's hearts.
It is God.
Who bears witness.
To the Gentiles.
It is God.
Who gave the Gentiles.
The Holy Spirit.
It is God.
Who made no distinction.
Among them.
It is God.
Who cleansed their hearts.
By faith.
Over and over.
Peter.
Is emphasizing.
And trying to hammer home.
That it is God.
Who initiates.
God.
Who chooses.
God.
Who pursues.
God.
Who rescues.
God.
Who bears witness to.
God.
Who provides.
God.
Who cleanses.
The Gentiles.
And so.
If anyone is going to oppose.
The Gentiles.
Coming into the family of God.
They are not just opposing.
Paul and Barnabas.
They are opposing God himself.
And so.
God.
If God.
Did not distinguish.
Between Jew.
And Gentile.
How in the world.
Why would we?
Chop it off.
Peter.
Shows that.
He is a.
He is a Jew.
Is saved.
In the same way.
As the Gentile.
Look at verse 11.
we believe that we will be saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus,
just as they will be.
There aren't two ways to God.
There is only one way to God.
And so this is the last we hear of Peter.
Start of Luke's Gospel,
he's just an ordinary fisherman.
Until Jesus comes on the scene
and encounters Peter,
he invites him to be part of what he's doing.
Jesus takes him along in his movement,
this movement that changes the landscape of the world.
But when Jesus is arrested,
Peter denies him.
He's ashamed of being associated with Jesus.
Quickly, Peter realises his error.
He confesses he was wrong and he comes back.
In the book of Acts,
it is Peter who preaches at Pentecost.
It is through Peter
that God brings thousands into his family.
And then he uses Peter to spread the Gospel message.
An ordinary fisherman
used for global purposes in God's movement.
The debate's just getting started.
Verse 12,
Paul and Barnabas,
they've just got back from their missionary journey,
recounting how Gentiles
are believing the Gospel
and it's spreading like wildfire.
They talk about how people are being healed
and they wrap up.
And as they wrap up,
one of the most influential men
in the whole of the council
in the Church of Jerusalem
gets to his feet.
It's James.
He's the half-brother of Jesus.
He's well respected.
The way that James goes
will largely affect how the council goes.
And so like this heavyweight champion,
James comes with poise and carefulness.
And James wants Jewish and Gentile Christians
to be united.
He threads the delicate needle
of including Gentiles
without making the Jewish people feel excluded.
He doesn't want to put an unnecessary burden
on the Gentiles.
But at the same time,
he doesn't want the Jewish Christians
to feel alienated.
Where Peter and Paul and Barnabas,
they reflect what God has been doing
in these last 12 years.
James takes another approach.
He goes back 700 years.
He quotes from the Old Testament
and he says,
there's going to be a time coming
when there would be a great restoration
for the world.
This rebuilding time.
And it wouldn't only be for Jewish people
but for Gentiles too.
God was going to gather a people
from the nations.
From all over the world.
And so James tells the Gentiles,
he tells the Jews in council
that the Gentiles have always been part of God's plan.
The very scriptures that the Jewish people
hold in high regard
teaches them
that the Gentiles
don't have to become Jewish
in order to be saved.
They don't have to fulfill
any ceremonial sacrificial laws.
But James knows
this would be a hard pill to swallow
for some of the Jewish people.
They would have wondered,
if this doesn't matter,
does anything matter?
And so James winsomely
weaves in a few thoughts
to encourage
the Gentile Christians
to avoid this.
Look what he says in verse 20.
He says,
but write to them
to abstain
from the things polluted by idols
and from sexual immorality
and from what has been strangled
and from blood.
Why does James put these four things down?
Are these things
that the Gentile Christians
have to do
in order to be saved?
No.
Not at all.
But James' vision
is that the church of Jesus Christ
would be a unified church
across the world.
It would be filled with
Jewish people
and Gentile people
who have come to know
the Lord Jesus Christ
and they've come together
to know him.
It's an issue
for the Jewish people
scattered.
Where they are,
they're a minority.
And maintaining purity
for the Jewish people
was for them
a matter of survival.
and part of their identity.
One of the bedrocks
of the community
was eating a meal together.
There would have been
no way
would therefore
Jewish Christians
with very strict
dietary requirements
to sit and share a meal
with Gentile Christians
who don't
follow the same.
It's a bit like
having vegans
in church life.
And so
I want to say to you
if you're a vegan here
you're very, very welcome.
But you've got to admit
it's a pretty hard work
having you for lunch.
It's the type of thing
that's happening here
amongst the Gentile
and the Jewish Christians.
The Gentile Christians
they're free to eat
whatever they want.
But the Jewish Christians
by their conscience
they're more restricted
in their diet.
James knows this.
He knew they wouldn't be able
to share a meal together.
It shows us the importance
of hospitality
sitting around the table.
He wanted them to be able
to come together
in unity.
So he says
Gentile Christians
if you can abstain
from certain foods
it'll make it much easier
to be united
with your Jewish
brothers and sisters.
You don't have to
become Jewish
to be saved.
That would be hypocrisy.
But be mindful
of your brothers and sisters
who are Jewish.
There are things
that you might do
that would be a huge
stumbling block from them.
So abstain from certain foods
from foods
for idols.
Respect them
in their situation.
Accommodate to their needs.
And as it relates
to sexual immorality
pagan temples
scattered all over the land.
Keep away from them.
James says here
the Apostle Paul says
over and over again
in his letters
stay away from sexual immorality.
That's not the way of God.
He doesn't say this
so that you can
earn away
to God.
He's saying
if you're a follower
of the Lord Jesus
you've got to let go
of those pagan ways
and follow God alone.
Peter, Paul,
Barnabas and James
have all come
to the place
in this debate
firmly landing
with Jesus.
Showing that
anyone can be saved
by God's grace alone.
Number three
the decision.
Verse 22 to 29
the council decides
to write a letter.
The letter is from
the entire church
in Jerusalem
the leaders
and the apostles.
It is binding
on other churches.
They are of one accord.
The letter begins
by recognizing
the tense situation
in Antioch.
They're unsettled.
There's a stir
being created
because of these people
that have come up
from Jerusalem
demanding that they
become Jewish.
Paul and Barnabas
would have been
so grateful
for this letter
that said
these guys
didn't come from us.
They do not speak
with the authority
of the church.
Tells those
in Antioch
that Paul and Barnabas
they are dear brothers
who risked their lives
for the gospel.
The church
in Jerusalem
the church council
has decided
that Paul and Barnabas
were doing it
the right way.
The letter continued
that key representatives
are being sent
along with them
with this critical
decision
based on
the Holy Spirit's
direction.
And the voices
on the council
the decision
of the council
which was binding
was that there
would be no
further requirement
to be followed
except believing
in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Let me just say
as an aside
they didn't say
did they
and we're all
independent churches
alright
you knock yourselves
out in Antioch
you decide what's best
have a vote on it
you decide
that's not how
it worked.
There is
isn't there
there is an
authority here
with the elders
that is obviously
the prototype
of a presbytery
where decisions
are made
which are binding
on all the
congregations
and so this
decision is made
based on the
Holy Spirit's
direction
there is no
further requirement
to enter into
God's family
except to believe
in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
You want to be
in God's family
this morning
all you have
to do
is receive
God's grace
in Jesus Christ.
You do not
have to become
Jewish
there is no
need for you
to follow
all the ceremonial
laws
but as James
has already laid
out there's a
deep unity
isn't there
there's a deep
oneness
with our Jewish
brothers and
sisters in Christ
and so abstain
from sexual
morality
food offered
to idols
it's remarkably
isn't it
that the
Jerusalem
council
came to
a unified
decision
I think
it's remarkable
in our
house
somebody says
what do you
want to watch
that decision
takes ages
there's all
sorts of
debate
when the
meal planner
is not up
to date
and somebody
says and
what do you
want to
eat
there's
carnage
debate
goes on
for ages
but here
there's a
debate with
great consequence
one belief
that is
central for
the great
gospel movement
and there's
unity
among the
council
the story
concludes in
Antioch and
there's
delivery
fourth day
verses 30
to 33
the leaders
from the
church in
Jerusalem
come up
and they
deliver this
wonderful
news
a church
that has
been confused
is now
given clarity
and encouraged
that you
and I
can be
restored
to a
relationship
with the
God
who made
us
by believing
in Jesus
Christ alone
and that
is the
good news
of the
gospel
I can
imagine
that
congregation
was overjoyed
I can
imagine
the men's
group were
absolutely
delighted
that they
didn't have
to get
circumcised
so Luke
is establishing
that the
gospel
which is
moving
throughout
this
region
it's
rooted
in the
promises
of the
Old
Testament
but you
are not
required
to become
Jewish
belief
in the
Lord
Jesus
is the
only
requirement
to be
part of
his
family
trust
in the
Lord
Jesus
reliance
on the
Lord
Jesus
is the
only
requirement
to be
part of
his
family
you don't
have to
fulfill
a long
list of
requirements
you don't
have to
cover a
prerequisite
course
you don't
have to
clean
yourself
up this
morning
Jesus
says
come
to me
all you
who are
burdened
and heavy
laden
and I
will give
you rest
there
is
nothing
that you
can
do
to earn
your way
to God
there is
nothing
that you
have
done
that need
keep you
away from
knowing
God
and being
rescued
from the
penalty
of your
sin
it is
all
accomplished
through
Jesus
Christ
Jesus
Christ
has done
it all
and so
what do
we learn
four things
about the
gospel as we
finish
four things
about the
gospel
number one
the gospel
which is
the good news
of the
Lord Jesus
is exclusive
exclusive means
isn't it
the hello
magazine
the okay
magazine
are they
still about
no
it would say
exclusive
it means
you can only
read it
there
you can't
find it
anyone else
you can only
read it
there
there's an
exclusive
offer
that means
the offer
isn't available
everywhere else
here's the
offer
it's
an exclusive
the gospel
is exclusive
that means
we can't
do anything
to earn
our way
to God
and so
the famous
question
is that
God
asks
why
should
I
let
you
into
heaven
and if
your answer
is well
I've
lived a
good
life
I've
tried
my
best
I've
treated
other
people
well
I'm
a
church
goer
it
shows
that you
are
basing
your
salvation
on your
own
good
works
there is
something
in each
of us
isn't
there
that
wants
to
earn
our
way
to
God
but
Jesus
Christ
has
done
it
all
it
is our
issue
isn't it
with Roman
Catholicism
that we
want to
say that
the Bible
teaches
it is
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
alone
by grace
alone
that
is what
saves
you
it
is
not
going
to
mass
it
is
not
going
to
confession
it
is
not
doing
penance
there
are many
things that we
stand with
Roman Catholics
on but on
this central
issue
isn't it
they've
misunderstood
the gospel
tragically
awfully
horrifically
!
the gospel
is exclusive
there is no
partnership
between you
and God
it is not
faith in
Jesus
Christ
plus
your good
works
it is
faith in
Jesus
Christ
alone
it's
incredibly
humbling
isn't it?
there is no
partnership
that is
initiated
by Jesus
it is
fulfilled
by him
and it's
offered to
you
and it's
offered to
me
and salvation
is found
nowhere else
other than
in Jesus
Christ
alone
and all
we do
is respond
we come
with open
hands
we come
saying
nothing
in my
hands
I
bring
simply
to
your
cross
I
cling
the gospel
is
exclusive
secondly
the gospel
is
inclusive
it's
exclusive
but it's
also
inclusive
isn't that
the wonder
of Acts
15
it's for
all
people
it is
for Jew
and for
Gentile
it is
for Iranian
and Iraqi
it is
for
the Brits
and the
Europeans
it is
for all
cultures
all peoples
all ages
it is
for vegans
it is
for vegetarians
all sorts
of weirdos
the gospel
is open
the gospel
is inclusive
you might
feel very
very inadequate
you might
feel
you're from
the wrong
side of the
tracks
you've got
nothing going
the gospel
of the Lord
Jesus Christ
is for
you
it is
exclusive
it is
inclusive
number three
the gospel
is dividing
because it's
exclusive
which means
there is only
one way
to God
and there
is only
one mediator
between
God
and man
it is
good news
that people
have to
respond to
it is not
fake news
that you can
discard
it is not
irrelevant news
it is not
random news
some refute
it
some reject
it
some ignore
it
but wonderfully
some believe
it
and the
dividing line
is those
who put
their trust
in the Lord
Jesus Christ
alone
and those
who don't
and the
implications
for what you
do with this
news could
not be
greater
the gospel
alone is
the dividing
line
and the
way that
we respond
to this
gospel
message
is what
determines
whether we're
in God's
family or
not
that if
we will
believe in
him
we are
in
and if
we will
not believe
in him
we are
out
the gospel
is exclusive
the gospel
is inclusive
the gospel
is dividing
and lastly
the gospel
is unifying
that if you
are a follower
of the Lord
Jesus
you share
a bond
of unity
with another
follower of
the Lord
Jesus
in a way
that cannot
compare to
anything else
you may like
the same
sports team
you may like
the same
interest
you might be
from the same
part of town
you might
have the same
occupation
as someone
but if you
fly to
Turkmenistan
and you
meet with
a follower
of the Lord
Jesus
who you've
never met
before
you have a
deeper bond
with that
believer
because your
identity
is in
Christ
and he is
the source
of our
salvation
and your
hope in life
and in death
is shared
with that
brother or
sister
our identity
in Christ
together gives
us a deeper
unity than
anything else
that can be
found in the
world
and we see the
Jerusalem council
speaking in that
way don't we
verse 23
we see them
address people
who are
strangers
in Antioch
as brothers
and because
the gospel
is unifying
we are brought
into the
family
we're given
a common
mission
we're brought
into the
family
and we're
given
this task
of bearing
with one
another
of making
sacrifices
for one
another
of giving
up our
preferences
for one
another
to use
our freedom
wisely
for the
good of
our
brothers
and sisters
and so
this entire
gospel movement
hinges
doesn't it
on this
one belief
of how
one is
saved
of how
one enters
into the
kingdom of
God
how one
enters
into the
family
and Acts
15 teaches
us that it
is by faith
alone
in Christ
alone
by grace
alone
there's one
requirement
this morning
there is
one thing
there is
one way
to God
to have
faith
alone
in Jesus
Christ
alone
by his
grace
alone
let's
pray