Called on the Carpet

Called on the Carpet

2013-10-20

Acts 11:1-4, 15-18

      1Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order:

15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to uswhen we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?”18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

The fact that Peter/Cornelius recorded 3 times reveals the gravity of the issue & the significance of this particular event.

• This situation had the ingredients for a major misunderstanding that could possibly result in two entirely separate churches instead of one.

Primary problem was not Peter’s preaching to Gentiles but that he was eating with them. Act 11:2-3

• Basically there were the same objections as Peter had before his Cornelius adventure.
• Afraid that they would become “unclean” by eating with the Gentiles. Mt 23:24
• The real issue was prejudice: if it is okay for the Gentiles to eat with Peter, then the Gentiles have the right to come into their homes and church as Gentiles, without converting to Judaism.
• In other words: The Gentiles were completely equal to Jews.
• Jews thought they were never really equal but closer if the Gentiles did what Jews did: dietary & circumscision

That legalistic spirit still erects barriers that threaten to divide the church today. Examples:

• Real Christians Do: use KJV only, Homeschool, ring the Salvation Army Bell/soup kitchen, adopt, downsize
• Don’t Do: games, shorts, smoke, foods, music, tatoos~  Lev 19:26-28, 1 Cor 11:5-6  
• We must understand the Word in its historical context & in church history (ex. Gathier’s music).
• It’s easy to accept verses that appeal or support our agendas and ignore the ones we don't like.   

Be careful not designate sin as difference in convictions. Immorality, drunk

• My struggle with legalism is more along the lines of wise and unwise & ^or- edifying
• Unwise based on scripture, personal, and another’s experience.
• We can’t classify it as sinful if it is not so designated so in the Word.

Everyone ask themselves “Why do I do or don’t do? Is it because of legalism, godliness, or shock value” 2 Cor 3:17, Gal 5:13, Rom 14:23, 1 Cor 10:31….LEAVE UP FOR REST OF MESSAGE

• Before judging behavior of fellow believers, it is important to ask them “Why?” &  hear them out rather than silently stewing & judging.
• Here Jewish Christians criticized first & gathered information later.

When responding to “Why do you ____?” follow Peter’s lead Act 11:15-17

• He worked hard to keep peace & promote understanding.
• Instead of addressing their prejudice & legalism, he recounted in great detail events leading to Gentile's conversion.
• Peter's defense was not about what he did, but on what God did in the 3rd Pentecost.
• They couldn’t argue with the Holy Spirit (what God did), testimony of 7 witness, or the Word.
• If God made no distinction between Jew & Gentile, how could Peter?

What God did was not what Jews would have expected or preferred.

• God & Gentiles weren’t doing Christianty “Jewish/their” way.
• But their response of rejoicing when confronted with their prejudice, hardness, & legalism,  displayed the spiritual health & maturity of the young church.

Legalism/prejudice dies hard.

• Not long after, some: “Not allow Gentiles to ignore law of Moses. If let down the barriers pretty soon everyone in church will start acting like Gentiles.”

Believers are glad to have people join as long as live out  Chrsitianty like us.

• If God blesses someone who is not “doing Christianity your way”, do you celebrate or complain?
• Do you delight in their difficulties because they have different convictions? Rom 12:15
• In Acts Jesus calls church to be a unique community:
• love & acceptance rather than judgment & division.
• Unity in the essentials, freedom & love in non-essentials.
• Be humble & repent of legalism & improper motives behind freedom.
• What matters is not whether people fit in with us, but that they have been accepted by Jesus.    2 Cor 3:17, Gal 5:13, Rom 14:23, 1 Cor 10:31