Has the Message of the Church changed over 2000 Years? - Acts 15

The big news for the apostles in Acts 15 was that God was working wonders and miracles in the midst of the Gentiles and that significant numbers were coming to faith.  The leaders in Judea had decided to send Jewish men to the Gentiles to help Paul and Barnabas.

The Jews that came to help were teaching a message that was a little different than the one being taught by Paul and Barnabas.  The traveling Jews were saying in effect that one had to become a Jew in order to enter the Kingdom of God being circumcised and following the law of Moses. 

Paul and Barnabas realized that being a Jew was not the cause of salvation; rather, one was saved as a result of the grace of God through faith.  This resulted in the gift of the Holy Spirit which sealed us until the day of redemption.

The debate became rather heated so they decided to take the issue before the church council in Jerusalem.  When Paul and Barnabas got there, they conveyed their news that the Gentiles were accepting the gospel having received the Holy Spirit.

The disciples and apostles rejoiced that God had manifested himself to the Gentiles.  After discussing whether or not a person had to be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses, Peter stood up and said,

“Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.⁸ So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, ⁹ and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith…we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

Peter recognized that we were saved by grace and not the works of the law.  One did not have to become a Jew; rather, something new had taken place in that the grace of God through the Holy Spirit was at work among his people producing a life of righteousness and worship.

A letter was then written to the churches, in which the apostles, elders and brethren wrote,

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— ²⁵ it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.

A person is saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone triumph at the council and remains the message of the church to this day.  

Paul gets Stoned for Healing a Cripple – Acts 14

As Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel, they came upon a man who lived in Lystra who was a cripple from his mother’s womb.

Luke writes that Paul looked at him intently and then with a loud voice said, “Stand up straight on your feet!”  To the surprise of the crowds, the man got up on his feet.

The people of Lystra were amazed claiming, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”  A new name of Zeus and Hermes was given to Barnabas and Paul to cement the deal.:

Barnabas and Paul observing things play out immediately tore their clothes and began to urge them to stop because they were just simple men like the men of Lystra.

We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, ¹⁶ who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 

The religious Jews observing what was taking place were angry that Paul had persuaded the crowds to follow Jesus.  These religious Jews then took up stones and stoned him.  After they stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city and left him for dead.  The disciples found Paul and gathered around him and something miraculous happened because Paul was able to leave for Derbe the very next day.

After some time in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra to encourage all those who had placed their faith in Jesus.  At this point, the people of Lystra knew what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Paul was showing them that a follower of Jesus could take a licking and keep on ticking because the grace of God was at work in his life.

Paul having been the great example of a saint who persevered knew the cost of following Jesus.  However, he also knew the reward as he looked at all those who had placed their faith in Jesus at Lystra.  Paul was looking at his forever family with whom he would love and enjoy for eternity.  As a result, in order for them to enter the Kingdom of God, he had to endure tribulation.  Paul then stated exactly that,

“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Are you like the Sorcerer? - Acts 13

In Acts 13 there was a Sorcerer who sought to undermine the work of Paul and Barnabas.  The Sorcerer was suffering from the problem that Adam and Eve had created. 

When Adam and Eve were first placed in the garden, they could not see evil. After they sinned against God, the Bible says that their eyes were opened.  The first thing they noticed was their nakedness and were ashamed.  Adam and Eve had never experienced lust before.  Adam and Eve had died spiritually in the garden becoming subject to the ruler of this world who is Satan.  Adam and Eve no longer had eyes of love; rather, they had eyes full of lust.  When mankind was able to see evil, they no longer were able to see what was truly good.

In Acts 13 a Jew, named Bar-Jesus, wanted to hear the gospel and called for Paul and Barnabas.  A sorcerer by the name of Elymas provided council to Bar-Jesus.  The sorcerer sought to turn Bar-Jesus and the rest of his council against Paul.  Elymas was blind to what was truly good.  He loved darkness rather than the light.

Paul recognized that he was dealing with an agent for Satan and said,

 “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? ¹¹ And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”

After Paul finished speaking, darkness fell upon Elymas and he could no longer see.  He had to be led around by the hand.  Elymas who loved darkness could only see the darkness of his own mind.

As a result of our spiritual blindness, God has to reveal Himself to us by means of His prophets and His people.

Paul brings this out in Acts 13:33-35 claiming that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy.  God had revealed his plan to us in advance so that we can see the glorious gospel.  The promise that God had made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was been fulfilled for their children.  Paul then quickly points the prophecy out quoting the Old Testament.

It is also written in the second Psalm:

‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’

³⁴ And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus:

‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’

³⁵ Therefore He also says in another Psalm:

‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

When they all returned the next day, the Jews in the city had rejected the message of the gospel being determined to cause problems for Paul and Barnabas.  Paul recognized that prophecy was once again being fulfilled

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us:

‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

⁴⁸ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

The light being the glorious gospel is now shinning in the world for all to see. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, eternal life, and that Christ sits at the right hand of the throne of God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

His Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God allowing us to see into the future.  Have your eyes been opened or are you still walking in darkness like the Sorcerer?

Am I Walking in Faith? - Acts 12

When we walk by faith sharing our lives with those around us, we know that God goes with us guiding, protecting and directing the affairs of our lives.

The persecution against the believers was growing in Acts 12 to the point that James the brother of John was taken by Herod and put to death.  Herod’s next target was Peter who he captured and placed in prison.

James and Peter had no fear concerning what the future held for them.  They lived in the moment just being themselves witnessing to everyone about the life of Jesus and his impact on their lives. 

The disciples were merely common men that Jesus had transformed over a short period of three years.  They were no longer invisible people who lived for themselves catching fish; rather, they were filled with the Spirit and citizens of the Kingdom of God who were boldly proclaiming the grace of God which had changed their lives.

The disciples of Jesus are called to put to death the desires of the flesh and to live a life of love in the Spirit.  We are now citizens of the Kingdom of God experiencing the love of God, being filled with the Holy Spirit and sharing our lives with people who are lost, hopeless and blind.

Peter found himself in prison because he was sharing his life and testimony with others.  While in prison, the saints were in prayer for him and the angel of the Lord showed up to release Peter.  Peter not really knowing what was going on followed the angel out of the prison into the streets.  When Peter realized what had taken place, he went to the home of a member of the church and knocked on the door.

Everyone was in prayer when Peter showed up and knocked on the door.  Rhoda went to the door and heard the voice of Peter.  In her excitement, she forgot to open the door and ran to tell the others so they could all witness the miracle of God together.  Rhoda was overflowing with faith.  When the members went to the door, they were astonished to see Peter.

Luke then records that King Herod who had killed James was then struck by the Lord after accepting the praise of men as a ‘god’

Acts 12: “²¹ So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.²² And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” ²³ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

The point of recording the death of Herod as well as the deliverance by an angel was to increase our faith.  The story about the work of God in the life of Peter and James became an event in their life that they could share with their friends and neighbors.  

Our hope is in Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith being the one true God.  We share our lives with those around us telling them what God is doing in our lives with great boldness.  Jesus is doing something special in the lives of all of his children which we can share with those around us.