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The Scriptorium

Dissension

A new challenge arises. Acts 15.1-11

The Gentiles Question Resolved (6)

Pray Psalm 94.1-4.
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs—
O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
Render punishment to the proud.
LORD, how long will the wicked,
How long will the wicked triumph?
They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.

Sing Psalm 94.1-4.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
O God of vengeance, mighty Lord, shine forth!
Rise up, O sovereign Judge of all the earth!
And render recompense to all the proud!
How long, O Lord, shall they boast long and loud?
They pour forth words, in arrogance they speak;
naught but their own exalting do they seek.

Read and meditate on Acts 15.1-11.

Preparation

1. What problem arose in these verses?

2. What role did Paul and Barnabas play in seeking to resolve it?

Meditation
While Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch, and Peter with them, certain teachers arrived from Jerusalem and insisted that the Gentile believers needed to be circumcised according to the Law of Moses if their faith was going to be valid (v. 1). It was to these men that Peter initially deferred, provoking Paul’s confrontation (Gal. 2). Peter returned to Jerusalem a chastened but more mature believer. He needed to be, to take the lead in resolving the Gentiles question.

This was a matter of such importance that it could not be settled at the local church level only. The disputing parties must go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles, elders, and churches (and Church) there, for a full debate and final resolution (vv. 2-5). The sense of the oneness of the Body of Christ is so strong in the book of Acts!

Peter’s stumble in Antioch was not his undoing; rather, it contributed to his growth and readiness to serve. He stood boldly to proclaim the orthodox faith (vv. 6-11).

Christianity does not seek to stifle dissent, but to hear it, weigh it, and resolve it. What Christianity must not do is accommodate dissent from received teachings – each person holding their own opinion about things, as if it doesn’t matter all that much what people believe. These days in the church we don’t like disagreements. We don’t like debates. We’re not too keen on theology. We don’t think we should be confronting people publicly about their sin. We think every church should be allowed to believe what it wants, organize itself as it chooses, and still be allowed to think of itself as a church. Is it any wonder the Church today is nowhere near as strong as the one we’re observing in the book of Acts?

The ongoing work of Christ always requires a certain amount of “back-and-filling.” We saw this as Paul and Barnabas returned to the churches the Lord had started under their preaching, to set them in order and strengthen the disciples. We saw this in Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas reported on their work. And now we see that even in the realm of doctrine it is necessary, from time to time, to review, clarify, and refocus what we believe and what we teach.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Peter’s stumble was not his undoing; rather, it contributed to his growth and readiness to serve.”

Peter made mistakes, but he was so teachable and so humble. He could have been upset that a newer member of the Church, Paul, had taken theological lead in the group. He could have been bitter because Paul was, after all, a former murderer of their group members. He could have been so many things contrary to what God wanted him to be. He had a right! But no. He needed to be an example to the Church, to those of us that would follow in his path. He needed to show us how to do it right. And he did.

We need to take his words, written to the Jews of the Dispersion, to heart. He has earned the right to say it:
“Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he many devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Pet. 5.5-9).

Our adversary is still walking about like a roaring lion, and one of his favorite places to wreak havoc is in the Church. So we must be on our guard, with zealous righteousness wrapped up in humility and submissiveness.
Almost sounds oxymoronic. But this is what the Lord requires. To do justly. To love mercy. And to walk humbly with Him (Mic. 6.8),

Clearly, a task that can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is able (Jude 24, 25). We must be willing (Jude 20, 21).

For reflection

1. Works of any kind cannot save us. Why not?

2. Yet, we cannot truly be saved without the evidence of good works (Eph. 2.10; Heb. 6.9, 10)? Why not?

3. So we could say, “We’re not saved by works; but we’re not saved without them.” Explain.

There is a strange proneness in us to think that all do wrong who do not just as we do. Their doctrine was very discouraging. Wise and good men desire to avoid contests and disputes as far as they can; yet when false teachers oppose the main truths of the gospel, or bring in hurtful doctrines, we must not decline to oppose them. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Acts 15.1-6

Pray Psalm 94.12-23.
Seek the help and blessing of God as you go out to work in your Personal Mission Field today. Thank Him in knowing that He will be with you as your Rock and Refuge, and trust Him to lead you every next step of the way.

Sing Psalm 94.12-23.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
How blessed are all whom by Your Law You teach.
Relief is theirs, them trouble may not reach.
You will Your holy people not forsake;
Your righteous judgment gladly they will take.
God will for me against the wicked stand
to drive out evil from our holy land.

If God were not my help, my soul would lie
consigned to silence, very near to die.
Sure I would slip, did not You love me, Lord;
when troubles rise, You soothe me by Your Word.
What pow’r or throne against You can arise?
What foe against You evil can devise?

Though all our foes together ‘gainst us stand,
us to condemn and banish from the land,
yet God our Stronghold and our Rock abides.
Our Refuge He, His grace shall take our side!
He makes the wicked bear their wicked ways,
and will destroy them ever and always.

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to a summary of last week’s Scriptorium study by going to our website, www.ailbe.org, and clicking theScriptorium tab for last Sunday. You can download any or all the studies in this series on Acts by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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