Paul and the Gospel
“Shucks, a hound dog can lick a skunk any day, but it just isn’t worth it.”
Pick carefully the hill you want to die on…
We call them “Judaisers” – not in the Bible
How were the events in Acts 15 critical to the gospel of God and the course of Paul’s future?
A. What
made it necessary to bring this matter to the apostles and elders at
1. Who
was arguing at
2. Is this the first time Paul has had trouble with the Jews?
3. Were these men who came down from Judea Jews or Christians?
4. Is this the first time we know if that Paul has had trouble with Jewish Christians?
Conclusion: These Christians were a little too Jewish. This issue needed to be resolved to prevent factions from forming
B. What are the facts that show the Gentiles are not subject to the Law of Moses?
1. What makes a person a Jew?
2. What was Peter’s experience at the house of Cornelius?
a. What is significant about the fact that “God made a choice…”?
b. Could God have chosen differently?
3. What had Paul and Barnabas witnessed as they worked among the Gentiles?
4. What had they both concluded?
5. What was the opinion of the Pharisee believers? V. 5
a. What would be the effect of circumcision on the Gentiles?
b. Was there any evidence offered confirming that God wanted the Gentiles to become Jews?
6. How can James conclude from the Amos quotation that the Gentiles are not subject to the Law of Moses? 15:14-19
7. What do you think would have happened if Peter’s mind had not been prepared for this and he had agreed with the Pharisee believers?
Conclusion: One side had evidence from God confirming his will in the matter. The other side had none
C. How did the decision impact the gospel message we have today?
D. How has the decision by the Elders and Apostles affected Paul’s relationship with the Pharisee believers? (We have the advantage of knowing the future)
1. What will be the effect on the Gentiles as Paul continues teaching them the gospel and reading this letter to them? (it guards against the Old Law salvation message)
2. How do you think the Gentiles who have read the letter will react to the Jewish believer’s teaching? (as long as they don’t teach salvation by the Old Law…)
3. How will the Jewish believers start viewing Paul?
4. Paul argues persuasively. What tactic is normally used by the Jews?
5. What did Paul say about the Jewish-Christian message of “be circumcised to be saved”? Gal. 1:6-10 (It would be like us saying, “If anyone says to you, ‘To be saved, just invite Jesus into your heart’, let him be condemned!)
6. (Read Acts 15:30-35)
Conclusion: This
issue is pivotal to the purity of the gospel and Paul’s future as it is
affected by his conflict with the Jews.