Salvation by Grace: The Purity of the Gospel

 

Summary

In our gathering today, we explored the profound implications of the early church's struggle with the doctrine of justification, as recorded in Acts 15 and echoed in Paul's letter to the Galatians. This struggle is not merely a historical curiosity but a vital reminder of the gospel's purity and the dangers of distorting it. The early church faced a significant challenge from the Judaizers, who insisted that Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish customs, such as circumcision, to be saved. This insistence threatened the very essence of the gospel, which proclaims salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone.

Peter's speech at the Jerusalem Council was pivotal. He reminded the assembly that God had already shown His acceptance of the Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He had to the Jewish believers. Peter's declaration that "we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved in the same manner as they" underscores the universality of the gospel. Salvation is not about adhering to the law but about faith in Christ, who fulfilled the law on our behalf.

Paul's letter to the Galatians further emphasizes this point. He expresses astonishment that the Galatians were turning to a "different gospel," which was no gospel at all. His strong words serve as a warning against any teaching that adds to the finished work of Christ. The Reformation echoed this truth, with Martin Luther declaring justification by faith alone as the article upon which the church stands or falls.

Today, we must remain vigilant against any teaching that compromises the gospel's simplicity and power. Our righteousness is not our own but is found in Christ alone. As we partake in the Lord's Supper, we remember His sacrifice, which established a new covenant through His blood, not through the works of the law.

Key Takeaways:

- The early church's struggle with the Judaizers highlights the importance of maintaining the purity of the gospel, which is salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, not through adherence to the law. [02:22]

- Peter's declaration at the Jerusalem Council that both Jews and Gentiles are saved by grace underscores the universality of the gospel and the futility of relying on the law for salvation. [23:35]

- Paul's letter to the Galatians serves as a stern warning against turning to a "different gospel," emphasizing that any addition to the finished work of Christ is a distortion of the true gospel. [08:15]

- The Reformation's emphasis on justification by faith alone reminds us that our righteousness is found in Christ alone, and any attempt to add to His work undermines the gospel's power. [18:07]

- As we partake in the Lord's Supper, we are reminded of the new covenant established through Christ's sacrifice, which frees us from the law's demands and secures our salvation through His blood. [28:32]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:27] - Pastors Conference Overview
- [01:03] - The New Perspective on Paul
- [02:22] - The Gospel Under Attack
- [03:05] - Acts 15: The Jerusalem Council
- [04:30] - Peter's Speech: Salvation by Grace
- [06:35] - Prayer for Understanding
- [07:24] - Galatians: Paul's Concern
- [09:08] - Apostolic Astonishment
- [10:48] - The Danger of Another Gospel
- [12:07] - The Issue of Circumcision
- [13:50] - The Symbolism of Circumcision
- [15:22] - Christ's Sacrifice and the Curse
- [17:19] - The Reformation and Justification
- [20:14] - Acts 15: The Dispute
- [22:12] - Peter's Declaration
- [24:20] - The Only Way to Salvation
- [26:36] - James' Conclusion
- [28:32] - The Lord's Supper: A New Covenant

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 15:1-21
2. Galatians 1:6-9
3. Galatians 3:1-3

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the main issue being debated at the Jerusalem Council according to Acts 15? How did Peter address this issue? [04:30]

2. In Galatians 1:6-9, what does Paul express astonishment about, and what warning does he give to the Galatians? [08:15]

3. How does Peter's declaration in Acts 15:11 emphasize the universality of the gospel? [23:35]

4. What does Paul mean when he says, "Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" in Galatians 3:3? [09:08]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why was the insistence on circumcision by the Judaizers such a significant threat to the early church's understanding of the gospel? [12:07]

2. How does Peter's statement in Acts 15:11 challenge the traditional Jewish understanding of salvation and inclusion in God's covenant? [23:35]

3. What does Paul's strong language in Galatians 1:6-9 reveal about the seriousness of distorting the gospel? [08:15]

4. How does the Reformation's emphasis on justification by faith alone relate to the issues faced by the early church in Acts 15? [18:07]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you might have added personal or cultural expectations to the gospel message. How can you ensure that your understanding of the gospel remains pure and focused on faith in Christ alone? [12:07]

2. Peter emphasized that both Jews and Gentiles are saved by grace. How can this understanding influence the way you view and interact with people from different cultural or religious backgrounds? [23:35]

3. Paul warns against turning to a "different gospel." Are there teachings or beliefs in your life that might be distorting your understanding of the gospel? How can you address these? [08:15]

4. The sermon mentioned the importance of the Lord's Supper as a reminder of the new covenant. How can participating in this sacrament deepen your appreciation for Christ's sacrifice and the gospel? [28:32]

5. Consider the role of faith in your daily life. Are there areas where you rely more on your own efforts rather than trusting in Christ's finished work? How can you shift your focus to faith in Christ alone? [25:04]

6. How can the lessons from the early church's struggle with the Judaizers help you remain vigilant against teachings that compromise the gospel's simplicity and power? [02:22]

7. Reflect on the statement, "Our righteousness is found in Christ alone." How does this truth impact your sense of identity and worth? How can you live out this truth in your daily interactions? [18:07]

Devotional

Day 1: The Gospel's Purity and Grace Alone
The early church faced a significant challenge from the Judaizers, who insisted that Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish customs, such as circumcision, to be saved. This insistence threatened the very essence of the gospel, which proclaims salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. The struggle with the Judaizers highlights the importance of maintaining the purity of the gospel. It is a reminder that salvation is not achieved through adherence to the law but through the grace of God. This truth is as vital today as it was then, urging believers to guard against any distortion of the gospel's simplicity and power. [02:22]

Galatians 2:16 (ESV): "Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."

Reflection: In what ways might you be tempted to rely on your own efforts or adherence to rules for your sense of righteousness? How can you refocus on the grace of God today?


Day 2: Universality of the Gospel
Peter's speech at the Jerusalem Council was pivotal. He reminded the assembly that God had already shown His acceptance of the Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He had to the Jewish believers. Peter's declaration that "we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved in the same manner as they" underscores the universality of the gospel. Salvation is not about adhering to the law but about faith in Christ, who fulfilled the law on our behalf. This universality means that the gospel is for everyone, regardless of background or previous beliefs. [23:35]

Acts 10:34-35 (ESV): "So Peter opened his mouth and said: 'Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.'"

Reflection: How can you embrace the universality of the gospel in your interactions with others, especially those who are different from you?


Day 3: Guarding Against a Different Gospel
Paul's letter to the Galatians serves as a stern warning against turning to a "different gospel," emphasizing that any addition to the finished work of Christ is a distortion of the true gospel. He expresses astonishment that the Galatians were turning away so quickly. This serves as a reminder to remain vigilant against teachings that compromise the gospel's simplicity and power. The purity of the gospel must be preserved, and believers are called to discern and reject any teachings that deviate from the truth of salvation by grace through faith. [08:15]

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (ESV): "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough."

Reflection: Are there teachings or beliefs you have encountered that might subtly add to the gospel? How can you ensure you are holding fast to the true gospel?


Day 4: Justification by Faith Alone
The Reformation's emphasis on justification by faith alone reminds us that our righteousness is found in Christ alone, and any attempt to add to His work undermines the gospel's power. Martin Luther declared this doctrine as the article upon which the church stands or falls. This truth is foundational to the Christian faith, affirming that believers are justified not by their works but by faith in the finished work of Christ. It calls for a reliance on Christ's righteousness rather than one's own efforts. [18:07]

Romans 3:28 (ESV): "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself trying to earn God's favor? How can you rest in the assurance of justification by faith alone?


Day 5: The New Covenant in Christ's Blood
As believers partake in the Lord's Supper, they are reminded of the new covenant established through Christ's sacrifice, which frees them from the law's demands and secures their salvation through His blood. This act of remembrance is a powerful reminder of the grace and mercy extended to humanity through Christ's atoning work. It is a call to live in the freedom and assurance that comes from being part of this new covenant, celebrating the salvation that is not earned but given. [28:32]

Hebrews 9:15 (ESV): "Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant."

Reflection: As you reflect on the Lord's Supper, how does the reality of the new covenant impact your daily walk with Christ? How can you live more fully in the freedom it provides?

Quotes

"Now, before I turn our attention directly to the text of Acts chapter 15, I want to go fast-forward into the New Testament to Paul's letter to the Galatians that was absorbed basically entirely with the same issue that was being addressed here in the Jerusalem Council; the threat of the Judaizers who were undermining the gospel. And I want to read a little bit from Galatians so that we may sense the apostles' concern with this question." [00:07:09]

"In chapter one, Paul writes this, 'I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.'" [00:07:46]

"Now, normally, the Apostle Paul breathes a spirit of comfort and care to the churches that he has established. He is sensitive to the pain and the groanings of the people. And rarely, do we find him speaking in any way in a harsh manner. But did you hear how he addresses the Galatians in the midst of this controversy? The first thing he does is he expresses apostolic astonishment." [00:09:08]

"Now, imagine if the Apostle Paul wrote us a letter here at St. Andrews, and it was delivered by the mailman, and we knew it came from the apostle. And the instructions were for me to read it to you aloud in the congregation because that's what the letter to the Galatians was. It was a circular letter sent to all of the churches in the Galatian region, and that would then come to the local church and it would be read aloud." [00:10:54]

"What happened in the first century was the zealots among the Jewish converts, these were people who embraced Jesus as the Messiah. These were Pharisees who believed in the resurrection of Jesus, and they said He's the long-awaited Messiah, 'We believe in Him.' But, of course, believing in Him and His work is not enough. You have to believe in Christ, you have to have faith in Christ, you have to have faith plus something else." [00:12:14]

"Now, why did they want to insist that the Gentiles who were being converted have to undergo circumcision? Now, we have seen throughout our study of the book of Acts that the issue of where the Gentiles, the Samaritans, the God-fearers fit into the church was an issue that the church had to confront on every page and in every place. Remember in the Old Testament, the Gentiles who were interested or converted, they had a court reserved for the Gentiles, but they couldn't come into the inner court which was the court of the Jews." [00:13:24]

"And Paul, again in Galatians says that in the ministry of Jesus, when He went on the cross, Christ became a curse for us. That which was symbolized by circumcision was actualized when God cut off His very Son on the cross by pouring out His wrath for sin upon Him. Jesus was literally circumcised on the cross for us. And so, imagine believing that Christ has died for us, taking upon Himself the curse once and for all, and after we embrace that by faith, we run right back to get circumcised again." [00:15:44]

"In the sixteenth century, when the great crisis came in the Reformation, and Luther stood for the doctrine of justification by faith alone, that is, by faith plus nothing, he said it was the article upon which the church stands or falls. I don't know if you agree with that, but I do. I mean, Luther said the church still believes in the Trinity, the church still believes in the deity of Christ, still believes in the atonement, still believes in the resurrection, but the church in rejecting justification by faith alone, rejected the gospel." [00:17:46]

"And a question was asked, 'Will you continue to have altar calls in the worship service?' And Dr. Dever said, 'No, I won't have altar calls in the church.' And one of the old members of the committee looked at him and said, 'Well, how are you going to get folks saved?' Dever said, 'Through the preaching of the Word.' It's not the altar call that saves you, it's not the profession of faith that saves you, it's not the card that you sign that saves you; it's putting your trust in Christ and in Christ alone that saves you because Christ is the only grounds of our justification, not Christ plus something else." [00:19:59]

"Now, Peter is seen as the leader of the Jewish contingent of the church. Peter stands up and he said, 'Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And so God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us.' Do you remember that at Cornelius' household? 'And He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.'" [00:22:12]

"And here's this, I want you to listen carefully to this because I guarantee most of you won't get it the first time you hear it. Listen, 'But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved in the same manner as they.' What? What would you expect Peter to say? I would expect him to say, 'By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, those Gentiles are going to be saved in the same manner that we are saved.' That's not what he said. He turned it around. He said, 'I trust that by the grace of God, we will be saved in the same manner that they have been saved.'" [00:23:05]

"You know, the hardest thing I think in the world for people, Jewish or otherwise, to believe is that the only way you can be saved is by grace. We hold on tenaciously to the idea that somehow our goodness, our works, our activities contribute something to the grounds of our justification. I have told you before of the diagnostic questions of Evangelism Explosion, the second one being; if you were to die tonight, and you stood before God, and God looked you in the eye and said, 'Why should I let you into My heaven?' What would you say?" [00:24:20]

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Transcript
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