Month: June 2015

Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another…
Acts 15:37-39

Who would have ever seen this coming?!! Paul and Barnabas were such a faithful missionary team, diligent in their dedication to the Lord and their care for the souls of men. Barnabas had been instrumental in the church receiving Paul back in Act 9:26-27 when no one trusted this Saul of Tarsus who had once hated and persecuted Christians. Later in 11:22-26, Barnabas, “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith,” specifically sought out Paul and brought him back to Antioch to aid him in ministering to the young believers there. The two had been through many trials together and had been used mightily of the Lord to deliver souls from the bondage of sin. In fact, they were the loudest voices at the beginning of Act 15 standing for the truth and resisting those who taught the new Gentile believers they needed to be circumcised to be saved. These two brothers in the Lord were unparalleled in their missionary effort, and yet, at the end of Act 15, these who were always so united in spirit disagreed so strongly about Barnabas’ nephew John Mark going with them on the next journey that the two parted ways!

There is a strong warning in this unexpected event, namely we as believers must NEVER let down our guard. Paul and Barnabas had just experienced a great victory in Act 15 as the church was delivered from the bondage of salvation by works. The contention that began in Act 15 had ended in a united church and a decision in which the brethren “rejoiced over its encouragement.” (Act 15:31) Perhaps it was the intensity of the previous situation and the relief that it was over which led one or both of these men to spiritually relax and allow this disagreement to reach the level that it did. Sin had been permitted to creep in and destroy the blessed experience described in Psa 133:1: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” We are instructed in 1Pe 5:8 to be “sober” and “vigilant”. Both words are also translated “watchful” in other passages. The first word literally means “to abstain from wine” and thus encourages us to not give ourselves to anything that might impair our judgment and weaken our awareness of danger. The next word means “to keep awake” and is the word translated “watch” which our Lord used in speaking to his sleeping disciples in Mar 14:38: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Why is this constant state of watchfulness necessary? Because, as 1Pe 5:8 continues, “your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

The devil is restlessly looking for opportunity, EVER seeking a way to destroy the unity we enjoy in Christ. Gideon’s 300 are a great example of how we should be on guard at all times. The characteristic that differentiated these warriors from the 10,000 that were sent home was that the 300 did not get down on their knees to drink water. (Jdg 7:5-7) The idea is that these men remained standing and were ready for battle at all times, probably drinking with one hand while the other hand rested on their sword on their hip. Rather than kneeling and focusing on the water, their eyes scanned the horizon, watching for a sneak attack by the enemy. The 300 didn’t let down their guard! They knew the enemy could advance at any moment from any direction, so they watched. Christian, so ought we! The devil wants to destroy our oneness in the Lord. Don’t let him! “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (Jas 4:7) Every member of the body of Christ bears the responsibility of guarding against the enemy. May we be diligent in our watchfulness, “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled…” (Heb 12:15)

Jamie

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7

We read a quote in our study guide last week from R. C. H. Lenski who said, “To add anything to Christ as being necessary for salvation, say circumcision or any human work of any kind, is to deny that Christ is the complete Savior, is to put something human on a par with him. That is fatal. A bridge to heaven that is built of 99/100 of Christ and even only 1/100 of anything human breaks down at the joint and ceases to be a bridge.” I’m not familiar with Mr. Lenski, but I like that statement! It is affirmed by our text today, especially v. 5: “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” I don’t know that there is a verse which makes it any clearly concerning our salvation. Salvation is solely based on Christ’s work and not my own. He alone did that which was fully pleasing to God, not failing in even one point, and so all who trust in Him may be justified forever before God because His payment for sin, his sinless sacrifice, was acceptable to the Father.

We have been studying Act 15 for the last several weeks as the apostles and elders deliberated over the question of what things were necessary for salvation. The particular “thing” that had been asserted by some of the Jews at that time was that, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Act 15:1) It is the last part of that statement that should be emphasized in our minds. They were trying to add to the requirement for salvation, but as Peter noted in v. 7, the Gentiles only had to do one thing before God acknowledged their salvation by giving them the Holy Ghost. Peter said he was chosen by God first to preach to the Gentiles so that they “should hear the word of the gospel and believe“. Belief was the one issue, i.e. faith in Christ. Period!  This fact agrees exactly with Paul’s response in the next chapter to the Philippian jailer when he asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul’s response was simple and required nothing more than, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Act 16:30-31) That’s the simplicity of the gospel in a nutshell, church! The requirement is low enough that any may enter. If we add even good things to it–for example baptism–some men are shut out. The thief on the cross is without hope! But if all he needed to do was believe, he was indeed with Jesus later that very day in paradise!

Some may argue that to present such a simple salvation to souls is to encourage sin. “If they only have to believe, then they can believe in Jesus and do whatever they want!” To think such a thing is to misunderstand true belief. True faith in Christ will always produce good works! In fact, I purposely stopped short of the next verse in our main text today so we could read it now. After having made sure we clearly understood that salvation was based solely upon the work of Christ and not our own “works of righteousness”, Paul wrote to Titus, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” (Tit 3:8) True belief always yields good works! As James wrote, “faith without works is dead”. (Jam 2:17-26) The issue with works is making sure they are in the right order. Works do not precede salvation, but they will without a doubt follow. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:8-10)

Jamie