ACTS

ACTS 15

• Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 

Here we have the first sign of some well meaning believers trying to improve or add to the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. This is one reason that I seldom mention the name of my church affiliation. I am not ashamed of it and I am happy where I attend church but I try to make sure I emphasize Jesus Christ and Him alone for salvation. It is so easy to be removed from that foundation by either adding to or taking away from the message of salvation. 

Here we have those that say, Jesus isn't enough, you need to be circumcised. There are others who say, Jesus isn't enough, you have to join the Catholic Church, be baptized a Catholic and partake of the sacraments to be saved. Others say you have to become a Mormon and recognize Joseph Smith as a prophet to be saved along with faith in Jesus. Some say you have to believe in Jesus but keep the festivals of the Old Testament or keep the Sabbath Saturday and it's rare but I've heard some say keeping the Sunday Sabbath is required.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." John said, "Who is he that overcomes the world but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Jesus said, "He that believes in me, as the scripture says, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

To really believe in Jesus is to keep his word. I realize it is more than just believing that a man name Jesus once existed. We have to believe to the point of repenting of sin and turning to Jesus for forgiveness of sin. Repent means to change direction or change our minds. We stop living for self and start living for the Lord. We have a new beginning and a new master who is the very Son of God who came for this purpose, to save the lost. 

There are many sects and denominations that once believed that their way was the only way. We are finally getting away from that but the past sin of teaching such exclusiveness is visiting us when some are tempted to go so far as to believe Jesus isn't the only way to salvation. If we had taught the salvation message correctly from the beginning, we would not be compromising the salvation message now. We have to be careful not to leave the foundation of Jesus Christ and teach that there are other ways to God. Jesus is the foundation and Jesus is the only way to God. 

God would not have allowed His Son to die and take our sins upon His sinless perfect body if there would have been another way to save mankind from being lost in hell for eternity. When our old filthy sins was laid on Jesus, God the Father had to turn around and not look at the sin Jesus was bearing in His own body. Jesus paid a huge price to save us from sin. We must not add to that message or take away from it by taking it lightly.

We are not saved by just being a good moral person apart from Christ, we must receive Him as Lord to be saved from sin. At the same time, we can't add to the gospel by saying we have to earn our salvation by some ritual or outward form of worship whether it be circumcision or some other commandment either added by tradition or something that was fulfilled at the first coming of Christ. Some things like the Passover for instance was fulfilled at His death, burial and resurrection. The 1st Passover was a preview of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus. Circumcision was fulfilled in Christ. Through Christ our heart is circumcised when we simply believe in Him as the Messiah, the Son of God whom God sent to save us. Although circumcision is good for health reasons.

Its okay to still keep the Saturday Sabbath but that does not add to our salvation. Jesus becomes our Sabbath and we now worship Him in spirit and in truth. It is great to set apart a special day to give ourselves fully to worship Him. In fact God made the Sabbath for a day of rest for the physical body which we badly need but also the spiritual inner person has a greater need to worship our creator and remember who is in charge. We need to worship God. There is really nothing wrong with worshipping Him everyday of the week. He fulfilled the Sabbath. Our commandments now are to love God with all our hearts and love our neighbor as ourselves. To keep them is to keep all commandments. It is summed up in those two. 

It is good to take the Lord's supper remembering His death for our sins but taking the Lord's supper doesn't add to our salvation. We are already saved before partaking in the Lord's communion. 

It is good to obey the Lord's command to be baptized in water but the water does not save us from sin, we are already saved from sin the moment we have believed in Jesus and trusted in Him to save us from sin. To teach that one has to be baptized to make us more saved is adding to the gospel. It is an act of obedience and an outward testimony to what has already taken place in the inner man. If we refuse baptism, it may be a sign that we have not really received Jesus in our lives as we thought because our attitude is wrong but if one has fully trusted in Jesus to the saving of their souls, we can't add to that salvation by any work a man does on our behalf like partaking of a sacrament or baptizing us in water. 

Baptism in the spirit is given to those who obey Him as the scripture says but still the foundation is Jesus Christ and we are saved before or at the same time we are baptized in the Holy Spirit. That is a gift of God given to us along with salvation or sometime following salvation. The spirit baptism is a gift to be desired. This something we need to serve God and spread the gospel but it doesn't make us more saved. Usually this baptism is accompanied by the sign of speaking in another tongues as the spirit gives utterance.

The teaching that one has to speak in tongues to be assured of salvation is a false teaching and is adding to the gospel. The teaching that one has to be baptized in the name of Jesus only to be saved is also a false teaching. Our salvation comes as soon as we believe to the point of repenting of sin. To truly believe that Jesus saves us from sin would mean that we repent or turn from sin. If we want to hold on to our sin and still expect to be saved, then we do not really have saving faith but are just mentally believing that Jesus exists. To believe means to turn from sin and turn to Jesus for salvation. He is the foundation though and there is no other.

Attending church will strengthen our faith if it is a good church but church attendance or joining a church does not add to our salvation. A good bible believing church is an added bonus, a gift from God but it doesn't save us from sin. It can be a means by which we hear the gospel message of Jesus Christ and we are then saved from sin but the church itself does not save the soul. Jesus is the savior, the foundation and the truth. There is no other way to be saved. Confessing to a priest does not save, doing a bunch of good deeds does not save, paying tithes does not save and does not add to our salvation. The message of the gospel is simple child like faith in Jesus. As a child believes that his mom loves him and will care for him, we simply believe in what God's word says: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

• Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 

Faithful ministers of the gospel have always had to fight the battle to contend for the faith they taught at the beginning. Jude is a great book to read to learn more of this. Galatians is a good one to read to learn more of the danger of adding to the gospel. 

• Acts 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 
• 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 

We must not take the meaning of church beyond what the scriptures teach. The church could be interpreted as congregation or assembly of believers. It doesn't mean a manmade organization set up by a group of people exclusive to all other church groups. As long a a church teaches the gospel of Jesus Christ, they are part of "the true church" with their names written in the lamb's book of life. I don't care whether we call ourselves Baptists, Pentecostal, Church of God or Church of Christ, the name on our door doesn't make us a church or take away from our being a church. We become part of the body of believers the moment we believe in Jesus and He becomes Lord of our lives. The moment we are born again by God's spirit, we become part of the congregation, assembly or church (body of Christ). 

So much harm is done by being exclusive to the point of adding to the simple gospel of Jesus. If we tell people that the only way to God is through Jesus and our own church we add to the gospel. If we tell people that we can be a good moral person whether we believe in Jesus or not, we are taking away from the gospel. Both are wrong. Teaching people that they have to leave denominations is also wrong. If that denomination is preaching the gospel of Jesus, it doesn't matter whether people stay within it or go to an independent congregation. We make such fuss over nothing. Jesus is the foundation.

• Acts 15:5 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. 
• 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 
• 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, 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. 
• 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 

I have read of some churches who believe that even if you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues they still are not satisfied that one is saved unless they are baptized in water in the name of Jesus only. It boggles my mind to hear this. If God saves a person who has believed in Jesus and sees fit to fill them with the Holy Ghost, there is no way we can add to that but some try. I'm not discounting water baptism but God is not going to save a person and take back that salvation if they happen to die before they are baptized in water. Water baptism can't possibly make one more saved if they have already come to Jesus Christ and received Him as savior. In saying that though, to see one follow the Lord by being baptized in water as a confession of faith in Christ as soon as possible after they have believed in Jesus Christ, is a real blessing to see. It is an act of faith and obedience. It is good. It shows obedience and is an outward testimony to what has taken place in the life of the believer.

Tongues is great and I love to speak in tongues and worship God that way but we are saved by grace already. If we died before we were baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues we would still be saved by the simple faith in Jesus Christ. This is a gift of God that either accompanies salvation or is given later. This gift is wonderful and I wouldn't want to do without this gift but we are saved before this occurs. Jesus is the foundation. I can't say that enough.

In saying that though, I don't want to downplay tongues or any gift of the spirit. They are needed today just as they were needed at the beginning of the church. As long as believers are not perfect, as long as there is one soul that is not saved, we need every gift of the spirit that Heaven has for us. In fact tongues and prophecy were the signs present that let Peter know that the Gentiles (the household of Cornelius in Acts 10) also received the Holy Spirit. How else would he have known enough to later convince the other Jewish brethren that the Gentiles were given the gospel of repentance from sin through faith in Christ as well as the Jews? When Peter heart them speak with tongues and prophesy, he knew the they had received Jesus as well as the Jewish believers had received.

• Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 
• 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 

If God accepts people, who are we to deny them? That is what rituals, works based salvation and other commandments of men do. They place a heavy yoke upon believers. It causes us to lose our assurance of salvation and we actually become unfruitful because we can't go around saving others if we are not sure of our own salvation. The apostles went around preaching the gospel. They didn't constantly worry about whether or not they were going to lose their salvation. I do not believe in eternal security like some of our Baptist brethren but I do not think we have to worry over losing it so easily either. The only way we could possibly lose it is to stop believing we are saved and return to sin without ever making things right with God again or treat the way of salvation as something other than simple faith in Jesus.

Jesus said, He that believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting like. The only way to lose this is to stop believing in Him. Unbelief is the first step to backsliding. Even in the days when the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, they began to fall away when they no longer believed God was with them. Unbelief caused them to wander in that wilderness for 40 years.  

• Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

Praise God and thank you Lord for this hope and promise. By grace are we saved through faith in Jesus Christ. God help us to keep the message simple enough that a child can believe. 

• Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 
• 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 
• 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 
• 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 
• 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 
• 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 
• 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 

This prophecy is found in the book of Amos.

• Amos 9:11  In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:  

A Jew can be saved by faith in Jesus Christ without becoming a Gentile or joining a Gentile church. A Gentile can be saved by simple faith in Jesus without becoming a Jew and keeping the Jewish festivals or circumcision. Jesus is the foundation. 

• Acts 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 
• 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 

Avoiding idolatry is taught in both old and New Testaments. We are never to make graven images to bow down to them even if we think they only represent the real God. God says not to make any images of anyone in heaven or in the earth to bow down in worship to. 

Fornication is any sexual sin whether inside or outside of marriage. Idolatry is spiritual fornication. Sexual sin is to defile the temple of the Holy Spirit. Blood is a sign of life and should never be eaten. The cup of communion we drink only represents the blood of Jesus shed for remission of sins. It does not turn into blood as some teach or the disciples would not have said these things. 

• Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 
• 22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 
• 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. 
• 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 

Teaching doctrines or commandments of men either instead of or adding to the commandments of the Lord is actually subverting souls and destroying the thing Jesus saved to free us from. 

• Acts 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 
• 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
• 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 
• 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 
• 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well, Fare ye well. 
• 30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 
• 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 
• 32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 
• 33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 
• 34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 
• 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 
• 36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 

A true heart of someone who loves his brethren in that he desires to check on them and make sure they are still in the faith and obedience to the gospel.

• Acts 15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 
• 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 
• 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 
• 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 
• 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. 

We see though that good men do have disputes. Instead of one missionary team, they now had  two. Having a disagreement and separation did not mean that one was saved and the other lost. It is sad when we see a church split over doctrine or disagreement but as long as both still preach the gospel it doesn't mean one is the true church and the other is not. 

I read of a church in the past that had split and the dissenters actually believed that they were in the right and their way was the only way of salvation. Since the church they split from didn't see things their way, they considered that church apostate. They had thought the church apostate because they no longer had a theocratic form of church government. Some churches who split think the ones that leave are the ones that are apostate. 

Usually both sides are in the wrong in many cases but if they are preaching the gospel of Jesus and not adding to it or taking from it, both will see each other in heaven someday. Surprise, surprise, surprise. Jesus is the foundation. I've seen people accuse others of not having love when the ones doing the accusing are not showing much love either. "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another." 

Jesus is the foundation. If we get moved away from that foundation it is impossible to love one another. If in doubt of that saying, read church history. Just as soon as they moved away from the simple gospel and denied the power of the Holy Spirit to work among them, they began to harm one another. DC

Acts 16