Title: Wise Handling / Acts 15:12-29
Content wise handling / Acts 15:12-29
As we live in the world, we are faced with various problems, large and small.
Each time, we have to deal with it wisely and wisely. Now, we must not deal with the same thoughts or methods as the people of the world, but according to the will and method that pleases God. Whether it be a personal problem, a family problem, or any other problem, the principle is the same.
The people of the world study on their own, gather what they think, find common ground, and deal with it accordingly. It's what people do, so there's a lot of trial error.
So we revise, adjust, and make corrections according to the results. That doesn't mean it's always smooth. There is a lot of potential to go wrong. It is problematic and complex because imperfect people do it.
Anyway, the best way among the world's methods is that it is very reasonable to gather the opinions of several people and follow the opinions of the majority rather than one person. This is the democratic way. Today's history shows that democracy is far superior to dictatorship. However, it should be remembered that the decisions made by imperfect people can result in imperfections and more errors.
What is the greatest sin of mankind since the beginning of history? It is the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by nailing it to the cross. The decision to have Jesus crucified was not what Pilate thought was right according to his conscience, but the popular opinion of the crowd. It was momentary, but for a moment, it was decided in a democratic way.
Democracy is a classic humanistic way of making decisions based on everyone's opinion. It's one of the best things you can do as a person, but you have to know that it's also risky.
Now, what we can learn from the text is that not only the living principle of all the saints, but also the ministry that governs the church must be theocratic, not humanistic. In other words, it must be God-centered, Word-centered, and church-centered.
In dealing with personal, family, and other matters, our members should be God-centered, not our own thoughts or decisions.
This does not mean that we should ignore one's thoughts, studies, or experiences. Within the limits of God's good will and the principles and laws of life given for us, we should think, study, and decide as many good ways as possible.
Moreover, the most important thing is to follow the guidance and guidance of the Holy Spirit, but do it with joy and thanksgiving. In order to do that, the ruler must put an effort into the Word and prayer.
This is the method of neobonism.
In today's text, a serious problem arose in the church in Antioch. This is the argument of the heretics that, as already mentioned in the previous lesson, salvation must be received through faith but must be circumcised at the same time. Those who claim this are Christians who came down from Judea, and they caused a great excommunication in the church in Antioch. This is an important matter for the life or death of the Church of Christ.
In this regard, we also need to learn how the early church solved it and put it into practice.
1. All the saints waited for God's instructions.
Verse 12 says, “The whole crowd was still, and they heard Barnabas and Paul reporting the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.”
Fortress, it means to comply with the decisions of the session, presbytery, and general assembly. When God shows His will for the church, He never does it through the public opinion of the saints. When it comes to small things, it is done through the session, and when it is more important, it is done through the presbytery, and most importantly, God leads through the general assembly.
Therefore, it is the right attitude as a saint to quietly wait for the decision of the upper body and obey the decision.
Barnabas and Paul knew that when God Himself accomplished the work of salvation through them, whether Jews or Greeks, that is, Israelis or Gentiles, all received the blessing of salvation if they simply believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior. talked about The saints listened quietly to this.
After the teachings of Barnabas and Paul were finished, the apostle James continued speaking.
In verse 13, "When he had finished speaking, James answered and said, "Brothers, listen to me... God has already spoken through the prophets, and according to His words, Gentiles are also saved by faith alone." He taught me based on the Word.
The most important thing here is to make a decision based on the biblical basis, and if something goes against this, you need to know that it is not the will of God that pleases God.
The Jerusalem Council came to an amicable decision based on the words of the Bible. That is, there is no burden on the Gentile believers except for the prohibition of eating things sacrificed to idols, the meat and blood of strangled animals, and sexual immorality.
Of course, these four things are not necessary conditions for salvation, but only necessary for the health of the saints. He reaffirmed the truth that salvation through faith alone is God's law, and no one can touch it.
2. Subsequent processing went well.
Calling work is not just a decision. Follow-up should be good. In this regard, too, the church in Jerusalem is setting a good example for us.
According to the resolution of the upper body, the three decisions were sent directly to the person. And he taught and preached to the whole church to follow the instructions.
The first is that some people dedicate all authority to Barnabas and Paul to deal with those who disturb and afflict the church by tempting and motivating the saints without our command. The second is that salvation comes only through faith. He reaffirmed the morality, and thirdly, he instructed the saints to observe the prohibitions such as sacrifices to idols, meat of strangled animals, blood, and sexual immorality.
The reason that the Antioch Church stood as an exemplary church was not that it listened to others and followed them, but that the apostles taught them what was right and what was wrong, and they received it and obeyed it.
This is because the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is correct. The sheep must follow the shepherd's lead. In this way, you will be able to reach green pastures and calm streams.
However, if you do not listen to the voice of the shepherd and follow your own thoughts, you will end up being eaten by wild wolves.
But the problem arises when the sheep try to think and act like a shepherd. There were such people in the church in Antioch.
They complained and complained about whether the apostles' teachings were good or bad, and they stirred up the members of the church and disturbed the church for a while.
By referring to these churches, we are saying that they are the churches of neobonism.
The more such members there are, the more dizzying and complicated the church will be, and the more Satan will tempt it, the more it will collapse. Such a church would be a humanistic church.
According to the Bible, the church is like a soldier. That is why the church is said to be a militant church. While we are on our way to nature, we are subject to countless attacks and challenges from Satan.
Therefore, we must absolutely obey the instructions and commands of the Lord, who is the general commander of the church. To die by command and live by command is a soldier. In battle, anyone who disobeys orders and protests, regardless of command or rank, will be executed on the spot.
When the command headquarters makes an operational plan and delivers it to subordinate units, the entire army follows the instructions and moves as a single person. That is why the soldier is the most powerful among human organizations. Operational planning is not based on listening to the public opinion of the entire army.
It is not, however, a decision made through a meeting. It is the soldier who is executed in an instant according to the decisions and instructions of the command.
Therefore, the commander must have a lot of combat experience and knowledge. In fact, no soldier has more combat experience and knowledge than the commander in operational planning. Therefore, absolute obedience to the commander's orders and directions is natural and the best choice.
Commanders are human too, so they can't be perfect. Even if you fail to come up with the best operational plan and come up with a slightly unfavorable plan, when the entire army marches in unity and unity, it will exert its mighty power and ultimately win.
When any soldier fights under similar conditions, the key to victory does not depend on other factors, but on how well the command system is established, how united the commander is, and whether or not he or she is full of morale.
The church has nothing to do with it. We must absolutely obey the command of the Lord, who is our shepherd and commander. The Lord is all-powerful God. Therefore, it is imperative that we absolutely believe and obey God's Word.
Today, our God has raised up the servant of the Lord, the leader of the church, and through him, preaches, teaches, and guides the Word of God.
That's right. In the heart that receives the Word of God as the Word of God, the Word always works with grace, power, and blessing.
It is the same word of God, but some receive it with thanksgiving, and sometimes repent and obey when being stabbed, but there are others who always listen critically and accept what they think suits them, and there are those who complain and reject it when they don't agree with their thoughts. Our Jesus Himself told the reason.
John 8:47 says, “He who is of God hears the word of God, and you do not hear it, because you are not of God.”
Therefore, as our Jesus said in Luke 11:28, if it is just the word of God, whether it is a word of reproof or a word of blessing, those who humbly listen and obey are truly blessed. Since we are human beings with emotions, no one will feel good when they hear the word of reproof. However, since it is the word of God, when you hear the word, correct what is wrong and repent, it becomes a blessing and a blessing to me.
Dear saints, We must imitate the beautiful faith of the humility and obedience of the Antioch church. So, I pray in the name of the Lord that our church will fulfill God's blessed will, and that you may receive all the great grace and abundant blessings that God has promised to our members.