"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel... By which also ye are saved... unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Introduction

In today's study we will look at the first two chapters of the Epistle to the Galatians, and the 15th chapter  of the Acts of the Apostles, which we will see are closely connected together . We could title this study the Purity of the Gospel, or perhaps the Clarity of the Gospel, for there is only one Gospel, there is no other. And if there be another mentioned by men it is a perverted and cursed gospel. It is of utmost importance not only to know, but to believe the true gospel,  without any admixture of doctrine, or other beliefs. The gospel of salvation that the apostle Paul preached is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, so this study will set forth the apostle Paul's gospel and his zeal for the purity thereof.

In the world today we have many cults who will hold the Bible in one hand and quote scripture, even professing the true gospel and agreeing to its  truth, but in the same breath will also deny the true gospel by adding to it their own philosophies or traditions, thus, perverting the one and only true gospel of our salvation. This at times may be confusing to the true believer upon witnessing to a cult member when they confess that they do believe the true gospel. What we must be sure of is that it is on the true gospel alone that they stand, as they may very well add to it an assortment of extra necessities such as, church membership, baptism, good works, the sacraments, penance, etc. , thereby corrupting the only blessed gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are given commandment by our Lord Jesus Christ to "repent . . . and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15) The gospel is something to be obeyed, you must believe it or perish. Jesus said, "This is the work of God,(unto everlasting life, v.27) that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:29) Jesus Christ is "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him". (Heb. 5:9)  Those who have come to Christ for the forgiveness of sins are said to be "obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7), and are the recipients of eternal life and "the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." (Acts 5:32). But judgment awaits those "that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2Thes. 1:8, 1Peter 4:17). The Lord Jesus said of the religious that they "had made the commandment of God of none effect by [their] tradition." (Mt. 15:6) They transgressed the commandment of God by their tradition (v. 3), and their worship became vain (v. 9). The truth of the matter in the end is that they "reject the commandment of God, that [they] may keep [their] tradition." (Mark 7:9) Jesus said, "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (v. 6) They had "a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof". (2Tim. 3:5) They had corrupted the word of God by mingling it with their tradition thereby rendering it useless or of none effect. Solomon tells us "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:5-6)

With any given cult it is very easy to find common ground, so to say, which could indeed become a smoke screen. Christ said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."  (Matthew 7:15) For "many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." (Mt. 24:11) "Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Mt. 24:4-5)  Peter said as "there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you". (2 Peter 2:1) Therefore we are told "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1John 4:1) We are told, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." (Matthew 16:6) Paul said, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8) "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision." (Philippians 3:2) The Apostle Peter said, "beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:17-18)

There are many exhortations in scripture to beware of false teachers and false doctrine, to be careful to stand fast in the truth of the gospel. It only takes a very small amount of leaven to corrupt the whole loaf. By adding or taking away the least thing of the true gospel makes it a false gospel, a gospel that does not give life but kills. Maybe we could think of this from another perspective. Rat poison is 99.975% nutritious, it tastes excellent, mice love it, but that .025% of poison mixed in with it makes it deadly. The good wheat alone could make these mice healthy and sustain their life, but once the poison is mixed in, it could only bring death no matter how good it looked.

Perhaps you remember the "Tainted Blood Scandal" of the 80's, where over 13,000 Canadians were infected with either AIDS or the Hepatitis C Virus. Many of these were hemophiliacs. They thought that the blood transfusion that they would receive would give them life, instead it brought a lot of them to a slow and agonizing death. Some of them infected their spouses who suffered the like death. The blood was tainted. It looked like blood, smelled like blood, had the same texture, but mixed with it was a deadly virus that would not give life but bring death to the recipients. The Bible tells us that we are all infected with sin "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God", but goes on to say "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26). The remedy for our sin infection is faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. But, to intermingle the blood of Christ with anything, to corrupt the Gospel, that Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins, that he was buried, and rose again on our behalf will not bring the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting, but an eternal death in hell.
              G.N.C.

The Gospel

In the word of God, the Gospel is described in many ways. Mark calls it "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God"  (Mark 1:1). The Apostle Paul called it by many names such as "the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1), "the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24), "the gospel of his Son" (Romans 1:9), "the gospel of Christ" (Romans 1:16), "the gospel of peace" (Romans 10:15), "the glorious gospel of the blessed God" (1 Tim. 1:11), and "the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation". (Ephesians 1:13)

Just what is this gospel? Paul said God "hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (1 Tim 1:9-10). We can understand from this that life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel. The gospel is the good news of life eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord. This salvation is not according to our works, but by the grace of God given to us in Jesus Christ, and was made manifest when He became flesh and dwelt among us. For this purpose was the Son of God manifest in the flesh "that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Heb. 2:14-15)

Now death is the payment due to sin. The devil had the power of death, but the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all those who believe it. The Bible says "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1John 3:8) Jesus Christ "was manifested to take away our sins" (1John 3:5), and this He did when He "bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1Peter 2:24).

We might simply state that all of mankind was headed for an eternal death in hell. We were all "children of disobedience", and "by nature, children of wrath". We "were sometimes darkness" and "dead in trespasses and sins", but by the grace of God, Christ Jesus came into the world to taste death for every man, and "delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have the redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins". (Col. 1:13-14) By faith, when the hearer believes this blessed gospel, and lays hold of Jesus Christ as Saviour, he is forgiven all his sins and given the most wonderful gift of eternal life.

Paul tells us the gospel that he preached in his letter to the Corinthian church. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-4) This is the simplicity of the gospel, that Christ died for our sins and was buried and that he rose again from the dead on our behalf. When one believes this gospel, without any admixture, he is saved, and his name is written in heaven which will be the believer's eternal dwelling place. Thus the hymn writer could sing,

Living, He loved me; Dying , He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever:
One day He's coming Oh, glorious day!

Paul also wrote to the Corinthians in his second letter, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Cor. 11:3) The gospel of Christ is very simple, that even a child may understand it. But Paul warned "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (v.4)    Paul told the Romans the simplicity of the gospel, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."  (Romans 10:9)   Paul told Timothy, "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel". (1 Tim. 2:8) Paul told king Agrippa, "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." (Acts 26:22, 23) When Paul came to the Corinthian church to preach to them the gospel he told them, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Cor. 2:1-5)

The gospel of our salvation is not something that one needs to be cunning and wise to understand, nor to present it to the unsaved. It is not a complex system of things that we must do for the Lord, but simple faith in Christ's death for our sins, his burial, and his resurrection from the dead. Christ's resurrection was a sign from God that He accepted Him, and was completely satisfied with His sacrifice. The resurrection declared him to be the Son of God with power, which is the pledge of the future resurrection of the saints.

When one truly believes this in his heart and understands that the God of creation did leave his throne in Heaven, that He made himself of no reputation, but humbled himself, and took upon him the form of a servant, who was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, yet without sin, then became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, so He could, by the grace of God taste death for every man. When man is awakened to this truth and his sinful nature, and his total inability to do anything to remedy his case, he can do nothing but look to the One who loved him and gave himself for him, acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, the only one worthy of all possible glory and honor.

If you have not yet believed the gospel, you may call upon the Lord and receive him now, and you will be saved, for we are promised this by the very word of God. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear". (Isaiah 59:1) You need not wonder any longer if you will make it to heaven, for God is faithful and His word is true, as the scriptures say, "let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Romans 3:4)"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners". (1 Tim. 1:15) "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4:9)

Christ rose again from the dead. This is key to the gospel of Christ, and implies that He first died, and that, for the sins of the world. But "if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and . . . your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. . . But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." (1Cor. 15:14, 17, 20) Paul said that righteousness is imputed to us "if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 4:24-5:2) Therefore through faith, when we believe the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, we are born again, not of the flesh, but of God, and are a "new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Eph. 4:24)
 

The Backdrop to the Book of Acts and
the Response to the Commission.

The Backdrop

Like any drama or play, it's effect will be more real to the audience if there is some form of backdrop or setting which may enhance the overall drama. While a backdrop may add to the play, it is important not to focus on the backdrop but rather to the drama being played out, to listen to the words and watch the actions. While the backdrop may contain a great amount of detail, its primary purpose is that it might magnify the drama. May this be the case here as we look to the events leading up to the first controversy to affect the early church, and to see the response of the Jew, as well as the Gentile to the gospel of the grace of God.

The main thrust of the apostolic church was from their desire to obey the Lord and their response to His commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel. This we desire to see as we briefly look into the Acts of the Apostles. The book of Acts may be cross-referenced with the thirteen Pauline Epistles.  As mentioned in the introduction, our study will be focused on the fifteenth chapter of the Book of Acts and the parallel passages in the first and second chapters of Paul's epistle to the Galatians. Our focus therein will be on the first controversy to affect the apostolic church. This controversy took place approximately eighteen years after Pentecost. The gospel by this time had been taken beyond Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria, and had now reached the Gentiles.

False brethren had by then entered into the church and were teaching a false gospel. They were perverting the grace of God. These men were acting as though they were sent by the apostles (Acts 15:1, 24) from Jerusalem to Antioch, but went of themselves without church action, to teach the brethren salvation through law keeping and circumcision, but they were not commended by the apostles nor of the Holy Ghost. They insisted that the Gentile believers become Jews (proselytes) through circumcision. They later disrupted also the churches of Galatia, and therefore resulted in the epistle to the Galatians (58), which was one of the first epistles written after Thessalonians (54). This controversy was spread far and wide and we find hints of this in most of Paul's epistles. (Titus 1:9-16, Romans 4:8-12, Philip. 3:2-3, Col. 2:8, 11-12, 16; 1Cor. 7:18-19; 2Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15, 26, Gal. 2:1-3; 5:1-6; 6:13-16). This religious controversy is yet with us today, although baptism and many other traditions have taken the place of circumcision, which denies the one offering of eternal value and the efficacy of the work of Christ on Calvary's cross.

As we desire to see a broader picture of the history of the early church, and how the apostles responded to the grace of God and those who would oppose this grace that they had entered into, we must begin at the beginning. The book of Acts begins with a command to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit that they might carry out the great commission of taking the gospel unto the ends of the earth. Without further adieu we will try to lay somewhat of a platform or backdrop with the events that lead up to this terrible controversy, and the apostles response.

The Commission

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

"And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:45-48)

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

From these three passages, we have given to us with great clarity, that the glorious gospel of the grace of God is for the whole world. The salvation of God is to be extended to the whole human race and it was to go forth from Jerusalem and flow outward from there, in all Judaea (Jews), and in Samaria (separated Jews), and to the uttermost part of the earth (Gentiles).

The Obedience to the Call.

Jerusalem: The center of Christendom began at Jerusalem, from whence our Saviour died and rose again, and ascended into heaven. This is where the apostles were told to tarry for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. And Jesus Christ, having ascended to heaven, was recieved of His Father, His offering and sacrifice being a sweet-smelling savor unto God and acceptable to Him, therefore Christ recieved the Holy Ghost to send forth to the church to bear witness that He indeed did make it to heaven, that His Father was well pleased with the Son, and so exalted Him to His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. It was on the day of Pentecost that the Holy Ghost was sent to permanently indwell the church. This would be the new vessel for the habitation of God on the earth, and would be energize by Him for the preaching of the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Their evangelizing began in Jerusalem and within a few days 8000 believed the gospel and were saved as Peter powerfully preached Jesus Christ crucified for sinners and risen from the dead. Their preaching revolved around the temple, but the priests were quick to try and put a stop to it. They commanded the apostles "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18), and  "threatened them" (v. 21), but the apostles became more bold in their preaching. The apostles were then cast into prison, but the angel of the Lord came and loosed them, and they once again went into the temple to preach through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. They were again apprehended and reminded that they were command not to teach in the name of Jesus, to which reply they gave, "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29) The chief priests then "took counsel to slay them." But one Gamaliel, a Pharisee, and doctor of the law, who had a reputation among the Jews gave council saying, "Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." (5:38-42)

Now they were yet again commanded to not speak in the name of Jesus. It seems that is was not so much their preaching the word that was offensive to them, but speaking in the name of Jesus Christ. Even today, it seems that the world does not have a problem with some generic god, but when one preaches in the name of Jesus Christ, and bears witness that "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12), you can almost be certain that some form of persecution will arise. But this they must preach, for it is the words of their Saviour, that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and none will ever come to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). Now what was the response of the apostles to the council of the religious? "They ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." And did this so called "work of men come to naught"? Nay, rather we hear that "the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." (6:7)

Although the council did agree to Gamaliel's advice to let the disciples be, we find them rather quickly setting up false witness against Stephen and bringing him before the council to condemn him. But before them all he boldly gave wonderful testimony (Acts 7) of the history and the hope of Israel, "the coming of the Just One", whom they received not, neither his servant Stephen, and with one accord cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And Stephen, more than willing to pick up his cross, followed Jesus, who "suffered without the gate. Let us go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." (Heb. 13:12-14) "And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles." (Acts 8:1) Even as Saul of Tarsus was, "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord", "being exceedingly mad against them", even persecuting them "unto the death", God was using him for the spread of the gospel, for he "persecuted them even unto strange cities", and wherever they were chased they did bring the gospel with them.

Judaea: Judaea at the time of Christ, was one of the three provinces that made up Palestine, with Samaria and Galilee to the North. Jerusalem was a city of that province, and we are told that the disciples, upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, were scattered from Jerusalem throughout "the regions of Judaea and Samaria", but they also "travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.  And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians (Greek speaking Jews), preaching the Lord Jesus.  And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." (Acts 11:19-21) We are told "they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." (Acts 8:4) But we would see that when they did flee from the city Jerusalem, they would first go through the region of Judaea which surrounded Jerusalem. Peter told the house of Cornelius some seven to eight years after the Day of Pentecost that the word "was published throughout all Judaea". (Acts 11:37)

Now when the saints were scattered from Jerusalem, Philip went down to Samaria, and was followed by Peter and John, which we will read under the heading of Samaria. Saul of Tarsus we find chasing the church as far as Damascus where he is converted to Christ, and there preaches that Christ is the Son of God, at least until the Jews took council to kill him. Then in Jerusalem he is again sought to be killed by the Grecians (Greek speaking Jews) for preaching in the name of Jesus. He is then brought by the brethren to Cesarea,  and sent on to Tarsus. From this point we are told "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied." (Acts 9:31) The church was now given rest from the threatenings of Paul, and were multiplied, only he who once persecuted the church now becomes the persecuted, being thought of the Jews as an apostate worthy of death.

From this point in the "Acts of the Apostles" we are told of Peters travels after returning to Jerusalem from his calling to Samaria. "And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda." (Acts 9:32) The four quarters spoken of here were the four quarters of Judaea, wherein lies Lydda and Saron and Joppa. In Lydda he healed Aeneas and all in that village turned to the Lord. In Joppa, he raised Dorcas from the dead, and there he tarried many days and many believed in the Lord. It was there that Peter received his vision concerning the Gentiles and the house of Corneilius, and was brought from there to Ceasarea to open the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Samaria: As we have heard, this was the city that Philip first preached in, resulting in the faith of many. It was here that Jesus healed ten lepers and spoke to the woman at the well, and other Samaritans, who believed on Him. Samaria was the region between Galilee and Judaea. This was the region that the 10 tribes of Israel moved to inhabit when the kingdom was divided in the days of Solomon's son, Rehoboam. It was there that a great apostasy took place, where Jeroboam, Solomon's servant, led ten of the tribes of Israel to sin, and set up a false idolatrous religion to replace the worship in Jerusalem (2Kings 17). The Samaritans and the Jews had no dealings one with the other, but when the church was scattered from Jerusalem, we find that "Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them." (Acts 8:5) Many believed the preaching of Philip and were baptized and there was great joy in that city. When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. "And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans." (Acts 8:25) By Acts 9:31 and 15:3, we find that many of the Samaritans embraced the gospel and there were several churches established there.

Uttermost part of the earth: "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." (Romans 10:18) In chapter 10 and 11 of the Acts of the Apostles, we find God granting to the Gentiles "repentance unto life" through the preaching of Peter. When "the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.  And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,  Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." (Acts 11:1-3) Peter could relate to them for he previously said "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation". (Acts 10:28) Peter knew what the law had said but went on to say "but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean."  Even Peter was astonished that God would give such counsel, but when he saw that the Gentiles believed the gospel and that they received the Holy Ghost, he could only relate to the brethren, "What was I, that I could withstand God?" (Acts 11:17) But "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

Certainly they must have remembered the testimony of the Lord when he said "other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:16) And from Christ's High Priestly prayer, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:20-21) This was the testimony of Paul, "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Eph. 2:11-16)

Now when the church was scattered abroad about the martyrdom of Stephen, some went to Antioch, "preaching the word to none but the Jews only", but others "spake unto the Grecians (Greek speaking Jews), preaching the Lord Jesus", and a great number of them believed and turned to the Lord. When the church in Jerusalem heard word of this, they sent Barnabas, who "exhorted them all" and much people was added unto the Lord. Barnabas then departed to Tarsus that he might find Paul and bring him back to Antioch, and they  dwelt a whole year in Antioch and taught much people. After a brief trip to Jerusalem to bring relief to the brethren in a time of famine, they again returned to Antioch, and from there were sent forth of the Holy Ghost on their first missionary trip, being recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

We may read about their first trip in the 13th and 14th chapters of Acts. When they returned they reported to the church at Antioch "all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.  And there they abode long time with the disciples." (Acts 14:17-28) This brings us to the place of our message which we find beginning in chapter fifteen of the book of Acts. "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." (v. 1) This will be cross referenced with the epistle to the Galatians which we will now look into.
 

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians.

"Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)  And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:  To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Galatians 1:1-5)

In the first five verses we have Paul's greetings to the churches in Galatia, which was a province of Rome in Asia Minor, and his salutation which was a bit of a trademark with Paul, Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. He proposes his title, an apostle, which was not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father. Paul's appointment to the ministry of apostle was a divine appointment. He was not a successor of Peter, nor was he appointed by Peter or any of the other apostles into the ministry, but by God Himself. We also find in his opening salutation the Gospel,  Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us. . . and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.  That's the gospel friends. Paul then goes on quickly to the point of his epistle. He does not waste any time and gets right to the heart of the matter.

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1:6-7)

Paul was amazingly surprised at how soon the Galatians had abandoned the gospel of the grace of Christ for another gospel which Paul stated was not another, for there is not another gospel. There is only one true gospel, and if there be any other, it is a perverted gospel, a gospel which does not give life. There were some that were troubling them and perverting the true gospel of Christ. The most amazing thing was their quick departing from it. Their being led away from the truth of the gospel by false teachers, and their readiness to add to it some other form of doctrine.

As we read the New Testament we find that this was a serious problem in the first century. When Jude set out to write his epistle on the common salvation, he was moved of the Holy Spirit, instead, to exhort the brethren to earnestly contend for the faith. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4)

Apostasy did not come of late, it began right in the apostles day, and up until this day it has been growing. For "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2Tim. 3:13)  The words of Jude should ring even louder in our ears today, " ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Paul told the young man Timothy, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come (and has now come) when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Tim. 4:2-4) Today it is certainly a day when "they will not endure sound doctrine . . . [and are] turn[ing] away their ears from the truth". "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." (Hebrews 2:1) Now Paul goes on to give what is one of the sternest reproofs to the church which we should not take lightly, and should emblazon in our minds as we go out into the world preaching the gospel.

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9)

To compromise the gospel is serious business. In the beginning of the church, after Pentecost, the Bible tells us that "they continued stedfastly in the apostle's doctrine" (Acts 2:42), but it was not long after that certain ones were making shipwreck of the faith, following the perverted teachings of the Judaizers, and mingling truth with error, which is a most subtle form of deception. There can be no unity between the truth and a lie. C. H. Mackintosh commenting on the union of "the sons of God" and "the daughters of men" in Genesis 6:1-2 says:

 "The mingling of that which is of God with that which is of man, is a special form of evil, and a very effectual engine, in Satan's hand, for marring the testimony of Christ on the earth. . . . we cannot possibly imagine that an advantage is gained when the people of God mingle themselves with the children of this world, or when the truth of God is corrupted by human admixture. Such is not the divine method of promulgating truth, or of advancing the interests of those who ought to occupy the place of witnesses for Him on the earth. Separation from all evil is God's principle; and this principle can never be infringed without serious damage to the truth. . . . There is a great danger, at the present day, of compromising truth for the sake of union. This should be carefully guarded against. There can be no true union attained at the expense of the truth. . . . There can, evidently, be no true testimony where truth is forfeited; and hence, in the case of the antediluvian world, we see that the unhallowed union between the holy and the profane—between that which was divine and that which was human, only had the effect of bringing the evil to a head, and then God's judgment was poured out."

Paul said if any man preach another gospel, or a perverted form of the gospel, "let him be accursed". These are strong words. They are not my words, these are the words of the apostle Paul as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. It brings to mind the frightful words of Christ, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mt. 25:41). But to the Christian who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and put their faith in him alone for their salvation, the assuring words are "Fear not, for I am with thee". "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:2)

Every Christian should examine himself, to be sure where his faith lies, that when he goes out into the world, he may be steadfast and unmovable, that he might not be "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph. 4:14), that  he may with all confidence and boldness present the truth of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. This may not at times be pleasing to men's ears to which Paul replies.

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10)

The Bible says that we cannot be the servant of two masters, either he will love one and despise the other or vise versa. Now the Bible tells us that we ought to obey authorities, whether civil or within the church, but when they go against the teaching of the Word of God we need to say like Peter, "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:28) Standing upon the truth of the gospel will often times, if not always bring "perils among  false brethren" (2Cor. 11:26). Now Paul goes on to say that the gospel which he preached is not of men but of God.

"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:11-12)

Paul never received the gospel of men, nor of angels. He never received it of any of the other apostles, it was not taught to him, but he received it by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Let us again take a moment to look at the gospel which Paul received from Christ. Paul tells the Corinthian church this gospel with all clarity.  He said "I declare unto you the gospel . . . by which also ye are saved, if ye . . . have believed . . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures". (1 Cor. 15:1-4) That's it, that's the gospel. And when you believe this gospel you are saved, you have eternal life, and are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.

Listen carefully to what the apostle John says, "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:9-13) There is only life in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He that hath the Son hath life. The question is, "Do you have the Son? Have you believed the gospel and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour by faith?" The Bible tells us, "as many as received him, [Jesus Christ] to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name". (John 1:12)

From this point in Paul's epistle to the end of chapter one, he goes on to prove that he indeed did not receive his gospel from men but by revelation of Jesus Christ and he gives an historical account from his persecuting the church of God to his conversion at Damascus, and his going into Arabia before returning to Damascus. Then three years after his conversion, he went up to Jerusalem for several days and saw Peter and the Lord's brother James before moving into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And the churches which were in Judaea only knew by word how that he who once persecuted the church now preacheth the faith and they glorified God in Paul.

Galatians Chapter Two

From this point in Paul's epistle, he continues his historical account which brings him back to Jerusalem fourteen years later, which would be seventeen years after his conversion. This may be cross-referenced with the fifteenth chapter of the book of Acts. It is an account of "false brethren" or Judaizers who were perverting the gospel of Christ, and with it, were evidently subverting the Galatian church.

"And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question." (Acts 15:1-2)

It is important to recognize the roots of this subversion, as it is has engulfed most of Christendom today. Paul spoke to a young Timothy and said, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith"  (1 Tim. 4:1). Paul and Barnabas did not stand aside to let these apostates make shipwreck of the faith, especially when it came to the purity of the gospel, but had no small dispute with them, and thought to resolve the dilemma with the apostles in Jerusalem.

"Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain." (Galatians 2:1-2)

When Paul came to Jerusalem he conferred at first privately with those who were of reputation, namely James, Peter, and John, and he communicated to them the gospel which he preached among the Gentiles. "And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them." (Acts 15:4) Now these who were called by Paul "false brethren", believed the true gospel, that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried, and rose again, but to that they added you must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved. This caused Paul and Barnabas to have a sharp dispute with them. And Titus, a Greek, who was with Paul did not feel compelled to be circumcised as a requirement for his salvation, which would bring one back under the bondage of the law, but was steadfast in the grace of God, trusting only in the accomplishments of Christ on his behalf. He did not trust in something he must DO, but rather what God has DONE through Christ.

"But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2:3-5)

Paul who being very zealous for the truth did not give in even for a moment to these Judaizers that the truth of the Gospel would continue with the Galatians in particular, and with the Gentiles in general. When these false brethren sought to overthrow the faith of some, Paul would not stand for it. Now it is very important to understand that these Judaizers were "believers".

"But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." (Acts 15:5)

In the law of Moses, a Gentile could become a Jew through circumcision (Exodus 12:48, Esther 8:17), but in the New Testament economy, neither does the Jew become a Gentile, nor the Gentile become a Jew, but Christ has "made both one", and both are reconciled to God "in one body by the cross".  Christ has made "in himself of twain (two) one new man".

Now these Judaizers believed that Jesus was the Messiah, they professed faith in him, they were members of the church although called a sect of the Pharisees because of the certain tenants of the law of Moses that they held to. But yet Paul describes them as false brethren brought in unawares. They had infiltrated the church and were corrupting it from within and Paul would not tolerate this.

 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:6-9)

Now this was a most important council which clearly establishes the liberty we have in Christ Jesus as Christians. It also clearly establishes that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It was very important back there and it is just as important for us today that the truth of the gospel might continue with us.

Now there was much disputing before Peter stood up and gave his account of the salvation that came to the Gentile house of Cornelius. Cornelius was told by an angel to send men to Joppa and call for a man named Peter "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." (Acts 11:14) And when Peter came to that household he preached the Gospel to them, he told them "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly. . . . To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:38-40, 43) And God which knoweth the hearts, "gave them the like gift as he did unto us,(the apostles) who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 11:17; 15:8).

Remember "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) This was how the saints in Ephesus were saved. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13). This is what happened at the house of Cornelius apart from any rituals or machinations of men. And their hearts were purified by faith even as the apostles. Now Peter goes on to say.

"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." (Acts 15:10-11)

There it is, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Salvation is only by grace. We are saved only by Christ's righteousness apprehended through faith. And this is how the house of Cornelius was saved. They heard the gospel, and believed it, and they recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Today there are many who have this idea that there is something that you have to do to obtain salvation in addition to faith in Jesus Christ. In the case of the Judaizers, they added to the gospel, that you had to keep the law of Moses and be circumcised to be saved. Today we are hearing many things which are alleged requirements for salvation such as, church membership, and baptism, keeping the ten commandments, partaking in the Lord's supper, keeping sacraments, attending church, suffering for Christ, and the list goes on and on. What happened nineteen hundred years ago was just a sampling of what it has transpired into today. If Peter were with us today he would say the same thing to the churches of our time, "why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved".

Now the conclusion of the matter was given after Paul and Barnabas declared what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Then James, the leader in Jerusalem, gave his sentence, that the Gentiles who were seeking God should not be troubled with those commandments to keep the law of Moses and be circumcised. The apostles and elders were assembled with one accord, and it pleased them to write letters and send chosen men back to Antioch to declare the outcome of their council together, to which they agreed, "it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us". So they wrote, "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment" (Acts 15:24). These were certain men from Jewish background, who were subverting the souls of many, were proven to be apostates.

Paul told the Corinthian church, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Cor. 11:13-15) In the book of the Revelation in the letter to Ephesus, Christ tells them, "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars". (Rev. 2:2) There was a time that if you claimed to be an apostle you had to fulfill certain requirements, if you claimed to be a Christian you had to believe the right thing. If you say you are a Christian, what makes you think so? To be a Christian hinges in what you believe, and where your faith and trust rests for your salvation, apart from anything you do, or can do, or will do in the future.

The Gospel is not man accepting Jesus as his Saviour, but that God accepted the Lord Jesus as the perfect and only Saviour two thousand years ago. The Gospel is not man giving his heart or his life to Jesus, but that Christ gave His life, His whole being, in the place of sinners. The Gospel is not man receiving Jesus Christ into his heart, but that God received the Lord Jesus into Heaven as the mediator of sinners. The Gospel is not Christ enthroned in the human heart, but that God enthroned the Lord Jesus at His right hand in Heaven.

Do we see the great distinction between these two messages? One is subjective and puts the emphasis on what man must do. The other is objective and puts the emphasis on what Christ has already done. The sinner is only to trust in what has already been done on his behalf. The Lord Jesus cried, "It is finished" (John 19:30). He did it all. He took upon Himself the load of sin, the full responsibility for the sin of mankind. Because Christ paid the complete debt, God raised Him from the dead and accepted Him into Heaven. The resurrection was God's sign to all that He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ forever as the perfect Saviour. God is satisfied. Is the convicted sinner? Will he rest the whole weight of his soul's salvation on Christ's acceptance by God as the perfect Saviour? Will the sinner cease once and for all trying to do anything to save himself? Will he trust only in God's Son for salvation? Rather than turning inward to his own experience, will he instead look outward to trust only in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection on their behalf?

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

That is the age old question, for the Scriptures say "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezek. 18:20). When the Philippian jailer asked this question to Paul the simple answer is "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24), that he came into the world to die for your sins (1Tim. 1:15), that he was crucified and buried according to the scriptures, and that he rose from the dead the third day in fulfillment of the scriptures? (1Cor. 15:1-4) When you believe this and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of your soul by faith alone you are saved. That is God's grace. Your name is written in heaven and you have eternal life and will live forever with the King of Saints in the holy city New Jerusalem. Salvation comes by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and that alone. To add to this or take away should remind us of what Paul said, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8) There is only one gospel and it is by grace through faith in Christ alone. This is the message throughout the whole of the New Testament. If you have not yet trusted Christ alone, Trust Him Today, and make this the day when you step out of darkness into His marvelous light.