Division & Multiplication — Chuck Smith

The Jerusalem Council and Gentile Freedom

Shall we turn to the book of Acts, chapter 15, and tonight we want to begin with verse 33. Some people had come from Jerusalem to the Gentile church in Antioch, had created problems, disturbances, by pretending to be officially sent from the church in Jerusalem to notify the Gentiles that they had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses in order to be saved.

Paul and Barnabas took these fellows, marched them back to Jerusalem, they called the church council to determine the relationship that the Gentile believers should have to the law of Moses, and the church sent a letter back to the church in Antioch, the official church in Jerusalem, greeting them as brothers in Christ, and just encouraging them to keep themselves from meat that was offered to idols, and from fornication, from things that are strangled, and from blood, and if you do this, you do well.

So, with the letter, there were certain of the recognized leaders of the church in Jerusalem, who came back with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, in order that they might affirm that this was the official decision of the church, and that the letter was a genuine missile from the church in Jerusalem, so that the Gentile believers would be comfortable in the realization that they don't have to abide by the Mosaic law, and they don't have to be circumcised in order to be saved.

Silas Strengthens the Church in Antioch

Cause great rejoicing among the Gentile believers, and among those that came from Jerusalem, was a fellow by the name of Silas. He was one of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem, and he had the gift of prophecy, and so he was there for a while with the church, ministering to them.

And we read, and after they had tarried there for a space, that is, things are settled down, issues are resolved. And so, those that came from Jerusalem stayed there for a while, just ministering and enjoying Christian fellowship.

And so, after they had been there for a while, they were let go and returned back to the apostles in Jerusalem. And one of them, though, who was named Silas, did stay in Antioch. And we are told that he was a prophet, and he was one of the chief members of the church in Jerusalem.

Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas, verse 34, to abide there still. So, Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord with many others also. The church in Antioch was a powerful church.

It was a large church, and it was a church that enjoyed outstanding ministers. Paul, Barnabas, now Silas, joining with the team in ministry. And so, it was a church that was greatly strengthened. It was one of the main early churches of church history, the church in Antioch.

It is the church from which our one line of original text have come from. The majority text came from the church in Antioch. Another prominent church was developed in Alexandria, Egypt. And another line of manuscripts came from the church in Alexandria.

And, of course, this is one of the big issues today, as far as original manuscripts are close to original. We have no originals, but close to original. There are two really main lines of text, the Alexandrian and the main line that came from the church in Antioch.

And I prefer the line of text, the majority text, or the received text, that comes from the church in Antioch, where Paul ministered for so long, along with Barnabas. But they remained there for a period of time, preaching and teaching.

Preaching the Gospel to the Unconverted

There is a place in the church for preaching. The Greek word that is translated preaching is the same Greek word that is translated evangelist. And it is the proclaiming of the good news. That's pretty much literally what the Greek word means.

Proclaiming the good news. And thus preaching is mainly for the unconverted. It is proclaiming to the world the good news that your sins can be forgiven, because Jesus died to pay the penalty for sin.

And it is the declaration of the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. Here at Calvary, we have services that are devoted and designed for the express purpose of preaching the gospel. Our evangelistic services.

Services where the good news of God's love is proclaimed. The provision for the forgiveness of sins that God has made through Jesus Christ. And people are given an opportunity to respond to that message and to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We have men on our staff who are gifted evangelists. And they are here on staff for that very purpose of preaching the gospel. And exercising their gift of evangelism. But preaching is mainly for the unconverted.

Teaching Believers Toward Spiritual Maturity

Once a person has received the gospel. Once a person has accepted Jesus Christ. Then they need to be taught. And the teaching is a very important ministry for the church. In order that there might be spiritual maturity and growth.

And that comes through the teaching of the word. There are many churches that have such a heavy emphasis upon evangelism. That there is very little teaching of the word of God. And thus the people are sort of kept in a infant state of Christianity.

They really do not mature in their walk with the Lord. They don't really grow up and become mature. But remain in sort of a state of spiritual infancy. In Hebrews chapter 6. The author of the book of Hebrews urges the people.

To leave the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. And to go on into maturity. He said we shouldn't be laying again the basic foundations of our faith. Which are repentance from dead works. Putting your faith in God.

Being baptized. And the preaching of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. And of the coming day of judgment. These are basic foundational things that bring us to Jesus Christ. These things are what were preached to the people.

They need to know these things in order that they would repent of their sin. And receive baptism. And receive Jesus Christ. But beyond these basic fundamental truths. They need to mature in their relationship and in their walk with the Lord.

They need to know how to walk in the Spirit. They need to grow up and become spiritually mature. My first years of ministry. Were in a denomination that had as its heavy emphasis evangelism. And thus most of my messages were evangelistic.

I found great personal frustration. Because there was little growth in the church. Numerically and spiritually. And it was very frustrating as a young pastor. To preach your heart out. A powerful evangelistic message.

But really you were preaching to the saints. I would have prepared a message and would be all excited. Thinking it would be impossible for a sinner to sit through this message. Without being convinced that he needs to accept Jesus Christ.

And just really pumped with a message. And to go into church. And while they are singing. Look over the congregation. And realize I knew them all by first name. There's not a sinner in the house. And you've got this dynamic evangelistic message.

But no sinners to preach. Now that is frustration. And so generally I would add a few points to the message. And they were sharp points. They were intended to cut the believers. To make them feel guilty and condemned.

Because of their failure to bring their unsaved friends to church with them. If they were only the kind of Christians God wanted them to be. They wouldn't have come to church tonight just by themselves.

They would have had their sinful neighbors with them. To hear this powerful message and perhaps get converted. And as I would lay the whip on my people. I would watch their heads go down in shame. Exposing their back.

So that I could really put the whip on. And I'm sure. As they were bowing under conviction of these things that were being said. That in their heart they were saying, God I am guilty. Lord I know that I should be witnessing more.

I know Lord that I should be bringing my neighbors to church. I know Lord that I'm just failure. Lord if I only knew how. If this pastor would only teach me something I could do more. But I wasn't bringing them into maturity.

I was going over just the same. Repentance from dead works. Baptism. Jesus rose from the dead. And he's going to judge. I was going over the basic fundamentals principles. But never taking them on beyond that point.

Growing up and maturing. Walking in the spirit and. Developing. In their. Christian walk in life. One of the great problems. Of the church today is the immaturity. Of the saints. Because of the lack. Of the teaching of the word.

Paul’s Teaching on Spiritual Infancy

Paul wrote to the Corinthians. He said I could not speak unto you. As unto spiritual. But I had to speak to you as. Carnal. Even as babes. In Christ. I have fed you with milk. And not with meat. For up till now you're not able to handle the meat.

And even now you are still not able. For you are still carnal. For when you have envying and strife and divisions. Are not these signs of carnality. And spiritual immaturity. And so here were the Corinthian believers.

They have been believing for some time. But they had not matured. They were still babes. Paul said in Christ. And this is one of the problems of the church. That you have so many people. Who by now should be.

Spiritually mature. They should be strong. But they're still babes in Christ. Still carnal. And after 25 years. You have 25 year old babies kicking and screaming in the crib. As they're crying for their bottles.

In Hebrews again we read. For when the time came when you ought to be teachers. You still need someone to teach you again the first principles. Of the oracles of God. You have need of milk. For you cannot digest meat.

Like babies. They need constant attention. They go to church to be entertained. When we were in Turkey a few years ago. We had a guide who. Was. A professed Muslim. And so. We questioned him. Because we observed him drinking.

And we said. How is it. Being a Muslim. You drink. That's strictly against. The law. Of the Muslim faith. He said oh. We're Muslims in name. It really doesn't affect the way we live. And I thought. How true that is.

Of so many people who are Christians only in name. But it doesn't really affect. The way they live. They still walk after the flesh. They're still carnal. Carnally minded. They haven't grown they haven't developed they haven't matured.

From the day that they step forward and. Followed in the sinner's prayer. Writing to the Ephesians. Paul said but unto every one of us is given grace. According to the measure of the gift of Christ. How much grace is that.

If God. Spared not his own son. But delivered him up for us all. How much more shall he not freely give us. All things. So every one of us have received. This grace. That is according to the major of the gift of Christ.

Wherefore the scripture says. When he ascended. On high. He led the captives from their captivity and he gave gifts to men. This is when Jesus ascended from the grave. He led the captives from their captivity.

Christ’s Victory and Gifts to the Church

During the Old Testament period. Their sins were covered but not put away. It was impossible that the blood of bulls and goats could put away. Sin they could cover but not put away. It took the blood of Jesus Christ to put away.

Our sins. And so those Old Testament saints who died. They died in the faith. In the promises of God. That he would send. His Messiah anointed one into the world. Who would take away the sins of the world.

And so looking ahead. They died in faith but because. The sacrifice of Christ was not yet made. They could not enter into the heavenly scene but were being kept. Comforted by Abraham. Until Jesus should pay.

The price for the remission of sins. When Jesus died. He descended into hell. Not the place of punishment. But the place where the righteous dead were waiting. Being comforted by Abraham. And the difference between the two is explained by Jesus.

In Luke chapter 16. You can look that up for yourself. But when Jesus ascended. Now the prophecy concerning Jesus in Isaiah 61. Was that he would set at liberty those that were bound. And open the prison doors.

He would set the captives free. And so when he ascended he led the captives from their captivity. And he gave gifts unto men. That is he gave gifts to men. That they might in turn exercise those gifts.

In the church. And these gifts. That were given to men. Some apostles. Some the gift of prophets. Some the gift of evangelists. And some the gifts of pastors and teachers. For the perfecting. Or that word is maturing.

Of the saints. For the work of the ministry. The building up of the body of Christ. The purpose for the church to gather. The purpose of our being here tonight. Is that we might be built up in Jesus Christ.

Built up in our faith. Built up in our walk. And become more mature. In our whole Christian experience. The maturing of the saints. For the work of the ministry. Until we all come into the unity of the faith.

And the knowledge of the Son of God. Unto a fully matured man. Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. You see. It is God's purpose. That through the teaching of the word. Through the understanding.

Of what the Christian walk in life is all about. Through the receiving of the power of the Holy Spirit. We might be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. That's God's intent and purpose for you. That you become like Jesus.

Growing into the Likeness of Jesus

I wonder. As we look at our lives. Am I more like Jesus. Now than I was a year ago. Then I was five years ago. Then I was ten years ago. I should be coming more like him every day. Writing to the Corinthians Paul said.

And we with open faces. As we behold the glory of the Lord. We are being changed from glory to glory. Into the same image. What is he saying? We should be coming more like Jesus Christ every day. Now if you are still on the same level that you were five years ago.

Then you are in that state of spiritual infancy. There's not been any development, any growth, any maturing. And that should not be. We should all of us be growing. More and more. Into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Guarding Against Spiritual Instability

Paul said that we would be no more like children. Who are tossed to and fro and carried about. With every wind of doctrine. And by the slight of men. And the cunning craftiness. Whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

I'm amazed at how gullible. Some Christians are. Ready to embrace. Any new kind of. Fad that's going on. Chasing around. Trying to. Be astounded. I mean it becomes almost a. A thing of Christian entertainment.

Paul and Barnabas Revisit the Churches

After a time. Of teaching and preaching. Paul suggested to Barnabas. That they go again and visit the believers. That they had led to Christ in their first missionary journey. That they might just sort of see how they were going.

Developing. Now I believe that Paul. No doubt kept in touch. With these churches that they did establish. Kept in touch with letters. But the mail in those days was nothing. Like the mail today. It could take months.

To receive a letter. So. It was hard to stay in close contact. With those churches. And there is something. About being there personally. Being able to. Talk. Personally. Being able to see each other face to face.

Being able to. Feel and to touch each other. That is. Far richer than just words on a page. One of the things about words on a page. They are important and they're good. We've got the Bible. And it's very important.

The words that are here on the page. Because they become life to us. But. Nothing replaces really that personal. On hands kind of. Contact. So Paul desires to go back and to. Minister personally. To these believers that had.

Come to the knowledge of Christ in their first. Missionary journey. There is a special warmth. That really can't be communicated through a letter. And also. In a letter you can't really express. Tone of voice.

Writing to the Galatians Paul said my little children. Of whom I travail in birth again until Christ is formed in you. I desire to be present with you now. In order that I might change my voice. Because I stand in doubt of you.

Tell me. You that desire to be under the law. Do you really hear the law. Now Paul is saying I wish I was there. I want you to catch my tone of voice. I'm not really rebuking you. And from some of the letters you could think.

Oh man he's really laying it out. But you have to hear the tone of voice. And Paul said I wish I could be there. So you could know my tone of voice when I'm saying these things. I'm sort of grieved I'm hurt I can't imagine.

Do you really understand. What it means to be under the law. And and he. Was wanting them to. Be able but. It doesn't. Transcribe on paper. So Paul wants to go in to. Personally. Visit these churches again.

You can misunderstand. By not hearing the tone of the voice. What is being written. It wasn't a harsh tone. It wasn't a rebuking tone. It was a tender. Pleading tone. Paul is concerned for them. How they were faring.

He wanted to see them personally. Touch them. And so Barnabas. Was determined to take John Mark. With him again. Now in the first missionary journey. John Mark started out with them. He went with them through the island of Cyprus.

But when they started to leave Cyprus. And go over to the mainland. Into this. Sort of. Foreign territory. John Mark. Decided to. Return back to Jerusalem. Whether or not he was homesick. Or whether he was.

Fearful of going on. We don't know. All we know is he. Defected. From them. Now he. No doubt. Had. Been a great. Asset. To them. A young man. He had a lot of energy. He could. Run errands. He could. Do a lot of things.

But now. As they're going into some really. Rough territory. Mark. Decides to leave. And. No doubt. Paul was. Upset. That Mark. Did leave. Now as. They're thinking about. Going again. Barnabas. Wants to take.

John Mark. The reason being. Is that. John Mark. Was his nephew. And. There's probably. Been some. Maturing with him. And Barnabas. Feels. That he would be an. Asset. To go with them. Again. But Paul. Felt that.

If he again. Got cold feet. Or homesick. Or whatever it was. That caused him. To leave. The first time. If he would leave. The second time. Again. It would. Put them. In a. Position of. Being. Sort of.

In a sense. Not. Able to do. As much. As they could have done. Had he stuck with them. So. Paul. Is objecting. But Barnabas. Is determined. That John Mark. Go with them. But just as. Determined. Is Paul. Who is determined.

John Mark. Is not. Going. To go with us. Now. You get two. Guys. Who have. Strong. Wills. Paul. Had a. Very. Strong. Will. He would not have been. Able to have. Endured. All of the things. That he did. Endure. In taking the gospel. To the world.

At that time. Had he not. Had this. Strong. Stubborn. Will. It can be an asset. It can. Also be. A detriment. And. With Paul. There were times. Where the strong. Will. Was a real asset. And there was.

There were times. When. It was. A detriment. As. We move ahead. In our study. In the next. Chapter. We're going to see. Some of the. Detriment. Of the strong. Will. That Paul. Had. When God. Wanted to stop him.

The only way. He could. Was to put him. In bed. So sick. He couldn't. Move. And he said. Well. It seemed good. To the Holy Spirit. And us. Not to go. Any further. You know. Into Asia. Reality. He couldn't. He was so sick.

So. That's one. Of the disadvantages. Of having the strong. Will. And yet. It. Did have its. Advantages too. But here. Are they. Both of them. Now. Strong. Willed men. Had to be. To. Do the things. They did.

And they have. Dispute. Going. And it. Got. So heavy. The contention. Between them. Was so great. That. Part of us. Just took. Mark. And took off. For Cyprus. And. So. Paul. Took. Silas. With him. And. They headed off. Through Syria. And Cilicia.

Disagreements Among Christians and the Call to Love

Can. Christians. Have. Differences. Of opinions. Oh, yes. Can. Christians. Get into. Real arguments. Oh, yes. Can. Christians. Have. Contentions. Between them. Oh, yes. There are. Issues. Upon. Which. We as. Christians. Do not. Always. Agree. We can have. Differences. Of opinions. What are. We to do. In. Such a. Case. Well. We're. To. Walk. In. Love. If. It's. Impossible. To. Come. To. Some. Sort. Of. A. Meeting. Of. The. Minds. In. Agreement. Then. We. Must. Agree. To. Disagree. Agreeably. In. Other. Words.

Okay. That's. The. Way. You. Feel. About. It. Fine. I. Don't. See. It. That. Way. I. Can. Still. Accept. You. As. Brother. I. Can. Still. Fellowship. With. You. We. Don't. Have. To. See. It. The. Same. But. At. The. Same. Token. That. Should. Not. Affect. Our. Fellowship. Together. A. Years. Back. There. Was. A. Situation. With. The. Calvary. Chapel. Pastors. That. Some. Of. Them. Felt. That. They. Wanted. To. Seek. After. Experiences. And. Put. Experience. Above. The. Word. And. Above. The. Teaching. Of. The. Word. And. So. We. Had. A. Meeting. Together. And. This. One. Pastor. That. Was. Really. Moving. Towards. The. Experience. Oriented. Position. Was. Having. Pretty. Bizarre. Things. Happening. In. His. Church. And. So. As. We. Were. Meeting. Together.

Raul. Said. Hey. What's. Going. On. Over. There. I. Hear. This. And. This. And this. And this. About. Work. Gods. Not. Limited. By. His. Work. So. Then. Mike. Jumped in and. Then. Gregg. Jumped in. And.

Then. Don. McClure. Jumped in and. Then. There were some guys that were sort of standing with this other guy and I mean it was really getting hot and heavy. Sort of like with Paul and Barnabas, there's contention.

And so I said to them, you know, there's place for experiences and though I feel that it is wrong to make that the chief emphasis, if that's the way you feel that the Lord is leading you, then I would suggest that you change the name of your church.

But we can still maintain our fellowship together with the Lord. I mean I don't see any reason for breaking fellowship but if you would just change your name, that's fine. So they changed their name and I then said to, at the pastor's conference, I said this is the direction these fellows want to go.

If that's the way you want to go, I would recommend that you go. Feel free. And at that time there were probably a hundred or so of the Calvary chapels that decided to go this other direction. And as far as I was concerned, that's fine.

Disagree agreeably. And I can see with Paul and Barnabas, there were positive results from the contention. So that I can look at the contention and see that probably God was involved in allowing this disagreement.

Why? Because God wanted two missionary teams instead of one missionary team. So Barnabas took John and they headed for Cyprus. Paul took Silas and they headed back to Derby and of course they ended clear on over in into Athens and so forth.

But you have now teams going in different directions but you have twice as many missionary teams as you had before. And so I can see the hand of God even in the dispute that came up, the differences that developed.

Committing Missionaries to the Grace of God

So Paul chose Silas, they departed and the church committed them unto the grace of God. Wonderful thing. We have missionaries from our church here that are serving the Lord all over the world and as they go out we just commit them to the grace of God.

God be with you, God bless you, we'll be praying for you. And of course we have our prayer letter each week, our prayer listing, the pastors, the missionaries and where they are. And it's exciting to see what God is doing through the people that have gone out from the church here as as missionaries and so we commend them to the grace of God.

Pray for them and just are excited to see the fruit that's coming from their lives. Let's pray. Father help us to grow, to grow up, to develop and to mature. Lord we don't want to be still in a state of infancy but we want to become more like Jesus every day.

And so help us Lord to grow and to mature in our Christian walk, in our Christian life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Shall we stand? Pastors are down here at the front to pray for you this evening. If there are any special needs that you have tonight, they'd be happy to pray for you and to pray with you.

God’s Provision and the Ministry of Prayer

God answers prayer. That's the real thrust behind prayer. That's the real incentive to pray is that God answers prayer. God can meet your needs tonight. So we would encourage you, before you go home, spend some time in prayer.

Come on forward. These men are here to pray with you and to join with you in prayer for your needs. God will wonderfully take care of and supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.