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Untitled Document
• About This Question
• How Did The Apostles Apply Authority In The Beginning Of The Church?
• INTRODUCTION
• Acts 15:1, 5; Galatians 5:1-6
• The church in Antioch was disturbed by those who sought to bind circumcision
on Gentile Christians.
• The correct answer to this problem is succinctly stated by Paul in a later
epistle; circumcision doesn’t matter, unless one treats it as a religious
necessity – in which case it is wrong.
• INTRODUCTION
• Knowing at the outset what the answer is, herein we intend to consider
how the problem was resolved.
• That is this lesson’s purpose, not to discuss circumcision, but
to learn how conflict is resolved by the church.
• INTRODUCTION
• Acts 15:2a; Ephesians 5:11
• Paul and Barnabas dissented and disputed with those in error.
• Christians are duty-bound to expose falsehood as such.
• Acts 15:2a; Galatians 2:1-5; Romans 14:21
• INTRODUCTION
• Speaking of this incident years later, Paul emphasized his intolerance
of the error.
• While it is true that Christians may be more strict with themselves than
is required by the Lord, and that others Christians must respect those scruples,
it is another matter entirely when one begins to insist that others must adhere
to the same practices.
• INTRODUCTION
• Acts 15:2b, 6; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5
• For resolution, those in Antioch went to the elders of Jerusalem and the
apostles.
• The elders of the church in Jerusalem were involved because the false
teachers had come from the church in Jerusalem.
• The apostles were involved because they have fundamental authority in
every church, and their words, recorded in Scripture, still guide us.
• INTRODUCTION
• Acts 15:3-4
• Notice that, in the midst of adversity, even en-route to a conference
to rectify an outstanding problem, Paul and Barnabas continued spreading good
news and edifying brethren.
• It is easy to be so distracted by conflict that disciples quit their good
works.
• Paul and Barnabas knew better.
• THEY APPEALED TO DIRECT STATEMENT
• Acts 15:13-21
• James quoted the prophecy of Amos (Amos 9:11-12) wherein God’s inclusion
of the Gentiles, as Gentiles, is directly stated.
• Direct statements, including commands, are the simplest presentations
of truth to be grasped.
• John 14:15, 21, 23-24; 15:14; 1st John 2:3-5; 5:3
• Commandment keeping proves one’s love, friendship, and knowledge
of Christ.
• 2nd Peter 3:1-2; Jude 17
• Not only the Lord Himself, but also His apostles, must be obeyed.
• THEY APPEALED TO EXAMPLE
• Acts 15:7-11
• Peter reminded them all of his example in having earlier preached the
gospel to the Gentiles, who received the Holy Spirit, and were baptized, being
saved, while Gentiles (Acts 10:17-11:18).
• THEY APPEALED TO EXAMPLE
• 1st John 2:6
• We are under command to follow the example of Christ.
• 1st Corinthians 11:1-2; 4:16; Philippians 3:17; 4:9
• We are, likewise, under command to follow the example of the apostles.
• THEY APPEALED TO INFERENCE
• Acts 15:12
• Paul and Barnabas implied God’s willingness to save the Gentiles
as Gentiles, not Jewish proselytes, insomuch as He had been working miracles among
them by Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:4-12; 14:8-10).
• THEY APPEALED TO INFERENCE
• There are many examples in Scripture of implication establishing authority.
• Matthew 22:31-32
• God implied the resurrection, that is life after death, when He identified
Himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob well past the deaths
of those patriarchs.
• Acts 10:12-15, 28
• THEY APPEALED TO INFERENCE
• Peter correctly inferred that God did not consider any man common or unclean,
saying “God has shown me”, even though the specific vision he beheld
was about food.
• If one aspect of the Old Testament was repealed, then all of it was.
• THEY APPEALED TO INFERENCE
• 1st Corinthians 15:27
• “It is evident” that the one who gave total authority to Christ
is excepted from that authority.
• That which is self-evident is implied.
• Hebrews 11:17-19
• Abraham correctly concluded that if God would fulfill His promises in
Isaac, but Isaac must die, then God is able to resurrect Isaac.
• THEY APPEALED TO SILENCE
• Acts 15:22-29
• When the letter treating the problem was composed by the church at Jerusalem,
including her elders and the apostles, it described the troublemakers as people
“to whom we gave no such commandment”.
• The silence of the church in Jerusalem relative to these men amounted
to prohibition of their behavior.
• THEY APPEALED TO SILENCE
• This is the law of exclusion.
• 2nd Samuel 7:1-7
• David intended to construct God’s temple in Jerusalem, but was rhetorically
asked, “Have I ever spoken a word to anyone… saying, ‘Why have
you not built Me a house of cedar?’”
• That God had not requested it; His silence on the matter, meant it was
forbidden.
• THEY APPEALED TO SILENCE
• Hebrews 1:5, 13
• The great things God said of Jesus, He did not say of the angels.
• Therefore, by silence, God communicated the superiority of Christ.
• THEY APPEALED TO SILENCE
• Hebrews 7:14; 8:4
• Jesus “would not be priest… according to the law” because
“our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning
priesthood”.
• God did not need to list all the tribes barred from priesthood; He need
only have specified the one that was authorized.
• 2nd John 9
• Going beyond Christ’s doctrine, disrespecting silence, leaves one
without Christ.
• SUMMARY
• Acts 15:30-31; 6:1-7
• Rectifying error produces encouragement.
• Rather than disregarding problems, we must confront them to be at peace.
• Acts 16:1-5; 1st Corinthians 4:17; 7:17; 16:1; Colossians 4:16
• SUMMARY
• Although the problem confronted the church at Antioch, its solution was
addressed to Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:23), as well, and these “decrees”
were spread even to cities of Galatia.
• The doctrine of the apostles was consistent everywhere.
• CONCLUSION
• This all goes to show how authority is established today as well as in
the first century.
• When we follow this pattern, we are following a God approved pattern.
• This is God’s formula for establishing authority which comes direct
from His instruction book.
• We must have proper authority for everything we do and teach.
By Carey Scott from an outline by Bryan Dockens
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