Men's Group Study Guide
NIV Notes by Kelly Link
Introduction
Last week we learned why credibility is important to minister the gospel effectively and how it is attained.
This week we will discover how Paul handled the other apostles and leaders in Jerusalem and how he was able to keep unity even though there was a big difference in doctrine. We will also see how Paul defended grace or in other words, how God accepts men by grace through faith alone. But before we start, we need a little background information.
It is important to understand that Cornelius (Acts10) was the first Gentile Christian. Before this, the gospel had been preached only to Jews, Jewish Proselytes, and Samaritans. All of these groups observed the Law of Moses. In (Matthew 28: 19) Jesus gave the great commission to the Apostles saying "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations". So the Apostles must have understood that the gospel needed to be preach to the Gentiles. However it had not yet been revealed that the Gentiles needed to be received as Gentiles not as Jews. There was this belief that Gentiles needed first to become Jewish Proselytes by being circumcised and holding to the Law of Moses before they could become Christians. As Jews scattered around the world, Jews shared the gospel only with other Jews (Acts 11:19). But God made it clear the time had come to share the gospel with the Gentiles and that He would receive anyone who came to Him through His Son Jesus Christ (Acts 10: 34-35).
Because of this misunderstanding, there was a high probability for this issue to divide God's church. Paul understood this and used great wisdom in bringing about unity without compromising the truth of the gospel. The end result was freedom for all of God's children and a way of salvation that was open to all by the grace of God not by works.
STUDY NOTES: verses 1-10
v.1 Fourteen Years Later I Went Up Again to Jerusalem, - Paul waited 14 years after his first visit to Jerusalem (some say 14years after his conversion) to go up there again. During this time Paul lived a relatively quiet life making tents and growing in the grace of God, preparing himself for the ministry. God used those years to establish Paul's heart in order that Paul might be an effective apostle to the Gentiles. (Hebrews 13: 9), (1 Timothy 3: 6)
This Time with Barnabas. I Took Titus Along Also. - Barnabas was well received by the leaders at Jerusalem. He was a Jew and was responsible for initially receiving Paul after his conversion and vouching for him before the apostles in Jerusalem on Paul's first visit (Acts 9:27). Titus was a Gentile Christian (Greek) who was one of Paul's converts (Titus 1:4). Titus had not been circumcised nor was he compelled to do so.
V.2 I Went In Response to a Revelation - God led Paul to go up to Jerusalem to share with the church leaders the gospel he was preaching. It was God who led Paul into this confrontation. (Psalm 37:93), (Romans 8:14)
and Set Before Them the Gospel That I Preach Among the Gentiles. - This would enable the church leaders to understand what Paul was teaching for they could either agree or disagree with his teaching. By doing this Paul avoided misunderstanding between the leaders and himself and was able to clearly lay out the gospel as God had given it to him. (John 8:32), (Joshua 24:14), (Psalm 15)
But I Did This Privately to Those Who Seemed to Be Leaders, For Fear That I Was Running or Had Run My Race in Vain. - Paul laid out the gospel to the leaders in private. Paul knew if he went to Jerusalem with a proud attitude it would backfire on him. Approaching the leaders in Jerusalem in private allowed Paul to humbly present his message while at the same time showing them the error of requiring people to be circumcised. By meeting with the leaders privately Paul showed that he was not interested in making them look bad but in covering or protecting them in an area where they had a lack of understanding. (Matthew 10:16), (Matthew 18:15), (Colossians 4: 6)
V. 3-5 Yet Not Even Titus, Who Was With Me, Was Compelled to Be Circumcised, Even Though He Was a Greek. - Titus was a Greek (Gentile) surrounded by Jews. I can hear the Jews saying back then, "You know Titus, if you were really serious about your faith you would get circumcised." Or in other words 'become like us, a Jew'. But Titus was free in Christ and was not compelled to be circumcised. (Romans 3:22-24)
This Matter Arose Because Some False Brothers Had Infiltrated Our Ranks To Spy on the Freedom We Have in Christ Jesus and to Make Us Slaves. - Paul stated that these false brethren (the Judaisers) spied on them to find out what they were or were not doing. They did this not to celebrate their freedom but to regulate it. This is what legalism does. (Colossians 2: 9-12), (Colossians 2: 20-23)
We Did Not Give Into Them for a Moment, So That the Truth of the Gospel Might Remain With You. - Paul did not go to Jerusalem to negotiate his doctrine. He went to explain it so that others might find freedom in Jesus Christ as well. Paul understood that God had done a new thing. There was no longer any division between Jew and Gentile, slave and free. (Colossians 3: 11)
V. 6 As For Those Who Seemed to Be Important-Whatever They Were Makes No Difference to Me; - Paul wasn't influenced by the other "big names" in Christianity. He was influenced by God and determined to be obedient to the Lord. Paul could have allowed the fear of these leaders to influence what he knew to be true. The end result would have been catastrophic for mankind because grace would no longer be foundational for salvation. All men would have had to become Jews before receiving Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 29: 25)
God Does not Judge By External Appearance - God doesn't accept or use men because of their talents, title, position or cultural background. God views all men as equal because He can use, empower or bless anyone. Paul understood this about God and it brought a Godly fear into his life instead of a fear of man. (Romans 11: 17-21), (Matthew 22: 16), (Romans 2: 11)
-Those Men Added Nothing to My Message. - Peter, James, John and the other leaders taught Paul nothing, Jesus Christ taught Paul all he knew.
V. 7 On the Contrary, They Saw That I Had Been Entrusted With the Task of Preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, Just As Peter Had Been to the Jews. For God Who Was at Work in the Ministry of Peter As an Apostle to the Jews, Was Also at Work in My Ministry as an Apostle to the Gentiles. - The Apostles in Jerusalem saw how God was working through Paul. In (Acts 15: 12) Paul and Barnabas share how God showed His great power by miraculous signs and wonders through their ministry. (John 15: 5)
James, Peter, and John, Those Reputed to be 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 Jews. - Paul had the approval and blessing of the leaders at Jerusalem. (Acts 15: 22-35)
V.10 All They Asked Was That We Should Continue to Remember the Poor, the Very Thing I Was Eager to Do. - The Apostles agreed with Paul's doctrine. They only wanted Paul to remember the poor.
TRUTH APPLIED:
Q. 1 Have you ever been frustrated by having to wait longer than you expected to receive something promised to you or have you had to wait in order to fulfill your calling? What can we learn from the Apostle Paul's life in regard to the length of time it took between his conversion and his first missionary journey?
Q. 2 Why did Paul go and confront the leaders in Jerusalem about their difference in doctrine? When you confront leadership, do you go because you are offended or do you go because God tells you?
Q. 3 How did Paul treat the leaders in Jerusalem even though Paul had a serious disagreement with them? Have you ever had a disagreement with leadership at work or at church? Please share a time when you did. How did you treat your leaders and what was the outcome? How did you reveal and discuss the subject of your disagreement?
Q. 4 What is the proper response to a leader that is clearly in the wrong and his/her decision could hurt someone or themselves?
Q. 5 Read Exodus 5: 13-21. The Israelites suffered because of Moses' leadership. But look what happened to them because of their complaining (1 Corinthians 10: 10-12). What should this tell us about being too critical of leaders?
Q. 6 How do you look at Christians who, i.e. drink a beer, work a job for the state lottery, who have body piercings, tattoos, who smoke cigarettes, dress differently, who have to worship on Saturday, and who celebrate holidays like Halloween? Please write down your response to each situation and share them with each other. What should your response be and why?
Q. 7 How might this piece of scripture help you when you are evangelizing people from different cultures? Nations?
CONCLUSION:
It is good to take a stand for what is right; especially if it means the difference between life and death. But how we approach those in authority is extremely important. If people are in authority over us, God has put them there. (Romans 13:1) We need to make sure it is God who is leading us to confront leaders and that we approach them in a spirit of humility. Our attitude should always be to bring reconciliation through the humble presentation of the truth.
In this situation, the truth was that the Gentiles would be received by God as Gentiles. They didn't have to become Jews before God accepted them. God will accept any person regardless of race, cultural background or nationality as long as they come through Jesus Christ. We can add nothing to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Just like the Judaizers of old, we should not expect people to become like us in order to know Jesus and be saved. There is not a set of rules or regulations that can save a person only faith in Jesus Christ. Please take some time to pray about how you treat those in authority over you. Do you honor them or do you have a critical spirit? Also, pray for wisdom when reaching out to others so God might reveal the best approach to sharing with them the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Him,
Kelly Link