Bible Characters                                                                                                          Power Point Show

Scripture Reading:  Galatians 2:1-10

Part 5

Paul Goes to Jerusalem

(Gentiles, the Gospel and the Law of Moses)

Intro.

1.  Acts 14:28 – Paul & Barnabas stayed at Antioch a long time after trip.

  a.  Gal. 2:1:  14 years after Paul’s conversion he returned to Jerusalem (A.D. 50-51).

  b.  Acts 15 describes the reason, the events & the outcome of that trip; Gal. 2 is Paul’s personal account of the trip.

2.  Events of this trip will show the agreement between Paul and the other apostles. (Gal. 2:9)

I.  CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH IN ANTIOCH.

  A.  Certain Men Came From Jerusalem Teaching a New Message – 15:1 (cf. Gal. 1:6-9); Gal. 2:4.

    1.  “False brethren” – Came in with error.

    2.  Came in “by stealth” (slip in, com in as a side issue; slip in with unworthy motives, sneak in) – as spies, to destroy liberty in Christ.

  B.  Conflict over the Law & the Gospel:  Must Gentiles be Circumcised & Keep the Law of Moses in Order to be Saved?

    1.  Was the gospel an addition to the Law of Moses or a new & different covenant? – Cf. Heb. 8:6-13

    2.  Implications upon the previous work among the Jews & the Gentiles:

      a.  On the Jews:  Were they still obliged to keep the Law of Moses?  Was Christianity truly a “sect” of Judaism? – Acts 13:38-39

      b.  On the Gentiles:  Was their conversion invalid? - Acts 11:15-18, 20-21; 13:47-48; 14:27

  C.  There is Liberty in Christ From Obligation to the Mosaical Law – Gal. 2:4 (cf. Rom. 10:4).

  D.  Paul & Barnabas Spoke Out Against this Error – 15:2.

    1.  Dissension (stasis):  “a standing;” insurrection, rebellion, uproar.

    2.  Dispute (suzetesis):  “mutual questioning, disputation, discussion”

    3.  Gal. 2:5 – So that truth would continue with the brethren (both the Jewish & Gentile brethren)!

II.  CONSULTATION AT JERUSALEM – Acts 15:2-21.

  A.  The Decision to Go to Jerusalem was Made in Agreement with Divine Revelation – 15:2; Gal. 2:1.

  B.  Why Go to Jerusalem?

    1.  Not to decide what to teach (cf. Matt. 16:19);  But…

    2.  To discover what was being taught in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:2-3; 6-9).

  C.  Trip to & Reception at Jerusalem – 15:3-6; Gal. 2:2-3, 9.

    1.  Reported the Gentile conversions (w/o binding LOM) as they went – 15:3.

    2.  Received by the church in Jerusalem – 15:4.

    3.  Objection raised – 15:5.

    4.  Private meeting – 15:6 (Gal. 2:2).

    5.  Public discussion – 15:7-21.

III.  CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE SAINTS – Acts 15:22-35.

  A.  Contents:

    1.  Warning:  We did not command this doctrine – 15:24.

    2.  Commendation of Paul & Barnabas – 15:25.

    3.  Sent preachers (Judas & Silas) to confirm this – 15:25-27.

    4.  Declared the truth – 15:28-29.

  B.  Delivered to Brethren & it Encouraged Them – 15:30-35; 16:4-5.

IV.  LESSONS INCLUDE:

  1.  The Jerusalem meeting (“conference”) cannot be duplicated today.

    a.  Paul went up by revelation (Gal. 2:1), but revelation has ceased (1 Cor. 13:10).

    b.  Doctrine has been decided for us & revealed to us by the authority of God, not by councils, synods of the denominational sort.

  2.  There is one gospel to all people.  (Rom. 1:16)

        -All the apostles were always teaching the same thing!  (Gal. 2:6, 8-9)

  3.  The Law of Moses cannot justify sinners – Acts 13:38-39.

    a.  LOM revealed what sin was – Rom. 7:7.

    b.  LOM could not justify the sinner – Rom. 3:20.

    c.  LOM a tutor for the Jews – Gal. 3:23-25.

    d.  LOM was fulfilled in Christ – Matt. 5:17 (Rom. 10:4).

    e.  LOM was erased as binding – Col. 2:14, 16-17.

  4.  “False brethren” (teachers) exist & must be opposed.

    a.  Spy out our liberty in Christ, causing bondage to error (sin) – 2 Pet. 2:1-2.

    b.  Beware! – cf. Phil. 3:1-3; Rom. 16:17-18

  5.  Public debate is proper & productive of good.

    a.  Need not deteriorate into destructive turmoil.

    b.  Reasoning from Scripture to persuade with & stand together in the truth of God – cf. Acts 17:2-4 (1 Pet. 3:15; Col. 3:17).

  6.  How to establish and apply divine authority (Acts 15:7-21).

    a.  Apostolic approved example – 15:7-11.

    b.  Necessary implication – 15:12.

    c.  Direct statement from scripture – 15:13-21.

  7.  Communicating between brethren in different churches does not violate congregational autonomy – 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4.

  8.  Unity in the faith is possible & practical – Gal. 2:3, 6-7, 9-10.

    a.  By applying & submitting to divine authority.

    b.  By keeping right attitudes toward each other (Gal.2:9-10; Eph. 4:1-3).

    c.  By not binding where the Lord has not bound (cf. 15:5, 19).  (Some apparently tried to compel Titus to be circumcised, Gal. 2:3.)

    d.  By binding where the Lord has bound – Acts 15:19-20, 28-29.

Conclusion

   Acts 15:30-31 – The letter (its teaching) encouraged the saints!