(1) The first major turning point was when the Church was filled with the Holy Ghost in Acts, chapter 2.
(2) The second major turning point was when the Christian Church was able to convert the apostle Paul from Judaism in Acts 9.
(3) The third major turning point, was when the Christian church's spiritual eyes were opened, and they came to realize that salvation was also for the Gentiles, and Cornelius was converted and filled with the Holy Ghost, in Acts 10.
(4) The fourth major turning point was when the Christian church, which consisted entirely of circumcised Jews, became aware of the fact that circumcision had nothing to do with salvation. The Jews thought that circumcision, and obeying the law, were necessary for salvation. Today, many folks have made a new list of things to replace that old list that the scribes and Pharisees claimed were necessary for salvation.
Illus: Years ago, we would hear of churches that taught salvation by works. That is, for example, if a woman cut her hair, she surely could not be a Christian, therefore the women would wear their hair long, and would stack it up so high, it was a wonder they could get through the doors of the church. Even the youngest child could sit in church, and tell which women were spiritual, the taller the stack, the more spiritual they were. ‘Spiritual’ women could not wear make-up. Back then, women did not have to spend 30-45 minutes putting their make-up on, they did not wear any, although it probably took them 30-45 minutes to fix their hair every morning. One could not be a Christian woman, if she wore a dress that did not cover her arms, etc. Do not misread what God is saying. We are to be holy unto the Lord, but we are to dress and act correctly, because we are saved, not to be saved. A woman can let her hair grow until it reaches the ceiling, and wear a dress down to her ankles, and still die and go to hell.
Salvation is imparted by God, not earned by man. Man has always said, “Do this, or do that!,” but God has always said, “It has already been done!”
I. THE PROBLEM
Verses 1-2, "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. 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.”
A. THE CONFUSION
Look at verse 1. Notice Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, put forth the effort to win these Gentiles to the Lord. Now that they had been won to the Lord, the Bible says, “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.”
It doesn't matter where you go, you will find those who will not do anything but run their mouths. Until Peter, Paul, and Barnabas broke the barrier between the Gentiles and the Jews, the fellows would not have a thing to do with these Gentiles. Since it looked like they were going to be accepted by the church, they figured it was time they took a little trip to tell them what they expected them to do, if they were going to qualify for salvation.
Illus: Years ago, the Mormon church would not accept black people into their congregations. This was part of their church teaching. Members of the congregations complained. Then a strange thing happened. A lot of black people began to move up in society and make large salaries. When they became ‘socially accepted’ by more of the people, the Mormon church 'prophets' said that God showed them that it would now be alright to take blacks into their membership... (How hypocritical can people get! Jesus came to seek and to save ALL who do not know Him, regardless of geographical location, social standing, or nationality!)
There have always been groups of people, who have never led a soul to Christ, but who will find some new convert that someone else won to Christ, and do all they can to confuse that new convert with their heresy.
B. THE CONFRONTING
Look at verses 2-3. Notice how Paul and Barnabas moved in to protect these new converts. Many folks have the notion that all God expects of the church, is to win the lost. That is only part of what God expects of the church. Once people are won to Christ, they need to be watched over, as newborn babes in Christ. Paul and Barnabas saw that the legalists were trying to load these new converts down with all their "do's and don'ts", and the Bible says, "...Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them...”
II. THE PEREGRINATION (Trip)
Look at verses 3-18. “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. 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. 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. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 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.
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 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? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”
A. THE PROBLEM
Look at verse 5. As Paul and Barnabas traveled, they did what every Christian should do, they told what God had done in their lives. What brought joy to their hearts, was how God was reaching out to the Gentiles and they were being saved!
Illus: Folks are going to talk about what thrills them, whether it be sports, politics, money, business, food, grandchildren, etc..
Illus: Someone said, “No cowboy was ever faster on the draw, than a grandparent pulling a baby picture out of a wallet.”
When a church gets excited about the Lord, and the people begin to talk about Him wherever they go, that Church will begin to grow. This is exactly what Paul and Barnabas did. They went everywhere, talking about how thrilled they were about reaching the Gentiles, and they soon got everyone as excited as they were.
Look at the last part of verse 3, "...and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.” However, some folks will not be happy with anything that God is doing.
Look at verse 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.”
B. THE PROOF
Look at verses 6-12. Verse 6 tells us Paul and Bamabas had come to Jerusalem to meet with the Jews to consider this matter.
In verse 7, Peter vigorously argued that the Gentiles did not need to be circumcised. He made the point that God had directed him personally to go to the house of Cornelius.
Verse 8 tells us that Peter explained that he saw how God saved Cornelius, and filled him with the Holy Ghost, without his being circumcised, the same way they had received Christ, and there was no difference in God's sight between the Jews and the Gentiles.
In verse 10, Peter stated that the Gentiles did not need the yoke of Judaism around their necks. At that point Peter was through showing the proof.
In verses 11-12, Peter closes his statement, and we see their reaction - "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.”
C. THE PROPHECY
Look at verses 13-18. The prophecy reveals the person and the plan.
III. THE PREREQUISITE (READ VERSES 19-31)
A. THE COMFORT
In verse 19, James says that we should, "... trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:” It is always good to have people like James around. He recognized that God did not put us on this earth to make life as miserable as we can for others. (What a shame all Christians do not recognize this!)
B. THE COMPROMISE
Look at verses 20-31. James was a man also who felt that a compromise was in order. He recommended that they only require that, “…they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.”
When he made this recommendation, the Bible says, in verse 22, “Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church,….” They delivered this message to the gentiles, and when the gentiles heard the report, verse 31 says, “…they rejoiced for the consolation.”
C. THE CONGREGATION
Look at verses 32-34. Judas and Silas exhorted the congregation. After a period of time, Judas left, but Silas stayed. God, Who knows the future, knew there was a need for Silas to stay. He was soon to become Paul’s partner.
IV. THE PARTING
Look at verses 35-41. “Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. And some days after Paul said unto 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. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 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; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”
A. THE DISAGREEMENT
Look at verses 36-38. Once the requirements for salvation were settled, we see a very unfortunate disagreement between two men of God. Paul told Barnabas that he thought they should go and revisit the churches where they had preached the Word of God.
Notice these words in verse 37, “And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.”
John Mark had traveled with them one time before, and under a stressful situation in Pamphylia, he deserted them. Paul felt, because of the immaturity that he had displayed, he was not ready for such an assignment again.
Notice those words again in verse 37, "And Barnabas determined to take with them John….”
Anytime you get two Christians together, and they both have different opinions, and neither one will compromise, God's work suffers.
B. THE DISSOLVING
Look at verses 39-40. Because they were both determined to have their way, one of the greatest missionary teams ever was dissolved.
Illus: Some say God uses such things to perform His will, and because they became angry, two missionary teams went forth. This same logic is used for church splits, that is, some claim that God causes these splits to start other churches. God may use them, but I can assure you this is not God's way of doing things.
Any time you have Christians battling it out, because of their hard headedness, the work of God suffers. When Paul and Barnabas split up, there were new converts that had heard them preach that God would have them love and be forgiving, and they could not understand why these two men preached this, but did not practice it.
There were lost people, who were on the borderline of receiving Christ, who perhaps heard about this, and perhaps as a result, they chose not to accept Christ, all because Paul and Barnabas were demonstrating the same thing they had seen in the lives of unbelievers.
What a shame. Two of the greatest missionaries that ever walked on this earth, had to go separate ways because of their stubbornness. Only God knows what we could have read about that would have happened had they laid aside their differences and followed the Lord together.
Conclusion:
I. THE PROBLEM
A. THE CONFUSION
B. THE CONFRONTING
II. THE PEREGRINATION (TRIP)
A. THE PROBLEM
B. THE PROOF
C. THE PROPHECY
III. THE PREREQUISITE
A. THE COMFORT
B. THE COMPROMISE
C. THE CONGREGATION
IV. THE PARTING
A. THE DISAGREEMENT
B. THE DISSOLVING
