Scripture Reading: Galatians 2:1-10

Part 5

Paul Goes to Jerusalem

(Gentiles, the Gospel and the Law of Moses)

Intro.

1. Acts 14:28 – Paul & Barnabas stayed at Antioch a long time after trip.

a. Gal. 2:1: 14 years after Paul’s conversion he returned to Jerusalem (A.D. 50-51).

b. Acts 15 describes the reason, the events & the outcome of that trip; Gal. 2 is Paul’s personal account of the trip.

2. Events of this trip will show the agreement between Paul and the other apostles. (Gal. 2:9)

I. CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH IN ANTIOCH.

A. Certain Men Came From Jerusalem Teaching a New Message – 15:1 (cf. Gal. 1:6-9); Gal. 2:4.

1. “False brethren” – Came in with error.

2. Came in “by stealth” (slip in, com in as a side issue; slip in with unworthy motives, sneak in) – as spies, to destroy liberty in Christ.

B. Conflict over the Law & the Gospel: Must Gentiles be Circumcised & Keep the Law of Moses in Order to be Saved?

1. Was the gospel an addition to the Law of Moses or a new & different covenant? – Cf. Heb. 8:6-13

2. Implications upon the previous work among the Jews & the Gentiles:

a. On the Jews: Were they still obliged to keep the Law of Moses? Was Christianity truly a “sect” of Judaism? – Acts 13:38-39

b. On the Gentiles: Was their conversion invalid? - Acts 11:15-18, 20-21; 13:47-48; 14:27

C. There is Liberty in Christ From Obligation to the Mosaical Law – Gal. 2:4 (cf. Rom. 10:4).

D. Paul & Barnabas Spoke Out Against this Error – 15:2.

1. Dissension (stasis): “a standing;” insurrection, rebellion, uproar.

2. Dispute (suzetesis): “mutual questioning, disputation, discussion”

3. Gal. 2:5 – So that truth would continue with the brethren (both the Jewish & Gentile brethren)!

II. CONSULTATION AT JERUSALEM – Acts 15:2-21.

A. The Decision to Go to Jerusalem was Made in Agreement with Divine Revelation – 15:2; Gal. 2:1.

B. Why Go to Jerusalem?

1. Not to decide what to teach (cf. Matt. 16:19); But…

2. To discover what was being taught in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:2-3; 6-9).

C. Trip to & Reception at Jerusalem – 15:3-6; Gal. 2:2-3, 9.

1. Reported the Gentile conversions (w/o binding LOM) as they went – 15:3.

2. Received by the church in Jerusalem – 15:4.

3. Objection raised – 15:5.

4. Private meeting – 15:6 (Gal. 2:2).

5. Public discussion – 15:7-21.

III. CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE SAINTS – Acts 15:22-35.

A. Contents:

1. Warning: We did not command this doctrine – 15:24.

2. Commendation of Paul & Barnabas – 15:25.

3. Sent preachers (Judas & Silas) to confirm this – 15:25-27.

4. Declared the truth – 15:28-29.

B. Delivered to Brethren & it Encouraged Them – 15:30-35; 16:4-5.

IV. LESSONS INCLUDE:

1. The Jerusalem meeting (“conference”) cannot be duplicated today.

a. Paul went up by revelation (Gal. 2:1), but revelation has ceased (1 Cor. 13:10).

b. Doctrine has been decided for us & revealed to us by the authority of God, not by councils, synods of the denominational sort.

2. There is one gospel to all people. (Rom. 1:16)

-All the apostles were always teaching the same thing! (Gal. 2:6, 8-9)

3. The Law of Moses cannot justify sinners – Acts 13:38-39.

a. LOM revealed what sin was – Rom. 7:7.

b. LOM could not justify the sinner – Rom. 3:20.

c. LOM a tutor for the Jews – Gal. 3:23-25.

d. LOM was fulfilled in Christ – Matt. 5:17 (Rom. 10:4).

e. LOM was erased as binding – Col. 2:14, 16-17.

4. “False brethren” (teachers) exist & must be opposed.

a. Spy out our liberty in Christ, causing bondage to error (sin) – 2 Pet. 2:1-2.

b. Beware! – cf. Phil. 3:1-3; Rom. 16:17-18

5. Public debate is proper & productive of good.

a. Need not deteriorate into destructive turmoil.

b. Reasoning from Scripture to persuade with & stand together in the truth of God – cf. Acts 17:2-4 (1 Pet. 3:15; Col. 3:17).

6. How to establish and apply divine authority (Acts 15:7-21).

a. Apostolic approved example – 15:7-11.

b. Necessary implication – 15:12.

c. Direct statement from scripture – 15:13-21.

7. Communicating between brethren in different churches does not violate congregational autonomy – 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4.

8. Unity in the faith is possible & practical – Gal. 2:3, 6-7, 9-10.

a. By applying & submitting to divine authority.

b. By keeping right attitudes toward each other (Gal.2:9-10; Eph. 4:1-3).

c. By not binding where the Lord has not bound (cf. 15:5, 19). (Some apparently tried to compel Titus to be circumcised, Gal. 2:3.)

d. By binding where the Lord has bound – Acts 15:19-20, 28-29.

Conclusion

Acts 15:30-31 – The letter (its teaching) encouraged the saints!