Act 15 by Gan Tuan Boon dated 31.8.14

Bro. Gan started his sermon with the explanation of the three strands cord which is not easily broken.

He quoted the following:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

A threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12 b)

There is synergy in working together.  Like 1 + 1 is greater than 2.

The Three Folds Testimony of the Gospel of the Gentile

These are from Paul, Peter and James.

1.       Paul received a revelation directly from Jesus that mankind are saved by grace through Christ

   Paul received the revelation of God direct from Jesus Christ ( Galatian 1:12 )

Saul before his conversion was a religious teacher who persecuted believers of Jesus Christ.  He even obtained letters of authority from the religious authorities to persecute the Christians in Damascus (Act 9 ).  As he was on his way to Damascus a bright light from heaven flashed on him and he was blinded. A voice said, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?”  God spoke to a disciple names Ananias who lived in Damascus to lay his hands on Saul to heal him of his blindness. After that he went to Arabia for three years.

Paul’s Authoritative Claim of the Gospel

“I want you to know, brothers and sisters,  that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Galatian 1:11-12)

Potion 1 : Contents of Paul’s Gospel

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures“

 (1 Cor. 15:3-4)

Potion 2: Contents of Paul’s Gospel

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

 (Romans 10:9)

Potion 3: Contents of Paul’s Gospel

”For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

 (Romans 1:16)

In Act 15:1 People from Judea went to Antioch and taught that believers can only be saved if they were circumcised according to laws of Moses.  So there was a dispute.  There was a debate with Paul and Barnabas regarding grace verses Law.

Paul’s testimony of his transformed life underscored the credibility of the Gospel.

Peter’s first evangelistic sermon

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38)

Peter received a revelation from God that Gentiles are saved by grace ( Act 10 ).  This was the vision he had of a large sheet containing all sorts of animals and reptiles and God instructing him to kill and eat, but Peter refused because he will not eat anything impure.  But God said do not call anything impure that He had created.

And while Peter was pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.  Peter was led to Cornelius’s house where he preached the Gospel to the Roman Centurion and his household.  They received the Holy Spirit.

The dispute regarding how the Gentile believers should do led to the Jerusalem Church Council Meeting ( Act 15:4-12).

Peter’s address Act 15:11-16 “Brothers, you know some time ago God gave me the privilege to share the gospel with the Gentiles. God showed He accepted them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us. He did not discriminate between Jews and Gentiles, for He purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you want to test God by putting the burden of Law on the Gentiles, which we and our ancestors are not able to bear. No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Lesson: We need to rely on the Holy Spirit as Peter and Paul did to chart our evangelistic thrust.

James received a word of wisdom from the Holy Spirit that Gentiles are saved by grace.

Jame’s address to the Council:

(Acts 15:13-18) “Brothers, listen to me! Simon Peter has told how God first came to the Gentiles and made some of them his own people. This agrees with what the prophets wrote,‘I, the Lord, will return and rebuild David’s fallen house. I will build it from its ruins and set it up again. Then other nations (referring to Gentiles) will turn to me and be my chosen ones. I, the Lord, say this. I promised it long ago.’ ” ( Cross Reference: Amos 9:11,12)

James’ Conclusion:- Gentile believers are saved by grace through faith in Jesus without the need to observe the Mosaic Law

Gentile Christians should observe 4 Jewish ways of life out of love (Acts 15:19-21):-

1.        Do not eat food polluted by idols 

2.        Do not eat blood of animals

3.       Do not eat the meat of strangled animals

4.       Do not indulge in sexual immorality

The elder of the Jerusalem Church wrote a letter informing the Antioch Church of the Council’s decision (Acts 15:22-29)

The letter containing the decision of Jerusalem Council was read in the Antioch Church (Acts 15:30-5)

Paul and Barnabas had a sharp dispute over John Mark (Acts 15:36-41)

Barnabas took John Mark and sailed westwards to Cyprus.  Paul took Silas and travelled northwards to Syria and Cilicia.

 Lesson: Christian conflicts are inevitable but we can resolve them in the light of God’s will and love

Despite the big row, Paul and Barnabas did not quit their ministry.

Summary

Peter’s vision from God

Paul’s revelation from Jesus

James wisdom from the Holy Spirit

This resulted in the Church Council formalizing three fold testimony of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

This is summed up as follows:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God— not because of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)