Acts 15
COMMENTARY:
: 1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. (“saved” [sozo] means heal, preserve, be whole, or to rescue from danger or destruction.)
DEVOTION: The early church had doctrinal issues from the beginning. This was one of the top ones we read about right after the first missionary journey of Paul. The men who were converted from being Pharisees thought that those Gentiles who chose to follow Jesus had to be circumcised and obey the laws of Moses. If this didn’t happen, they couldn’t be really saved.
Today we have churches that add to salvation as well. If those who are followers of Jesus do not follow certain practices than this group thinks they are not saved individuals. Some of the ones that are added to salvation can be smoking, drinking, dancing, movies or going out with people who do. The problem is that when people hear this they want to not have any guidelines for their Christian lives.
The Bible give specific guidelines for our walk with the LORD. The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit regarding things we do and don’t do. We need to let the Bible and the Holy Spirit guide individuals to a proper walk with the LORD. The church can establish guidelines for external behavior but the more important issue is the internal behavior of individuals who are followers of Christ. Remember that there are two extremes in the church: legalism and license. Both are bad. There is a balance and it takes WORK to keep it in our individual lives and in the life of the church.
Now we need to get back to the early church. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between the Jews and God. The sign of the covenant between Christians and God is baptism. It doesn’t save and is not part of salvation but it is a sign of a relationship between God and the individual.
The church had to have a business meeting to discuss the issue. At the business meeting there was much discussion. Peter stood up. James the half-brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church, stood up and presented a plan. The church voted and accepted the plan. They included some external rules for the Gentiles to follow.
Barnabas and Paul delivered the plan. They told the Gentile converts that they didn’t have to be circumcised to be save. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. They traveled back to the churches they had established to tell them the recommendations of the church in Jerusalem. Barnabas traveled with John Mark the author of the Gospel of Mark. Paul traveled with Silas. So there were two groups of missionaries traveling. Sometimes conflict can advance the kingdom of God.
Realize that there is going to be conflict in the Christian life but there needs to be reconciliation between Christians too. Paul and John Mark reached this later in ministry. The church in Jerusalem resolved the problem through a discussion and vote.
CHALLENGE: Not all votes are Biblical in some of our churches but this one was. Be a minister of reconciliation in your home and church!!!
: 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. (1163 “needful” [dei] means must, ought, should, it is necessary, to be required by obligation, compulsion, or convention, or be proper.)
DEVOTION: Christ plus nothing equals salvation. The early church had to struggle against Jewish religious leaders who became believers. These leaders taught that all the Gentiles that became believers had to be circumcised to complete their standing with God. They didn’t think the blood of Christ covered all the sins of them.
This caused a great problem in the church. One group was teaching this and another was saying that it was unnecessary for Gentiles to be circumcised. The church had to call a business meeting to discuss this problem and come to a solution.
The solution was that circumcision was unnecessary for salvation. Nothing is necessary for salvation but repentance of sin and a commitment to Christ. Those who were saved were also baptized right away but that was not a necessary part of salvation but a symbol of a change of leadership in a person’s life. It was a step of obedience.
There had to be a doctrinal statement that helped the people understand what they needed to do for salvation and then manifest their commitment by obeying New Testament commands.
The church established four things that were not to be done by the Gentiles as a sign that they were willing to manifest a difference between believers and those who were not following the LORD. The four things were: (1) abstain from meats offered to idols; (2) drinking blood; (3) eating animals that were strangled and (4) fornication or pre-martial sex.
Today we have commands that we are to follow to show that we love the LORD. They are not part of salvation but part of our sanctification. We only need to repent and follow Jesus to be saved.
CHALLENGE: Our desire after that is that everything we do brings glory to the LORD.
: 36 And some days after Paul said to 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. (1980 “visit” [episkeptomai] means look out, to look upon or after, to inspect, examine with the eyes, to look upon in order to help or to benefit, or to visit someone in order to determine his condition.)
DEVOTION: Too many pastors and evangelist don’t follow up on those who have become believers under their ministry. They bring them to a knowledge of salvation but there is no growth in many people who come forward at meetings in churches or special meeting or crusades.
These people are expected to grow on their own by finding their own church and listening to someone during Sunday School, Worship service and Prayer meeting. The problem is that many churches don’t have all three of these services. Many times there are not opportunities to ask personal questions that need answering. Many times there is not special prayer for special requests. Many people don’t want everyone to know their personal business and so they don’t share openly with the congregation that they would share with a pastor or group of pastors.
Here we find Paul and Barnabas concerned with those individuals who became believers under their ministry. They set up elders to help the people but they still wanted to make sure there was more instruction for all concerned.
Every believer should want to have more education in how to get to know Christ better. Remember there are three stages of growth in a believer: baby, young man and fathers according to the epistles of John. Many believers move from baby stage to carnal stage. Some may have never made a genuine commitment to the LORD.
God wants all of HIS children to be fruitful. Only those who are fruitful are genuinely saved. If there is no growth it is that persons responsibility but if there is no one to train him it is the fault of the church and it’s leaders.
Training was important to the LORD. Training or follow up was important to the disciples. It should be important to all believers to make sure those around them are growing in the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Pastors should have times of visiting with each member separately at least once a year to see how they are doing. It is very necessary today.
: 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. (3948 “contention” [paroxusmos] means an inciting, irritation, sharp disagreement, argument, exasperation, intense difference of opinion, provocation, dispute, or stirring up.)
DEVOTION: Above we find that the church had to settle some issues regarding the witness to the Gentiles. They established some rules that they thought the Gentiles should hold to if they were going to be considered believers.
Now we have a sharp dispute between Barnabas and Paul. Paul didn’t want to take Mark with him because he left them on the first missionary journey. Barnabas who was an encourager wanted to take him on their second missionary journey. Paul didn’t want to give him another chance to repeat what had happened on the first missionary journey.
Here are two men who wanted to serve the LORD had a real disagreement but settled it by each one going their separate ways. They couldn’t agree so they agreed to disagree and go their separate ways.
There is going to be sharp disagreements today with those who truly worship the LORD. Many denominations were started over individuals who didn’t agree completely on a teaching of a doctrine. Remember there will be no denomination in heaven. Disagreements can be settled in love. We need to be sure not to hurt those who are genuinely followers of Christ with our conflicts. We too need to agree to disagree.
We do know the rest of the story. Paul compliments John Mark. He asks him to join him. There is a restoration of fellowship between the two men. It is great to know that each of us mature as we grow in the LORD. Those we disagreed with earlier can be our best friends later if the LORD is in it and both stay faithful.
CHALLENGE: Christians need to settle differences in love. There should always be room for genuine believers to reconcile. It might happen over time.
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.