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Fall Quarter 2023: God’s Law Is Love
Unit 3: Christ Frees, Law Enslaves
Lesson 10
Sunday School Lesson for the week of November 5, 2023
By Craig Rikard
Devotional Reading: Acts 17:22-34
Background Scripture: Acts 15:1-21
Key Text: Acts 15:8-9
Lesson Aims
- To understand the historical underpinning of Paul’s writings concerning Law and grace.
- To understand the argument of the Judaizers in contrast to Paul and Barnaba’s’ teaching.
- To understand the issue as Paul and Barnabas stood before the Jerusalem Council.
- To understand the change in Peter’s thinking as he supported salvation by faith alone.
- To realize the struggle with inclusiveness with which the church has always struggled.
Historical/ Theological Background
In the previous lessons from Romans and Galatians we studied Paul’s theological understanding for uniting the Jews and Gentiles into the one church of Jesus. Luke offers us the historical background for the controversy surrounding the uniting of the Jews and Gentiles in the early Christian Church. Paul’s letters preceded Luke’s second work, the book of Acts. Thus, Luke is writing “looking backward” at the controversy and the dynamics employed to remedy the problem. Luke was not only a physician; he was also a scholar of history. Granted, it is inspired “interpretive” history; that is, Luke is interested in far more than the factual events that occurred. Luke is deeply interested in what the events mean. He takes great care in gathering his information before recording it. The fact that this controversy was recorded later in the book of Acts reveals just how serious the controversy was in the early church.
The early church began in Jerusalem before it moved into the Greek, Roman, and other Gentile areas. The “inner circle” of the disciples consisted of Peter, James, and John. There were other strong leaders of the early Christian church as well. The first converts to Christianity were Jewish. The Christians in Jerusalem still practiced many of the traditions of Judaism until the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. Jerusalem was the perfect place for the church to establish its initial “headquarters.” There was no greater pulpit from which to preach Jesus is Lord than the empty tomb, located in Jerusalem. The first converts were Jews who had traveled to Jerusalem for Passover, with many witnessing Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then, on Pentecost, the Gospel spread among the Jews from different parts of the world, and they would take the message back to their current homeland.
The early Jewish church in Jerusalem believed in the immanent return of Jesus Christ after the ascension. This belief in the immediate return of Christ explains why the Gospels, especially Mark, were not written until approximately 30+ years after the resurrection and ascension. However, as the coming of Jesus had not yet occurred, the oral tradition of stories were written. Mark was the first Gospel written, with Matthew and Luke using Mark as their framework. Both Gospels include much of the material already recorded in Mark. This is why these three Gospels are called the “synoptic” Gospels. Synoptic means “as seen by the same eye.” The Jewish church also began to look more outward and began entering the Gentile world preaching the Gospel. The conversion of the Gentiles would lead to the question of, “How do Gentiles become Christians?”
The Jews were circumcised members of Abraham’s family and the participants in the Abrahamic covenant. Thus, by faith, they took the next step in their faith by accepting Jesus as their Messiah. Thus, there were many who believed that the Gentiles must do as they did: be circumcised and observe the requirements of Judaism, and then accept Jesus as Messiah. In that particular era there was little concern about the inclusion of women. Women could not be circumcised but became the covenant children of Abraham by being married to a circumcised Jewish husband and fulfilled their requirement as Jewish women in the family of Abraham: bear a male child. As went the husband, so went the household. For example, when Cornelius and his entire household were saved, Cornelius chose Christ, and his household followed him. Circumcision became a major point of contention as the Jewish Christians sought to include the Gentile believers. A member of Judaism, before or after accepting Christ, were forbidden to fellowship with their non-circumcised Gentile brothers. Consequently, they believed the Gentiles should be circumcised to truly establish a united fellowship.
How did salvation through faith alone include women in God’s salvation in a personal manner whereas Judaism previously did not? How was the role of women in Judaism and Christianity different, especially regarding a personal relationship with Jesus? How does the historical account of seeking to “add Judaism” to Christianity speak to those today who seem to “add to the Gospel”? (Example: I was once invited as a college student to a church and told that men cut their hair, women do not; men dressed in pants, women in dresses, etc.). Is this adding to the Gospel? Can you share other examples of the adding to the Gospel that hide the real truth of salvation through grace and by faith alone?
As Christianity moved into the Gentile world, according to the Judaizers, women were still not fully included unless married to a Christian husband who was circumcised as well. Consequently, a great struggle arose in the early church. Accepting and following Jesus as Messiah required nothing but faith and acceptance of Jesus, for God gave Jesus as a gift of grace. Our works were a “response” of gratitude to God for the gift of Jesus. They were not added to ensure our salvation. As stated in the last Sunday School lesson particularly, Paul recognized the gospel of Jesus could not be “added to” by requiring Gentile Christians to first become Jewish. We could not be saved through works or through following the rites and rituals of Judaism. We are saved by grace through faith; it is the gift of God. The good, righteous works we do are not for the purpose of becoming a Jewish Christian, or to earn our way to Christ; they are instead a response to what God did for us in Christ.
Why do you think the Jewish Christians were so tempted to “add” the requirements of Judaism to Christianity? Why would it have been difficult to believe in salvation through faith alone, apart from the Law? Do you think the early Jewish Christians felt it wasn’t fair that for years they had been faithful to Abraham’s covenant and they kept the Mosaic Law (as much as possible) and yet it appeared the Gentiles were given the same gift of salvation having not participated in Judaism? Though obedience to the Law was superseded by grace through faith, in what way was the Law still important, even though not required for salvation?
As the tension and ensuing arguments grew between the Judaizers and those who responded to Paul’s and Barnabas’ teaching on salvation by grace through faith, the church leaders in the Gentile area appointed Paul and Barnabas, along with some other believers, to travel to Jerusalem and inform the Jerusalem Council of what great works God had done among the Gentiles. They were also to express and solve the rising controversy created by the Judaizers.
It is at this point that we walk through the text.
Walking through the Text
The Report of Paul and Barnabas to the Jerusalem Council
As Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem, they witnessed God’s great work among the Gentiles along the way. They had an exciting story to share with the Jerusalem Council! After their report to the council, the members of the council who believed as the Judaizers (the party of the Pharisees) stood and challenged the report. Their statement was forceful and ridged, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the Law of Moses.” Consequently, a disagreement ensued.
How does the disagreements within the early church, and their future dissipation, help the local church when encountering difficulties? Can you state the one elemental truth that united Jew and Gentile, male and female? How can that truth be embraced today, especially in moments of disagreement?
Peter’s Response
It was Simon Peter who stood and gave a most influential argument for the Gospel preached by Paul and Barnabas. Many of the Jewish Christians were not attempting to exclude the Gentiles. They had been reared in Judaism all of their life, and it would prove very difficult to admit Judaism had little to do with salvation in Christ. Actually, Judaism was a part of God’s redemptive moment. The Law brought identity and social order to the Jewish people and eventually revealed their need for the Christ since they could not keep the Law perfectly. As Peter stood and made his argument he offered an experiential argument, for he had witnessed and been a part of the conversion of Gentiles by faith alone. The conversion of Cornelius and his household certainly played a major role in shaping Peter’s understanding of salvation through grace and by faith alone in Christ. I encourage you to read the story of Peter and Cornelius and family in Acts 10 as well as Peter’s experience at Joppa.
In the Old Testament book of Jonah, the prophet refused to travel to Nineveh to preach. Nineveh was not a Jewish city and was extremely violent. However, God called Jonah to go and preach. After his attempt to run, Jonah ended up on a beach, spit up by the whale (large sea creature). This beach was at Joppa. Therefore, it is not coincidental that Peter was at Joppa when he went atop a roof to pray. It was a custom after a meal to go atop the house and relax. It gave the house time to cool down and the person an opportunity to think and pray.
Prior to this moment, Peter experienced difficulty in accepting the Gentiles into the Christian church. However, on the roof he had the vision of the sheet being lowered, containing those items considered unclean to the Jews. Yet, God declared them clean. This was a pointed message to Peter. He considered the Gentiles as “unclean.” However, in Christ, God declared them clean. They were as precious to God as were the Jewish Christians.
Bias and prejudice still exist in the world. Christians are still reluctant to worship and fellowship with those of different ethnic and racial backgrounds. Can you recall the days when we were often like Peter prior to the vision of Joppa? What does that vision say to us today regarding Christian love, fellowship, and unity?
Peter must have been alluding to the conversion of Cornelius and his household under his ministry. In a former lesson in this unit we might remember that even Peter was tempted to move backward and behave as the Judaizers. Paul confronted him publicly over his hypocrisy. Again, Judaism, though beneficial to the journey of faith toward Jesus, could not save us. Peter preached only through faith in the gift of Jesus Christ could a person be saved. However, when some of the followers of James who still clung to his strong Judaism visited Peter, he began to isolate himself from the Gentiles and associate with the Judaizers. However, again, Paul would not tolerate such flippancy. In the end, Peter returned to his belief in the fact that we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Why do you think Peter, with such a strong compulsive personality, engaged in an act of weakness by not standing up to the Judaizers? Can modern peer pressure tempt us to disassociate with those who are different yet who are our brothers and sisters in Jesus and the church?
When Peter preached to Cornelius and his household (which included his servants), who were all Gentiles, they responded with faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Not only were they saved, they also received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was the “seal” of our salvation, much as the wedding band represents the sealing of two people together in a holy covenant of marriage. The Holy Spirit granted Cornelius and his household the assurance of their relationship with Jesus Christ. Most evident was the transformed life all who accepted Jesus through faith experienced. Peter drives home his argument by sharing that the Gentiles had come to Jesus just as he and his Jewish brothers and sisters had. They had all received the same Holy Spirit in the same manner. Peter’s statement was powerful, “God did not discriminate between us and them.”
Peter then asks those who believe as the Judaizers, “Why place the Gentile believers under the yoke of the Law that none of us, not even us Jews were able to bear?” Again, Christianity liberated us from having to perfectly obey the requirements of the Law to gain the favor of God. Peter was asking if the Gentiles, who are free in Christ and sealed with the Spirit, are saved as we are then why place that heavy yoke of the Law on their necks? Remember, Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” From a logical and spiritual perspective such an act made no sense. The closing statement of Peter is an emphatic, forceful proclamation of Peter’s belief, “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
The covenant with Abraham and Sarah was for the world. The acts of God among the Jewish people and the Law were intended to be a light for the world. Again, the Jewish people adopted exclusivism rather than evangelism. They turned inward rather than outward. How easy is it today for the church to turn so inward it rarely reaches beyond itself? Why do you think this is such a temptation? What can your church do to ensure there is always outreach to the world, inclusive of all?
The early church was founded upon the truth that all are equally loved and precious to Christ, and in turn shared that truth in the Gentile world. Since we are not saved through obedience to Judaism, and instead saved by the love and grace of God given to us, which we receive through faith, there is no Jew nor Gentile, no male or female. When Jew and Gentile become one family in Christ the original covenant with Abraham and Sarah are fulfilled. Abraham and Sarah’s seed had indeed become as stars of the sky the sands of the seashore.
Prayer
Almighty God, the giver of all grace and mercy, thank you for redeeming us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank you for forgiving us, and restoring us to a righteous life. We are thankful the Law has instructed us regarding what it means to live a righteous life. We are also thankful that through Jesus alone we are able to embrace that righteous life through faith and able to live that life through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for saving us when we could not save ourselves. In Jesus name, Amen.
Dr. D. Craig Rikard is a South Georgia pastor. Email him at craigrikard169@yahoo.com.
