Title: The Apology of James
Contents
James' Apologetics
Acts 15:12-29
In the Antioch church, Jewish Christians had a doctrinal argument with Paul and Barnabas, so they went to the Jerusalem church to solve the problem, and there they held a conference called the Jerusalem Conference.
At that time, there was a claim that the most serious problem in the early church was that salvation was entirely by God's grace, and that it was accomplished through Jesus Christ, and that it was completed because Jesus fulfilled it, but at the same time kept the law of Moses. In the midst of such circumstances, as soon as Peter's argument was finished in verses 7-11, he witnessed the work of the Holy Spirit and the reception of the gospel of the Gentiles during the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas to prove that Jews and Gentiles are in the same grace of salvation, James, who is more influential and more influential because he is in a position to be respected as Jesus' real brother, begins to argue.
Look at verse 12.
Although the atmosphere of the meeting was chaotic because of the circumcision issue, it can be seen that the atmosphere of the meeting became quiet after Peter's argument. What Paul and Barnabas realized through the 1st missionary journey and the ministry of Antioch church is that even if they are not circumcised, do not practice the tradition of the law and practice righteousness, God is looking for the Gentiles, Jesus saves them, and the miracle of the Holy Spirit and the fact that history happens,
Dear saints,
The Pharisees, but our problem today, is that we limit God. Because God is both the God of the Gentiles and the God of the Jews, the Jews limit God to their own God. God is all-powerful God. God is the God who created the universe.
Please don't limit your abilities.
Dear saints,
Last time I heard the testimony of Paul and Barnabas, and I heard the testimony of Peter. Today's text is the last
James, who was the same as the general president at that time, and the most influential of the Jerusalem church, rose up and spoke the conclusion of the current problem.
Look at verse 13.
In Galatians 2:9, James is evaluated as a pillar like Paul.
It is a very serious tone for such a person to stand up and say, brethren, listen. After hearing many debates, debates and apologetics and even testimonies so far, James speaks the conclusion to the church in the same capacity as the president of the General Assembly. What is it?
Look at verses 14-15.
James contains two things. (1) It means that God has called Gentiles.
It was the work of God that the Holy Spirit and miracles came upon those who thought they would never believe in God, did not have the Word of God, and did not practice circumcision. There was no such thing in the Old Testament, but after Pentecost
It's the first time it happened.
In order to teach this to Peter, God had already given him a vision in Acts 10 to save Cornello's family. Judging from all these circumstances, the event that Gentiles received Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit was not created or manipulated by man, but was the first thing God is doing now as a response and fulfillment of the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament.
(2) It is not that what God did was not done blindly, but was already known through the prophets of the Old Testament, and that prophecy was fulfilled.
The experiences of Peter, Paul, and Barnabas are personal. However, when we draw religious conclusions,
We do not draw conclusions or make decisions solely from experience or vision.
Those visions and experiences must be consistent with God's Word or prophecy. If these things do not coincide and talk freely, it is easy to become heresy. Please don't be too sensitive to dreams.
Visions and revelations come from God. Please don't say these things too harshly or recklessly. The basis of our faith is the Bible. James raised this very question.
Let's see what the prophecy of the Old Testament Amos quoted by James is. Look at verses 16-18.
This is a quote from Amos 9:11-12. The Prophet Amos was a prophet who lived from 767-739 BC.