All right, well, I'll read Acts 15, but to understand the context a little bit better, we'll begin reading in Acts 14, starting at verse 26.
! We read God's word, trusting it is his inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, sufficient word for you and me, his people.
So Acts 14, starting at verse 26.
This is referring to Paul and Barnabas on one of their missionary trips.
From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
Now, when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Acts 15, 1.
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren,
Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.
Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them,
they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem,
to the apostles and elders about this question.
So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria,
describing the conversion of the Gentiles.
And they caused great joy to all the brethren.
And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders.
And they reported all things that God had done with them.
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying,
It is necessary to circumcise them to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them,
Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us
that by the mouth of the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit,
just as he did to us,
and made no distinction between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith.
Now, therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples,
which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we shall be saved in the same manner as they.
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Paul and Barnabas,
declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them
among the Gentiles.
And after they had become silent,
James answered, saying,
Men and brethren, listen to me.
Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles
to take them out, a people for his name.
And with this word,
this, the words of the prophets agree,
just as it is written.
After this, I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David,
which had fallen down.
I will rebuild its ruins and will set it up
so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord who does all these things.
Known to God from eternity are all his works.
Therefore, I judge that we should not trouble those
from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
but that we write them to abstain from things polluted by idols,
from sexual immorality,
from things strangled and from blood.
For Moses has had throughout many generations
those who preach him in every city
being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
Then it pleased the apostles and elders
with the whole church
to send chosen men of their own company
to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas,
namely Judas, who was also named Barsabbas,
and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
They wrote this letter by them,
the apostles and elders and the brethren,
to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch,
Syria and Cilicia.
Greetings.
Since we have heard some who went out from us
have troubled you with words,
unsettling your souls,
saying you must be circumcised and keep the law
to whom we gave no such commandment,
it seemed good to us being assembled with one accord
to send chosen men 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 will also report the same things
by word of mouth.
For it seemed good to us,
for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit
and to us to lay upon you
no greater burden than these necessary things
that you abstain from things offered to idols,
from blood, from things strangled,
and from sexual immorality.
If you keep yourselves from these,
you will do well.
Farewell.
So when they were sent off,
they came to Antioch,
and when they had gathered the multitude together,
they delivered the letter.
When they had read it,
they rejoiced over its encouragement.
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Please be seated.
Let's pray.
O Lord,
the way that you work
among your people,
among the churches,
it's so humbling
and so beautiful
and so glorifying
of who you are.
We pray, Lord,
that by your Spirit,
you'll cause us to see
the way that you work through the church
and use the church
in the way that you want us to see that today, Lord,
that you will apply that
to this congregation,
that you will guide us,
that you will give us wisdom.
You'll help us to ponder
what is the way
that you have given churches
to receive the blessings of Christ Jesus.
We ask this for your glory.
Amen.
Well, our American tradition tells us
that at the signing
of the Declaration of Independence,
Benjamin Franklin
made this comment.
And to appreciate what he said,
we have to remember,
these are former citizens of England
that are now living at the colonies
that don't want to pay taxes
back to England
without representation.
And those who rebel
against the monarchy of England
are considered treasonous
and therefore,
they would be publicly hung.
And Benjamin Franklin's comment,
at least according to tradition,
was this.
We must all hang together
or most assuredly,
we shall all hang separately.
Here come representatives
from all the colonies
taking a strong stand together
for their future.
In a different context,
this sentiment captures a reality
that we read in this passage.
Isolated churches,
places where God's power
had been manifested,
displayed,
the gospel was preached,
people believed,
even among the Gentiles,
and churches are now planted.
But on their own,
they're isolated.
And the enemy is attacking
and devouring,
and there are wolves creeping in
and bringing lies
that undermine the gospel.
And the principle we see
is that we must
help one another.
We must hang together.
So in the first century,
these churches
are under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit
and the apostles
in a powerful way.
The New Testament scriptures
as we have them now
are still being written
and given
even in the midst
of all these travels
and these discussions.
The principle for us
that I want to focus on
and encourage us with today
is this.
From Acts 15,
we see that Christ
blesses his churches
through one another.
That simple statement
that we can understand that,
see it in God's word,
and then discern together
what that means
for this congregation,
that Christ
blesses his churches
through one another.
As we walk through
this passage again,
I hope to point out
eight principles
that we see
in how God does this.
So let's begin
at where we started again,
chapter 14,
verse 26.
Notice how this one church
in Antioch,
which is modern-day Turkey,
it's called Asia Minor,
they receive the truth,
they receive the gospel,
they are formed
into a church,
and they enjoy
a time of peace.
We read in verse 26
of chapter 14,
from there,
Paul and Barnabas
sailed to Antioch,
where they had been
commended to the grace
of God for the work
which they had completed.
Other churches
sent them there,
they were commended
to go.
Now when they had come
and gathered
the church together,
take all the believers,
all those who heard
the gospel
and received God's word,
gather them into
an assembly,
they reported
all that God had done
with them,
with the church,
and that he had opened
the door of faith
to the Gentiles.
And the pattern
of ministry
was to present
Jesus Christ
first in the synagogues
because they already know
of God the Creator.
They already have
all the Old Testament.
They have the law
and the prophets
and the Psalms,
and they know
the true God,
but they need to know
about the Messiah.
And so,
they're explaining
that this gospel
of the Messiah
has gone out
not only to you
here in the synagogues,
but to Gentiles,
and God is causing
them to believe.
Verse 28 of chapter 14
says,
so they stayed there
at the church
in Antioch
a long time
with the disciples,
with the believers,
with this church.
They're enjoying
truth and peace.
But then,
in chapter 15,
verse 1,
comes a disturbance
to this peace
in the church
of Antioch.
Look at verse 1.
Certain men
came down
from Judea.
He's saying
came down
in an elevation reference.
You know,
so the mountains
of Judah
were a high point.
That's why
the Psalms of Ascent
are Psalms
you would sing
going up
to Jerusalem.
But if we look
at it on the map,
it's further south.
They came up.
They traveled.
And they brought
with them,
remember what's
in Judea
is Jerusalem,
the big hub
of the people
of Israel
in the first church
from which
all the missionaries
were being sent out.
And these men
taught the brethren
in Antioch,
unless you are
circumcised
according to the
custom of Moses,
you cannot be saved.
So,
this is the big
occasion
for everything
that we read
in chapter 15
of Acts.
My focus today
is on our series
on the church.
It's not to
necessarily
spend our time
on this theological
debate or all
the meaning
or look at all
the rest of the
New Testament
about that,
but instead
on the process.
I don't want to
skip over the
theological debate,
but I want to
point out that
what these men
from Judea
were teaching
is false.
Paul knew
this was false.
Barnabas knew
this was false.
And it was
reading the
Old Testament
wrong.
Deuteronomy 36
says,
the Lord your
God will
circumcise
your heart
to love
the Lord
your God
with all
your heart,
with all
your soul
that you
may live.
And the
decision that
we finally
get by the
end of Acts
15 around
verse 28
or so
is the same
decision
concluded
and made
very clear
throughout
all the rest
of the
New Testament.
For example,
Paul,
the same
apostle,
in Romans
2,
28 and
29,
he wrote
to the
church in
Rome,
no one
is a
Jew who
is merely
one
outwardly
or is
circumcision
outward and
physical,
but a Jew
is one
inwardly.
Circumcision
is a matter
of the
heart
by the
spirit.
This is
the correct
interpretation
of that
Deuteronomy
30 prophecy.
Philippians
3,
Colossians,
Ephesians,
so many
other places
in the
New Testament
and all
of the
book of
Galatians
make this
very clear.
For example,
Philippians
3,
we are
the
circumcision
who
worship
by the
spirit
of God
and glory
in Christ
Jesus
and put
no
confidence
in the
flesh.
Okay,
so for
all these
reasons,
we will
not spend
any more
time on
the theological
discussion
of the
occasion
of this
process,
but instead
we need
to ask,
why do
we have
all of
these
details
in Acts
15,
if it's
not just
to give
the conclusion
that's
made very
clear elsewhere
in Scripture.
We have
all of
these
details,
I and
the whole
Reformed
tradition
believes
because it
does teach
the church
the process
to follow
when truth
and peace
are disturbed.
So that's
what we'll
focus on.
Let's see
all that we
can learn.
So chapter
15,
verse 2,
what was
going on in
what was
going on in
this church
in Antioch?
The truth
was being
attacked
and there
were men,
mature believers,
preachers of the
gospel like
Paul and
Barnabas.
As a reminder,
Barnabas means
son of
encouragement.
He's the one
who discipled
Paul for
about 13
years.
When they
came as
missionaries
to another
city,
the people
seeing these
two minister
together said
Barnabas is
Zeus and
Paul is
Hermes.
Zeus is like
the fatherly
figure,
the older
wise one,
powerful.
That was
Barnabas and
Hermes is
mouth,
you know,
and that's
Paul.
Paul is doing
the teaching
and the talking
and that's
who Paul and
Barnabas are.
Paul's an
apostle.
He carries
apostolic
authority from
Christ himself
and yet within
this church in
Antioch,
there's great
dispute over
the truth.
It's being
challenged and
questioned.
Verse 24 says
this church in
Antioch was
troubled with
words that
they were
unsettled in
their souls.
This is what
happened when
false teaching
or false words
come into a
church.
An attack on
the truth
undermines
peace.
An attack
on truth
is what
unsettles
peace.
It's
impossible to
have peace
in a church
if we don't
care about
truth,
if we don't
care about
doctrine.
That's the
first principle
we can
notice.
And I think
now we have
an apostolic
example of
how truth
and peace
are to be
protected
by churches.
even though
Paul's an
apostle,
the church
in Antioch
verse 2
says determined
that Paul and
Barnabas and
certain others
from them,
so messengers
from the church
in Antioch,
should go up
to Jerusalem
to the
apostles and
elders about
this question.
This is how
God in his
wisdom chose
to bring
clarification,
to uphold
truth and the
peace in this
local church
in Antioch.
It wasn't
just for Paul
to write it
down as
breathed out
scripture,
though that
would have
been enough
and should
have been
received joyfully.
It was for
the church
to decide
together to
send them
and messengers
to go get
help from
another church.
So that's the
second principle.
A local church
acts on the
authority Christ
has entrusted
to her to
uphold truth
and peace.
Paul and
Barnabas,
even though they
knew the answer
that circumcision
was not to be
forced upon
Gentile converts
in the new
covenant,
that that's not
what saves you,
they modeled
humility and
they trusted that
the Holy Spirit
in dwelling in the
church would
illumine this
matter with
authority to
protect the
church in
Antioch.
So the Holy
Spirit through
the church was
directing Paul and
Barnabas along
with other
messengers to
submit themselves
and this matter
to the council
of another
church,
which would
include apostles,
!
elders,
and all the
brethren,
the whole
church,
so that all
churches in
centuries to
come would
have a pattern
to follow.
The third
principle we can
glean then is
this,
the most mature
believers here,
this was Paul and
Barnabas,
along with
messengers that
this congregation
would trust,
they report back,
they humbly
brought a
threat to
peace and
truth forward
into the light
of the broader
kingdom of
Christ and
they asked for
help from
another church.
Verse 3 says,
so being sent
by the church,
they passed
through Phoenicia
and Samaria
and as they
went they're
describing the
same things they
were describing
back to the
church in
Antioch.
God is
converting
Gentiles and
those churches
heard that news
and it caused
them great joy
to all the
brethren, the
whole church
hearing these
reports.
You notice the
pattern,
it's that,
it's what,
it's written in
Romans 10,
people can't
believe in
Christ unless
they hear the
gospel and
how will they
believe unless
someone preaches
and then here's
the part that we
can very easily
miss today.
Paul writes,
how will they
preach unless
they are sent?
And here Paul
is modeling that.
These churches
are sending
Paul.
They are giving
him that authority
to go on their
behalf and to
do this good
work.
So now they're
traveling from
Turkey, Asia Minor
all the way back
to Jerusalem.
According to
quick research,
this would be
about 300 miles
if you were to
do it by
foot, which is
probably a good
estimate.
300 miles would
take on average
about three weeks
to travel by
foot.
Hartleys, when you
all went to
Rangeley, Colorado,
we, we, it's out
of the way, but it
was a day's travel.
You know, we're
going to load up,
we're going to
drive there for a
day and, and it's
farther than I would
go, you know, on a
regular basis, but it
is doable.
And here they're
traveling for 300
miles on foot,
three weeks.
And notice how
even a trip to
meet with another
church is an
occasion for
fellowship.
They have Paul and
Barnabas along with
these other
messengers from the
church in Antioch
spending three weeks
together and
stopping at other
churches along the
way.
And as they go,
they're telling of
God's faithfulness
and praising God
together.
So the trip
itself is a
blessing.
And distance does
not matter.
If help can be
gained, even if it
takes us three weeks
to get to a place,
it's a blessing and
enjoy the journey as
we go.
Verse four, when
they had come to
Jerusalem, they were
received by the
church and the
apostles and the
elders.
Here's an
important point,
important point of
distinction.
Initially, in verse
four, we're told it
was the church,
which implies the
whole assembly, and
the apostles and the
elders.
A Presbyterian form
of government has
the elders gathering
as a presbytery
without the church.
Other forms of
government would
have what they
would view as
succession to that
role of a bishop,
like above the
elders.
So that would be
like a
Roman Catholic or
even Episcopal or
something like that.
What I'm going to
present to you is
what a
congregational,
still reformed,
Puritan, you
know, mode of
congregational church
government has, which
includes the church
and messengers from
the churches.
And they were
received by them.
Notice how they
approached them having
been sent by another
church.
Now they're formally
received by another
church.
It's not individuals
claiming an authority
of their own.
They're not presenting
their own agenda or
interests.
They were formally
sent on official
church business on
behalf of a
congregation in
Antioch.
And they could
approach this church
now as delegates,
as messengers,
as representatives,
and greet one
church on behalf of
another.
Verse 4 says,
they reported all
things that God had
done with them.
And the principle
here, this would be
number five, is that
Christians work not
for their own church
alone, but Christians
work alongside all
God's laborers.
We work together.
3 John
verse 8 says,
we therefore ought
to receive such
that we may become
fellow workers
for the truth.
So when we have
representatives from
other churches that
are laboring for the
kingdom, laboring for
the common cause,
we are to receive them
as fellow workers
of the truth.
Verse 5 says,
now this is within
the church in
Jerusalem,
some of the sect of
the Pharisees,
that means this
group that had
been really good
at keeping the law
of the old covenant,
but notice the
wording carefully
in verse 5.
Pharisees who had
believed,
they rose up
saying,
I think,
I think those
people from Judea
and Antioch
got it right.
I think Paul and
Barnabas maybe are
getting this wrong.
They says,
it is necessary
to circumcise
Gentiles
and to command
them to keep
the law of
Moses.
the church
in Jerusalem
is now also
divided on this
same question
of truth.
Believers
within the church,
they belonged
to this congregation.
How is the church
going to handle
this?
Some of our
members hold
this to be true,
others of our
members hold
this to be true.
How do we
resolve this?
In verse 6
we read,
so the apostles
and the elders
came together
to read the matter.
So in verse 6
we don't see
the whole church
being mentioned
at least not
initially.
It's the elders
and the apostles
setting extra time
aside to consider
the matter that
originated in
another church
but which now
also exposes
further clarification
needed in their
church here in
this city.
But if you look
down at verse 12
we're told
all the multitude
so before long
even if it began
being considered
by the elders
before long
they found a way
to involve
the whole congregation
and it's a big
church in Jerusalem
described as a
multitude.
They came together
the representatives
of the church
the elders
and even with
the apostles
with them
showing humility
involving all the
members
inviting the
brethren
the whole church
to prayerfully
weigh the teaching
that's been
introduced at
another church
and they made
time in their
busy schedules
for this need.
Again not only
the elders
maybe initially
setting that time
apart but eventually
the whole church
saying this is
important.
They accepted
this other church's
request for help
as a natural
part of the
scope of their
work as a
local church.
They put other
tasks on hold
for a moment
they called a
special meeting
or several
meetings of
their church
to consider
this matter
that was troubling
another church.
Verse 7 says
when there had
been much
dispute
vigorous debate
strong arguments
being exchanged
and weighed.
see how the
concerns of
one church
have become
now the
concerns of
another church.
Here's a
principle for us
when one
church asks
another for
assistance
with a matter
that threatens
peace or
truth
Christ expects
churches to
help one
another.
How do I
come to this
conclusion?
The Holy Spirit
is directing
every one of
these steps
things.
And when they
give their
answer their
conclusion they
say it seemed
good to the
Holy Spirit.
This is the
authority of
Christ guiding
the work of
churches with
authority to
labor for peace
and truth
helping one
another.
In verse 7
Peter rose up
and said to
the men and
brethren and
I'll summarize
verses 7
through 11
he's saying we
believe that
through the
grace of our
Lord Jesus
Christ anyone
will be saved.
In verse 12
we read that
all the
multitude
this is the
entire local
church that
was actively
participating in
a theological
discussion as
official church
business.
They kept
silent now and
they listened to
Barnabas and
Paul declaring
how many
miracles and
wonders God
had worked
through them
among the
Gentiles.
Verse 13
says after
they had become
silent James
spoke.
To summarize
he said God
knowing from
all eternity
that all
nations would
call on the
name of God
this is how
he is restoring
the kingdom
through David's
line in
Jesus Christ.
He is
rebuilding his
kingdom on
earth from
the ruins
of that
kingdom.
And now the
church made
up of Israel
and all
nations is
recipients of
God's grace.
Now verses
20 and 21
are tricky
and I
can't spend
a lot of
time on
them now.
I also
don't want
to skip
over them
entirely.
Look at
verse 20.
It says we
write to them
to abstain
from things
polluted by
idols,
from sexual
immorality,
from things
strangled,
and from
blood.
Verse 21
for Moses
has had
throughout
many generations
those who
preach him in
every city
being read
in the
synagogues
every Sabbath.
He's saying
this,
as the gospel
goes out
and God
has a people
that he has
dispersed
and put them
in synagogues
to hear the
Old Testament
to prepare
them to hear
the good news
of Jesus.
And as people
believe whether
Jew or Gentile
they need to
enjoy fellowship
with one another.
And the
practices of
these pagan
temples to
demons should
not be brought
into the church
in any way.
So sexual
immorality
was cult
prostitution
and it was
bundled in
with worship
of the emperor
and the demons
of a given
city.
So what he's
making clear
is this,
don't force
them to be
circumcised.
Salvation
is by grace
not by
the ceremonial
law.
But as
believers
united into
a church
they are all
to live
in fellowship
together.
And this
must be
clear by
the love
you have
for your
congregation
choosing
the church
even when
there are
Jews,
weaker
Jews
who are
understanding
now this
transition away
from the
ceremonial law
to the
new covenant
commands.
In other
words,
don't
circumcise
them but
also protect
the fellowship
of these
newly forming
churches.
Don't create
stumbling blocks
one for
another.
verse 22,
it pleased
the apostles
and the
elders
with the
whole
church.
There's an
agreement
here.
There's
what you
could call
a common
suffrage.
It's using
the authority
that Christ
has entrusted
to a
congregation
to affirm
what we
believe to
be right.
We don't
want barriers
to fellowship
but salvation
is by grace
not by
keeping the
law.
And because
it pleased
them then
they sent
men of
their own
church to
Antioch with
Paul and
Barnabas and
it lists who
those men
were.
Now notice
the detail
at the end
of verse
22.
These were
leading men
among the
brethren.
To be sent
on behalf of
a church to
another church
as a messenger
is a great
honor.
Leading men,
these are men
who are a
blessing right
here to our
church.
They have
the fruit of
the spirit.
They're capable.
They will
bring credibility
to this
decision.
And it
pleased the
whole church.
Here's our
seventh principle.
These believers
experienced a
special God
directed pleasure.
A blessing
of arriving at
a resolution,
better clarity,
and consensus
with other
believers.
Combining the
wisdom of
their churches.
The satisfaction
of confirming
truth together,
bringing closure
to a divisive
question,
affirming this
pleasing conclusion.
It was enjoyed
by all.
If it's a
blessing, it
should be
shared.
It should be
something that
everyone can
know they have
a part in.
The elders
were not acting
alone as an
entity unto
themselves.
It pleased the
apostles, the
elders, with the
brethren.
All who
participated in
this lively
process together
were edified.
They all
exercised the
authority Christ
gave the
church, fully
participating to
help another
church.
Verse 23 says,
then they wrote
this letter by
them, the
apostles, the
elders, and the
brethren, to the
brethren, the
whole church, who
are of the
Gentiles in
Antioch, Syria,
and Cilicia.
So notice now, this
letter is going to
be a blessing not
just to the one
church at which the
question originated,
but to other
churches.
Let it be
multiplied.
You could say
these churches
became almost a
laboratory to
accelerate,
pinning down
gospel truths to
protect the
peace.
The others
didn't have to
go through great
dispute to be
blessed by this
wonderful revelation
and this
conclusion.
They said,
greetings.
Verse 24,
since we have
heard that some
who went out
from us, they
had been part of
that church, they
have troubled you
with words,
unsettling your
souls, saying,
you must be
circumcised and
keep the law to
whom we gave no
such commandment.
They're saying
these people, using
words to cause
division, do not
have the authority
of this church.
We gave them no
such commandment.
Paul and Barnabas
modeled being sent
humbly as delegates
of a church, where
these others are going
around as
troublemakers.
Their authority is
not to be taken
seriously.
In verse 25, they
report, it seemed
good to us being
assembled with
one accord.
Assembled in the
name of Jesus,
having prayed,
discussed vigorously,
and arrived at a
conclusion.
It seemed good to
us to send these
messengers with
Paul and Barnabas,
giving you our
conclusion.
Here's an eighth
principle.
After the churches
discern the mind of
Christ together,
when they declare
his truth, it
carries his
authority.
The church has the
authority delegated
by Christ.
And as we
prayerfully discern
the mind of Christ
together, when the
church acts, it's
not just like a
social club making
a vote on some
transaction.
It's not like a
parent-teacher
association appointing
this or that or
doing something like
that for the
government.
No, it's the
authority of the
kingdom of heaven
carried out through
the common suffrage
of a local church.
It's the whole
church exercising
what Christ gave
it, which Christ
himself called the
keys of the kingdom
of heaven.
And they do this by
sending a letter to
other churches in the
hands of messengers.
Their authority was a
declarative statement
of truth in line
with God's word.
So their authority
was declarative.
They send it through
these chosen men who
have risked their
lives for the name
of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Don't forget, these
are Christ's
ambassadors.
They love him.
We receive them with
love.
Please receive them
back this way.
We have therefore
sent Judas and Silas,
who will also report
the same things by
word of mouth.
See, here's two
witnesses coming to
also bear witness and
report on the
discussion of the
church and help the
church to receive it
well.
Matthew Henry
commented out, these
were chief men and he
drew four conclusions
from that.
It shows a respect to
the church at Antioch.
Even though Antioch is
newly formed and like
a little small sister
compared to the massive
church in Jerusalem,
the church in Jerusalem
respects that little
church in Antioch way
out of the way.
We're sending some of
our chief men to
report this back to
you.
You are important,
little church.
Number two is to
encourage Paul and
Barnabas.
We're not making them
go back alone.
This is not just their
burden.
We're in this together.
Number three, as a
solemn embassy, here
comes this small little
group coming and it's
men that should be
received with reverence
and respect so that
the message will be
highly regarded when
it's heard.
And fourth comment by
Matthew Henry, it was
a way of keeping their
communion with the
saints as the Nicene
and Apostolic Creeds
affirm.
It's a way to say we
have the same gospel.
We're in the same
kingdom.
We have the same
interests.
We share in your
communion.
Notice that this is a
letter upholding
truth.
What it's not is a
church in Jerusalem
applying censures
saying now those men
who brought in this
false teaching need to
be excommunicated or
publicly admonished.
That's not the role
that's given in us as
an example of a church
to another.
The authority to
discipline, to carry
out, you know, the
decision making of
censure or of
consequences for sin,
that belongs to one
local church only.
Another church beyond
that, even in an
association and a
congregational understanding
does not have that
authority.
But they do have a
true spiritual
declarative authority.
And when it's the
truth from that
aligns with God's word
and in our case also
the confession of
faith as one more
safeguard, it should be
received with spiritual
authority of truth.
Verse 28, it seemed
good to the Holy Spirit
and to us to lay upon
you no greater burden
than those necessary
things.
And it's exactly what
James had suggested.
Again, not Peter, not
the Pope.
In this case, it was
James whose suggestion
they followed.
Verse 31, I'm sorry,
verse 30.
After they say farewell,
it's our blessing, when
they were sent off, they
came to Antioch.
And when they had
gathered the multitude
together, they
delivered the letter.
The letter is not just
to officers, the letter
is to the whole church.
And the letter would be
presented to the whole
church.
Verse 31, when they had
read it, they rejoiced
over its encouragement.
And every letter we get
in the New Testament, this
is the occasion, this is
the context.
Gather the church
together.
A public reading of this
now breathed out New
Testament letter for the
good of the church.
And notice how they
received God's word.
They rejoiced over its
encouragement.
Here's the ninth and final
principle that I see in
this passage.
When one church labors to
uphold truth and peace
for another, it leads to
rejoicing and encouragement.
It's a blessing.
It's a blessing from God
through one church to
another.
So I've asked you to begin
praying with me and
gathering more information
considering how can our
church carry out these
principles of this chapter.
I'm encouraging us to
consider, strongly consider
and participate in a
lively way with Brett
Shaw when he comes in a
few weeks as the chair of
the Rocky Mountain
Reformed Baptist
Association of Churches
for these reasons.
There's also nine of these
coincidentally, but these
are fast.
Okay, here's the nine
reasons.
Number one, I've thought
about how in Matthew 25,
Jesus says,
And he's speaking to
those he calls his
brothers, my brethren,
my disciples.
It's Christians have a
principle that's to be
applied individually.
Initially, I believe.
Show love to one another,
even the least among these
that are his brethren that
he adopted, as if you're
doing it unto the Lord.
And if that's true for us
as individuals, how much
more for us when we're
gathered disciples of
Christ, collectively.
A church cannot obey
Christ so long as it
remains bent inwardly on
itself.
We take care of one
another, but we also are
like these churches that
we see beyond our own
walls, our own lives, our
own needs, our own
desires, our own maybe
even priorities.
We let what God's doing in
his broader kingdom shape
all of those things, and
we do it as unto the
Lord, out of love for
him, no matter how small
or out of the way another
church may be.
Number two, because we
need to pray and we need
to receive the prayer of
other churches.
Ephesians 6, 18 commands
the church to be praying
always with all prayer and
supplication in the spirit
for all the saints.
We're commanded to pray for
other churches.
Think about this.
When we pray, it's the
Lord stirring our hearts to
care about what he cares
about, and our actions will
follow our prayers.
Those churches we know, we
will pray for.
On the other hand of it,
it's we don't want to be a
church trying to work
through whatever God has
given us to work through
faithfully without the help
and the prayers of others.
And I see this correlation
so clearly, at least on a
few occasions, where we
might be feeling a time where
it's heavy or where it's
uncertain.
We don't know what to do.
And someone who doesn't
even know what I'm feeling
or what might be going on,
they tell me weeks later,
we were praying for you
that day from the pulpit.
It might be someone in
Florida or somewhere else,
some other church praying
for our church.
And I just see when God does
something that I had no
other solution for it has
to be the answer of the
prayers of other churches.
We receive that and we
don't want to go it alone
because that means we'd be
missing out on other
churches praying regularly,
devotedly, and knowingly
for our church.
Churches that want to know
our church and what God's
doing here.
Number three, because we need
to practice in this life
for the life to come.
I preached on this a while
back and it still, it amazes
me what Paul says in his
letter to the Corinthians,
how all the saints, the
whole church, officers and
members, everyone will one
day rule over angels when
Christ returns in the new
heavens and the new earth.
That's what the life to come
will be like.
We will be ruling.
And Paul applies that to the
local church.
He says, well then, how can't
you make a simple decision
for yourselves?
You're going to be given so
much more authority in the
life to come.
So brothers and sisters,
think about it.
These few years right now in
church life, for each of us,
this is our time to actively
participate in the life of
this church because this is
where God prepares us for the
life to come.
We gain practice in ruling
well, both locally and in
helping other churches like the
church in Jerusalem did.
And that's when we're serving
others and seeking the wisdom
and the mind of God and
setting time aside to do that.
We don't even know how the
Lord is using that preparation
for the life to come.
Number four, because from time
to time, any church and every
church will need help upholding
truth and peace, including ours.
There may be times where we are
called upon to consider a matter
and weigh it and wrestle with it
and dispute over it and give
advice.
And there will be times most
likely where this church will
need it.
Number five, because the
authority of each local church
is already safeguarded in our
second London confession of
faith.
And as long as we associate with
churches that share our same
confession of faith, the
authority of a local congregation
is never in question.
Number six, because an
association of churches provides
an opportunity for peace,
increase of love, mutual
edification, without which it is
hard for churches to survive,
especially church plants.
It just provides extra strength
that the Lord will use to bless
in the way he's ordained.
Number seven, because all
Christians have remaining sin.
We are not just barely sinners
still.
We are all still deeply flawed.
I am deeply flawed.
Whoever this church appoints to
the office of elder and deacon
will be deeply flawed.
And so we ought to proactively
seek out mutual submission and
accountability.
Galatians 6, 1 and 2 says,
Brethren, if a man is overtaken
in any trespass, you who are
spiritual, restore such a one in a
spirit of gentleness, considering
yourself lest you also be tempted.
See, we're all ones that can
very easily be tempted.
Bear one another's burdens and so
fulfill the law of Christ.
Number eight, because an
association gives us strength in
numbers to withstand the attacks
of our own sin, Satan,
worldliness, and wolves.
It's a way to apply that wise
principle of Ecclesiastes 4, 12,
which says,
though one may be overpowered by
another, two can withstand him,
and a threefold cord is not quickly
broken.
Number nine, and finally for today,
it's more from common sense and
looking back at history.
Regional associations in this
Reformed Baptist tradition have
survived and thrived by supporting
one another sacrificially.
This is true in the 1600s and 1700s
in England.
In the time of Spurgeon, he died an
early death, and in his own words,
he thought it's because he was tired
of fighting a battle against those
that didn't share the same confession
of faith.
He called it the downgrade.
It was so exhausting when people view
themselves ultimately above God's own
word.
More recent generations have also proved
it viable.
It's been a resurgence of Reformed
Baptist churches around the world,
and those that are thriving and those
that are encouraged in the ministry
tend to be ones that very quickly put
themselves in a regional association
like the one in southeastern USA,
Southern California, Texas, and even
one in New Zealand, and one forming in
England as well.
I believe we are part of a movement
trying to get back to these wonderful
principles in Acts 15, and my prayer
is that, Lord willing, these ancient
paths that were marched out in the
scriptures and over the centuries can
prove once again to be a source of God's
provision and accountability and
encouragement for entire churches like
ours in this generation, and if God will
be pleased to preserve Reformed Heritage
Church, maybe even for generations to
come.
So, beloved congregation of our Lord
Jesus Christ, associating ourselves is
one way that we can be a vessel of
Christ's blessings.
We need discernment about which
association, which timing, those types
of things, but I see this principle so
clearly.
Christ loves to bless his churches through
the ways that he has established.
Wouldn't it be a joy and a delight to
serve as a vessel to bless other
churches and also to be an empty
vessel receiving that blessing from
Christ, even as it comes to us through
other churches.
Our Lord loves to bless his churches, and
he does this through one another, through
other churches.
Let's pray.
Father, we thank you for your
faithfulness over the centuries to your
people, to your local churches.
We thank you that you're the one who
began the good work in any local
church.
You're the one who will see it through to
completion, and you've also ordained the
means, the secondary causes that will
carry out your will and your purpose.
We do pray, Lord, that you'll give us good
discussion, good clarity, good wisdom, good
questions to ask.
We pray that your Holy Spirit will guide
this church on the right decision, the
right timing in a way that brings you all
the glory.
We thank you, Lord, for your word, how it's
alive, how even though this happened in
the first century, more than 2,000 years
ago, we could relive it as if we're there.
We could be in any one of these churches, and
we thank you for how you are so faithful,
Lord, and one day you will come and rule over
the new heavens, the new earth, that great
cloud of witnesses to which we belong as well
in Christ.
We praise you for your faithfulness, Lord,
your power.
Amen.