SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Christians in the

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Christians in the first century faced many serious challenges ² External persecution, Acts 4 -9 ² Internal failures, Acts 5 ² Internal disputes: false teaching, Acts 15

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15: Case study ² How to deal with doctrinal disputes ² How to establish authority

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Background Sermon Results

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Background Some sought to impose the Law of Moses, Acts 15: 1 -3 ² From Judea

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Background Some sought to impose the Law of Moses, Acts 15: 1 -3 ² Taught circumcision necessary for salvation • Did not deny Christ • Did not deny baptism • Did not deny one church • Not immoral

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Background Some sought to impose the Law of Moses, Acts 15: 1 -3 ² Paul & Barnabas defended the truth • Dissension: sedition, discord The Expositor’s Greek Testament • Dispute: mutual questioning, Thayer’s It is right to argue religion!

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Background The debate continued in Jerusalem, Acts 15: 4, 5 ² Judaizers added to God’s will • Gospel + circumcision • Gospel + Law of Moses • Gospel + nothing

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Background The debate continued in Jerusalem, Acts 15: 4, 5 ² Men still act like Judaizers • Gospel + Roman Catholic tradition • Gospel + Book of Mormon • Gospel + Methodist Book of Discipline

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Background The discussion was for the audience ² Not to discover or establish truth by council ² No disagreement among apostles & elders ² Done in public, in front of church, 15: 22 ² Solidified “public” opinion

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Sermon Peter established truth by his approved example, Acts 15: 6 -11 ² Work among Gentiles, Acts 10, 11 ² Saved by: • Hear the word, Rom. 10: 17 • Believe, Rom. 10: 9, 10; Acts 10: 48; 8: 36 -38

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Sermon Peter established truth by his approved example, Acts 15: 6 -11 ² One gospel plan of salvation for all men • Not one for Baptists – another for Methodists There Are Not Many Ways • Not one for Presbyterians – another for Catholics To Heaven

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Sermon Paul & Barnabas established truth by their approved example, Acts 15: 12 ² Work among Gentiles, Acts 13, 14 ² Miracles proved work was approved by God, Mk. 16; 20 ² Necessary inference: Gentiles do not need the Law

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Sermon James established truth By a direct statement, Acts 15: 13 -21 ² Prophets, Amos 9: 11, 12 • God always planned this • The Law supports this

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Sermon James established truth By a direct statement, Acts 15: 13 -21 ² Inspired conclusion • Do not trouble…by adding to the gospel

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Sermon James established truth By a direct statement, Acts 15: 13 -21 ² Inspired conclusion • Abstain from: ⁃ Things polluted by idols ⁃ Sexual immorality ⁃ Things strangled ⁃ Blood

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Results Unity among the brethren, Acts 15: 22 ² Truth unites those who accept it, Jn. 17: 17 -21 ² Truth divides those who accept it from those who reject it, Mt. 10: 34 -39

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Results A unified message was sent out, Acts 15: 23 -29

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Results The truth brought joy to brethren, Acts 15: 30 -35

SERMONS IN ACTS Acts 15 Results The truth strengthened brethren & the churches grew, Acts 16: 4, 5