Silenced by Truth (acts 15)

It seems on to many occasions today that the church becomes heavy ladened by divisive un-necessities. It never fails. Whether it is a single person causing strife, or a large group of malcontent’s challenging the leadership, it just happens, and we must mount up our expectations for these predictable inevitabilities.

We find in the text before us a serious problem had surfaced. There had become a heated debate with the Apostles regarding circumcision. Supposedly, there were some outsiders unraveling the Apostles doctrine to the general congregation, by saying that in order to be saved, you must keep with the Mosaic customs of circumcision. Wow.. hold the Fritos please! This brought an insurmountable amount of confusion and distraction to the folks in Judea.

And so the boys tripped out towards Jerusalem to get more backing.

Now what was a concern in Judea, eventually became a concern in Jerusalem. This was a matter that needed a quick and sure resolution..

Peter stands up and addresses the Church with truth. This is our first and main point to consider.
Jesus said, “I AM the way the truth and the life’’.

The truth here silenced the assembly! Paul then testified to the work of God to the Gent’s as a witness of the purpose of God, then we read the head elder in Jerusalem, James, by name, concluded with a definitive judgment of which all submitted to. Now that is called resolution.

These trouble makers were silenced by truth, not by love, because the truth is real love.

The church needs biblical leadership and good methodical practices, however, just as much as we need good leadership, we need holy people.

When we have disgruntled saints, we need to stand on the truth, and allow the truth to set them free. The sad truth is, is that not everyone will accept the truth. This is not our problem, it is theirs.

Our responsibilities before God is to give the truth and live the truth. Should practicing this method not be sufficient grounds for the troubled people, then we are to send them out to troubled waters. There is no real reason to harbor a sinking ship.

Forgive them.. yes. Pray for them, certainly. Appease to their flesh, nope.

We don’t know what had happened to these first century trouble makers. Perhaps they repented. Maybe they just left quietly (I doubt it because of the way they came in), or, maybe, they were asked to leave. What we do know however, was that they were certainly listed as some of first of many more to follow.

And so Christian, mount up your expectations, stand on the truth, season yourself in love, and grow some thick skin. Prepare yourself to press on towards the goal for the prize of the upwards call of God in Christ, no matter what adversities face you today.

Forget not this-
Not only did the truth silence the council at Jerusalem, it also silenced the misguided in Judea!