KCP #25: Unity makes the church the A Team

Key Church Principle #25: UNITY Acts Chapter 15:1-29

Earlier (Key Church Principle #22 not published on this blog but in the book) , we saw that there would be division as a result of our ministry. Today we’ll see the necessity of unity within the ministry. Chapter 15 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It has the Apostle Paul, it has Barnabas, there’s Peter speaking out, and for the first time, we hear from James, the half-brother of Jesus Himself.
It is this James who wrote the book of James (not the brother of the fisherman John—he of course was killed as seen in Acts 12:2). If you look at the letter found in Acts 15, it reads a lot like the book of James…and also a lot like the words of Jesus. It is as though James and Jesus grew up in the same household or something (hmmm).
With these all-star apostles being prominently listed, we also see a phrase used in KJV, NKJV, and ESV that I also love so much: “no small” (see 12:18, 19:24, 27:20 for other understatements and yes this phrase is in the original Greek!). “No small” means “really big”.
When we face divisions in the church, the key word of “unity” really applies. We need to remember two truths:

Truth #1 There is a God!

Truth #2 I am not Him!

By that I mean that there is an order to everything and God is not a God of disorder. As a result, we must submit to Him and His plan of order in order for things to work harmoniously and in unity. Part of submitting to God means that we must graciously submit to one another in love (Ephesians 5:21).
Now that was a lot of “order” in the last paragraph. Look below and at Acts 15 and put in order the following sequence of events, with 1 being the first event, 7 being the last:

___ The whole church was pleased to follow the ruling of the leaders

___ The Word of God is used to decide the issue

___ Pharisees argue in the Jerusalem church to keep the law of Moses

___ Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem for a ruling

_1_ Men teach that converts must be circumcised

___ The elders and apostles discuss the matter

___ Paul, Peter, and James (leaders in the early church), speak

What does unity and order have to do with today’s passage, which deals with circumcision? Read in verse 2 that Paul and Barnabas “had no small dissension and dispute” with some other Christians. Verse 7 says there was “much dispute” on the issue of whether Gentile converts to Christianity had to follow the Jewish custom of circumcision.
An interesting point to observe is that both sides of the issue were fervently presented. Yet when the ruling came, there is a great deal of unity within the church. The lack of details leads to speculation, but it appears that those in disagreement felt it more important to be united than to be defiant! The spirit of unity and submission is very obvious.
Even with the “no small” issue of circumcision! It seems that being unified is more paramount that “getting my way.” It also is important that the leadership needs to be united.
The key word for today is unity, but the key word behind unity can be found in verse 11: grace. Grace is normally defined as “unmerited favor” or “an undeserved gift” (I like to remember it as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense). We are saved by God’s grace. Therefore, why should we fight and have disunity within the body? We are saved by grace, but the letter added other stipulations for new believers, especially Gentiles.
The first and last things listed (Idolatry, sexual immorality) would affect the believers’ witness with the pagan world, the second and third would affect the believers’ witness with non-Christian Jews. The four prohibitions do not negate the grace of God that saves us. It means there are things we do and don’t do after salvation that helps us serve as good witnesses.
In other words, unity does not mean “at any cost” and grace does not mean “no rules”. There are rules we must follow in grace (see Key Principle #24). And as we learned in Key Principle #22 “Division”, there are times to “rightly divide” in order to have unity. Unfortunately, at the end of chapter 15 Paul and Barnabas fail to learn the Key Word Lessons of Unity and Division, which we will see later on.

KCP#24: Grace, pt. 3 Supreme Grace

Supreme Grace

If saving grace keeps us from the penalty of sin and sustaining grace keeps us from the power of sin, supreme grace keeps us from the presence of sin. It is the finalization of our salvation. Supreme grace is the ultimate in our three parts of salvation, also seen as justification (saving grace), sanctification (sustaining grace) and glorification (supreme grace).

Years ago, I dreamed I went to heaven (no, I am not going to break into a song thanking you for giving to the Lord and no, I am not going to write a best-selling book about my dream) and in that dream I wanted to see if I was really in heaven. So I tried to do something that you are not supposed to be able to do in heaven: I made myself have a bad thought. In my dream, I was disappointed that I could still sin in heaven. I actually woke up very glad that I had not actually gone to heaven because if we could sin in heaven, heaven would not be heaven.

Speaking of the gates of heaven, John wrote in Revelation 21:27 that “there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.”

Eternal life is God’s gift to us. Romans 6:23 says “the wages of sin is death, but the gift (charisma) of God is eternal life.” It is in this context of Acts 15:11 which Peter puts our salvation in the future result of God’s grace, “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

This concept of three aspects of grace is seen in Jesus’ words as well. We are in the world and yet not of the world (John 17:11, 16). Also in John 5:24, Jesus describes the three aspects of salvation as having “passed from death to life” (past tense), “has everlasting life” (present tense), and “shall not come into judgment” (future tense).

A particularly difficult passage in the book of Revelation (shocking I know to think that some parts of Revelation would be hard to understand) is Revelation 22:11. Here, the angel who is explaining things to John is telling of the final state of the unrighteous and the righteous, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Radio commentator J. Vernon McGee said this verse is perhaps the scariest verse of all of the book of Revelation for those who are condemned. But I also see it as perhaps the most reassuring verse for those of us who are going to experience God’s supreme grace. In eternity, we are going to grow and increase in our righteousness and holiness.

The fallen angels lost their place in heaven and could never regain it. They are reserved for judgment (Jude 6). Fallen humanity who receive salvation will gain the holiness of heaven by God’s grace and we shall never lose it. Peter who spoke in Acts 15 about our inheritance must have truly longed for this supreme aspect of grace, because he again spoke about being heirs together of the grace of life in 1 Peter 3:7. He spoke of “the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” in 1 Peter 1:13. And he concludes his letter with this great and blessed hope, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).

There are no better words than these to conclude this study on the key word of grace to the church!

KCP #24 pt. 2: Sustaining Grace

Sustaining Grace

It is in our daily walk with Christ after salvation, that we see the need, the necessity, the absolute centrality of God’s unmerited favor and undeserved blessing. And not just in our daily walk, but every hour, every minute, every second, we are kept, we are sustained and we are in need of and are the recipients of God’s sustaining GRACE.

Now where in the Bible do we see God’s sustaining grace? Virtually on every page and not just in the New Testament but from the beginning do we see God’s favor upon His people. For this study, let’s look at a few passages.

In Acts 14:26, we see this gem of a verse: “From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.” It wasn’t salvation that was commended to Paul and the missionaries, but His sustaining grace, His presence and power which enabled them to do the work.

Let’s look somewhere else for God’s sustaining grace. 1 Corinthians 15:10 says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

It is God’s Saving Grace that raises us

from the mire of sin and shame,

It is God Sustaining Grace that restrains us

from returning to that from whence we came.

It is God’s Saving Grace that He bestows upon us

without cost, requirement or price

It is God’s Sustaining Grace that beckons us

to labor in love for our merciful Christ.

It is God’s Saving Grace that grants us faith

to have the promise to walk in heaven above

And it is God’s Sustaining Grace that gives us cause

to spread on earth His Saving Grace, Peace and Love.

God’s grace was not just to save you from the penalty of sin, grace is also freely given so that we can be delivered from the very power of sin. Paul says if you see anything good in me, it is not I who do it but it is God’s grace which makes me who I am. His grace wasn’t a one-time shot, nor was it in vain but his grace compels me to labor all the harder, all the more abundantly for He not only saved me, He sustains me. To underscore the power of grace versus the power of sin, Paul concludes chapter 15 to the Corinthians with this great word in verse , “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”

For one more example of God’s sustaining grace, look at Acts 20:32, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Look at what not only grace does to the believer but what the word of His grace does. The word of grace builds us up (sustaining grace) and gives us an inheritance (supreme grace). Some people say that we are saved by grace but we are kept saved by our works. Just think about that for a moment and you will see how ridiculous that is. Why would God save us by grace if He did not intent to keep us saved by His grace. It would be like a child receiving a gift at Christmas and the giver saying, “Now, son, this here toy is a gift and it is yours because I gave it to you. But now, if you want to play with it, or if you want to keep it, you are going to have to pay me for it each and every day.”

“Now wait a minute,” some may say, “My phone company gave me a gift of a I-phone, and it was free, but in order to use it, I have to pay a monthly charge.” If that is the case, that phone is not free, nor is it a gift, it is a shrewd motivation that hooks you into a contract of paying for that phone through monthly installments. Manufacturers of “free” and low cost printers do the same thing and then recover the cost of the gift by sticking you with super expensive printer cartridges. Buy one, get one free, is not “free” and neither is it truly a free salvation if you receive it by grace but keep salvation by works.

When Peter explained to the others in Acts 15 that those who received salvation by grace did not have to put on themselves the yoke of legalism and works that they could not bear, he was addressing the issue of circumcision. It was “no small dissension” among them and I should say so. We have people in our church who won’t join because they won’t get baptized by immersion—I cannot imagine how many men we would lose if we put the yoke of circumcision on them, let alone keeping the other elements of the law.

Grace doesn’t bind us to the law, grace builds us up in liberty from sin. If it weren’t for grace, we could not keep ourselves saved. We would not grow in respect to our salvation. I always want to know from people who believe saving grace is free, but sustaining grace is somehow merited or kept by works and could actually be lost, what make them think that supreme grace is eternal and everlasting. As Acts 20:32 says, we who are being sanctified by the word of grace also have an inheritance of eternal life by grace.

KCP #24 pt. 1: Saving Grace

Saving Grace

   First of all, let’s look at saving grace. First, know that it is God who initiates salvation, not us. God is the author of our salvation and thus he is the author of grace. In Ephesians 2: 4-9, we see that grace works in our salvation. It is through grace, God’s gift to us, that salvation begins.

¹ And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,  ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,  ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.  ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

   At risk of sounding like an elementary Sunday School lesson or Basic Christianity 101, we need to say first of all that we are saved not by ourselves, but by God’s blessing, God’s favor, His undeserved kindness and gift to us. As I mentioned earlier, we know the word grace not only from the Bible but from the most beloved hymn ever written, “Amazing Grace”. Let’s read the lines (okay, you can hum the tune too).

   Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

That sav’d a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears reliev’d;

How precious did that grace appear,

The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

   Grace in Greek is charis. That’s right, the same word used in the word charismatic. It’s also used in the word charm. It literally means gift or gifted. Those who have some inbred charisma are naturally gifted and people are naturally drawn to them.

   So why would the Apostle Paul in every letter impart a blessing of grace to those who are the church, to those who are already believers? I believe it is in part because Paul wants to convey saving grace to those who in the church may not yet be saved.

   But even more, I think it is because within the vastness and the limitlessness and the infinite grace of God, there is more than simply salvation and a gift of eternal life in the word we call grace.

   You see, God’s grace, His riches, His blessings do not end at the Sinner’s prayer, oh no. That’s just the beginning. His Amazing Grace does not cease or even diminish once salvation is imparted. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense is not culminated at our regeneration. Grace is initialized at our salvation, but it is also realized in our sanctification.

What do we mean by GRACE? KCP #24

Key Word Study #24: GRACE

Acts 15:1-11

   Between the two key words of Division and Unity (key words 22 and 25), there are two other key words: Humility (key word 23) and this key word study of Grace.

   What do we mean by grace? In Acts 15:11, we see the word “grace” as is most commonly thought of as far as theological terms go and that is our saving grace. “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they,” Peter boldly proclaimed to those who were wanting to put the yoke and bondage of legalism on the new Gentile believers.

   When we talk about the church, we should definitely address Grace as a key word, as it has several different applications to the word. We’ve already discussed earlier about salvational grace and that is what is being addressed in verse 11. But have your really paid much attention to the way that Paul starts off almost every epistle he sent?

   “Grace to You and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

   Has a little familiar ring to it, doesn’t it? It’s because in every letter, every epistle we have recorded from the hands of Paul, we have this same formula of an impartation of a blessing. Every letter? Yep. Look it up if you want to, I’ll be here when you come back.

   Okay, maybe not the book of Hebrews, but many people do not necessarily ascribe that epistle to Paul. But you have to admit, when you look up Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2;  Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; and Philemon 1:3, that does seem to be pretty consistent, doesn’t it?

   Okay, okay, now in 1st and 2nd Timothy and in Titus, what we commonly call the pastoral epistles, we see a slight variation with the inclusion of the word “mercy.” Maybe he knew that pastors especially needed a little more inclusion of mercy, I know I do. But still, grace and peace are there.

   Now for the record, Peter also imparts grace and peace in a slightly different form in 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2 and so does the Apostle John in 2 John 1:3, and again in Rev. 1:4.

   So, you may ask, now just what is so amazing about grace? (If you didn’t ask it, Philip Yancey must have). Besides the fact that Amazing Grace is perhaps the most universally known hymn, it would be good to define what grace is.

   Grace has at its very core the word which is frequently described as “unmerited favor.” Even more simply it is “undeserved blessing.” It has been explained with the acrostic “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” (Did you notice the little acrostic there? No, I didn’t invent that, unless you’ve never seen that before, in which case, every time you use that acrostic, I want you to say, “copyright: Tim McKeown,” or at least post that on your Facebook or Twitter page and attribute it to me. I did say it first at least to you.)

   But aside from that, how does the Bible explain grace? 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” In that passage, like Acts 15:11, grace is that unmerited favor which saves us. But what about when Paul and Peter and John were all wishing “grace” on those to whom they are writing? Weren’t they writing to churches which hopefully were already saved? Of course. So let’s look more deeply in how the Bible also uses the word grace in other ways than salvation and saving grace.

Types Of Grace:

Saving Grace is initialized at our salvation

Sustaining Grace is realized in our sanctification and

Supreme Grace is finalized at our glorification.

Fulfilling Simeon's Prophecy (KCP#22)

Key Church Principle #22: Division

Acts Chapter 13:44-14:6

Last night and tonight’s “What Sweeter Music” performance features the man Simeon, played by Evan Hodson. Simeon in Luke 2 quotes the same passage from Isaiah that Paul and Barnabas quote in Acts 13, the first fulfillment of Isaiah’s (and Simeon’s) prophecy .

What does light do? It divides the seen from the unseen. It separates darkness from brightness.

Oftentimes, we believe that if we do everything properly, the end result will be unity, harmony and peace. However, today’s passage shows the opposite is true. Instead of unity, Paul frequently brought division. Jesus also said that would be the outcome of His ministry: “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.” (Luke 12:51)

Read Acts 13:44-14:6. (By the way, many LifeGroups are going through the study of the book of Acts. If you are not in a LifeGroup, find one that suits you and join it.)

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:

​​‘​I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,

​​That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” (Isa. 49:6)

​48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 1 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.

If you are not meeting Satan head on every day, it may be because you are likely going the same direction he is. If you are finding things in your life that used to not bother you but now you feel conviction, it is because the light of the Holy Spirit and salvation is separating you from the darkness in which you formerly walked.

To go with God is to go against the flow of the world.

Read verse 13:46. Did opposition intimidate Paul and Barnabas?

When division happens, look for the good. When shadows come, look for the light.

As a result of the rejection, Paul and Barnabas turn with the gospel to the Gentiles (verse 46). This fulfilled the prophecy first told by Isaiah, then Simeon, and now being fulfilled in Acts 13 and on up unto today.

In actuality, Jesus’ coming was not just for the Jewish race and religion, it was for the entire world to have the opportunity to be saved. The best way to “get even” or to “get back” at the devil if and WHEN he sends division and darkness your way is to bring joy and happiness through salvation to others. What Sweeter Music is there? You won’t be able to save everybody, but don’t allow the fact that some reject the message rob you of your joy.

Write out what would be a likely scenario of suffering in your Christian walk if you put light in the darkness? Then write down how you should respond to make you a good “martyr” (that is, a good “witness” in the midst of suffering).

Read verses 20-24. We see that the word of God grew and multiplied, but Herod, who was responsible for James’ death, was eaten by worms and died. What are some comparisons and contrasts to James’ life and death and that of Herod’s?

Final question: Is it always in your best interest to live your life for God?

Key Church Principle #23: HUMILITY

Key Church Principle: HUMILITY

Acts Chapter 14:7-28

          Have you ever thought you could never serve God because of your own limitations and failures? After seeing the miracle of healing a lame man, the people began to call Paul and Barnabas gods!

          In the midst of an almost laughable situation in Lystra, Paul says something verse profound and serious in verse 15. “We are men with the same nature as you.” Isn’t it reassuring that Paul and Barnabas were human beings just like us, with the same sinful nature? It doesn’t take long to see that Peter, Paul, even kind-hearted Barnabas have feet of clay.

     If you could meet them, they probably wouldn’t impress you that much and Paul even admits that is what people said about him. In 2 Corinthians 10:10, Paul wrote: “For some say, ‘Don’t worry about Paul. His letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are really bad!’”

     The person God uses is the person who uses God through his or her own short-fallings. Don’t be discouraged, even if you are the source of divisions and you find yourself being a bad example. Seek God’s forgiveness and realize that “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). 

     Use this passage to also remind yourself that no matter how greatly God uses you, be sure to give all glory back to Him. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to lead someone to salvation, don’t catch yourself saying or thinking, “I saved someone.”

     God is the One who saves and merely uses you as His instrument. It is better to say “God saved someone through me.” If someone says you did a great job on teaching or singing or ministry, don’t let it go to your head! Praise God that He used you!

     The Bible says Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10), but also the opposite of that is true. Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) Just as Jesus was hailed as coming in the name of the Lord less than a week before He was crucified, so Paul was hailed as god, shortly before he was nearly stoned to death.

     Last note: Read verses 22-27. It may be God’s will that you will be used by Him in strengthening the faith of those who are already believers. That too is a ministry and should not be undervalued!

Key Church Principle #26: Encouragement

Key Church Principle: Encouragement
Acts 13: 15-31

Do you ever wish you lived home, home on the range? You know, where the deer and the antelope play.

          It’s the next line of the song I am driving at, “Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word.” Unfortunately, we don’t live on a range. Antelope are never seen playing with deer (in fact, antelope are not even native in America). Skies often get cloudy.

         And we hear way, way too many words of discouragement.

         In Act 13:15 is one of my favorite passages, “If you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it!”

          We need to resist the urge to be critical of everything that doesn’t suit us. We should always seek to speak words of exhortation and encouragement. If we have to be critical, find something positive and say it first. Edification means to build people up, not putting people down.

          Have you been known to vent? A vent is generally known for being full of hot air! There are people we sometimes avoid because if they see something to gripe about, they will. If you find yourself always being critical, ask yourself first, "What is motivating me to be critical?"

          We should look for ways to give compliments to others, especially laborers in ministry. If a discouraging word doesn’t have to be said, then don’t say it. 

Commissioned

Key Word Study: Commissioned

Acts Chapter 12:25-13:43

          Read Acts 12:25-13:3 and write some reasons below why it is important to commission mission groups and why churches should pray specifically for God’s Spirit to send the groups out.

          Laying on of hands is a symbolic yet extremely meaningful act of asking God to pour out His blessings. It represents the act of praying for those commissioned to the task of ministry.

          Read Matthew 19: 13-15- - ¹³Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” ¹⁵And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

           Also Acts 6:6- - These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

          2Timothy 1:6-7- - ⁶This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. ⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

          1 Timothy 4:14- - Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.

          Several times in the passage, the results of a praying church in Jerusalem and in Antioch can be seen by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit (see verse 4, 9, and 42). So strong was the power of the Holy Spirit, the people were actually begging for the Word to be preached to them! Ask God that we might have such a reception.

          Recorded here in verses 16-41 is a typical sermon which Saul, who is now called Paul for the first time, would preach when he would enter a new city. Notice how they asked him to speak,

“If you have any word of __________________________, say it!”