The Church Fights for the True and Eternal Gospel

Acts 14:27-15:22

Last week, we saw how the world fights the church from the outside. They persecute God’s people pugnaciously. But the world also fights the church from inside. Sinful ideas are absorbed by Christians and spread in the church. We see this in the Old Testament. In Judges, God’s people did what was right in their own eyes so they borrowed pagan ideas from the Canaanites. When Ahab’s daughter married Jehoshaphat’s son, Baal worship spread to Judah. When Christians don’t resist the world, we’ll be influenced. Paul warned against this in Colossians 2:8 - “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Such attacks result in controversy. Some Christians avoid controversy while others love it and fight all the time. There are some fights which shouldn’t even be fights. But when it comes to the gospel, we must fight, because any other gospel is death. And the world has 2 ancient gospels. The first false gospel is this - since God has short changed you, you can only be happy if you follow your heart. That’s what Eve believed. This is the gospel preached today. Another false gospel is this - since you have short changed God, you make God happy by trying harder. That’s the gospel of religion. Both are ancient, but the true eternal gospel says - you’ve short changed God, but God’s happy to save you.

Today, we examine both these ancient gospels and how the church fights to preserve the true gospel - in 3 points. Firstly, the false gospel will bring trouble to the church. Secondly, the church must have due process to tackle troubles. Thirdly, the church must address troubles doctrinally and pastorally.

Firstly, the false gospel will bring trouble to the church. There was a false gospel that infiltrated the church. After Paul and Barnabas came back from their 2 year missionary journey, they reported what God had done - how the Gentiles believed. Usually such a report resulted in great rejoicing. In Acts 8, when the Samaritans believed, the apostles quickly came to strengthen the church. In Acts 11, after Cornelius believed, the leaders in Jerusalem glorified God. But strangely, no rejoicing was recorded in Antioch, even though they were a Gentile church. In those 2 years, something had changed. Verse 1 tells us - “And (or indeed) certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Now, before the Bible was divided into chapters and verses, Acts was one long book. Acts 15:1 is a continuation of Acts 14:28. Put together, it says - “and they stayed a long time with the disciples, indeed because certain men from Judea had taught the brethren that ancient false gospel.” Paul and Barnabas needed time to rest, but they couldn’t rest long. In their absence, certain men from Judea taught that faith was not enough. Jesus can’t save you until you’re circumcised. To please God, you must try harder. Yes, Gentiles can be saved - but they just needed to be Jews first. That’s what “except ye be circumcised” means. To them, circumcision was necessary for salvation. No wonder they didn’t rejoice! The Gentiles aren’t circumcised! They aren’t saved! They aren’t God’s people! So what happened?

There was a fight. Yes, sometimes you must fight. Verse 2 says that there was no small dissension or uprising. Meaning, it was a big fight. There was disputation or arguments. Barnabas was probably mild; Paul may have been less mild. They argued with those who’d been influenced by brethren from Judea. Yes, Christians shouldn't fight over small and unjustifiable things. But this fight was fully justified. This was not something to agree to disagree. It was so hot that in verse 2 the church decided that Paul and Barnabas, and their opponents should go to Jerusalem. The church didn’t handle it on its own, dismiss it, or ignore it. Rather, they sent a delegation to ask the Jerusalem for help. Their session or consistory was not enough, so they referred it to the classis or presbytery in Jerusalem to fight it out. Why? Because the fight was larger than Antioch. It concerned Judaea. Christianity with 2 different gospels can’t be united. And the division was deep. In verse 3, when Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem, they repeated their accounts, and the churches in Phoenicia and Samaria rejoiced! Wow! God had saved the Gentiles! But when they gave the same report in Jerusalem, the response was different. Verse 5 says, “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” The Gentiles must try harder - be circumcised to be saved!

Now, who said this? The former Pharisees who now confessed Jesus. They were believers. In verse 7, Peter called them brethren. And this was sad. Misled convictions resulted in a false gospel. These were brethren - not false teachers. They were misled. To be sure, they had been from the sect of the Pharisees but were now believers. It means they were slow to understand the gospel of grace. As former Pharisees, they still struggled with the question - how can you guarantee holiness? So we must pity these ex-Fundamentalists - their convictions were misled because of their past. They wanted to help the gospel with their rules. But once you add to it, you destroy the gospel. The gospel is never aided by obedience - rather it fuels obedience. Many of us here are ex-Fundamentalists. We remember the mindset. We think, if we don’t insist on 10%, then people won’t give. If we don’t prohibit drinking, everyone will be drunk. But the gospel doesn’t need our help. It IS the help. When we’re saved by grace, our gratefulness fuels obedience! It leads to a life of holiness. But these Pharisees found that hard to accept. They wanted rules! And they were very outraged. Verse 5 says, “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed.” The word rose up is first in the Greek sentence. It shows their state of mind. It was important to them - their reason for living, their fight. They championed the gospel of trying harder. And this troubled the church.

But secondly, the church must have due process to tackle troubles. Verse 6 says, “And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.” There was a thorough deliberation on the matter. Verse 7 says there was much disputing. This is the same word as verse 2 - the classis debated just as the consistory debated. Debate is not unspiritual. But it matters how it’s done. We don’t have secret gossip and backroom plotting. But this was done with everyone present. They did this because the keys of the kingdom were given to them. The very gospel was at stake. That’s why many speeches were given, scripture was expounded, and arguments presented. It took time. You see, these ex-Pharisees were insistent on this ancient false gospel. It comforted them. They could do something to save themselves. But Peter was equally insistent in making his point. Verse 7 says, “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up.” Peter also got up! He had something important to defend - the true eternal Gospel against this ancient false gospel. How did he do it?

He presented theological facts and evidences. He said, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” He brought up Cornelius who heard the gospel and believed. This was a while back - nearly 10 years ago. He wanted to emphasize that God saved those who believed without works righteousness. And how do we know God saved them? Verses 8-9 - “And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” God saw the faith in their heart and gave them his Spirit! Their hearts were purified by faith without circumcision. It’s as if the circumcision didn’t matter. The circumcised Jews were saved by faith and given the Spirit. The uncircumcised Gentiles were saved by faith and given the Spirit. No difference. Then he said something remarkable in verse 11 - We Jews are saved by the grace of Christ, even as they! He didn’t say - the Gentiles are saved by faith even as we are. He said it the other way around. Meaning, circumcision is not important now - we’re saved the same way as they - by faith without circumcision. So if that’s the case, why require these ceremonial laws like circumcision of them? If they aren’t needed for salvation, why keep them at all? If you do this, you’re testing God, verse 10. And verse 12 says they were all silent. Nothing more to say! The facts were clear. God saved the Gentiles without circumcision! After that, Paul and Barnabas give evidence.

Thereafter, a decision was made by all the elders. Peter, who was an apostle and elder had spoken. Paul and Barnabas who were apostles and elders also spoke. Then in verse 13, James the half-brother of Jesus spoke. He was not an apostle, but an elder. He addressed both groups - the true gospel group and the fake gospel group. He said in verse 14 - “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” He used Peter’s Hebrew name - Simon. Why? To remind them that Peter was a Jew. He had a Jewish name and grew up a Jew. It wasn’t a Gentile speaking up for Gentiles; but a Jew who fought against circumcision. And James, the very Jewish brother of Jesus, agreed - giving the final verdict as moderator. But in verse 22, it was the whole assembly that carried out the verdict. Why? They all agreed and submitted. Even these ex-Pharisees. This is church government in action - they spoke with one voice. Meaning, after this due process came up with resolutions, all submitted themselves to it. So what happened?

Thirdly, the church must address troubles doctrinally and pastorally. There was a fight because of a false gospel. It was dangerous. It affected more than one congregation. And it was discussed by by many elders. And there was an outcome. There were doctrinal affirmations. James concluded by saying 2 things - there is only one true and eternal gospel - God saves sinners without good works; and God only has only one people. This has always been God’s plan. In verse 14, he said that God visited the Gentiles to call for himself a people. These phrases - visitation and take out a people were very Old Testament Jewish phrases. When Israel cried out to God, he visited them in Egypt to save them. The word visitation speaks about salvation. They were undeserving, but he saved them. He also took them to be his people - to have a relationship with them. They were such a weak and insignificant nation, but God wanted them to be his people. But now, these phrases were used of the Gentiles. This was even predicted by the prophets, verse 15. It’s not a new idea! God has always wanted to save the Gentiles without any good works to be his people. It was the ancient eternal gospel from the beginning. In fact, James quoted Amos, one of the prophets, in verses 15-16. Amos was prophet to a hypocritical Israel. He described them like a shaky tent about to collapse - they were in danger of judgment. But he predicted a time, when God would restore a faithful remnant of Israel. He wouldn’t completely destroy them. And along with them, he’d also save the Gentiles. And together they’d be the one people of God. Jesus himself also said this in John 10 - he said he’d lay down his life for his sheep - but he had other sheep not of the fold of Israel. But one day, they’d be one people under one shepherd. So this was intended by God the whole time. Verse 18 says, “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” So if this was the case, Jews and Gentiles as one people; called by God and saved by him - what’s the conclusion? Verse 19 - “Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God.” Don’t trouble the Gentiles with circumcision. They’re equally saved; equally God’s people. They don’t need to keep the Jewish feasts and Sabbaths, they don’t need Moses. In fact, neither do the Jews! The church affirmed the true and eternal gospel. The church debunked the ancient false gospel of trying harder.

But there were also pastoral resolutions. This is where the apostles addressed the second ancient gospel of Eve - God has shortchanged you, do what makes you happy. Now, as Christians, they didn’t need to be circumcised, but there were things they were prohibited from doing. While in verse 19, James said they don’t need to be circumcised, in verse 20 he said the Gentiles must still be instructed. There were things Gentile Christians needed to know. The Jews already know these things. They hear it in the synagogues every Sabbath, verse 21. But the Gentiles need to be taught. Yes, although they’re saved by faith, they weren’t free to do whatever they wanted. They still need to stay away from idolatry. Verse 20 - “But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.”

Now, specifically what were the Gentile Christians to stay away from? Idolatry - the pollution of idols. And there were three things related to pagan idolatry. Firstly, they were to abstain from fornication. As ex-pagans, their former religion was filled with sexual immorality. Pagan temples had temple prostitution. Maybe they’d be tempted to return to satisfy their lusts. Secondly, they were also supposed to abstain from things strangled. In these temple practices, animals were strangled. They believed in this superstition - that you could squeeze and absorb the animal’s life force. So they were not to partake in the superstition. Thirdly, they were also to abstain from blood. This did not refer to eating blood, but participating in the blood sacrifices of pagan worship. This was something that Gentile Christians struggled with. John had to tell his readers in 1 John 5:21 - “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Paul reminded the Thessalonians that they had turned to God from idols to serve him. Paul also wrote extensively to the Corinthians who were tempted to return to pagan worship. But why did they struggle with this? Hadn’t they been saved from sin? Why were they going back to idolatry? This is something even ex-pagan Chinese Christians struggle with - at funerals - whether or not to take up the joss stick. You see, the Jewish Christians had to be corrected from their gospel of trying harder to be religious. The Gentile Christians had to be corrected from their seeking happiness apart from Christ.

Dearly beloved - we Christians struggle with both. Yes, Christians are tempted to trust in their religiosity. That’s why Pharisaism exists. That’s why a very rules based Christianity exists - one that judges others and takes pride in our good works. The ex-Fundamentalists in our midst remember - you can’t listen to non-Christian music, you can’t go bowling, and you must do your quiet time for 1 hour every day. We must help the gospel by our rules. That’s the false gospel of trying harder. But Christians are also tempted to seek happiness apart from God. We give into our sinful desires. We think we’re more genuine if we’re true to ourselves. Why do Christians gamble and play lottery? Because contentment in Christ is not enough. Why do Christians still struggle with fornication? Because I deserve to feel pleasure now. Eve wasn’t willing to receive the eternal blessing of God - she just wanted to be like God now. Her false gospel said I want to be happy and God has not given me what I want. What I want is more important than what God wants. This ancient false gospel is still very much alive today. In fact both fake gospels can reside in a Christian. We can have an outward life of religiosity - we come to church, but we have a double life of secret sin. And we think - I’ll just try harder next time. But again, they give into their desires. Either they finally give up Christ and give into their desires and stop trying, or they continue the hypocrisy. Both are wrong. You give into neither. Resist sin, keep resisting sin, by being fueled by the love of God - knowing that he is happy to save you without any good works on your part, to have you as his people, whom he will take to heaven one day - where there are pleasures forevermore.

This is why the true eternal gospel must be emphasized. The church must teach this. CI teachers, the children need to hear the gospel of grace, not just rules. Certainly not the gospel of trying harder. Christ, and therefore the church, welcomes those who receive this gospel; the church preaches this to those who resist this gospel; but finally the church must close the gates to the kingdom of heaven to those who reject this true and eternal gospel.

I want to speak directly to you who are struggling with this ancient gospel of seeking happiness apart from Christ. You are living in secret sin. You think the shame is too much to share. Or perhaps you’ve already resigned to living in open idolatry. The Lord who has saved you calls you to forsake your idols. You’re tired of the fake gospel of trying harder. But that was never the solution in the first place! The solution is to look to Christ who saves. And though you struggle with your idols, he will forgive. And that’s why you keep on forsaking. Just as you can never earn your righteousness, you will never be truly happy apart from him.