Good morning, friends, again,
00:00:35.43\00:00:36.50
and welcome to
Sabbath School Study Hour
00:00:36.50\00:00:38.53
here at the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:00:38.53\00:00:40.74
in Sacramento, California.
00:00:40.74\00:00:42.74
Very warm welcome
00:00:42.74\00:00:43.77
to our online
members who are joining us
00:00:43.77\00:00:45.81
and our friends
across the country
00:00:45.81\00:00:47.01
and around the world on
various television networks.
00:00:47.01\00:00:50.55
And as always, warm welcome
to our members and visitors
00:00:50.55\00:00:53.25
right here in person
00:00:53.25\00:00:54.35
at the Granite Bay Church.
00:00:54.35\00:00:55.75
It's always nice to
see you week after week
00:00:55.75\00:00:57.55
coming together
to study the lesson.
00:00:57.55\00:00:59.95
Now as many of you know,
00:00:59.95\00:01:01.16
we've been studying
through the Book of Acts,
00:01:01.16\00:01:02.99
that's this
entire quarter's theme,
00:01:02.99\00:01:05.29
the Book of Acts.
00:01:05.29\00:01:06.33
Today we find ourselves
on lesson number eight.
00:01:06.33\00:01:09.43
It is the first
general conference session,
00:01:09.43\00:01:12.13
so to speak, of
the Christian church.
00:01:12.13\00:01:14.00
It's called the
Jerusalem Council.
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And that's going to be our theme
00:01:16.40\00:01:17.51
for study this morning.
00:01:17.51\00:01:18.71
For our friends
who are joining us,
00:01:18.71\00:01:19.84
if you don't have
a copy of the lesson,
00:01:19.84\00:01:22.08
and you'd like
to download a copy,
00:01:22.08\00:01:23.51
so you can follow along with us,
00:01:23.51\00:01:25.25
just visit study.aftv.org.
00:01:25.25\00:01:29.52
You can download
lesson number eight.
00:01:29.52\00:01:31.79
That web address
is study.aftv.org,
00:01:31.79\00:01:35.19
download lesson number
eight, "The Jerusalem Council,"
00:01:35.19\00:01:38.19
and you can study along with us.
00:01:38.19\00:01:40.30
Also for our
friends who are watching,
00:01:40.30\00:01:41.96
we have a free gift we'd
like to make available to you.
00:01:41.96\00:01:45.00
It is a book
written by Pastor Doug,
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entitled "Spiritual Israel."
00:01:46.77\00:01:49.34
For those who'd like to
receive the book in the mail,
00:01:49.34\00:01:51.41
call 866-788-3966, and
ask for offer number 174.
00:01:51.41\00:01:57.65
We'll be happy to send
it to you through the mail.
00:01:57.65\00:02:00.05
If you'd like to receive
00:02:00.05\00:02:01.12
a digital
download of the same book,
00:02:01.12\00:02:03.99
all you'll have to do
is text the following code,
00:02:03.99\00:02:06.79
"SH062" to the number 40544.
00:02:06.79\00:02:12.76
You will then receive an email
00:02:12.76\00:02:14.20
where you can download a
digital copy of the book,
00:02:14.20\00:02:17.07
"Spiritual Israel."
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I think you'll be
blessed as you read that book.
00:02:18.43\00:02:21.30
It goes along
with our study today.
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Before we get to
our study, as always,
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we'd like to lift
our voices in song.
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I'm going to invite our
song leaders to come join me.
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Good morning.
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We're going to
begin our worship time
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and our Sabbath School
time this morning with singing.
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And we're going to
start with number 208,
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"There'll be no dark valley."
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That's 208 in
the Adventist hymnal.
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And we invite all of
you to get out your hymnals
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and sing along
with us, number 208,
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"There'll be no dark
valley when Jesus comes."
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It's going to
be such a glorious,
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glorious appearing
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when He comes in
all of His glory,
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and there will
be no dark valleys,
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not only
literally no dark valleys,
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but also all the dark things
of this world will be banished.
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And it's going to be
such a glorious time.
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Let's sing together number 208,
"There'll be no dark valley."
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Let's bow our
heads for word of prayer.
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Dear, Father, once
again we are grateful
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for the opportunity
to gather in Your house
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on this, Your Sabbath
day, to open up Your Word
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and study this important
book, the Book of Acts,
00:05:23.65\00:05:26.25
so many lessons
that we can learn
00:05:26.25\00:05:28.22
from the first
century Christian church
00:05:28.22\00:05:30.59
that apply to us today.
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So, Father, we ask
for the Holy Spirit
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to come and guide
our hearts, our minds,
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impress upon us those
things that You want us to know,
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for we ask this in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Our lesson this morning
is going to be brought to us
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by our family life
pastor here at Granite Bay,
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Pastor Shawn Brummund.
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Good morning to all.
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It's good to see
you, and it's always good
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to be able to
come together to study
00:05:54.48\00:05:56.15
as we continue to make our way
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through one of my
favorite books in the Bible,
00:05:58.15\00:06:00.22
which is called
the Book of Acts.
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And there's just
something very special
00:06:02.52\00:06:04.23
about the Book of Acts,
00:06:04.23\00:06:05.99
you know, a lot of us
might find ourselves attempted
00:06:05.99\00:06:09.20
to different action figures,
00:06:09.20\00:06:11.70
different action
movies and this type of thing.
00:06:11.70\00:06:15.57
But, you know, there's
just something attractive
00:06:15.57\00:06:18.81
about action.
00:06:18.81\00:06:20.31
And this particular book
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is about the
most important actions
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that has ever taken
place in the time of Christ
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and in the early church.
00:06:29.68\00:06:30.92
And so, this is a
very, very important subject,
00:06:30.92\00:06:34.09
a very, very important book.
00:06:34.09\00:06:35.26
Now, the subject that
we're looking at today
00:06:35.26\00:06:37.23
is lesson number eight entitled,
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"The Jerusalem Council."
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And the Jerusalem
Council in chapter 15
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is no small chapter.
00:06:43.30\00:06:45.47
In fact, this
is a huge milestone
00:06:45.47\00:06:48.60
that we find in the scriptures
and in the Book of Acts.
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In fact, if you look at the
lesson study in the quarterly,
00:06:52.71\00:06:55.11
you'll notice that
the first couple lessons,
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they included just
one chapter, Acts 1.
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We had just looked at
Acts 1 for a whole week.
00:06:59.48\00:07:01.85
We looked at Acts
2, Pentecost, huge,
00:07:01.85\00:07:05.85
so huge that we
spent a whole week on it.
00:07:05.85\00:07:08.19
The rest of the weeks,
you'll notice that we spend
00:07:08.19\00:07:10.23
two, three,
sometimes four, five chapters
00:07:10.23\00:07:12.69
that we'll look at in one week.
00:07:12.69\00:07:14.63
But today we're looking
at just one chapter again
00:07:14.63\00:07:17.37
because this chapter
is huge, it's packed.
00:07:17.37\00:07:20.77
And it has all kinds
of very important things
00:07:20.77\00:07:23.87
for us to see.
00:07:23.87\00:07:26.64
As I was preparing for
this particular lesson,
00:07:26.64\00:07:29.01
one of the things that
I was thinking to myself
00:07:29.01\00:07:31.25
is that another good
title for this week's lesson
00:07:31.25\00:07:33.95
would be "Growing pains."
00:07:33.95\00:07:37.42
"Growing pains."
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And this was not an easy
experience for the church
00:07:39.02\00:07:43.53
as they came to what is recorded
00:07:43.53\00:07:45.83
in the Jerusalem Council
or what we might call Acts 15.
00:07:45.83\00:07:52.07
And then I
started to contemplate
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the ministry of Jesus
00:07:53.20\00:07:54.70
as He was making His way
through His public ministry
00:07:54.70\00:07:57.57
even before we
come to the Book of Acts
00:07:57.57\00:08:00.18
and the
fledgling Christian church.
00:08:00.18\00:08:02.91
And Jesus really,
00:08:02.91\00:08:04.15
when He was going
through this earth,
00:08:04.15\00:08:05.55
of course, He was accomplishing
00:08:05.55\00:08:07.38
several large
important things on His agenda.
00:08:07.38\00:08:12.05
And so His
agenda was very large.
00:08:12.05\00:08:15.32
But two of the largest
pieces of His agenda include,
00:08:15.32\00:08:21.03
and it was working in
laying the foundation really
00:08:21.03\00:08:23.47
for what we're
looking at in Acts 15.
00:08:23.47\00:08:28.24
And that is that when
Jesus was on this earth,
00:08:28.24\00:08:31.51
He really...
00:08:31.51\00:08:33.38
Well, let's just say
00:08:33.38\00:08:34.38
that He really rocked
this world in a very...
00:08:34.38\00:08:36.51
And rocked the world of Israel
in a very significant way.
00:08:36.51\00:08:41.25
And He addressed it this way.
00:08:41.25\00:08:42.32
In Luke 5:39, He says it
a number of different ways,
00:08:42.32\00:08:47.32
but in this way He says,
00:08:47.32\00:08:49.06
"And no one,
having drunk old wine,
00:08:49.06\00:08:51.49
immediately desires the new,
00:08:51.49\00:08:53.66
for he says,
'The old is better.'"
00:08:53.66\00:08:58.63
And again coming back
00:08:58.63\00:09:02.70
to the two large
things that Jesus,
00:09:02.70\00:09:06.98
two of the large things
that Jesus was accomplishing
00:09:06.98\00:09:10.25
during His public
ministry was that,
00:09:10.25\00:09:12.41
not only was He correcting
a lot of the false theology,
00:09:12.41\00:09:16.05
a lot of the err, the
traditions that had crept
00:09:16.05\00:09:18.29
into the
religion of the Israelites
00:09:18.29\00:09:21.69
concerning the old covenant.
00:09:21.69\00:09:24.33
But He was also
laying the foundation
00:09:24.33\00:09:26.36
to introduce the new covenant.
00:09:26.36\00:09:30.03
And Jesus knew that
that was revolutionary.
00:09:30.03\00:09:32.90
And so really, He was
revolutionary in two counts.
00:09:32.90\00:09:35.24
Number one, He was
revolutionary in the fact
00:09:35.24\00:09:37.64
that He was clarifying
again the old covenant
00:09:37.64\00:09:40.11
which had been skewed
in so many various ways,
00:09:40.11\00:09:44.98
but then He was also
laying the foundation
00:09:44.98\00:09:46.82
to introduce the
new covenant as well.
00:09:46.82\00:09:51.19
And with the new
covenant came some new wine.
00:09:51.19\00:09:54.52
It wasn't what the
religious people of Israel
00:09:54.52\00:09:58.13
were accustomed
to during their time.
00:09:58.13\00:10:01.50
And so Jesus was very
patient with His disciples
00:10:01.50\00:10:04.50
and His followers
during His public ministry.
00:10:04.50\00:10:07.10
And then we find that
00:10:07.10\00:10:08.14
Jesus was very patient with them
00:10:08.14\00:10:10.17
after He went to heaven,
and He sent His Holy Spirit,
00:10:10.17\00:10:15.14
and He was
continuing to guide His church,
00:10:15.14\00:10:19.15
His apostles, and His disciples.
00:10:19.15\00:10:24.75
When you think about it,
really Jesus was introducing
00:10:24.75\00:10:28.79
when He brought
in the new covenant,
00:10:28.79\00:10:30.76
He knew in His mind.
00:10:30.76\00:10:32.43
Because, of course, He knows
00:10:32.43\00:10:33.50
the beginning from
the end, doesn't He?
00:10:33.50\00:10:35.43
And Jesus knew
that He was introducing
00:10:35.43\00:10:38.20
what would become
00:10:38.20\00:10:39.60
the second great world religion.
00:10:39.60\00:10:42.54
Now we have three
great world religions today
00:10:42.54\00:10:45.37
that have evolved over the
last couple of thousand years.
00:10:45.37\00:10:48.34
And although even
before if you count Judaism.
00:10:48.34\00:10:51.95
So Judaism, of course,
had conceived of with Abraham
00:10:51.95\00:10:57.35
many years before Jesus.
00:10:57.35\00:10:59.25
Then Jesus came
along with His disciples,
00:10:59.25\00:11:01.36
and they had
conceived Christianity.
00:11:01.36\00:11:04.13
And then about 500 years later,
we have Muhammad that rose up
00:11:04.13\00:11:07.10
and also brought in the
third great world religion
00:11:07.10\00:11:11.20
which is that of Islam.
00:11:11.20\00:11:14.30
And so Jesus was introducing
the second great world religion
00:11:14.30\00:11:19.71
when He began
His public ministry.
00:11:19.71\00:11:23.68
You know, there's
something I've been sharing
00:11:23.68\00:11:26.58
with my friends over the last...
00:11:26.58\00:11:27.95
Well, a couple of decades
now as I've been studying
00:11:27.95\00:11:30.42
the Old and the New
Testament, and realizing
00:11:30.42\00:11:33.42
that there is more
parallels, and more in common
00:11:33.42\00:11:37.59
between the Old
and New Testament
00:11:37.59\00:11:39.26
than there is different
from the Old and New Testament.
00:11:39.26\00:11:42.53
In fact, it was
so many parallels
00:11:42.53\00:11:44.20
that I started to say, you know,
00:11:44.20\00:11:45.27
"I'm going to write
a book one day called,
00:11:45.27\00:11:46.60
"There's nothing new
in the New Testament."
00:11:46.60\00:11:49.80
And really, of
course, this is something
00:11:49.80\00:11:53.21
that flies in the face of that
which has evolved in a lot of
00:11:53.21\00:11:58.78
what we call
modern evangelicalism.
00:11:58.78\00:12:01.25
Over the last 50 or 60 years,
00:12:01.25\00:12:03.55
we have this kind of
evolution of two gospels.
00:12:03.55\00:12:06.96
You have the gospel
of the Old Testament,
00:12:06.96\00:12:08.69
which is more workspace
to be kind of, you know,
00:12:08.69\00:12:11.53
merit based salvation,
and then you have the grace
00:12:11.53\00:12:15.10
based salvation of
Jesus in the New Testament.
00:12:15.10\00:12:17.67
And that just doesn't really fly
00:12:17.67\00:12:20.74
when you read the
Old and New Testament
00:12:20.74\00:12:23.30
and realize that
really they have way more
00:12:23.30\00:12:26.04
in common than
they have not in common.
00:12:26.04\00:12:30.28
Now, of course,
there is a couple of
00:12:30.28\00:12:31.35
different things
that were clarified
00:12:31.35\00:12:32.91
with the New Testament,
00:12:32.91\00:12:33.98
and so we need to be
fair when I say that.
00:12:33.98\00:12:35.52
When there's nothing
new in the New Testament,
00:12:35.52\00:12:36.92
we have to say
that in an overall sense
00:12:36.92\00:12:39.15
because God did clarify a
couple of different things
00:12:39.15\00:12:42.09
that He winked at
in the Old Testament.
00:12:42.09\00:12:43.73
I'm thinking in
particular of that of polygamy.
00:12:43.73\00:12:48.93
You know, He kind
of winked at polygamy
00:12:48.93\00:12:50.63
throughout the
Old Testament era,
00:12:50.63\00:12:52.17
but then when the
New Testament came along,
00:12:52.17\00:12:53.80
He said, "Okay,
listen, this is a new standard
00:12:53.80\00:12:57.24
that I want to introduce."
00:12:57.24\00:12:58.57
And so He said, "When
you pick your deacons,
00:12:58.57\00:13:00.41
and your elders, and
so on, make that example
00:13:00.41\00:13:03.38
and be the
husband of only one wife."
00:13:03.38\00:13:05.78
And so He kind of
clarified that for us,
00:13:05.78\00:13:08.68
adornment and jewelry.
00:13:08.68\00:13:09.98
You know, Peter and
Paul clarified that issue
00:13:09.98\00:13:12.12
more than any other
writer up until that point.
00:13:12.12\00:13:15.69
And so, yes, there
are some new standards
00:13:15.69\00:13:17.56
and new clarification
that God kind of brought
00:13:17.56\00:13:19.63
God's people up to speed on.
00:13:19.63\00:13:22.80
But overall, really...
00:13:22.80\00:13:25.77
More than
anything, there's nothing new
00:13:25.77\00:13:27.14
in the New
Testament except for one
00:13:27.14\00:13:31.14
very significant thing.
00:13:31.14\00:13:35.11
What would that be?
00:13:35.11\00:13:38.31
All right, Jesus. All right.
00:13:38.31\00:13:40.48
Now, Jesus, and we
can say in a way was...
00:13:40.48\00:13:42.55
It was the center of
the Old Testament covenant.
00:13:42.55\00:13:46.39
The old covenant, Old Testament
00:13:46.39\00:13:47.72
even as it was
with the New Testament.
00:13:47.72\00:13:50.16
So, yes to a certain degree,
but what is the large minus.
00:13:50.16\00:13:54.56
There's one large
removable from the old covenant.
00:13:54.56\00:13:59.03
No, it's not the
Ten Commandments.
00:13:59.03\00:14:02.10
Okay.
00:14:02.10\00:14:03.74
All right, all right.
00:14:03.74\00:14:05.04
Now we're starting
to get on to the answer.
00:14:05.04\00:14:06.47
Okay, we went from warm
to hot to right on the dot.
00:14:06.47\00:14:09.94
And that is that we find that...
00:14:09.94\00:14:14.45
You know, there was the
removal of the ceremonial
00:14:14.45\00:14:18.19
and the civil law of Moses.
00:14:18.19\00:14:22.02
Was that a large removal?
00:14:22.02\00:14:24.93
Yes, that was a huge removal.
00:14:24.93\00:14:27.50
And so there is one
very significant difference
00:14:27.50\00:14:31.40
between the old covenant
or Testament, excuse me,
00:14:31.40\00:14:35.30
and that of the new
covenant or Testament.
00:14:35.30\00:14:38.27
And that is the fact that
00:14:38.27\00:14:39.97
there is the fulfillment
of Christ in His life,
00:14:39.97\00:14:43.75
His death, His ministry,
00:14:43.75\00:14:46.08
and His high priesthood
in heaven that replaced
00:14:46.08\00:14:50.29
all of that
priesthood at earthly sanctuary,
00:14:50.29\00:14:53.46
and sacrificial system
and so on here on earth.
00:14:53.46\00:14:57.16
And so this is
no small difference
00:14:57.16\00:15:00.46
between the two.
00:15:00.46\00:15:03.13
And the civil
law was removed, why?
00:15:03.13\00:15:05.83
Well, because Israel
was going to soon be morphed
00:15:05.83\00:15:08.20
into a borderless nation.
00:15:08.20\00:15:10.97
Its citizens would no longer
be bound to a bordered country,
00:15:10.97\00:15:16.21
but rather Israel was
now to find itself morphed
00:15:16.21\00:15:18.88
into an international existence.
00:15:18.88\00:15:22.15
And so its citizens would
find itself eventually living
00:15:22.15\00:15:24.89
in all nations around the world.
00:15:24.89\00:15:27.62
And so
logistically, a civil government
00:15:27.62\00:15:30.39
just doesn't make
sense, it doesn't fit,
00:15:30.39\00:15:32.63
it's not needed, and therefore
that civil law of Moses
00:15:32.63\00:15:36.43
was to be set aside.
00:15:36.43\00:15:39.80
Not only that,
but the Ceremonial Law
00:15:39.80\00:15:41.84
was to be removed.
00:15:41.84\00:15:42.94
Why?
00:15:42.94\00:15:43.97
Because its
purpose was fulfilled
00:15:43.97\00:15:45.34
as I said earlier in
the life-death ministry
00:15:45.34\00:15:47.24
and high priesthood of Jesus.
00:15:47.24\00:15:50.78
Now, one of the things
that we need to keep in mind
00:15:50.78\00:15:52.58
as we come to Luke...
00:15:52.58\00:15:53.95
Sorry, the Book
of Acts 15 is that
00:15:53.95\00:15:57.12
for the fledgling church
that was predominately by far,
00:15:57.12\00:16:01.29
almost pretty
well exclusively Jewish
00:16:01.29\00:16:05.43
by race as well as by religion,
00:16:05.43\00:16:10.03
we find that for
the fledgling church,
00:16:10.03\00:16:12.97
this was not an
easy pill to swallow.
00:16:12.97\00:16:17.71
For many, this was
like cutting off their arm
00:16:17.71\00:16:19.91
or at least it felt like
00:16:19.91\00:16:21.14
they were asked
to cut off their arm
00:16:21.14\00:16:22.61
because this was a
big part of who they were.
00:16:22.61\00:16:25.51
I mean, the little...
00:16:25.51\00:16:27.52
The men, the
women, they can remember
00:16:27.52\00:16:29.52
that first time when
they were able to make
00:16:29.52\00:16:31.49
that pilgrimage
with their families down
00:16:31.49\00:16:33.52
to Jerusalem at 12 years of age,
00:16:33.52\00:16:35.69
and participate
for the first time,
00:16:35.69\00:16:38.29
and observe the temple,
and the great sacrifices
00:16:38.29\00:16:41.66
that were taking
place, and the great ephod
00:16:41.66\00:16:44.83
with the Urim and
Thummim, you know,
00:16:44.83\00:16:47.27
the great gems on the chest
of the high priest, you know,
00:16:47.27\00:16:50.41
they saw all that, and
that made deep impressions,
00:16:50.41\00:16:53.44
and this was a very
intricate, very important part
00:16:53.44\00:16:57.48
of their religious
experience and understanding
00:16:57.48\00:17:02.35
of God's
salvation of their religion.
00:17:02.35\00:17:05.22
And so this was
not a small transition
00:17:05.22\00:17:08.49
that God was
bringing them through.
00:17:08.49\00:17:10.23
And that's why we find
it didn't happen in a day,
00:17:10.23\00:17:12.96
we find it
didn't happen in a week,
00:17:12.96\00:17:14.46
it didn't even happen in a year,
00:17:14.46\00:17:15.83
but it took
several years, in fact,
00:17:15.83\00:17:18.03
it took a few
decades for the church
00:17:18.03\00:17:20.87
to be able to come to full terms
00:17:20.87\00:17:23.61
with not only the fact
that uncircumcised gentiles
00:17:23.61\00:17:26.74
can come into the gospel
without being circumcised,
00:17:26.74\00:17:30.15
come into Israel
without being circumcised
00:17:30.15\00:17:32.58
and observe the Law of
Moses, but that the Law of Moses
00:17:32.58\00:17:35.92
itself was fulfilled, and even
00:17:35.92\00:17:37.82
for the Jew was not
necessary any longer.
00:17:37.82\00:17:41.96
And so step one
is found in Acts 15,
00:17:41.96\00:17:46.83
and then the rest is found
00:17:46.83\00:17:48.50
throughout the
rest of the decades
00:17:48.50\00:17:51.90
that followed, and
really it wouldn't be
00:17:51.90\00:17:57.04
until the Book of
Hebrews came along.
00:17:57.04\00:18:00.24
Now, the Book of
Hebrews wasn't written
00:18:00.24\00:18:01.74
when the Jerusalem
Council took place.
00:18:01.74\00:18:03.88
They were just coming to grips
with uncircumcised gentiles
00:18:03.88\00:18:06.38
coming into the
church, and into the kingdom,
00:18:06.38\00:18:08.25
and into Israel.
00:18:08.25\00:18:09.68
But then there was also
the question of even a Jew
00:18:09.68\00:18:16.09
not being required, you know,
to keep the feast and so on.
00:18:16.09\00:18:20.30
And so that's why you
find that most Christian
00:18:20.30\00:18:25.60
that are also Jewish
by background, you know,
00:18:25.60\00:18:29.40
they don't keep the
feasts or the sacrifices.
00:18:29.40\00:18:32.31
In fact, really nobody
does, does they, do they?
00:18:32.31\00:18:36.81
Because to keep
the biblical feast
00:18:36.81\00:18:39.01
and the sacrifices
means that you have to,
00:18:39.01\00:18:41.58
you have to draw blood.
00:18:41.58\00:18:44.05
And so nobody is really
drawing blood anymore, are they?
00:18:44.05\00:18:47.16
There's no sacrifices of animals
00:18:47.16\00:18:49.12
that are taking place,
there's no high priest,
00:18:49.12\00:18:50.89
there's no priesthood,
there's no earthly sanctuary,
00:18:50.89\00:18:54.10
all these elements
were necessary to be able
00:18:54.10\00:18:56.73
to keep most of
the annual feasts
00:18:56.73\00:19:00.64
and so on that are
found in the Old Testament.
00:19:00.64\00:19:05.44
So the Book of Hebrews
was to come years later, and,
00:19:05.44\00:19:07.84
of course, the Book of
Hebrews was the great treaties
00:19:07.84\00:19:09.78
concerning the fulfillment
of the Ceremonial Law of Moses
00:19:09.78\00:19:14.45
in Christ.
00:19:14.45\00:19:15.92
And the Book of
Hebrews is instrumental
00:19:15.92\00:19:18.72
because it
declared most extensively
00:19:18.72\00:19:20.59
the elimination
of the sacrifices.
00:19:20.59\00:19:22.96
It is the great long thrust
that it gives to the church
00:19:22.96\00:19:27.66
that is to explain
that the earthly priesthood,
00:19:27.66\00:19:31.00
the sanctuary,
which is included in
00:19:31.00\00:19:34.07
all the daily
rituals, the annual feast days,
00:19:34.07\00:19:36.44
and so on was fulfilled in
Christ, that it was a copy,
00:19:36.44\00:19:42.31
that it was a shadow
of the heavenly things
00:19:42.31\00:19:44.65
of the true, of the better.
00:19:44.65\00:19:47.92
In fact, I want to invite you.
00:19:47.92\00:19:49.05
And this is kind of a
long introduction, I know,
00:19:49.05\00:19:50.69
but I think it's
important for us to be able
00:19:50.69\00:19:52.12
to look at Acts 15, at
least helpful to look at it
00:19:52.12\00:19:55.06
in the larger
context of the New Testament,
00:19:55.06\00:19:57.89
and to be able to
see that in a helpful way
00:19:57.89\00:20:02.20
in concerned to the
Ceremonial Law of Moses.
00:20:02.20\00:20:06.50
So come with me to Hebrews 8.
00:20:06.50\00:20:09.07
Now Hebrews 7, 8, 9, and 10,
00:20:09.07\00:20:13.58
those four
chapters in particular.
00:20:13.58\00:20:15.94
Now the whole
book, and, you know,
00:20:15.94\00:20:17.58
the main gist of the
book, and main purpose
00:20:17.58\00:20:19.95
that God inspired
the book was to help...
00:20:19.95\00:20:24.29
Well, there's a
couple of different things,
00:20:24.29\00:20:25.89
but one of the main
things was to demonstrate
00:20:25.89\00:20:30.13
that the Ceremonial Law of Moses
00:20:30.13\00:20:32.46
was fulfilled in Christ.
00:20:32.46\00:20:35.13
So 8:13, Paul sums it up here.
00:20:35.13\00:20:40.20
If you feel like
me, and you believe
00:20:40.20\00:20:41.34
that Paul was the one
that wrote the Book of Hebrews.
00:20:41.34\00:20:43.71
In verse 13, it
says, "In that He says,
00:20:43.71\00:20:45.87
'A new covenant,' He
has made the first obsolete.
00:20:45.87\00:20:51.21
Now what is becoming obsolete
00:20:51.21\00:20:52.61
and growing old is
ready to vanish away."
00:20:52.61\00:20:56.55
And so he summarizes
that, what is growing old
00:20:56.55\00:20:59.85
is ready to vanish
away, knows how God's mercy
00:20:59.85\00:21:02.19
and grace is there.
00:21:02.19\00:21:03.26
He's not saying, "Listen,
00:21:03.26\00:21:04.33
you need to cut
this off right now."
00:21:04.33\00:21:07.76
In fact, he didn't even
give the Book of Hebrews
00:21:07.76\00:21:09.36
till a few decades
after a couple decades
00:21:09.36\00:21:14.47
the evidenced or so
after the Jerusalem Council.
00:21:14.47\00:21:18.17
And even then he's not saying,
00:21:18.17\00:21:19.24
"Listen, you've got
to just cut this off
00:21:19.24\00:21:20.31
if you're Jewish believer."
00:21:20.31\00:21:21.38
No.
00:21:21.38\00:21:22.44
He's saying,
"It's becoming obsolete,
00:21:22.44\00:21:23.41
it's growing old,
it's ready to vanish away."
00:21:23.41\00:21:25.41
God is giving time
for the Jewish believers
00:21:25.41\00:21:27.62
to be able to let
this part go and understand
00:21:27.62\00:21:29.75
its great fulfillment in Christ.
00:21:29.75\00:21:32.39
And no longer is the blood
of bulls and goats required
00:21:32.39\00:21:35.99
to be brought before the Lord,
00:21:35.99\00:21:37.19
but now the
blood of Jesus Christ,
00:21:37.19\00:21:38.96
the high priest in heaven
is the one that we bring to Him
00:21:38.96\00:21:42.40
as our sacrifice, as
the one who cleanses us.
00:21:42.40\00:21:46.33
Verse 8 in the
next chapter, chapter 9.
00:21:46.33\00:21:50.14
In verse 8-10, also says
it in a very powerful way,
00:21:50.14\00:21:52.91
it says, "The Holy
Spirit indicating this,
00:21:52.91\00:21:55.51
that the way into
the Holiest of All
00:21:55.51\00:21:57.55
was not yet made manifest
00:21:57.55\00:21:59.41
while the first
tabernacle was still standing."
00:21:59.41\00:22:01.75
That's the earthly one.
00:22:01.75\00:22:04.49
"It was symbolic."
What was it, friends?
00:22:04.49\00:22:07.79
"It was symbolic
for the present time."
00:22:07.79\00:22:12.19
That's in Paul's
time, the church's time,
00:22:12.19\00:22:15.30
all the way up to now.
00:22:15.30\00:22:17.00
"For the present time, in
which both gifts and sacrifices
00:22:17.00\00:22:19.40
are offered
which cannot make him
00:22:19.40\00:22:21.80
who performed
the service perfect
00:22:21.80\00:22:23.54
in regard to the conscience.
00:22:23.54\00:22:26.01
Concerned only
with foods and drinks,
00:22:26.01\00:22:27.44
and various washings,
00:22:27.44\00:22:28.51
and fleshly
ordinances imposed until the..."
00:22:28.51\00:22:31.11
What?
00:22:31.11\00:22:32.38
"Until the time
of the Reformation."
00:22:32.38\00:22:33.88
When is the time
of the Reformation?
00:22:33.88\00:22:36.58
Now don't get this
confused with the Reformation
00:22:36.58\00:22:38.35
with the Protestant
Reformation of 1500s, no.
00:22:38.35\00:22:41.59
He's not making a prophecy
into the future, 1,500 years.
00:22:41.59\00:22:44.16
No, he's talking
about his time, isn't he?
00:22:44.16\00:22:46.53
Starting with Christ's ministry,
00:22:46.53\00:22:48.00
He was laying the groundwork
for the New Testament.
00:22:48.00\00:22:50.57
Christ died on the cross.
00:22:50.57\00:22:51.77
He sealed the New
Testament with His own blood.
00:22:51.77\00:22:54.04
He became our Passover
lamb, He became the sacrifice,
00:22:54.04\00:22:57.64
that perfect sacrifice
for the sin of all of mankind,
00:22:57.64\00:23:00.71
from Adam all the way to
those of us who are living
00:23:00.71\00:23:03.65
when Jesus comes again.
00:23:03.65\00:23:06.51
And so we find here that Hebrews
00:23:06.51\00:23:09.85
is kind of summing
up and finishing up
00:23:09.85\00:23:12.99
what is started in Acts 15.
00:23:12.99\00:23:18.33
And so for now...
00:23:18.33\00:23:21.83
By the way, in
the Book of Hebrews,
00:23:21.83\00:23:25.40
you'll find that
the word "better"
00:23:25.40\00:23:27.14
is repeated over and over
as you go through that book.
00:23:27.14\00:23:29.94
And the reason is, is
that God is trying to convince
00:23:29.94\00:23:33.64
the Jewish believers
that, "Hey, I know that
00:23:33.64\00:23:36.68
what you had was
good, but now I'm giving you
00:23:36.68\00:23:39.71
something even better."
00:23:39.71\00:23:41.72
You know, "Yes, the sacrifices
were divinely ordained.
00:23:41.72\00:23:44.29
They were given, they
were My idea to bring the lamb,
00:23:44.29\00:23:47.09
to bring the bull,
the doves and so on.
00:23:47.09\00:23:49.26
But now I have something better.
00:23:49.26\00:23:50.56
I have My Son."
00:23:50.56\00:23:52.53
You know, yes,
the earthly sanctuary
00:23:52.53\00:23:54.23
was magnificent in its
glory, and it spoke volumes
00:23:54.23\00:23:59.27
of spiritual
truth to you and so on.
00:23:59.27\00:24:01.57
But now I have
something even better,
00:24:01.57\00:24:03.24
it's a heavenly sanctuary.
00:24:03.24\00:24:04.67
It's larger, it's more glorious,
00:24:04.67\00:24:06.24
and even speaks more volumes
of truth in a powerful way.
00:24:06.24\00:24:11.18
He says, "Yes, I
know, I haven't ordained
00:24:11.18\00:24:13.01
an earthly priesthood."
00:24:13.01\00:24:15.32
And the
priesthood was important.
00:24:15.32\00:24:16.55
It was My idea,
but this was symbolic.
00:24:16.55\00:24:18.39
It was a shadow, a
copy of something better
00:24:18.39\00:24:21.62
that's in heaven, it's
Christ, the priesthood.
00:24:21.62\00:24:25.33
He's the beginning and
the end of the priesthood.
00:24:25.33\00:24:28.16
And so this is something
that is even better for us now.
00:24:28.16\00:24:33.54
And so, it's shown in
the powerful true light
00:24:33.54\00:24:38.21
that it really is
it designed for us
00:24:38.21\00:24:41.28
and for the early Christian Jews
00:24:41.28\00:24:43.81
to be able to understand.
00:24:43.81\00:24:47.38
But for now, God seems to
be opening the horizons to,
00:24:47.38\00:24:50.65
more to see
that the Law of Moses
00:24:50.65\00:24:52.55
including that of
the right of circumcision
00:24:52.55\00:24:54.76
was not required
for gentile believers
00:24:54.76\00:24:57.43
to come into
Christ, to come into Israel.
00:24:57.43\00:25:01.00
In fact, it's interesting
00:25:01.00\00:25:02.03
that baptism
didn't really come up
00:25:02.03\00:25:03.53
until about John the Baptist,
at least in part of God's plan.
00:25:03.53\00:25:07.37
And so John the Baptist
was laying the foundation
00:25:07.37\00:25:09.70
for a new initiation
into Israel, into salvation,
00:25:09.70\00:25:13.31
and now no longer
is it circumcision,
00:25:13.31\00:25:16.24
but it is...?
00:25:16.24\00:25:17.68
It's baptism, isn't it? Yeah.
00:25:17.68\00:25:20.08
So he initiated a
new physical ceremony
00:25:20.08\00:25:24.79
to enter into salvation
in a physical ceremonial way.
00:25:24.79\00:25:31.69
And so it's my
hope that today's study
00:25:31.69\00:25:33.09
will help some of
us who may be watching,
00:25:33.09\00:25:35.20
who perhaps have
mistakenly come to conclude
00:25:35.20\00:25:38.63
that for us to be
faithful Christians
00:25:38.63\00:25:41.40
that we need to come
back to the annual feast,
00:25:41.40\00:25:44.24
that we need to be able
to keep the Passover feast,
00:25:44.24\00:25:46.71
that we need to keep the
feast of the trumpets and so on.
00:25:46.71\00:25:50.08
And I know some
very sincere Christians,
00:25:50.08\00:25:52.35
in fact, a family
member of mine for years
00:25:52.35\00:25:55.35
was convinced that
this was necessary.
00:25:55.35\00:25:57.79
And again, you know, I gently
tried to share with him that,
00:25:57.79\00:26:00.49
you know, listen, you
know, even if it was true,
00:26:00.49\00:26:06.83
you're not really
keeping the Passover anyway,
00:26:06.83\00:26:09.56
because to be a
Bible Passover keeper,
00:26:09.56\00:26:11.90
you have to bring a
lamb, that's one year of age
00:26:11.90\00:26:14.37
without blemish into your house
00:26:14.37\00:26:15.64
for 10 days before the Passover,
00:26:15.64\00:26:17.37
get to know it,
00:26:17.37\00:26:18.44
then you have
to slit its throat,
00:26:18.44\00:26:20.08
you have to take its blood,
00:26:20.08\00:26:21.14
you have to put it
over the lintel of the...
00:26:21.14\00:26:23.11
And the side of your doorpost,
you have to then, you know,
00:26:23.11\00:26:26.28
take the lamb, and you have
to roast it whole, you know,
00:26:26.28\00:26:31.02
and then you need to
be able to take that meat
00:26:31.02\00:26:33.32
as much as your
family and household can eat,
00:26:33.32\00:26:35.32
then you eat it, and
whatever's left over,
00:26:35.32\00:26:37.03
you burn it by morning.
00:26:37.03\00:26:40.46
I haven't met anybody yet.
00:26:40.46\00:26:41.80
Now, maybe
there's some small group
00:26:41.80\00:26:43.06
over in Israel somewhere
00:26:43.06\00:26:44.13
that I've never heard
of that is doing that,
00:26:44.13\00:26:45.60
but I haven't met or
heard of anyone or people group
00:26:45.60\00:26:49.24
in the entire
planet that's keeping
00:26:49.24\00:26:50.74
the Bible Passover today.
00:26:50.74\00:26:53.41
And that's okay. Why?
00:26:53.41\00:26:56.14
Because the good news is that
00:26:56.14\00:26:57.21
God has given us
something better.
00:26:57.21\00:26:59.55
The Christ is our Passover lamb.
00:26:59.55\00:27:02.35
And so the Law of Moses
and the Ceremonial Law of Moses
00:27:02.35\00:27:06.19
has been fulfilled.
00:27:06.19\00:27:07.26
And so Acts 15 is
confirming that for us.
00:27:07.26\00:27:13.03
It's clarifying
that issue for us
00:27:13.03\00:27:15.80
in a very
powerful and needful way.
00:27:15.80\00:27:18.23
And so the Book of Hebrews,
and the Acts 15 are exhibiting
00:27:18.23\00:27:23.54
and demonstrating
that keeping the feast
00:27:23.54\00:27:27.91
is not the case.
00:27:27.91\00:27:29.31
God has fulfilled that, it
was a copy, it was a shadow,
00:27:29.31\00:27:33.25
it was symbolic as
we read in Hebrews 9:9
00:27:33.25\00:27:40.06
there earlier
in our study today.
00:27:40.06\00:27:44.46
Well, that being said,
00:27:44.46\00:27:45.56
we don't want to run out of time
00:27:45.56\00:27:46.63
before we get into Acts 15,
00:27:46.63\00:27:48.53
we're going to
review a little bit.
00:27:48.53\00:27:49.76
Two weeks ago, we
looked at the chapter 11,
00:27:49.76\00:27:51.80
and we were studying
the ministry of Peter.
00:27:51.80\00:27:53.57
And I had the privilege
of being able to teach us
00:27:53.57\00:27:55.74
as we looked at
that important subject.
00:27:55.74\00:27:57.64
And as we looked at chapter 11,
00:27:57.64\00:28:01.14
we discovered that
Peter found himself
00:28:01.14\00:28:03.31
arriving in Jerusalem with
kind of some cold shoulders
00:28:03.31\00:28:07.68
from his fellow
apostles, and from his elders.
00:28:07.68\00:28:10.55
And the reason was
that, rumor had already spread
00:28:10.55\00:28:13.42
to Jerusalem and
preceded Peter's arrival,
00:28:13.42\00:28:16.59
and the rumor was that
Peter had lowered himself
00:28:16.59\00:28:20.26
to enter into a non-Jewish home,
00:28:20.26\00:28:22.56
a gentile home, and
not only eat with them,
00:28:22.56\00:28:26.37
but also preach to
them, and then of all things,
00:28:26.37\00:28:28.64
baptize them.
00:28:28.64\00:28:30.91
And so the leaders in
Jerusalem were horrified.
00:28:30.91\00:28:36.11
And so they
kind of jumped on him
00:28:36.11\00:28:37.41
as soon as he got into the city,
00:28:37.41\00:28:38.85
and said, "Is this...
00:28:38.85\00:28:39.91
Is the rumors true?"
00:28:39.91\00:28:41.48
And so, poor Peter had
to go into defense mode.
00:28:41.48\00:28:45.25
And he began to
recount how he received
00:28:45.25\00:28:47.29
this amazing vision
while he was on the rooftop
00:28:47.29\00:28:49.76
of Simon the tanner,
in Joppa by the seaside,
00:28:49.76\00:28:52.79
and this amazing sheep came down
00:28:52.79\00:28:54.63
with all these
unclean animals, and God says,
00:28:54.63\00:28:56.67
"Rise, kill, and eat."
00:28:56.67\00:28:57.87
Three times he refused.
00:28:57.87\00:28:59.10
And after the third
time, God rose the vision up,
00:28:59.10\00:29:03.07
and Peter scratching his
head afterward, and saying,
00:29:03.07\00:29:05.47
"What in the
world did that mean?"
00:29:05.47\00:29:06.94
In the meantime,
there are some messengers
00:29:06.94\00:29:08.34
that come from Caesarea,
just up the coast, and say,
00:29:08.34\00:29:11.85
"Hey, listen,
there's a Roman gentile
00:29:11.85\00:29:15.42
by the name of Cornelius,
00:29:15.42\00:29:16.55
and he's received
this vision from God.
00:29:16.55\00:29:17.95
He sent his
messengers and a soldier to come
00:29:17.95\00:29:19.95
and get you,
because he's been told
00:29:19.95\00:29:22.19
that you have a
message for him."
00:29:22.19\00:29:23.53
And the Holy Spirit
tells Peter, this is true.
00:29:23.53\00:29:26.66
And so Peter goes on
the way up to Caesarea,
00:29:26.66\00:29:28.63
and he's still
trying to figure out
00:29:28.63\00:29:31.80
what the vision means.
00:29:31.80\00:29:33.10
And then when
you look at Acts 10,
00:29:33.10\00:29:36.34
and I think it's around...
00:29:36.34\00:29:37.94
Well, let's take a look here.
00:29:37.94\00:29:42.11
Because that
verse is so important,
00:29:42.11\00:29:44.95
I just don't want to guess.
00:29:44.95\00:29:46.65
Acts 10:28, we find that
Peter confesses to Cornelius
00:29:46.65\00:29:52.52
and says,
"Listen, I have to confess
00:29:52.52\00:29:54.16
that I don't
feel comfortable here.
00:29:54.16\00:29:55.32
And I was trained all my
life to say that this is wrong,
00:29:55.32\00:29:58.36
it's unlawful.
00:29:58.36\00:29:59.66
And I shouldn't even be in here,
00:29:59.66\00:30:01.30
but God has told
me in the meantime
00:30:01.30\00:30:03.67
through this powerful
vision that I should call
00:30:03.67\00:30:05.57
no man unclean or common."
00:30:05.57\00:30:09.10
And so Peter reveals the vision,
00:30:09.10\00:30:11.87
and the meaning of
the vision at that point.
00:30:11.87\00:30:14.14
And so he goes
ahead, and preaches,
00:30:14.14\00:30:15.58
and they break out
in the gift of tongues
00:30:15.58\00:30:20.42
and begin to speak
00:30:20.42\00:30:21.42
different international
languages and tongues,
00:30:21.42\00:30:24.15
just like they did on Pentecost.
00:30:24.15\00:30:25.55
And Peter looked at
his cohorts and he said,
00:30:25.55\00:30:28.66
"Well, this is the same
gift that God gave to us
00:30:28.66\00:30:32.63
when we were preaching to
all the different pilgrims
00:30:32.63\00:30:35.33
that came into
Jerusalem for Pentecost feast,
00:30:35.33\00:30:39.77
and spoke in all
these different languages.
00:30:39.77\00:30:42.50
And so surely the Lord is
with this and behind this,
00:30:42.50\00:30:46.94
and so what prevents
us from baptizing them."
00:30:46.94\00:30:49.21
And so he went ahead
and baptized Cornelius
00:30:49.21\00:30:51.38
and his household.
00:30:51.38\00:30:53.11
And so Peter shares all
this with the religious leaders
00:30:53.11\00:30:56.25
and so we come
00:30:56.25\00:30:57.45
to the conclusion of the matter.
00:30:57.45\00:31:02.36
And we have a volunteer
00:31:02.36\00:31:03.73
that's going to be
reading Acts 11:17-18
00:31:03.73\00:31:08.03
as we review that today.
00:31:08.03\00:31:09.60
Thank you.
00:31:09.60\00:31:10.63
Acts 11:17 and 18,
00:31:10.63\00:31:13.87
"If therefore God has
gave them the same gift
00:31:13.87\00:31:17.01
as He has given us
00:31:17.01\00:31:18.51
when we believed on
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:31:18.51\00:31:21.68
who was I that I
could withstand God?
00:31:21.68\00:31:25.91
When they heard these
things they became silent,
00:31:25.91\00:31:29.05
and they glorified God, saying,
00:31:29.05\00:31:31.35
'Then God has also granted
00:31:31.35\00:31:33.42
to the gentiles
repentance to life.'"
00:31:33.42\00:31:36.89
Okay, so here we
have Peter in verse 17,
00:31:36.89\00:31:39.53
and then there's
that dramatic silence,
00:31:39.53\00:31:43.60
that pause in verse 18.
00:31:43.60\00:31:46.13
What is going to
be their conclusion?
00:31:46.13\00:31:47.80
Are they going to see the light
00:31:47.80\00:31:49.54
like Peter is
coming to see the light?
00:31:49.54\00:31:52.41
And sure enough they said,
00:31:52.41\00:31:53.41
"Well, then God has
also granted you gentiles
00:31:53.41\00:31:55.91
repentance to life."
00:31:55.91\00:31:58.21
And so this was a revolutionary
00:31:58.21\00:31:59.61
but very needful
conclusion in truth and light
00:31:59.61\00:32:02.18
that went on in
the minds of Peter,
00:32:02.18\00:32:04.19
and the apostles,
the gentiles, and so on.
00:32:04.19\00:32:06.42
And they realize that.
00:32:06.42\00:32:07.49
"Hey, you know,
uncircumcised gentiles
00:32:07.49\00:32:10.33
can come into the new covenant,
00:32:10.33\00:32:11.56
they can be
baptized and not circumcised,
00:32:11.56\00:32:13.66
and they don't have to
observe the Law of Moses.
00:32:13.66\00:32:15.43
They can come in,
and yes, of course,
00:32:15.43\00:32:18.27
they are coming in to obey God."
00:32:18.27\00:32:21.00
And Paul goes on extensively
00:32:21.00\00:32:23.14
about that
throughout his letters
00:32:23.14\00:32:24.74
and so, we don't have
time to study and talk about,
00:32:24.74\00:32:28.58
you know, God's will
00:32:28.58\00:32:29.71
and concerned of
the Ten Commandments,
00:32:29.71\00:32:31.65
and all these
other wonderful things
00:32:31.65\00:32:33.58
that God has for
the believer to follow.
00:32:33.58\00:32:36.28
But nevertheless,
00:32:36.28\00:32:38.15
we find that this was a
revolutionary step for them.
00:32:38.15\00:32:43.36
It's also
important for me to point out
00:32:43.36\00:32:45.03
that a proper
interpretation of Acts 10
00:32:45.03\00:32:48.50
and the vision that Peter
received is essential for us
00:32:48.50\00:32:51.63
to understand the
workings of Acts 11
00:32:51.63\00:32:55.67
as well as the
workings of Acts 15.
00:32:55.67\00:32:59.01
Because in both those chapters,
00:32:59.01\00:33:00.54
the vision comes
up again, doesn't it?
00:33:00.54\00:33:02.98
And both those
chapters, we find that...
00:33:02.98\00:33:04.85
When the vision comes
up, Peter doesn't come up
00:33:04.85\00:33:06.72
and say, "Oh, by the way,
God has also revealed to us
00:33:06.72\00:33:09.68
that we can eat pork, you know,
00:33:09.68\00:33:12.82
and we can eat unclean foods.
00:33:12.82\00:33:14.32
And God has
cleansed all the clams,
00:33:14.32\00:33:17.03
and the lobsters,
and unclean stuff that
00:33:17.03\00:33:19.73
that we used to
be told to avoid."
00:33:19.73\00:33:22.56
It doesn't say
that, does it? No.
00:33:22.56\00:33:24.63
Instead it says
that God has told me
00:33:24.63\00:33:28.14
that we should not call
any man unclean or common.
00:33:28.14\00:33:31.57
And so twice,
00:33:31.57\00:33:33.27
three times the interpretation
is given to us in Acts 10:28.
00:33:33.27\00:33:38.21
Acts 11, we find the same
thing is given to us in verse 9,
00:33:38.21\00:33:42.58
and then when
we come to Acts 15,
00:33:42.58\00:33:44.59
we're going to discover
that it's there as well.
00:33:44.59\00:33:47.96
And so three times it comes up,
00:33:47.96\00:33:49.36
three times the
interpretation is given,
00:33:49.36\00:33:51.53
and it's important
for us to understand
00:33:51.53\00:33:53.93
what it really means
00:33:53.93\00:33:55.13
because it has a
critical application,
00:33:55.13\00:33:57.33
and it's a very
needful application.
00:33:57.33\00:33:59.30
Well, after Acts 11, we
kind of said to our self,
00:34:03.27\00:34:05.71
and it's natural
to think to ourselves
00:34:05.71\00:34:07.08
that the matter was
settled once and for all,
00:34:07.08\00:34:08.78
after all these were
the apostles and the elders
00:34:08.78\00:34:10.58
that had concluded
this with Peter, right?
00:34:10.58\00:34:12.91
And Peter was the
apostle to the Jews,
00:34:12.91\00:34:14.92
he was the
ultimate representative
00:34:14.92\00:34:17.15
that God had
assigned to represent
00:34:17.15\00:34:18.92
and to minister to the Jews.
00:34:18.92\00:34:20.49
And so if God was able to first
00:34:20.49\00:34:23.02
bring this light of
truth to Peter's mind
00:34:23.02\00:34:25.99
and then bring it through him
00:34:25.99\00:34:28.06
to the rest of the
elders and the apostles,
00:34:28.06\00:34:30.80
why it was a settled matter?
00:34:30.80\00:34:34.24
But it would be over two
years before the conclusion
00:34:34.24\00:34:36.40
the matter would make
it into the church manual.
00:34:36.40\00:34:41.18
Before it would become policy,
00:34:41.18\00:34:42.98
before it would become
official church doctrine
00:34:42.98\00:34:45.28
that would be on paper in print.
00:34:45.28\00:34:47.98
And so this is a process again
00:34:47.98\00:34:49.78
that God is
bringing His church slowly
00:34:49.78\00:34:52.79
but surely in the
right direction with,
00:34:52.79\00:34:54.69
and His grace is there
to be able to help them
00:34:54.69\00:34:57.19
to be able to see that
and come to terms with it.
00:34:57.19\00:35:00.70
Now, one of the
things that's fascinating
00:35:00.70\00:35:02.16
between chapter
11 and chapter 15
00:35:02.16\00:35:04.70
is that Barnabas
is in Jerusalem still
00:35:04.70\00:35:07.64
when Peter comes
and explains himself,
00:35:07.64\00:35:10.04
and defends his baptizing
of Cornelius and his household.
00:35:10.04\00:35:13.91
And so, he almost for
certain was in that council
00:35:13.91\00:35:18.28
and in that conversation.
00:35:18.28\00:35:20.35
And he heard the conclusion
00:35:20.35\00:35:22.38
and was part of that conclusion.
00:35:22.38\00:35:24.55
And so we read
that shortly after that
00:35:24.55\00:35:26.92
he was sent up to
the city of Antioch,
00:35:26.92\00:35:29.22
that we say up
because it's north,
00:35:29.22\00:35:30.79
but you'll find that
when we read it in the Bible,
00:35:30.79\00:35:33.26
it says, "They went
down to the city of Antioch."
00:35:33.26\00:35:38.27
When you look at the map,
you say, "Well, wait a minute,
00:35:38.27\00:35:40.07
Jerusalem's way
south of Antioch.
00:35:40.07\00:35:42.30
They went up.
00:35:42.30\00:35:44.74
And that confused me
for the longest time.
00:35:44.74\00:35:47.74
And then I found out that it's,
00:35:47.74\00:35:49.51
you know, for the Jewish
mind Israel is on a hill,
00:35:49.51\00:35:52.25
and it is on a bit of
a hill and a mountain.
00:35:52.25\00:35:57.22
But it's the holy
city, it's the capital,
00:35:57.22\00:35:59.59
it's the ultimate.
00:35:59.59\00:36:00.96
And so whenever
you left Jerusalem,
00:36:00.96\00:36:02.96
you went down to
wherever you were,
00:36:02.96\00:36:04.79
whether it was
north, south, east or west,
00:36:04.79\00:36:06.59
it didn't matter
which direction you went,
00:36:06.59\00:36:07.96
you were going down,
00:36:07.96\00:36:09.26
you were
descending from the holy city.
00:36:09.26\00:36:11.90
And, so even when you go north,
00:36:11.90\00:36:13.80
you're going down
to the city of Antioch.
00:36:13.80\00:36:16.50
And so while he
was sent up to Antioch
00:36:20.14\00:36:21.91
to investigate the conversion
of these different Hellenists.
00:36:21.91\00:36:24.38
Now, these were
Jews that had become
00:36:24.38\00:36:26.65
just as much Greeks
or maybe even more Greek
00:36:26.65\00:36:29.32
than they were Jewish
as far as their tradition,
00:36:29.32\00:36:31.35
and even some of
their religious practices
00:36:31.35\00:36:33.12
and so on.
00:36:33.12\00:36:35.32
And they were
hearing the gospel,
00:36:35.32\00:36:37.76
and they were
receiving the gospel,
00:36:37.76\00:36:39.43
and they were being baptized.
00:36:39.43\00:36:42.13
And Barnabas was
excited about that,
00:36:42.13\00:36:44.20
then he makes his
way over to Tarsus,
00:36:44.20\00:36:45.90
he picks up
Paul, Paul comes back,
00:36:45.90\00:36:47.44
and for a year,
they're just preaching,
00:36:47.44\00:36:49.60
and it's just a
powerful, powerful year,
00:36:49.60\00:36:51.67
where they're baptizing
all these different, yes, Jews,
00:36:51.67\00:36:54.51
but also Hellenists,
00:36:54.51\00:36:56.28
and probably even some
uncircumcised gentiles.
00:36:56.28\00:36:59.88
And then they
eventually pair up together,
00:36:59.88\00:37:03.39
both Barnabas and Paul,
00:37:03.39\00:37:04.85
and they went on
their first missionary trip.
00:37:04.85\00:37:06.99
And as they went on
their first missionary trip,
00:37:06.99\00:37:09.46
very naturally they
started to preach, yes,
00:37:09.46\00:37:12.19
it says in the
different synagogues,
00:37:12.19\00:37:14.03
and certainly there
was a number of Jews
00:37:14.03\00:37:16.03
that were coming
into the gospel of Christ
00:37:16.03\00:37:18.40
and accepting Him
as the true Messiah,
00:37:18.40\00:37:20.50
but they are also baptizing
00:37:20.50\00:37:22.20
a large number of
uncircumcised gentiles as well.
00:37:22.20\00:37:28.14
And Barnabas and Paul
were doing this freely, why?
00:37:28.14\00:37:30.21
Because
Barnabas was in Jerusalem
00:37:30.21\00:37:31.95
when Peter came in, and
they had that conversation,
00:37:31.95\00:37:34.68
and they had that
informal conclusion
00:37:34.68\00:37:37.59
that indeed repentance to life
is given also to the gentiles,
00:37:37.59\00:37:41.12
even uncircumcised gentiles,
00:37:41.12\00:37:43.39
and they too can be baptized.
00:37:43.39\00:37:45.99
And so it makes sense why
Barnabas and Paul went out
00:37:45.99\00:37:48.63
so freely as they were ordained,
00:37:48.63\00:37:50.70
and then authorized,
00:37:50.70\00:37:52.10
and sponsored by
the Antioch church.
00:37:52.10\00:37:55.34
And so we come to Acts 14:27.
00:37:55.34\00:37:59.27
And we have a volunteer
00:37:59.27\00:38:00.68
that's going to
read the last two verses
00:38:00.68\00:38:02.54
of that particular
chapter in Acts 14.
00:38:02.54\00:38:05.68
Acts 14:27-28, "And
when they were come,
00:38:05.68\00:38:10.49
and gathered
the church together,
00:38:10.49\00:38:11.95
they rehearsed all
that God had done with them,
00:38:11.95\00:38:15.79
and how He had opened the
door of faith unto the gentiles.
00:38:15.79\00:38:20.10
And there they abode a long time
00:38:20.10\00:38:22.26
with the disciples."
00:38:22.26\00:38:23.80
So here we have
Paul coming back,
00:38:29.10\00:38:32.01
and, of course,
00:38:32.01\00:38:33.51
you know, they didn't
have slides like we do today,
00:38:33.51\00:38:35.44
there was no PowerPoint.
00:38:35.44\00:38:36.95
But if they did have PowerPoint,
00:38:36.95\00:38:38.18
they would be
clicking away like we would,
00:38:38.18\00:38:40.05
you know, and
showing the different slides,
00:38:40.05\00:38:42.38
and showing,
00:38:42.38\00:38:43.59
you know, this is what
we did in Derbe, and Lystra,
00:38:43.59\00:38:46.52
and these different cities.
00:38:46.52\00:38:47.66
Now, when you look at the map
00:38:47.66\00:38:48.72
in some of the
back of your Bibles,
00:38:48.72\00:38:50.06
you'll see that the
first missionary trip
00:38:50.06\00:38:51.39
didn't go out very far.
00:38:51.39\00:38:52.63
The second and third
went, they went way, way out.
00:38:52.63\00:38:55.23
First one, they're just
kind of getting their feet wet,
00:38:55.23\00:38:56.80
and they go out
00:38:56.80\00:38:57.83
and they kind of circle
back quite a bit shorter.
00:38:57.83\00:39:01.74
But when they come back,
00:39:01.74\00:39:02.77
they're just on
fire for the Lord,
00:39:02.77\00:39:04.27
and they're just so excited
to show all the pictures,
00:39:04.27\00:39:06.34
if they have pictures,
and of course, they didn't,
00:39:06.34\00:39:09.08
but, you know,
they're just so excited
00:39:09.08\00:39:12.38
to share all
the wonderful things
00:39:12.38\00:39:13.78
that God had done through them.
00:39:13.78\00:39:16.02
And it says there in verse 28
00:39:16.02\00:39:18.25
that they stayed
there a long time.
00:39:18.25\00:39:21.52
Now, how long is a long time?
00:39:21.52\00:39:24.76
Okay, that's
what I asked myself,
00:39:24.76\00:39:26.03
you know, it's kind of
open-ended question, isn't it?
00:39:26.03\00:39:28.13
It's more than a week?
00:39:28.13\00:39:29.96
I think we could probably all
conclude it's more than a week.
00:39:29.96\00:39:32.30
Is it more than a month?
00:39:32.30\00:39:34.07
Yeah, probably.
00:39:34.07\00:39:36.24
You know, is it
least several months
00:39:36.24\00:39:37.64
and maybe a year or two?
00:39:37.64\00:39:39.11
I don't know. It
just says a long time.
00:39:39.11\00:39:41.21
And so, even when they got back,
00:39:41.21\00:39:42.54
they continued to
grow the church in Antioch
00:39:42.54\00:39:45.55
and continue to evangelize,
00:39:45.55\00:39:47.05
and things were going well
until we come to chapter 15.
00:39:47.05\00:39:52.69
And in chapter 15,
00:39:52.69\00:39:54.42
we find that there's a
self appointed contingency
00:39:54.42\00:39:57.39
that comes from Jerusalem
and arrives to stir the waters.
00:39:57.39\00:40:00.86
And I'm going to go
ahead and read verse...
00:40:00.86\00:40:06.13
Actually verse 24.
00:40:06.13\00:40:08.57
Acts 15:24.
00:40:08.57\00:40:10.01
Now, I know
that's jumping ahead.
00:40:10.01\00:40:11.81
In verse 24 is the letter
00:40:11.81\00:40:13.88
that the Jerusalem
Council had eventually written
00:40:13.88\00:40:16.85
as they wrote this new policy
00:40:16.85\00:40:18.71
and doctrinal
belief of the church.
00:40:18.71\00:40:20.45
Verse 24, it says,
"Since we have heard
00:40:20.45\00:40:22.12
that some who went out from
us have troubled you with words,
00:40:22.12\00:40:24.95
unsettling your souls, saying,
00:40:24.95\00:40:26.79
'You must be
circumcised and keep the law
00:40:26.79\00:40:29.16
to whom we gave no
such commandment.'"
00:40:29.16\00:40:33.43
And, so I see, I
think it's important for us
00:40:33.43\00:40:35.33
to understand that the group
that had arrived from Jerusalem
00:40:35.33\00:40:40.34
in the city of
Antioch were self-appointed.
00:40:40.34\00:40:45.97
And that's a good lesson for us.
00:40:45.97\00:40:49.71
You know, I've never
seen things turn out good
00:40:49.71\00:40:53.68
when there's a
self appointed member
00:40:53.68\00:40:56.25
or a
self-appointed group of members
00:40:56.25\00:40:58.79
that decide that
they're going to go off
00:40:58.79\00:41:01.19
and teach something
that's maybe contrary
00:41:01.19\00:41:04.79
or different than
the church's teaching
00:41:04.79\00:41:06.63
on their own without going
through the proper channels,
00:41:06.63\00:41:09.53
without working
with their local pastors,
00:41:09.53\00:41:12.33
and conference, and so on.
00:41:12.33\00:41:14.04
And this is no exception.
00:41:14.04\00:41:16.67
This is a good lesson for us
that it didn't turn out well.
00:41:16.67\00:41:22.21
So certain men
came down from Judea
00:41:22.21\00:41:23.68
and taught the
brethren, it says in verse 1.
00:41:23.68\00:41:27.42
And maybe I'm going ahead
00:41:27.42\00:41:28.38
and taking a
volunteer's text, I think, I am.
00:41:28.38\00:41:30.82
Chapter 15, we're going
to read verses 1-2, please.
00:41:30.82\00:41:35.52
"And certain men
which came down from Judaea
00:41:35.52\00:41:39.59
taught the brethren, and said,
00:41:39.59\00:41:40.86
'Except ye be circumcised
after the manner of Moses,
00:41:40.86\00:41:46.33
ye cannot be saved.'
00:41:46.33\00:41:49.74
When therefore Paul and Barnabas
00:41:49.74\00:41:51.71
had no small dissension
and disputation with them,
00:41:51.71\00:41:57.05
they determined
that Paul and Barnabas,
00:41:57.05\00:42:01.02
and certain others of them,
00:42:01.02\00:42:02.92
should go up to Jerusalem
unto the apostles and elders
00:42:02.92\00:42:07.32
about this question.'"
00:42:07.32\00:42:10.06
Okay. Thank you.
00:42:10.06\00:42:12.49
All right, so Paul and Barnabas
00:42:12.49\00:42:14.03
didn't take kindly
00:42:14.03\00:42:16.97
to the agenda of
this particular group
00:42:16.97\00:42:18.90
that had arrived in the
city of Antioch and so on.
00:42:18.90\00:42:23.24
And they could have handled this
00:42:23.24\00:42:24.57
in a number of different ways,
00:42:24.57\00:42:25.67
but they handled it in
the proper way, didn't they?
00:42:25.67\00:42:28.31
They handled it
in the healthy way.
00:42:28.31\00:42:30.68
And that is, they
said, "Okay, well,
00:42:30.68\00:42:32.15
let's just not try
to solve this locally,
00:42:32.15\00:42:33.88
let's go down to...
00:42:33.88\00:42:35.52
Let's send a
representative group down
00:42:35.52\00:42:37.95
to the
leadership of the church."
00:42:37.95\00:42:40.06
And we could kind of say
that Jerusalem was the GC,
00:42:40.06\00:42:43.96
you know, the headquarters
of the church during this era.
00:42:43.96\00:42:48.66
And we'll bring it
00:42:48.66\00:42:50.00
before the
brethren and the leadership,
00:42:50.00\00:42:51.43
and we'll decide together
00:42:51.43\00:42:53.80
and we'll bring back
the answer back to you.
00:42:53.80\00:42:56.64
And so that's what they did.
00:42:56.64\00:42:57.61
They started to make a
journey on the way down,
00:42:57.61\00:42:59.34
they meet some pit
stops on the way down,
00:42:59.34\00:43:01.01
reporting and such,
and then they were received
00:43:01.01\00:43:03.98
in verses 3 and 4.
00:43:03.98\00:43:05.31
We pick it up in verse 5.
00:43:05.31\00:43:08.82
And I'm just going to go
ahead and read verse 5-12
00:43:08.82\00:43:11.62
as we look at that, it says,
00:43:11.62\00:43:12.85
"But some of the
sect of the Pharisees
00:43:12.85\00:43:14.39
who believed rose up, saying,
00:43:14.39\00:43:16.59
'It is necessary
to circumcise them,
00:43:16.59\00:43:18.76
and to command them to
keep the law of Moses.'"
00:43:18.76\00:43:21.70
And so, some of these likely
represented local Pharisee
00:43:21.70\00:43:28.30
and Jewish believers
that lived in Jerusalem.
00:43:28.30\00:43:30.41
Some of them may have
been also representative
00:43:30.41\00:43:32.51
from the contingency
that had gone up to Antioch
00:43:32.51\00:43:36.48
and now had come back
down with Paul and Barnabas.
00:43:36.48\00:43:40.88
And they are
agreeing, and they are saying,
00:43:40.88\00:43:42.28
"I think it is
necessary to circumcise them,
00:43:42.28\00:43:44.72
and to command them to
keep the Law of Moses."
00:43:44.72\00:43:47.96
"Now, the apostles and elders
00:43:47.96\00:43:49.52
came together to
consider this matter.
00:43:49.52\00:43:51.06
And when there
had been much dispute,
00:43:51.06\00:43:52.53
Peter rose up and said
to them: 'Men and brethren,
00:43:52.53\00:43:54.66
you know that a good
while ago God chose among us,
00:43:54.66\00:43:58.40
that by my mouth the gentile
00:43:58.40\00:43:59.67
should hear the word
of the gospel and believe.
00:43:59.67\00:44:02.40
And so, God,
who knows the heart,
00:44:02.40\00:44:04.61
acknowledged them by
giving them the Holy Spirit,
00:44:04.61\00:44:07.04
just as He did to us,
00:44:07.04\00:44:09.38
and made no
distinction between them and us,
00:44:09.38\00:44:11.15
purifying their hearts by faith.
00:44:11.15\00:44:13.18
Now therefore,
why do you test God
00:44:13.18\00:44:14.75
by putting a yoke on
the neck of the disciples
00:44:14.75\00:44:16.92
which neither our fathers
nor we were able to bear?"
00:44:16.92\00:44:20.39
Now before we go on,
I just want to point out
00:44:20.39\00:44:22.06
a little bit there in verse 10,
00:44:22.06\00:44:23.86
you know, that kind
of show, reveals again
00:44:23.86\00:44:25.93
that for Peter and the apostles,
00:44:25.93\00:44:27.86
you know, the Law of Moses
00:44:27.86\00:44:29.03
was something that
was godly, God ordained.
00:44:29.03\00:44:33.60
But it felt like a yoke
00:44:33.60\00:44:34.70
because the
traditions of the fathers,
00:44:34.70\00:44:37.17
the Jewish fathers had been
added to that so extensively,
00:44:37.17\00:44:41.48
and it skewed so much
in a lot of different ways
00:44:41.48\00:44:43.81
that it felt like a yoke.
00:44:43.81\00:44:45.48
And so that's why you have
00:44:45.48\00:44:46.61
that more
negative connotation there.
00:44:46.61\00:44:49.52
In verse 11, it
says, "But we believe
00:44:49.52\00:44:50.95
that through the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:44:50.95\00:44:52.92
we shall be saved in
the same manner as they.'
00:44:52.92\00:44:57.56
And then all the
multitude kept silent."
00:44:57.56\00:45:00.96
There's that,
just like verse 11,
00:45:00.96\00:45:02.40
I mean, chapter 11, remember?
00:45:02.40\00:45:03.93
Chapter 11, there's
that dramatic pause,
00:45:03.93\00:45:06.37
that silence.
00:45:06.37\00:45:08.10
"Then all the
multitude kept silent
00:45:08.10\00:45:10.94
and then they
listened to Barnabas and Paul
00:45:10.94\00:45:12.61
declaring how many
miracles and wonders
00:45:12.61\00:45:14.21
God had worked through
them among the gentiles"
00:45:14.21\00:45:16.38
So here we have
Peter for the third time
00:45:16.38\00:45:18.35
giving us the interpretation
00:45:18.35\00:45:21.45
and the reason for the vision
that he received in Acts 10
00:45:21.45\00:45:25.25
with the animals,
of the unclean animals
00:45:25.25\00:45:26.82
and creatures
that were found there.
00:45:26.82\00:45:28.62
And that is that
God was teaching them
00:45:28.62\00:45:30.43
and bringing them up to speed
00:45:30.43\00:45:32.33
that indeed the gospel
was intended for gentiles,
00:45:32.33\00:45:34.93
uncircumcised gentiles as well.
00:45:34.93\00:45:39.07
And so it's
very important for us
00:45:39.07\00:45:40.47
to understand this truth.
00:45:40.47\00:45:45.81
Well, James then goes
on and makes an appeal
00:45:45.81\00:45:47.41
to accept Peter's testimony,
00:45:47.41\00:45:48.88
and then verifies
it with scripture,
00:45:48.88\00:45:50.95
as he quotes from
the scripture and so on.
00:45:50.95\00:45:53.11
And then he
proceeds to make a motion.
00:45:53.11\00:45:56.22
And we could find that
motion in the same chapter,
00:45:56.22\00:45:59.79
verses 19-20.
00:45:59.79\00:46:02.79
And so we'll just ask
a volunteer to go ahead
00:46:02.79\00:46:04.86
and read that for us.
00:46:04.86\00:46:06.03
Thank you, John.
00:46:06.03\00:46:07.50
Acts 15:19-20.
00:46:07.50\00:46:10.67
"Therefore I judge that
we should not trouble those
00:46:10.67\00:46:14.07
from among the
gentiles who are turning to God,
00:46:14.07\00:46:17.17
but that we write to
them to abstain from things
00:46:17.17\00:46:19.71
polluted by idols,
from sexual immorality,
00:46:19.71\00:46:22.81
from things
strangled, and from blood."
00:46:22.81\00:46:25.45
Okay. Thank you.
00:46:25.45\00:46:26.88
So there is his motion.
00:46:26.88\00:46:29.02
And when we come to verse
22, it says the conclusion.
00:46:29.02\00:46:34.32
It says, "Then it
pleased the apostles and elders,
00:46:34.32\00:46:36.09
with the whole church,
00:46:36.09\00:46:37.53
to send chosen men
of their own company
00:46:37.53\00:46:39.09
to Antioch with
Paul and Barnabas,
00:46:39.09\00:46:40.70
namely, Judas who was
also named Barsabas, and Silas,
00:46:40.70\00:46:45.57
leading men among the brethren."
00:46:45.57\00:46:47.44
And so they chose these
different representative,
00:46:47.44\00:46:49.27
both the ones
that came from Antioch
00:46:49.27\00:46:50.64
as well as local
Jerusalem representatives
00:46:50.64\00:46:53.31
to be able to take the
letter, put it in print,
00:46:53.31\00:46:55.41
officially bring
it up to Antioch,
00:46:55.41\00:46:57.01
and to be able to have that
00:46:57.01\00:46:58.21
as their new
official stand as a church.
00:46:58.21\00:47:03.39
And so the majority
had, were in agreement,
00:47:03.39\00:47:07.19
they formally put it into print.
00:47:07.19\00:47:10.33
And also, it's
interesting in Acts 16:4,
00:47:10.33\00:47:12.96
we find that Paul
then took that letter
00:47:12.96\00:47:14.40
and he used that to
bring it to the other churches
00:47:14.40\00:47:16.33
he applied to throughout
the Roman world as well.
00:47:16.33\00:47:18.70
And so it didn't
just stay in Antioch,
00:47:18.70\00:47:20.27
it was used
extensively after that
00:47:20.27\00:47:22.54
by the missionary work.
00:47:22.54\00:47:25.21
By the way, does this all
sound like organized religion?
00:47:25.21\00:47:27.74
It does, doesn't it?
00:47:30.95\00:47:32.45
Okay, the other
reason I'm bringing this up
00:47:32.45\00:47:33.92
is because sometimes we have
mistakenly come to a conclusion
00:47:33.92\00:47:38.15
that when we come to Christ
00:47:38.15\00:47:39.69
that Christ at
least gives us the option
00:47:39.69\00:47:42.56
to be able to kind
of be a lone ranger,
00:47:42.56\00:47:44.86
kind of a Christian.
00:47:44.86\00:47:47.00
And, you know,
that God has called us
00:47:47.00\00:47:48.96
to kind of be
isolated lone rangers,
00:47:48.96\00:47:51.33
and we just kind
of do our own thing,
00:47:51.33\00:47:52.60
we worship God by ourselves,
00:47:52.60\00:47:54.14
we serve God by
ourselves, and so on.
00:47:54.14\00:47:57.47
And some people
have a real hang up
00:47:57.47\00:47:58.81
about organized religion.
00:47:58.81\00:48:01.08
And I want to make an appeal
00:48:01.08\00:48:04.31
to those of you
who perhaps struggle
00:48:04.31\00:48:07.18
and maybe have been
stung by organized religion,
00:48:07.18\00:48:09.45
and you see, have
some different issues
00:48:09.45\00:48:11.19
or hang ups about
organized religion.
00:48:11.19\00:48:13.42
And yet when we read the Bible,
00:48:13.42\00:48:15.32
we find here that
organized religion
00:48:15.32\00:48:16.93
is very, very biblical.
00:48:16.93\00:48:18.96
It's God
ordained, it's God's idea,
00:48:18.96\00:48:23.06
it's His plan for all Christians
00:48:23.06\00:48:24.87
to come together as a body.
00:48:24.87\00:48:26.27
And that's why Paul
paints it as a head.
00:48:26.27\00:48:28.80
Jesus is the head,
and then we have the body.
00:48:28.80\00:48:30.91
And the body is the
makeup of all the believers,
00:48:30.91\00:48:34.18
and they come together
every Sabbath and to worship.
00:48:34.18\00:48:37.28
They serve together,
they encourage each other.
00:48:37.28\00:48:40.88
And so God is into
organized religion.
00:48:40.88\00:48:44.65
And the Bible makes
that abundantly clear,
00:48:44.65\00:48:46.35
especially in this chapter.
00:48:46.35\00:48:49.22
And so there's
protocol, there's hierarchy,
00:48:49.22\00:48:53.03
there's leadership
that is in placement
00:48:53.03\00:48:55.00
as God has ordained and
appointed different people
00:48:55.00\00:48:57.53
in their different gift
appointed positions and so on.
00:48:57.53\00:49:01.17
And all of that when it's
done it with the Holy Spirit
00:49:01.17\00:49:03.74
with sincere believers,
all works to the glory of God,
00:49:03.74\00:49:07.38
and benefits the world,
00:49:07.38\00:49:08.61
and brings the light
of the gospel to the world
00:49:08.61\00:49:10.48
in a very powerful way.
00:49:10.48\00:49:12.21
And, so I want to
recommend that none of us,
00:49:12.21\00:49:15.38
if we're bashers of
organized religion that,
00:49:15.38\00:49:18.79
yes, sometimes
organized religion
00:49:18.79\00:49:20.66
can be very negative.
00:49:20.66\00:49:22.99
But find the right
organized religion.
00:49:22.99\00:49:25.23
And when you do that,
00:49:25.23\00:49:27.50
you know, like
Granite Bay Church,
00:49:27.50\00:49:29.90
and the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:49:29.90\00:49:31.47
you know, I thank God
for the organized church,
00:49:31.47\00:49:35.00
and the blessings
that He gives to me
00:49:35.00\00:49:37.27
and to all who
are involved with it.
00:49:37.27\00:49:39.47
While I wish I had more
time to continue to study
00:49:39.47\00:49:41.38
because this is
just a powerful chapter,
00:49:41.38\00:49:43.48
and there's much more
that we can draw out of this.
00:49:43.48\00:49:45.08
But our time is up here today,
00:49:45.08\00:49:47.05
and I do want to remind you that
00:49:47.05\00:49:48.95
if you would like to study
further on Spiritual Israel,
00:49:48.95\00:49:51.22
we refer to that
during our study here today
00:49:51.22\00:49:53.62
as we made our way
00:49:53.62\00:49:55.19
as Christ
brought us as believers
00:49:55.19\00:49:57.86
from the old
covenant to the new covenant.
00:49:57.86\00:50:00.90
There is a Spiritual
Israel that continues to exist,
00:50:00.90\00:50:04.13
and we have a free gift
00:50:04.13\00:50:05.50
that we can offer you
00:50:05.50\00:50:06.53
that you can
bring home with you,
00:50:06.53\00:50:08.20
and/or have sent to your home.
00:50:08.20\00:50:10.44
And so just a
call 1866-788-3966.
00:50:10.44\00:50:14.94
That's 1866-788-3966
00:50:14.94\00:50:18.75
and ask for free
offer number 174,
00:50:18.75\00:50:21.92
Spiritual Israel.
00:50:21.92\00:50:23.69
God bless you, love you all,
00:50:23.69\00:50:24.99
we'll see you next Sabbath.
00:50:24.99\00:50:27.39
Can't get enough
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Hello, friends.
00:51:08.20\00:51:09.33
We're here in the
Philippines overlooking
00:51:09.33\00:51:11.47
the Taal Volcano and Lake,
00:51:11.47\00:51:13.67
which is one of the most
interesting pieces of geography
00:51:13.67\00:51:16.34
in the whole world.
00:51:16.34\00:51:17.47
For one thing,
00:51:17.47\00:51:18.51
this great caldera was
once the biggest volcano
00:51:18.51\00:51:22.14
in the world.
00:51:22.14\00:51:23.31
And now it holds a lake,
00:51:23.31\00:51:24.68
that holds another volcano,
00:51:24.68\00:51:26.75
that has another
little lake in it,
00:51:26.75\00:51:28.88
that has another
little island in it.
00:51:28.88\00:51:31.49
This volcano has
erupted six times
00:51:31.49\00:51:33.99
in a major way since the 1500s.
00:51:33.99\00:51:37.16
And even in 1911,
00:51:37.16\00:51:38.56
there was an eruption
where over 1300 people died,
00:51:38.56\00:51:42.00
killed by the smoke and the
ash that covered the community.
00:51:42.00\00:51:45.60
There were tsunamis
that came from the lake
00:51:45.60\00:51:47.97
and destroyed the villages
00:51:47.97\00:51:49.37
that surrounded the
borders of the lake.
00:51:49.37\00:51:51.21
In fact, this is one
of the most carefully
00:51:51.21\00:51:53.54
monitored seismic
places in the Philippines.
00:51:53.54\00:51:56.98
This volcano is
being watched all the time.
00:51:56.98\00:51:59.18
And they've noticed, as of 2006,
00:51:59.18\00:52:01.42
that it appears
00:52:01.42\00:52:02.48
that the water
temperatures are going up.
00:52:02.48\00:52:04.92
There's an
increased seismic activity.
00:52:04.92\00:52:07.46
In other words,
00:52:07.46\00:52:08.49
they know that this volcano
00:52:08.49\00:52:10.13
is a ticking time
bomb prepared to blow.
00:52:10.13\00:52:13.03
And it's very interesting
00:52:13.03\00:52:14.20
because this place is a
place of great seismic activity,
00:52:14.20\00:52:17.57
but in spite of the
fact, the volcanologists know
00:52:17.57\00:52:20.37
this is going to
blow again someday,
00:52:20.37\00:52:22.07
it is a popular
tourist destination.
00:52:22.07\00:52:24.17
They're fighting
for the real estate,
00:52:24.17\00:52:25.84
they're building like mad
00:52:25.84\00:52:27.48
and sit on the edge of disaster.
00:52:27.48\00:52:29.44
It makes us think
about how God has given us
00:52:29.44\00:52:32.21
so many warnings in His Word
that the world is going to end,
00:52:32.21\00:52:35.82
that Jesus is going to come,
00:52:35.82\00:52:37.42
that the heavens will dissolve
00:52:37.42\00:52:38.49
with a great noise
00:52:38.49\00:52:39.55
and the elements will melt
00:52:39.55\00:52:40.62
with fervent heat.
00:52:40.62\00:52:41.89
Seeing then
that all these things
00:52:41.89\00:52:43.59
will be dissolved,
00:52:43.59\00:52:44.73
what kind of people should we be
00:52:44.73\00:52:46.73
in our holy
conversation and godliness?
00:52:46.73\00:52:49.83
Friends, are you
becoming distracted
00:52:49.83\00:52:51.30
with the tranquil
views of the world,
00:52:51.30\00:52:53.77
or are you
preparing for the next world?
00:52:53.77\00:52:56.10
Are you getting
ready for the Big Bang?
00:52:56.10\00:52:58.44
Amazing Facts Changed Lives.
00:53:07.92\00:53:10.72
Well, it was the year 2000.
00:53:16.36\00:53:18.23
Tony and I had
been wanting to go North
00:53:18.23\00:53:20.90
and be near Canada,
where his family was,
00:53:20.90\00:53:22.93
and Washington was looking
out for green and pretty.
00:53:22.93\00:53:25.90
We did venture North,
00:53:25.90\00:53:27.40
and everything
fell in the place.
00:53:27.40\00:53:28.44
Even we've got to build a home,
00:53:28.44\00:53:29.80
and became home
owners for the first time.
00:53:29.80\00:53:32.51
When we got to Washington,
00:53:32.51\00:53:34.14
we fluttered church to church.
00:53:34.14\00:53:37.21
We've gotten hurts,
and things were said,
00:53:37.21\00:53:39.21
some things were done to my son.
00:53:39.21\00:53:41.32
It was really painful.
00:53:41.32\00:53:43.42
And then I started traveling,
00:53:43.42\00:53:45.05
and it drove a wedge
between Candace and I.
00:53:45.05\00:53:49.26
I was drinking
so much on the road
00:53:49.26\00:53:52.09
that when I got home,
00:53:52.09\00:53:53.70
I would be just
yelling at the top
00:53:53.70\00:53:55.96
of my lungs at my kids
00:53:55.96\00:53:57.70
because they
didn't do something,
00:53:57.70\00:53:59.73
but yet I was hiding
behind this corroded life
00:53:59.73\00:54:03.27
of pure selfishness.
00:54:03.27\00:54:05.21
It was killing my marriage,
00:54:05.21\00:54:06.81
it was killing my
kids from the inside.
00:54:06.81\00:54:09.71
I remember just being...
00:54:09.71\00:54:10.91
There being a
lot of, like, fights
00:54:10.91\00:54:12.88
and my dad getting angry.
00:54:12.88\00:54:16.32
The more that
my dad would leave,
00:54:16.32\00:54:19.02
the harder it became.
00:54:19.02\00:54:21.46
Coming home was harder
than coming on the road.
00:54:21.46\00:54:24.03
I can't wait to go
back on the road again.
00:54:24.03\00:54:26.16
Oh, my word, I get to do
what I want, when I want,
00:54:26.16\00:54:27.96
wherever I want.
00:54:27.96\00:54:29.10
I just relied on her to be
00:54:29.10\00:54:30.63
the spiritual
side of the family.
00:54:30.63\00:54:32.10
You pray for them,
you take them for church,
00:54:32.10\00:54:34.14
you teach them Jesus,
you do that because I'm not,
00:54:34.14\00:54:39.67
I don't want to.
00:54:39.67\00:54:41.44
I was a terrified person trying
00:54:41.44\00:54:43.91
to find a balance
to make him happy,
00:54:43.91\00:54:46.15
not get angry with me
or even with the children.
00:54:46.15\00:54:48.98
For some strange reason,
00:54:48.98\00:54:50.05
I don't know how to explain it,
00:54:50.05\00:54:51.42
this amazing idea
drops in my heart.
00:54:51.42\00:54:55.09
I really need to
find a church on Saturday
00:54:55.09\00:54:56.59
because then Saturday,
00:54:56.59\00:54:57.66
I can really just like have time
00:54:57.66\00:54:58.73
with God,
00:54:58.73\00:54:59.79
and then Sunday could be
00:54:59.79\00:55:00.93
all about
getting ready for Monday.
00:55:00.93\00:55:03.06
Couple of weeks later,
00:55:03.06\00:55:04.47
this postcard
comes in the mailbox.
00:55:04.47\00:55:07.04
It just said Most
Amazing Prophecies.
00:55:07.04\00:55:10.24
And I looked at the postcard,
00:55:10.24\00:55:11.31
and it had
MostAmazingProhecies.com.
00:55:11.31\00:55:14.41
I watched one after
another, after another.
00:55:14.41\00:55:16.41
When I got to number seven,
00:55:16.41\00:55:17.58
it was about the Sabbath.
00:55:17.58\00:55:19.01
I just got on my knees
00:55:19.01\00:55:20.12
and completely
rededicated my heart to Jesus.
00:55:20.12\00:55:22.58
And from pretty much
the middle of December
00:55:22.58\00:55:24.62
to the end of January,
I spent Sabbath at home.
00:55:24.62\00:55:28.52
I would turn on saccentral.org.
00:55:28.52\00:55:31.03
I don't know how
I came across it,
00:55:31.03\00:55:32.89
and I would listen to
that and get out my Bible,
00:55:32.89\00:55:34.83
and I was like,
"This is my church."
00:55:34.83\00:55:36.73
One of the commercials
at the end of Amazing Facts
00:55:36.73\00:55:39.80
or whatever will
say, SabbathTruth.com.
00:55:39.80\00:55:42.97
I think, "You
know, I want to check out
00:55:42.97\00:55:44.41
SabbathTruth.com."
00:55:44.41\00:55:45.57
So I clicked on there,
00:55:45.57\00:55:46.98
and then off to
the right hand side,
00:55:46.98\00:55:48.51
there was a spot that said,
00:55:48.51\00:55:49.54
"How can I find a
Sabbath keeping church?"
00:55:49.54\00:55:52.18
So I clicked on it,
Hey, there's Mount Vernon.
00:55:52.18\00:55:55.72
Mount Vernon's only
about 20 miles south of me,
00:55:55.72\00:55:58.05
I could go there.
00:55:58.05\00:56:00.06
So I go inside,
and I'm sitting there,
00:56:00.06\00:56:02.36
and then a
gentleman comes up, he's like,
00:56:02.36\00:56:03.83
"Hi, what's your name?"
00:56:03.83\00:56:05.03
And his wife, and his kids,
00:56:05.03\00:56:06.56
"How did you find us?"
00:56:06.56\00:56:07.60
I told them my story.
00:56:07.60\00:56:09.16
And he goes, "Would
you like to get baptized?"
00:56:09.16\00:56:12.63
Just about a week
and so later, on the 9th,
00:56:12.63\00:56:14.64
I was baptized.
00:56:14.64\00:56:16.24
In here, I'm on the
road, I'm on traveling,
00:56:16.24\00:56:18.91
and I'm drinking
and doing the business.
00:56:18.91\00:56:21.78
I'm earning money,
and it's coming home,
00:56:21.78\00:56:23.71
and it's keeping my wife at home
00:56:23.71\00:56:24.81
with the kids,
00:56:24.81\00:56:25.85
but our relationship
was extremely strange
00:56:25.85\00:56:27.78
'cause of the things
00:56:27.78\00:56:28.82
I was being
involved in on the road.
00:56:28.82\00:56:31.92
This is May now,
00:56:31.92\00:56:34.12
and I'm on a
airplane flying home.
00:56:34.12\00:56:37.16
I've been watching my
wife, I've watched my son,
00:56:37.16\00:56:40.73
my eight year old
daughter at this time
00:56:40.73\00:56:42.16
was already been baptized.
00:56:42.16\00:56:43.67
All four of them
00:56:43.67\00:56:44.70
are in this radical relationship
00:56:44.70\00:56:46.60
with these
people at this church.
00:56:46.60\00:56:48.27
And the one thing
that bugged me the most
00:56:48.27\00:56:50.47
was this Sabbath day, like
00:56:50.47\00:56:52.37
"There has to be
something missing here."
00:56:52.37\00:56:54.91
And so I had this
list of scriptures.
00:56:54.91\00:56:56.68
I had two Bibles
with me I traveled with,
00:56:56.68\00:56:59.21
and I started to
read, and then it hits me.
00:56:59.21\00:57:02.78
My eyes just
opening up to discover
00:57:02.78\00:57:06.22
that I had never
00:57:06.22\00:57:07.66
ever, ever
honored God on His day.
00:57:07.66\00:57:10.83
Oh, we went to church.
00:57:10.83\00:57:12.33
We were children's
and family pastors.
00:57:12.33\00:57:15.60
And here, I'm in this airplane,
00:57:15.60\00:57:17.83
and God's Word
is speaking to me.
00:57:17.83\00:57:20.47
I came home and got on my knees,
00:57:20.47\00:57:22.07
and asked my wife to forgive me.
00:57:22.07\00:57:24.84
And that day, my life
was radically changed this,
00:57:24.84\00:57:29.01
the kids saw.
00:57:29.01\00:57:30.35
My parents are two
completely different people
00:57:30.35\00:57:32.41
than they were 10 years ago.
00:57:32.41\00:57:34.15
When we all came
together as one family,
00:57:34.15\00:57:36.35
as one unit, nothing was going
00:57:36.35\00:57:38.22
to separate our family anymore.
00:57:38.22\00:57:39.59
We're more closer than before.
00:57:39.59\00:57:41.89
What Amazing Facts
has done to my family...
00:57:41.89\00:57:45.29
Oh, my word, the fact
00:57:45.29\00:57:47.30
that we are talking like
this right now is a miracle.
00:57:47.30\00:57:50.33
Is a miracle.
00:57:50.33\00:57:51.37
My girls to hug
me, my son to hold me.
00:57:51.37\00:57:56.67
I am such a blessed man.
00:57:56.67\00:57:58.94