What Is a ”Jesus plus” Gospel?

Acts 15:1-13

INTRO: This morning I’m going to continue from where we left off in the book of Acts. We left Paul and Barnabas in Antioch encouraging all the believers by telling them what God had done through them and how God had opened a door for them to preach to the Gentiles. What we’re going to see today is warning for the church about legalism.

First I want to tell you a story about someone we all know, Little Johnny. Little Johnny and his mother returned from the store and began putting away the groceries. Johnny opened a box of animal crackers and spread them all over the table. "What are you doing?" his mother asked. "The box says not to eat them if the seal is broken" Johnny explained. "I'm looking for the seal."

That young man did what he knew he should, and read the label. When you read a label, make sure you understand what you’re reading. If there is one thing we know as Christians, it is that there will always be questions which need to be answered. When those questions come up we need to go out of our way to answer them.

I. Read with me what Luke tells us happens in Acts 15... If you recall in Acts 14 at end the chapter Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch, now in; Acts 15:1-2 - “And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.'' Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.”.

A. Luke tells us that certain men caused a great uproar among the Gentile churches. They taught that submission to the Law of Moses, as demonstrated by circumcision, was required for a person to be saved.
B. Their teaching didn’t go unnoticed and led Paul and Barnabas to raise some serious questions. These teachers were quite willing that the Gentiles should come into the Church but on the condition that first they became circumcised. If this attitude had prevailed, Christianity would have become nothing other than a sect of Judaism. Preaching the resurrection of Christ, of course, but nevertheless relying on the Law of Moses for salvation. This argument split what had been a united church into two distinct camps. Circumcised and uncircumcised. Paul and Barnabas argued strongly about this and matters were at a deadlock.
C. Paul records an event in Galatians 2:12-13 – where he is speaking about Peter; “... before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy”. We see from this how Peter was influenced and that in turn influenced others including Barnabas.
D. Commissioned by the church in Antioch, Paul, Barnabas and some unnamed others went to Jerusalem to get answers for those questions. Remember the church is still in its infancy, yet it appears that we’re beginning to see a division within the Lord’s church between the circumcised and uncircumcised.

II. Let’s look at the next verse. Acts 15:3 - “Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren." [NAS]

A. I’d like us to notice that when Paul and Barnabas were on their journey they didn’t stop everywhere and tell about the problems the church in Antioch was having. Instead the group reported the conversions which had been occurring in the Gentile world because of the preaching of the gospel. When the Christians heard the report they rejoiced and this is a great example to us of what our reaction should be to the saving of a soul.
B. Can an assembly have problems? Sure they can, and it is our duty as Christians is to address the problem with love and the Word. Ok, funny story time; Over in England there was a new priest who was trying to institute some reforms in his very old-fashioned parish by teaching his congregation new responses. He said to them, "When I say, 'The Lord be with you,' you will reply all together, 'and with you also.' Then I will say, 'Let us pray.'" The day came for the introduction of the new form of worshipping but something happened to the microphone, and the priest, trying to adjust it, said in a loud voice, "There is something wrong with this microphone." The congregation responded with one loud voice, "And with you also!"
C. When we go around and talk about church problems to anyone and everyone we speak to, there is something wrong with us as well. Paul and Barnabas didn’t speak to anyone about the problems in Antioch until they got to the people they wanted to ask the questions of.
D. What you talk to others about is your choice. However when you make that choice consider; Proverbs 10:19-21 - “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.”
E. If all we focus on are the problems, we’re going to miss out on the things which God is accomplishing in front of our eyes. I know news travels fast these days especially with the internet, but it never ceases to amaze me how fast news traveled during Biblical times. My mother used to say “nothing travels faster than bad news.”

III. Let’s look now at the next two verses, 4 and 5; Acts 15:4-5 - “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. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees , now listen, which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” Note; here we are in Jerusalem and are told of some men of the school of the Pharisees which believed, that is have accepted Christ, yet hold on to something else.

A. Luke tells us that when Paul and Barnabas arrived in Jerusalem, they again reported on the good which had been done among the Gentiles. When you go home today I’d suggest you take the time to read Galatians 2 where you will find a more detailed account of these events in Jerusalem. In the second verse of Galatians 2 we read; “communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation”. It seems from Galatians 2 that Paul reported to a small group of reputable men.
B. Paul spoke to a small group of men because by doing that he could avoid a public confrontation between the apostles. Paul related to them the gospel he had preached among the gentiles. As Christians we can deal with problems the right way but if there are people who insist in causing more problems, there’s little that we can do to stop it.
C. Luke told us in Acts 15:5 - “... 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.” Some from among the Pharisees still pressed their point by saying that all Gentiles who wanted to go to heaven would have to submit to the Law of Moses. This is a perfect example of a “grace plus” gospel.
D. These people are saying you need to obey the gospel of Christ but... you also need to be circumcised in the flesh to be saved. Legalism is nothing new nor has it gone away; in fact it’s still very popular within certain religious groups.

IV. I don’t want to look at other religious groups though; Today I want us to take a closer look at ourselves. Are we legalistic? How can we tell if we are?

A. If you think that you only have to attend worship every week for your salvation then you might be a legalist. If you think that you have to do good deeds for your salvation then you might be a legalist. We do not attend worship for our salvation; we attend worship because of our salvation. We do not do good deeds for our salvation we do good deeds because of our salvation.
B. There are too many legalistic Christians in the world who are quick to condemn other people because of something they don’t agree with. Christians who make huge issues out of things like what translation of the Bible we all must use.
C. We can only use this version and never that version. We can only use a particular hymnbook for singing. We can only worship in a building which doesn’t have a kitchen in it. We can only observe the Lord’s Supper each week if we use one cup. Yes, we do struggle with issues of doctrine at times.
D. I heard a story about a man who got to the gates of heaven and Peter was there to meet him. The man asked, "can I come into heaven?" and Peter said, " it depends, I've got to see if you've got 1000 points." The man said, "A 1000 points?" Peter said, "Yeah, tell me what you've done in your life." The man said, "well, I'm sure I've got a 1000 points, I've been a Christian almost all of my adult life, I've been a faithful husband and father, I've got 3 kids, one is a preacher, one is a missionary, my daughter is a nurse in the slums, I went one night a week to work with her, I was a faithful member of the church, I was an elder for 20 years, I supported mission works all over the world, I witnessed my faith in my job, I anonymously helped build a hospital, how much is that?" Peter looked and said, "that's one point what else have you done?"... At that the startled man said, "Lord have mercy". Then Peter said, "That's a 1000 points, come on in."
E. Folks, we do not rely on anything we do for salvation but we totally rely on what Christ has done for our salvation. In other words we don’t try and be faithful to live the Christian life for our salvation; we try and live the Christian life faithfully because of our salvation.
F. We need to keep away from the “Jesus plus”, plans of salvation because all that does is create a legalistic attitude among the saints where some think they are better than others. Paul warns us about that attitude in 2 Corinthians 10:12-13 – which says in part; “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” [NKJ]

V. Well then, what of works? I think it’s important to say that works do have an important place for Christians concerning their salvation. Having said that I know the legalists might be thinking, wait a minute Tom, what about Ephesians 2:8-9 - where Paul says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”

A. What Paul says is true but it is also true that the New Testament informs us that faith without works is dead. James tells us this in James 2:14-24. Since the Bible, being the word of God, does not contradict itself, there must be a sensible solution to this apparent difficulty.
B. Certainly the solution is not as Luther suggested, that one is at liberty to reject the book of James as an inspired document! What we need to do is recognize that there are different kinds of works addressed in the Bible, and a difference in the performance of an act or work.
C. For example—the Bible talks about the Works of the Law. In his letter to the Romans, Paul makes it clear that no one can be saved by keeping the works of Moses’ law. In Romans 3:28 Paul argued that “a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law”. The term “law” in this passage is broader than the Mosaic system, though it certainly includes that law. It does not suggest that obedience to Christ may be ignored with impunity.
D. A little later in Romans 6:17 Paul affirmed that these saints in Rome had embraced freedom from the penalty of sin as a result of having been “obedient from the heart” to the “pattern of teaching” by which they were delivered.

1. As an aside; they knew what they were doing, and did it of their own free will i.e., “from the heart”. Their choice was a response to a “pattern of teaching”, their baptism was instructed baptism. A person was not baptized on a moment of emotion. They were instructed. They had to know what they were doing; they were shown what Christ offered and required. Then, and only then, would they be informed so could they make the decision.
2. Following the works of the Mosaic Law could not save because it required perfect compliance. Paul explains this well in his letter to the Galatians starting in Galatians 3:10 and following.

E. If we look at Hebrews 10:4 it tells us that the commands of Moses had only the blood of animals, which could not atone for sin in the absolute sense. The primary focus of the Hebrew system was to direct attention to the coming Messiah. In Galatians 3:24-25 – we read; “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” [NKJ]
F. The law was never designed to provide the ultimate phase of God’s plan of salvation. Because if it was and the Mosaic Law had that kind of power, Christ need never have died in the first place as the sin-offering. Paul tells us so in Galatians 2:21 “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.'' [NKJ]
G. Again referring to Ephesians 2:8-9 - that, “For by grace have you been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works that no man should glory”. [NKJ] The works here which Paul is talking about are those which men pile up, imagining that such will justify them, while they, with a smug self-sufficiency, ignore the sacrifice of Christ and God’s redemptive grace. I know people that say you just have to be a good person and God will take you to heaven. The “good person” they have in mind is man’s idea of “good”. I would suggest, you can not be “good” as God intends it unless you obey the gospel.

VI. The Red Cross is famous for its benevolent efforts, but there is no justification to be found there, because its “works” are mere human benevolent efforts, wholly separated from the mission of the Son of God. Anyone who boasts, “I am a good person; I do not need Jesus Christ,” is guilty of the same mistake.

A. Then the Bible talks about the works of obedience. There are works mentioned in the Bible that are designated as “works of God.” By this expression it is not implied that these are works which God himself performs. Rather, they are works ordained of God, to be obeyed by men, that are indispensable to salvation.
B. Look at John 6:28 where the disciples asked the Lord, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus responded in John 6:29 - "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'' Notice that this “work of God” required a human response. They were to respond by believing.
C. We also need to keep in mind that “repentance” is a component in God’s scheme of redemption. We saw that in Acts 2:38 and Acts 3:19. Yet, repentance is classified as a “work.” There is no question about it; certain kinds of works are a part of the salvation process.
D. The reason we spent a bit of time on this was simply to explain that we need to be careful when we say that were saved by grace. Because works are also a part of God’s plan for our salvation. Are we saved by grace? Yes we are. Are we saved by works? Yes we are, but we need to be clear when we say that, lest those that hear us start looking for that “broken seal animal cracker”.

VII. Paul and Barnabas have some question from the saints in Antioch and these other circumcised believers in Jerusalem which need to be answered. Look at the next verses in Acts 15:6-12 - “ So the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on 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 in the same manner as they.'' Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. " [NKJ]

A. First of all note the words “to consider this matter”, this is different from “to decide”. Luke tells us that the questions which needed to be answered were placed before the apostles and elders and it seems as though quite a discussion followed, which in itself is an important point. Luke says “after much discussion” Peter addressed them. A discussion involves more than one person and the reason I believe this is important is because you need to use multiple resources to get your answers.

1. Let me expand on that lest I be misunderstood. In other words when someone asks you a question to which you don’t know the answer, ask as many people as you can for an answer but... start and end with the Bible. When I have questions I will go to my resources for answers. If I don’t find the answer within the text, I look at literature and the web but I don’t just stop there. I ask Christians who are very mature in their Biblical knowledge and get answers from them. When I finally exhaust all my resources, I look at these answers and weigh up which ones make sense and, this is the important point, are in harmony with the rest of the Bible.
2. Folks, please don’t just settle for an answer from one person, look at your resources and ask as many knowledgeable people as you can. That’s what these people did before Peter addressed them.

B. Peter's actions were not always commendable, as when he dissembled in Antioch for example, but it is clear that he knew the truth. He insisted that God intended for the Gentiles to receive salvation through Jesus and such was the rule of authority for the church. He reminded them that God had sent him to the house of Cornelius to preach the gospel and they were accepted on the basis of the same obedient faith demonstrated by the Jews on Pentecost.
C. He asked, “why should the gentiles be burdened with a law which neither the Jews, nor their fathers, had been able to keep”? In fact, Peter said placing such a requirement on the Gentiles would test God.
D. Instead of meriting salvation through perfect law keeping, all would be saved by the grace of God. Here we see the “gospel of grace” silences the “grace plus” viewpoint.
E. Acts 15:13 - “The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.” Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas' gave their dramatic report of the miracles God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

CONCLUSION:
The sectarian idea that this was a General Council of the Church, convened to settle true Christian doctrine, misses the point altogether. The council was in error, not the apostle Paul. Although the brethren appointed Paul to go up to Jerusalem, it was God who sent him there (Galatians 2:2), not to permit the council to pass on Paul's preaching, but in order to correct the shameful failure of the apostles and elders in that city to admit the Gentiles, without any restrictions, into the Christian fellowship. In Galatians, Paul flatly affirmed that:

“But from those who seemed to be something, whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”
Note what Paul says: They ... added nothing to me; but on the contrary ... when they perceived the grace that was given unto me ... they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship (Galatians 2:6-9).

Paul had fully as much authority as anyone in the Jerusalem church; and it would have been shameful for the great apostle who for years had already been preaching God's will regarding circumcision and the Law of Moses, both of which had been nailed to the cross of Christ, to then have submitted the issue to the Jewish party in Jerusalem, even bolstered as it was by James and the apostles. No! Paul never did any such thing; but through God's revelation, he went up there to correct them and to bring conciliation, and to bring them into line with the will of God... not the other way around.

Folks, may we never boast about our good deeds. May we never put an extra burden around each others necks to try and earn our salvation. May we always tell others about the good news of Jesus Christ and the great things He is doing through us all. And may we always preach the, “Jesus plus nothing”, plan of salvation.

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In this plan we learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.
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Reference Sermon: by Mike Glover