Cover Picture The Crisis That Almost Crippled the Church Acts 15:1-12 (Part 1)

ACTS 15:1-12 OUTLINE The Argument of the Men (1-6) The Apology of Peter (7-12) The Awe of the Congregation (12)

The Crisis that Almost Crippled the Church The Argument of the Men (Acts 15:1-6) And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” The Crisis that Almost Crippled the Church How is a person to be saved? The false teachers claimed that a person must first become a Jew before becoming a Christian

Gospel Equations The false gospel: grace + faith + human efforts = salvation The Biblical gospel: grace alone + faith alone = salvation

GALATIANS 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.

GALATIANS 3:11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

False Gospels The Roman Catholic Church: page 292, paragraph 1129, “The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.” page 487, paragraph 2010, “…we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed to attain eternal life…”

False Gospels The Jehovah Witnesses: “All who by reason of faith in Jehovah God and in Christ Jesus dedicate themselves to do God's will, and then faithfully carry out their dedication, will be rewarded with eternal life.”

False Gospels The Mormon Church: “We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. 'They who believe not your words and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins...shall be damned.' Baptism is...the very gateway into the Kingdom of Heaven, an indispensable step in our salvation...”

ACTS 15:2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.

ACTS 13:39 and through Him [Jesus Christ] everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

GALATIANS 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

GALATIANS 2:12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.

GALATIANS 2:13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

ACTS 15:3 Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.

ACTS 15:4 And when they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

ACTS 15:5 But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

ACTS 15:6 And the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.

1 PETER 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…

ACTS 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”

CHRISTIANVALUES 1. A high view of God 2. A high view of Scripture 3. A high view of the Church 4. A high view of salvation

Cover Picture The Crisis That Almost Crippled the Church Acts 15:1-12 (Part 1)