Set them free
Our mission is to make disciples of all nations, that means setting them free from sin and it’s consequences by sharing the Gospel and our testimony of what Jesus Christ has done for us. When anything, especially false teaching, threatens that mission we should be quick to deal with it, not getting distracted from our mission and not allowing it to rob us or others of our joy. We should draw together under the authority of the Church, be lead by the Scripture and the Holy Spirit and trust that God has already seen the problem coming and has a solution.
Scripture
Acts 15:1-11 ESV But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” [2] And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. [3] So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. [4] When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. [5] But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” [6] The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. [7] And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. [8] And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, [9] and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. [10] Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? [11] But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Through the Scripture
Problems do come
The Apostles at Antioch have had an amazing and fruitful ministry overcoming varied attacks in their mission to make disciples of all nations. Now the attacks come in a more subtle form and come from within the Church. Men came from Jerusalem, from the Church where Paul and Barnabus were sent out. They didn’t refute the Gospel, but they added to it, subtly but effectively contradicting it. We are warned of such false teachers and their teaching, and it still happens today. It’s very dangerous and destructive and must be dealt with because it can keep us from the freedom of forgiveness and eternal life.
Acts 15:1-11 ESV But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 Peter 2:1 ESV But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
Galatians 1:8-9 ESV But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. [9] As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Address and Assess the problem
Paul and Barnabus immediately and lovingly engage with the false teachers, but they don’t just leave it there. They seek to confront it at the source and draw from the authority that God has appointed over His Church. They can do both of these things by going to the Church in Jerusalem. When we hear false teaching or suspect it in our Church we must do the same three things, engage with those who are teaching them, find the source and engage with them and call on the appointed authority of the Church.
Acts 15:2 ESV And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 ESV I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Matthew 18:15-17 ESV “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. [16] But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Concentrate and Capitalise on the mission
Remember that Paul and Barnabus have just returned from a wonderful mission. There is so much joy in celebrating how God is saving masses of gentiles. They do not let this adversity steal this joy but make the most of the opportunity to continue to declare God’s Glory and His wonderful works. They do not get distracted from the work they have been sent to do, but do it all the more despite the possibility of this problem causing a distraction.
Acts 15:3-4 ESV So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. [4] When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
Matthew 24:45-47 ESV “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? [46] Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. [47] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
Philippians 4:4-7 ESV Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. [5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Trust all of Scripture
When Jesus disciples were confused and battling to understand how the Messiah could have died when they expected Him to be immortal, He corrected them through “all the Scriptures”. We must always do the same. Taking some of Scripture out of context leads to false teaching. Look how Paul proves that circumcision isn’t necessary for salvation.
Acts 15:5-6 ESV But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” [6] The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
Luke 24:27 ESV And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Romans 4:7-12 ESV “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; [8] blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” [9] Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. [10] How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. [11] He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, [12] and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Trust that God has foreseen the problem and has the solution
So often when we encounter problems we panic and even despair. The first thing to remember is that God is never taken by surprise. He has always seen it coming and always has the solution before we even know about the problem. Peter is perfect positioned to end the debate because of what God has done through him already. Jesus appointed Peter to build His Church and guided Peter past the old ways and open the Church to the gentiles through him. We must always trust that the Lord Jesus is in control of His Church, we fight in His strength and from His victory, trusting in Him all the way.
Acts 15:7 ESV And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Acts 10:13-15 ESV And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” [14] But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” [15] And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
Matthew 16:17-19 ESV And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Saved by faith and Showing evidence
The Christian faith is different to any and every other. We are made right with God by faith alone in Christ alone and by His grace alone. When we have believed, by His grace we are made right with God, receive His Holy Spirit and begin to demonstrate the fruit of His work in us. It is not the other way round. We do not “become good” by doing the right things, and them believe in and follow Jesus.
Acts 15:8-9 ESV And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, [9] and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
2 Peter 1:3-5 ESV His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. [5] For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
Set them free
Jesus came to set us free by faith in Him. He showed this by what He did and what He taught. We should never oppose God by trying to impose our customs on others thinking that for people to be saved, they must be like us. We are not saved because we look like good people, we are saved because we believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus corrected thos who thought that a sinful women who washed His feet couldn’t be saved. He corrected them emphatically.
Acts 15:10-11 ESV Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? [11] But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Luke 7:47-50 ESV Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” [48] And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” [49] Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” [50] And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”