The Law Snuffs out the Spark Grace Fans the Fire of Change “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

Laws 20,000 laws for governing use and ownership of guns! 5,000 Federal criminal laws 10,000 to 300,000 regulations that can be enforced criminally 613 laws in the Old Testament 248 positive 365 negative Kansas Wichita “The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them,” said Ferris. “One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.” January 1st 2010 saw 40,627 new laws on the books in the USA and its overseas territories and protectorates. There are so many regulations and criminal statutes on the books that a civil-liberties expert and lawyer, Harvey Silverglate, thinks that the average American commits three felonies a day, and they often are not even aware they are breaking the law. Some Dumb Kansas laws Rabbits may not be shot from motorboats. Hitting a vending machine that stole your money is illegal. It is illegal to spit on a sidewalk. All cars entering the city limits must first sound their horn to warn the horses of their arrival. The state game rule prohibits the use of mules to hunt ducks. “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

Things That Have Rules Sports Basic Driving skills Card Games Carpentry Basic Training for the Military Hunting “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

Purpose of Rules To help you become the best you can be To keep you focused on what is important They will keep us out of trouble They will guide you in difficult times They keep things fair and balanced Ultimately, rules remind us, it is not about us! “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

Recap 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me.

Taking a Stand - Now Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. What brought him back to Jerusalem? – Acts 15 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. 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. False – pseudo – false – to lie – to tell untruths Judaizers - refers to Jewish Christians who sought to induce Gentiles to observe Jewish religious customs: to "judaize." It appears that these individuals agreed with much of the apostolic preaching but sought to regulate the admission of Gentiles into the covenant people of God through circumcision and the keeping of the ceremonial law. Insisting that "Unless you are circumcised … you cannot be saved" ( Acts15:1 ), these "believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees" ( Acts 15:5 ) posed a serious threat to the gospel of grace and the Christian mission. “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

6 As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were, makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. Acts 15: 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” Acts 10: 9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

We are ALL Susceptible 11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. Peter was hanging out with Gentiles in Antioch, eating and fellowshipping with them It appears some Esteemed Jewish brothers – had some influence on Pete! Hypocrisy – basically not walking the talk I believe someone is always watching each of us – the question is where are we leading them “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

The Basic Truth Sets Us Free 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? Are we willing to hear it (the truth) Jewish reasoning – they were after all God’s Chosen People! Now we follow the age of Reason – started in the 18th Century The Age of Reason represented a genesis in the way man viewed himself, the pursuit of knowledge, and the universe. This was the beginning of an open society where individuals were free to pursue individual happiness and liberty. during this time great changes occurred in scientific thought and exploration. Man began to embrace an exaggerated belief in the perfection of humanity based on reason and clear thinking; they happily abandoned reliance on biblical truth and lost their fear of God. Sadly – we do this in the Church today

The Son = Justification 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. Justify – to be rendered innocent! Faith – Greek – pistis – the actual placing of trust in God – trust is and action word of giving up something and allowing someone else (God) to be in control of it “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

Our Daily Reality Check 17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker. Cause we are God’s chosen? Paul is advising that they like Gentiles are all sinners – hard to swallow No we had the Law – but it did not save them No the law, that is what lead us to God – we do not have to go back under the Law Oh but so many do “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

We are Alive – Go Live It! 19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Christ living in us John 12:50 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 5:19 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 8:28 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. John 14:31 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”