Recently we bought a secondhand motorcar. Although a Chevrolet like we had in South Africa, this is an Equinox, and the controls on the dashboard are very different to the Sonic we had. Also, the steering wheel is on the left hand side. How does one find out which buttons control what? We had to refer to the owner’s manual. Just as an example, the remote keyless entry unit looks the same as our previous car, but it has two additional buttons. One starts the engine remotely. Say the car is outside and it’s cold, you may start the engine whilst inside to warm it up so that once you get into the car you may drive off immediately. The other one is for when you park your car in a huge parking lot and can’t find it. You press that button and the lights start flashing or pressing it twice the hooter starts going on and off. Without the manual we would not have known these things. We referred to the manual.
We spent some time getting to understand what circumcision meant historically and in Judaism to understand what the men from the Party of the Pharisees were teaching when we started looking at:
Ac 15:1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
We then saw the missionaries’ reaction:
Ac 15:2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.
Remember, the Christian Church was only a few years old and they did not have the completed Canon of Scripture as we do. In other words, they did not have the complete manual to refer to. Now we read on:
Ac 15:2 So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
1) Speaking to the custodians of the Church.
Ac 15:2 So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Although Paul and Barnabas were sent by the Holy Spirit as missionaries and there is no suggested information that the Spirit ever left them:
Ac 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit
They needed to be submissive to the apostles and elder in Jerusalem … that is, they needed guidance from the Church’s Headquarters. Their debating was right but the influence of these “Judaizers” spread wide, especially as they came from Jerusalem. The “Church” in verse three is the Church at Antioch. The membership of the Church would have comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. This means they would have a vested interest in how Paul and Barnabas tried to counter the Judaizers leading to them sending these two brothers to Jerusalem to discuss whether Christians need to conform to the Jewish rite of circumcision or not. Cleverly, the Church did not send them alone. They sent witnesses … other Church members journeyed with them. As mentioned above, they did not have the completed Scriptures as their directive for Church Policy, Doctrine and Standards. Therefore the need to present their case squarely at the custodians of the Church … the apostles and elders’ feet was needed. In most Church Groupings they have a central committee (such as an executive, synod, presbytery or the like). This body would act as the final authority for Church Practice according to the rules they have adopted to follow. Where members or clergy (paid employees) of the local Church cannot get satisfaction, they have the right to follow their legal options and take matters to the higher or highest authority for satisfaction. Mostly this is not followed … but there are cases in various Groups where “disagreements, injustices or need for clarification” have been taken further. This is what the Church at Antioch was doing. Because this was a serious challenge to doctrine … the Doctrine of Salvation, they refused to be divided as a Church by seeking clarification from the Mother Body.
2) True evangelists in action. We have seen this before with Paul and Barnabas … they used every opportunity to preach the Gospel and share what the Holy Spirit was doing as he built the Church of the Lord Jesus.
Ac 15:3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.
Be it pastors or missionaries, as well as “ordinary” Church members, wherever you go you are on duty, in the Lord’s service. Someone either needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus or they need to be encouraged by what God is doing in His Vineyard. You might be traveling as a business person. You might be sent on a mission of some sort by your family. You might be going on holiday. Note this beloved … as a Christian you are always on duty and need to be praying towards and seeking opportunities of making yourself known as a Christian to gain the right to speak about Jesus or to speak about what He is doing in your Church or life. Don’t miss this because the person or people you need to share with might never be able to hear your message again. Two important things are
(i) Readiness … and …
(ii) Urgency.
You need to be ready to serve Jesus at very short notice. Because of this you need to have urgency in your heart. This morning Roy and I were following another couple towards another county. On one of the main roads we saw many red lights flashing to the point where the intersection ahead was closed to all traffic on both sides. Later the people we were following said a friend arrived at that intersection a minute after the accident. Someone jumped the red light and caused a disastrous collision. Roy and I prayed for anyone injured and for families should there have been a death. We did not find out any details. My point of this story is that so often accidents and fatalities occur so suddenly. Remember the story of the man I spoke about who was in Church the morning and killed by a speeding motorbike racing against another, jumping the red light? Urgency is in the air all the time. We need to get the Gospel out because the hearer or potential hearer might never have another opportunity to hear. You are God’s mouth peace. Be ready because there is urgency.
Our Father, grant us a willing, ready evangelistic heart, eager to share Jesus with those You bring across our pathway. Amen.