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BIG IDEA:

PAUL’S AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED —

PAUL’S INDEPENDENT MESSAGE AND AUTHORITY WERE STILL VALIDATED BY THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM

INTRODUCTION:

Setting was probably the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 — a pivotal point for the early church

I. (:1-3) THE VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION OF PAUL’S GOSPEL MESSAGE FOR REVIEW BY THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM

A. (:1-2a) The Occasion — Paul’s Second Visit to the Church in Jerusalem

1. Time Interval

“Then after an interval of fourteen years”

No question that Paul had been ministering on an independent basis, rather than dependent on the Church in Jerusalem for the content of his message

2. Voluntary Initiative

“I went up again to Jerusalem”

not summoned by some church council; his hand was not forced by man

3. Bold Approach

“with Barnabas, taking Titus along also”

not ducking the central issue of circumcision and Jewish legalism

Swindoll: “Titus was a test case for the validity of the gospel of faith plus nothing.”

4. Divine Summons

“And it was because of a revelation that I went up”

B. (:2b) The Review of the Gospel Message

1. Respectful Approach — But not Submissive as an inferior to superiors

“and I submitted to them”

2. Objective Approach — Consistent Content

“the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles”

Gromacki: “… he declared or laid before them his message for their consideration. He did not go to find out what to preach or to be corrected.”

3. Wise Approach

“but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain”

C. (:3) The Proof of the Approval

“But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a greek, was compelled to be circumcised.”

II. (:4-5) THE PROBLEM: FALSE TEACHERS WHO WERE PROMOTING THEIR FALSE GOSPEL OF LEGALISM OVER PAUL’S TRUE GOSPEL OF LIBERTY IN CHRIST

A. (:4) Identifying the Troublemakers

1. Their Counterfeit Nature

“But it was because of the false brethren”

2. Their Deceptive Methodology

“who had sneaked in to spy out”

3. Their Point of Stumbling

“our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus”

Why should this have been such a problem for them?

4. Their True Agenda

“in order to bring us into bondage”

B. (:5) Refusing to Exchange Liberty for Legalism

1. Not Giving in to their Pressure (to fall back into Legalism)

“But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour”

2. Maintaining the Truth of the Gospel (a life of Liberty in the Spirit)

“so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you”

III. (:6-10) THE UNQUALIFIED RECOGNITION OF PAUL’S GENUINE AUTHORITY AND EFFECTIVE MINISTRY

A. (:6) Paul’s Apostolic Authority Not Dependent on Human Commendation

“But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) — well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.”

Transition: “But on the contrary”

B. (:7-9a) Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles Comparable to Peter’s Ministry to the Jews

(note chiastic structure)

1. Comparable Calling

a. Ministry of Paul — Distinctive Emphasis

“seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised”

b. Ministry of Peter — Distinctive Emphasis

“just as Peter had been to the circumcised”

2. Same Power of God at Work

a. Ministry of Peter

“for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised”

b. Ministry of Paul

“effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles.”

3. Same Grace of God at Work

“and recognizing the grace that had been given to me”

Evans: “Paul also contrasts his mission with that of Peter. Peter was given the ministry to the Jews. This has caused many to assume that Jews are saved by one method, and Gentiles by another. Such is not the case. On what grounds do Jews base their being chosen by God? It is on the basis of the Abrahamic Covenant. What is the basis of the Abrahamic Covenant? Grace! God chose Abraham Due to grace. God did not choose Abraham because He was indebted to him. When Abraham (Abram) was chosen he was not a Jew. In Abram’s day there were NO Jews. Abram was a Gentile by birth. Abraham believed God, and because of that God accepted him. That acceptance was the result of grace. Today, we believe God. We trust that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus, and the Father accepts that as righteous. We are saved by the same method that brought Abram righteousness. Abram was a Gentile convert. Both Paul and Peter had God’s power resident in them. Peter for the work among the Jews, Paul for work among the Gentiles.”

C. (:9b-10) Formal Recognition of Ministry Partnership

1. Impressive Commendation by the Leaders of the Jerusalem Church

a. Their Names

James

Cephas

John

b. Their Reputation

“who were reputed to be pillars”

2. Grateful Reception by the Ministers to the Gentile Church

“gave to me and Barnabas”

Why no mention of Titus?

3. Symbol of Ministry Partnership

“the right hand of fellowship”

Lovett: “The other apostles give full sanction to Paul’s ministry, acknowledging his commission, received by revelation, to be identical with the one they received from Jesus in Person.”

4. Division of Responsibility (Validating the Status Quo)

a. “that we might go to the Gentiles”

b. “and they to the circumcised”

5. Practical Show of Brotherly Love

a. Request by the Apostles

“They only asked us to remember the poor”

b. Response from Paul

“the very thing I also was eager to do.”

(Rom. 15:25 ff., 1 Cor. 16:1 ff., 2 Cor. 8:1 ff., 9:1 ff., Acts 11:29 ff., 12:25, and 24:17)

Pinnock: “As a fraternal gesture, motivated by real love, Paul agreed to do what he could to help the ‘poor.’ This is a reference to the saints in the Jerusalem church who were extremely destitute. None of Paul’s Gentile churches were so poor. Later on Paul was able to raise a collection from them in fulfilment of his promise here.”