Dealing with Church Conflict

 After their return from 1st. missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas gave a report.  Conflicts arose.

Acts 15:1  Jews have the history, were God's chosen people.  Established the sacrifices, upheld the Law, have been worshiping God for years.
Then .... Gentiles come in.  Jews feel must become Jews first - be circumcised, keep the Law, attend synagogue, etc.   Circumcision = proof of the covenant given to Abraham. 
Gentiles are coming from idolatry paganism, many ungodly practices.

Acts 15:2 Paul is upset.  Relates his credentials - Hebrew, tribe of Benjamin, pharisee, taught by Gamaliel, Christ personally gave him the Gospel.  (Gal. 1)
Gal. 2:15-16 - What he taught.
Eph. 2:8-9 = for by grace you have been saved.
Yes, Paul was upset.  He labored hard to reach these Gentiles.  The later, Gal. 5:12  Gospel was preached.  Then the cults moved in.

Wasn't only Paul.  The Jerusalem church had to deal with the situation.

Acts 15:3-11 = Peter gives his credentials.  Says, no distinction.  Hearts are cleansed by faith!  Saved through grace just as they were.  Same teaching as Paul!!

Another testimony:  James (half brother to Jesus, leader of the church in Jerusalem)  'We are saved by grace through faith!'
Acts 15:12-19 - James sided with the others.  God gave clarity and unity on this.  Message came from God to the Apostles then to the church.
Amos 9:11-12 - old testament trial laws.  - 2 or more witnesses = Paul, Barnabas, Peter, James, Scriptures, miracles.  God was affirming these guys.

Question:  Salvation has come to the Gentiles and they can do whaever they want?  NO.  Are other things need to be done.  

Acts 15:20-21  Not salvation, but 4 important things for Gentile believers:
1)  abstain from things sacrificed to idols    2)  sexual immorality  3)  strangled meat  4)  consuming blood
Of all the things, why these?  Way more to do and not to do?  Not an issue of salvation.
These likely were specific problems with specific groups.

Two reasons these were addressed:
1)  Untangle from idolatry, idols, sexual immorality
2)  Strangled and blood?  - (Noah - Gen. 9) but was pagan as well.    Not the main reason.  But, you don't need to stop being a gentile when you come to Christ, but you need to stop being a heathen.
Christ calls us to a holy standard of living.

1 Cor. 6:9-11 and  2 Cor. 5:17   James not dealing strictly with that.  Acts 15:20-21 again.  Was dealing with protecting the unity and the witness.

Paul deals with the meat issue:  Rom. 14:13-23 - 1. Cor. 8, 1 Cor. 10

We should want to get along.  Psm. 133:1

Preacher once said "Is it bothering God or is it just bothering You?"  - good thing to consider when conflicts arise.

Acts 15:22-23 - Is that not the biggest miracle?

Acts. 15:24-28 - God is good!  Agree with God.

Acts 15:29-33  Stand on the truth.

Closing:  1 Cor. 9:19-27