ACTS LESSON 32

    We will begin this lesson in Acts 15:1 "And certain men which came
down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be
circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved."

    Now we see a dissension in the church.  You remember, that the
apostles and most of the disciples at the beginning were of the
physical house of Abraham, and had practiced circumcision of all males
at eight days old.  These teachers had themselves been involved with
the Old Testament teaching of Moses' law.  They did not understand
grace.  They were trying to put all the new Gentile converts under the
Mosaic law.  No where, in Jesus' teaching while He was on the earth,
did He teach circumcision of the flesh.  Jesus taught circumcision of
the heart.  These people in verse 1, are like many of the people of
our day, who add obligations to be done, to be saved.  Salvation is
simple.  Romans 10:9-10 explains it perfectly.  St. John 3:15-17 tells
it so well in Jesus' own words.  Read both and you will get the exact
picture of what it takes to be saved.

    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."

    We can see from this, that Paul and Barnabas, as well as these
ministers here are not the last word in these matters.  Peter and
James, the half brother of Jesus, are the leaders of the church.  We
must not confuse this James with James the brother of John who had
already been martyred.  The church was in the early stages here, and
all of the doctrines had not been settled to everyone's knowledge.
Many of the Christian converts had come from Judaism and they tried to
bring their practices with them.  They were caught up in the law and
did not understand grace.  This was very smart of Paul and Barnabas to
call in someone not directly involved to straighten this out.

    Acts 15:3 "And being brought on their way by the church, they
passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the
Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren."

    It seemed they went by all the home churches that had been
established on their way through Phoencia and Samaria.  The good news
was, that God had offered salvation to the Gentiles, as well.  Just as
all Christians should feel today, when anyone is added to the kingdom
of God, they felt great joy.  Brethren here means all who are of like
persuasion (Christians).

    Acts 15:4 "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."

    The church at Jerusalem seemed to be like a hub that the other
churches were branches of.  You might even say, that the original
apostles ministered out from this church.  This really was a natural
setting for the church to be, since Jerusalem was where the temple of
the Jews was.

    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."

    You see, the Pharisees had been caught up in the law from the very
beginning.  Now they are trying to combine the law and grace, and it
won't work.  There are, even today, groups who claim to be following
Christ who burden their people down with the law.  If the law had been
sufficient, there would have been no need for the Saviour or the gift
of grace.  Moses' law was for a specific time and for specific people,
but it was obvious no one could live up to this law, and God sent us a
Saviour.  In Galatians 3:24-26, we read about the law and grace.
Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us]
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."  Galatians 3:25
"But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ
Jesus." You see, to require anything except faith in Jesus Christ and
baptism would be against Jesus' teachings.  Jesus did not do away with
the law, but He fulfilled the law for us .

    Acts 15:6  "And the apostles and elders came together for to
consider of this matter."

    It seems as though, all the apostles and elders in this area came
together to have a meeting similar to a board meeting in our churches
today, to determine what the doctrine of the followers of Christ
should be.

    Acts 15:7 "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."

    We see that Peter listened to the discussion by both sides of this
question.  In fact, it appears that he allowed it to go on for a good
little while, until every one had stated their case.  Then Peter takes
charge.  He arises and gives them the final word on the matter.  Not
boastfully, but with authority Peter reminds them that God chose him
out to minister to the Gentiles.  This is under his jurisdiction.

    Acts 15:8 "And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness,
giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [he did] unto us;"

    You see, Peter reminds them here, that God approved these
Gentiles, because of the condition of their hearts, and not because
they had been circumcised.  He poured out the Holy Ghost on these
Gentiles before they had even participated in water baptism, let alone
been circumcised.  If God puts His seal of approval on them, who are
these Pharisees to object? That would be going against God.

    Acts 15:9 "And put no difference between us and them, purifying
their hearts by faith."

    The heart is really what determines whether we are saved or not.
God, who looks on the heart sees either a heart desperately wicked or
a heart stayed upon God.  Romans 2:29 says, "But he [is] a Jew, which
is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the
spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of
God." This purifying their heart is the washing of the heart with the
shed blood of Jesus Christ taking all the fleshly part away.

    Acts 15:10 "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?"

    Peter is saying here, If God accepted them the way they were, why
can't you?  Peter reminds them that keeping of the letter of the law,
including circumcision was too hard for even the Jews to do.  Now they
are trying to burden down people that God had already accepted with
these impossible rules.

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

    Peter reminds them that Salvation is the same for Jew and Gentile.
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:" Ephesians 2:9 "Not of works,
lest any man should boast."


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                           Acts 32 Questions


1.  What were men who came down from Judaea teaching the brethren?
2.  Why were they teaching circumcision?
3.  Where in Romans, do we read the requirements for salvation?
4.  Who had a dispute with these men from Judaea?
5.  Where would Paul go to get the matter settled?
6.  Who were the leaders of the church at this time?
7.  Where had many of these Christian converts come from?
8.  By what places did they go on their way to Jerusalem?
9.  What was the wonderful news they brought to these churches?
10. Who received them at the church in Jerusalem?
11. In verse 5, we find that what group insisted on all the Gentile
    males being circumcised?
12. What other requirement were they demanding?
13. Why was there a need for grace?
14. What one word was the law called in Galatians 3:24?
15. In verse 26 of Galatians 3, we are children of God by what?
16. Who came together to consider the matter?
17. When did Peter speak up?
18. By whose mouth were the Gentiles to receive the gospel?
19. Peter takes charge and settles the matter, not boastfully, but
    with much __________.
20. In verse 8, who knows the heart of man?
21. How did God bear witness that He had accepted these Gentiles?
22. If ___________ approved them, who were these ____ object?
23. How did they purify their hearts?
24. Peter says, why put a yoke on these Gentiles that who had not been
    able to bear?
25. In verse 11, Peter says that we believe what?
26. In Ephesians 2:8, what saves us?
27. Not of works, lest any man should ________.


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