Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved Acts 15:1-33 (pew Bible p ) Chapter 15 About half way through the book About half way through the book 2 major things happening: 2 major things happening: Jews getting saved—God’s Spirit is poured out on them Jews getting saved—God’s Spirit is poured out on them Gentiles are getting saved—God is pouring His Spirit out on Gentiles too Gentiles are getting saved—God is pouring His Spirit out on Gentiles too The Church is off and running The Church is off and running Satan is unhappy Satan is unhappy A good time for controversy A good time for controversy

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved The Controversy? †S†S†S†So, how does one get saved, really? †D†D†D†Don’t they need to obey the rules first? †W†W†W†What about the Law? †S†S†S†Specifically, what about God’s mark, given to Abe, to signify that you are one of God’s chosen people?— Namely, circumcision? That little question, threatened the life and growth of the church!

So much at stake! So much riding on the Law of Moses and its oral traditions (interpretation of the Law) Was it about our relationship with God or the church? Remember, they didn’t have the New Testament with all of its answers!

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved That debate still rages! If they would only clean up their life…! What is your tradition? Certain dress codes, certain actions? What must one do to be saved? Come to church, baptism? How can I be sure if you are saved? Bible reading, inspect your actions?

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved What was wrong with asking those questions? 1. The Purpose of the debate 2. The Answer to the debate 3. The Conclusion from the debate 4. The Teaching surrounding the debate

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved † The Purpose of the Debate—v 1-5 † Men from Judea † Unauthorized—v 24 † Identified with the Pharisees—v 5 † False Brethren—Galatians 2:1-10; 5:1 † They had an agenda † They were out to rob the church of its freedom in Christ † They were out to preserve the Jewish religion † They were trying to rebuild the walls between the Jew and the Gentile † They wanted God to be exclusively Jew They were saying that you need to be a part of our group and obey our rules to be saved!

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved † The Answer to the Debate—v 6-18 † Peter—leading minister to the Jews † God called me to go to the Gentiles and I saw His results first hand—v 7 † God knows hearts—v 8 † God made no distinction, why should we?—v 9 † He cleansed them by their faith in Jesus—v 9 † We failed at keeping the Law—v 10 † We are all saved by grace only—v 11

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved † The Answer to the Debate—v 6-18 † Paul—leading minister to the Gentiles—v 12 † God is doing miracles among them as proof † His Spirit is evidenced among them † James—leader of the church in Jerusalem † Agreement with Peter—v 14 † A people for himself—formerly reserved for Jews † Scripture pointed toward their salvation—v 15 † The prophets agreed with it—v 16-18

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved † The Conclusion from the Debate—v † Don’t make it difficult for them † Send them an answer † Don’t make it difficult for the Jews

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved The Teaching surrounding the debate—v † We are saved by God’s grace † We will put no burden on you † We want to encourage you † Through faith in the finished work of Christ † If you could have done it Jesus wouldn’t have had to die † The Law only showed our sinfulness

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved The Teaching surrounding the debate—v † Get along with God † Abstain from sexual impurity † Get along with each other † Abstain from meat offered to idols † Abstain from eating blood † Why? † This has traditionally been wrong for the Jews forever † Why purposely do things that they cannot participate in? † We should strive for unity

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved In a Nutshell: Grace + G—God’s † Grace comes from and is given by and through God R—Riches † Out of God’s abundance of grace, mercy and love A—atC—Christ’s † He alone could pay the price of sin E—expense † His life, death, resurrection, ascension and return

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved In a Nutshell: Faith + Hebrews 11:1-3 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved In a Nutshell: Nothing=Saved Galatians 5:1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved Col 2:16-21 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self- denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body.

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved Galatians 1:6-9 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Grace + Faith + Nothing = Saved How do you believe a person gets saved? Do you believe in the work of Jesus? Do you believe that He did this for you? Will you accept His forgiveness? Will you choose to love Him enough to give Him your life?