GRACE Saves You-Acts 15

• In Acts 13 we studied Jesus Saves You (Ac 13:38).
• In Acts 14 we studied how hardships saves you (Ac 14:22).
• In Acts 16 we will study how faith saves you (Ac 16:31).
• In Acts 15 we study how grace saves you at the Jerusalem council: “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved…” (Ac 15:11).

** Salvation is by grace and by faith rather than by obeying the law, yet if anyone is truly saved by faith they will obey the law.

1. Grace negates the law [circumcision] for salvation (Ac 15:1, 5; Gal 5:6; 6:15).
2. Grace is all that is needed for salvation (Ac 15:11; Eph 2:8-9; 2 Tim 1:9; Tit 3:5).
3. Grace is not burdensome (Ac 15:11, 24, 28), but has obligations (Ac 15:20, 29).

1. The primacy of grace is God (Rom 1:1b; Eph 2:8-9).
2. The power of grace is transformative (Tit 2:11-12).
3. The perseverance of grace is secure (Rom 8:38-39).
4. The price of grace is costly (1 Pet 1:18-19).

Acts 15 is the most crucial chapter in Acts. It is positioned both structurally and theologically at the very heart of the book. A measure of its importance is shown in that after the council meeting the Jerusalem church virtually disappears from sight in Acts and Peter does not appear again. The focus is on the missionary work west of Jerusalem from Antioch to Rome. [The Jerusalem Council took place in AD 48, and Paul’s 1st missionary journey took place in AD 45-47. Galatians was written in the months leading up to the events of Acts 15. If Paul had written Galatians after the Jerusalem Council, there is no way he would have failed to mention it. The silence of Galatians about the council must mean that the letter was written before that meeting. Thus Galatians is a critical document leading up to the issues addressed at the Jerusalem Council.]

1. The point at issue (15:1-4). The need for the council. Antioch sends a delegation to Jerusalem.
2. The debate in Jerusalem (15:5-21).
   1. Peter (15:7-11). The Way to be Saved (Ac 15:11). Peter gives a speech at the council.
   2. Paul and Barnabas (15:12) speak at the council.
   3. James (15:13-21). Don’t Make it difficult to trust God (Ac 15:19). James settles the issue.
3. The council’s letter (15:22-29). The council writes a letter to the Gentile churches. Resolution.
4. The letter is received in Antioch (15:30-35). The result of the council.
5. The sequel to the council (15:36-16:5).
   1. Disagreement between Paul and Barnabas (15:36-41).
   2. Revisiting the South Galatian churches (16:1-5).

1. Osborne, Grant. Acts. Verse by Verse. 2019. The Jerusalem Council (15:1-35).
2. Witherington III, Ben. The Acts of the Apostles. A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. 1998. 
3. Stott, John. The Message of Acts. 1990. Through the Bible through the year, Daily reflections from Genesis to Revelation. 2006. The Apostle to the Gentiles (13:1-21:17). 
4. Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. The Pillar NT commentary. 2009. The Jerusalem council (15:1-35).
5. Marshall, I. Howard. Acts. Tyndale NT commentaries (TNTC). 1980. The Mission to Asia Minor and its Aftermath (13:1-15:35). The assembly in Jerusalem (15:1-35).
6. Wright, N.T. Acts for Everyone, Part 2. Chapters 13-28. 2008.

Questions:

• Is salvation/justification by faith alone, or through a mixture of faith and works, grace and law, Jesus and Moses (Rom 3:24; 4:5)? If salvation is by grace (Ac 15:11) is there anything you need to do in order to be saved? Can obedience to the Law (works) save you (Eph 2:8-9)? What is the place of obedience in one’s salvation (Jas 2:18, 24, 26)?

1. What were some Jewish Christians [from Judea/Judaizers] saying to Gentile Christians [in Antioch] about what is needed for salvation (Ac 15:1, 5; Phil 3:2-3; 2 Cor 11:5; 12:11)? [Jerusalem to Antioch is 300 miles.] Why did Paul and Barnabas sharply dispute them (Ac 15:2a; Gal 1:7; 2:12-14; 5:1-2, 6, 11-12; 3:28; Col 3:11; 1 Cor 12:13)? What did the Antioch church do (Ac 15:2-4)?
   
2. At the Jerusalem Council meeting what was said:
   • By Peter (Ac 15:6-11)?
   • By Barnabas and Paul (Ac 15:12)?
   • By James (Ac 15:13-21; Amos 9:11-12; 1 Cor 6:15; Lev 18:20)?
3. What did the Jerusalem church decide to do (Ac 15:22-23)? What are the main contents of the letter (Ac 15:24-29, 19-20)? How did the Antioch church respond (Ac 15:30-31)? How might Judas, Silas, Paul and Barnabas have encouraged and strengthened them (Ac 15:32-35)?
4. Why did Paul and Barnabas disagree so sharply that they needed to part company (Ac 15:36-39)? Was this good or bad? Whose side do you take? What was the eventuality of their sharp disagreement and disunity (Col 4:10; Phlm 24; 2 Tim 4:11; 1 Cor 9:6)? Is this a good justifiable excuse for Christian quarreling?

ChatGPT: Acts 15 [the first major council of the early Christian church in Jerusalem] deals with 3 theological issues:

1. the relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers,
2. the role of circumcision and the law in salvation, and
3. the concept of grace.

The message of is that as believers, we must

1. come together and seek unity in the midst of disagreement and dispute,
2. be willing to listen to one another,
3. seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and
4. make decisions that reflect the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Paul says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace“ (Eph 4:3). This unity is not something that we can achieve on our own, but is a gift that comes from the Holy Spirit. Let us then come together in unity and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we navigate disagreements and disputes.

Also, salvation is a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ac 15:11). We are not saved by following a set of rules or regulations, but by placing our trust in Jesus and accepting His forgiveness and salvation. As we seek to follow Christ, we must also be willing to extend grace and love to those who may not share our exact beliefs or practices. We must be willing to listen to one another, to seek understanding, and to love one another as Christ loves us.

3 point sermon: Grace is a most important theme in Christianity. It’s the unmerited favor of God that we don’t deserve but receive through faith in Christ. The grace of God saves us, sustains us, and transforms us. It is a gift, not a reward. 3 points about the grace of God:

1. The Primacy/Source of Grace is God Himself. We cannot earn grace, and we don’t deserve it. It’s a free gift that comes from the heart of God. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9). We receive grace by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins on the cross. When we believe in Him, we receive the gift of salvation and the promise of eternal life.
2. The Power of Grace is transformative. Grace not only saves us from our sins, but it also transforms us into the image of Christ. “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age” (Tit 2:11-12).  As we grow in our relationship with God, His grace empowers us to live a life that honors Him. We don’t have to struggle in our own strength; we have the power of God’s grace at work in us.
3. The Perseverance of Grace is secure. Once we are saved by grace through faith, we are secure in Christ forever. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39). God’s grace is not a 1-time gift, but a continuous source of strength & security. No matter what we go through in life, we can be confident that God’s grace will sustain us and keep us secure in Him.
4. The Price of Grace is costly (1 Pet 1:18-19).

In conclusion, the grace of God is an amazing gift that is received through faith in Jesus. It’s the source of our salvation, the power that transforms us, and the perseverance that secures us in Christ.

Christians who have expressed the grace of God upon their lives in various ways:

1. St. Augustine: Augustine, one of the most influential Christian theologians of all time, wrote extensively about his own experience of receiving the grace of God. In his Confessions, he famously wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Augustine saw himself as a sinner in need of God’s grace and wrote eloquently about the transformative power of that grace in his life.
2. Martin Luther: The Protestant Reformation was sparked in large part by Martin Luther’s realization of the grace of God. Luther, a Catholic monk, struggled for years with feelings of guilt and inadequacy before coming to the understanding that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned through good works. This realization led him to write his famous Ninety-Five Theses and to become one of the most important figures in Christian history.
3. C.S. Lewis: The author of such classic works as Mere Christianity and The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis was a brilliant writer who expressed the grace of God in his own life through his writings. In Mere Christianity, he wrote, “The Christian is not one who has gone all the way with Christ. None of us has. It is the one who has taken the first step with Christ who has begun the journey.” Lewis saw himself as a flawed and imperfect human being who was nonetheless saved by the grace of God.
4. Billy Graham: The famous evangelist Billy Graham preached to millions of people around the world during his long career. He often spoke about the grace of God and how it had transformed his own life. In his autobiography, Just As I Am, he wrote, “I know that I am not the man I should be. I have failed many times, and I will fail again. But I know that God loves me, and that He has forgiven me, and that He will help me to become the man He wants me to be.”

“The Grace of God: Salvation is a Gift”

Today we explore the theme of grace in the story of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). It is a powerful reminder of the unmerited favor that God has bestowed upon us through his son, Jesus Christ.

I. The Context of Acts 15

• Conflict arises over circumcision.
• The council is called to address the issue.
• Peter testifies to the work of the Holy Spirit in Gentiles.
• James affirms the inclusion of Gentiles through grace.

II. Salvation by Grace, Not by Works

1. The Judaizers’ error of relying on circumcision.
2. Peter’s affirmation of salvation by grace through faith.
3. Paul’s witness to the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.
4. Our own inability to earn salvation by good works

III. The Boundless Nature of God’s Grace

1. The inclusivity of the Gospel message.
2. The power of grace to transform lives.
3. Our responsibility to share the Gospel message with all people.
4. The assurance of salvation through faith in Christ.

In conclusion, God’s grace is a gift that cannot be earned. We are saved through faith in Christ, not by our own works or merit. The story of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 reminds us of the inclusivity of the Gospel message, and the boundless nature of God’s grace. As we go out into the world, may we be ambassadors of this grace, sharing the good news with all people and living lives that testify to the transforming power of God’s love.