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All right, great singing. Thank you for being here this evening. Welcome to First Works Baptist Church. If you did not get a bulletin, go ahead and raise your hand and one of the ushers can get one for you. Our services are as follows. Sunday morning is at 1030, Sunday evening at 5 p.m. and then our Thursday night Bible study is at 7 p.m. We will be in the book of Acts, chapter 15 tonight. Looking forward to that. And just as a reminder, we are a family integrated church. Infants and children are always welcome in the service, but for your convenience, we do have mother baby rooms located in the hallway should your child need some diversion. Changing tables are available in the infant rooms. Now the room for the bigger children is right here in the back, but the infant room has actually been relocated to the fellowship hall, the room nearest the fellowship hall. So you can go there, there's a screen there, speaker, AC, everything that you need as well as changing tables available in that room as well. So just keep that in mind. And then you see the so many times and teams there as well. We have eight teams and if you would like to learn how to preach the gospel, you can see me after the service to be placed on the team so you can be trained and discipled on how to preach the gospel. Please continue to pray for the list of expecting mothers there. The list continues to grow more and more. And so pray for them. And then some of the upcoming events for the fall program. This Sunday, October 25th, we have Idol Bashing Sunday. That will be on Sunday night. Along with that, we have Raising Cane. So we're going to be catering in Raising Cane's here. So don't go anywhere for dinner. Stick around, eat some chicken, Texas toast and fries and all that healthy food. It's going to be great. I'm joking about the healthiness. But, um, it's going to be good. Glory to God. Amen. Friday, October 30th, we have the Ladies Prayer Meeting. Miss Janelle will be heading that up. So please see her for more details. Sunday, November 1st, we're celebrating the November birthdays. We'll have a breakfast for everyone prior to the service. It'll be in the fellowship hall in honor of all the birthdays. And then on November 8th, we're having a pie baking contest. And so if you want to know the rules, you can see my wife for more details about that. But there's a set of rules you have to follow. But it's going to be great. We're looking forward to it. And along with that, we're actually having Pastor Aaron Thompson from Sure Foundations Baptist Church preaching for us Sunday morning, Sunday night. And he'll also be one of the judges. And so he doesn't know that. But if he watches this sermon, then he will know that he's going to be one of the judges. So we're recruiting him for that. Looking forward to the pie baking contest. It'll be a first, second and third prize winner. We don't know what the second and third prize winners are going to be, what we're going to give you. But that doesn't really matter. The first prize is what really matters, which will be a gift. A gift card for you and a significant other to Fogo de Chao, which is a Brazilian steakhouse restaurant, all you can eat. And so that should motivate you to make sure you submit a pie and just make sure you see my wife for the rules in that regard. And then we have another announcement on here. We're going to be having a sowing marathon in South Central on Saturday, November 14th. So we're looking forward to that. That's something that we're going to do for the sowing mega marathon. But of course, due to COVID, we didn't do that. And so we're kind of reviving that. And we're going to have it on the 14th of November. We're looking forward to it. We're going to probably be meeting at a park for breakfast, donuts, coffee, and then we'll pick a restaurant and for lunch. But we're looking forward to that. And that's a really receptive area. We're going sowing there a couple times. Brother Ulysses and I, and it was very receptive. A lot of people who were open to the gospel, we saw salvation is there. And I know Brother Glen has gone there with the Glen Gang, and they've seen quite a bit of people saved there as well. It's a very large area. And so we've obviously been working on, or we've worked on Watts, but Watts is like north basically of South Central. There's so much more ground to cover there. And so we're looking forward to that. And so be in prayer that we see a lot of people saved. So be there for the sowing marathon in South Central. It's going to be exciting. Looking forward to it. And then of course we are currently in the fall program, right? And so last Sunday we had apple cider after service. And of course, as I mentioned, this coming Sunday we're having Raising Cane's in the Idle Bashing. But we do have a contest going on, and that is in regards to visitors. And so if you have the most amount of visitors at the end of the fall program, which is the 8th of November, you will receive a paid missions trip to Belize when we go to Belize. And so the way you can earn those points at base level is basically you attend all three services, you get 1,000 points. You go so many once a week, you get another 1,000 points. And you get 2,000 points per first and second time visitor. Okay? So just keep that in mind. Now if you don't bring any visitors, but you do all these other requirements and you bring maybe one visitor or so, you earn a certain amount of points, you can actually win yourself a gift card, a $25 gift card to Good Works Raymond. And so everyone should be able to do that. I encourage you to do so so you can get yourself a sweatshirt, t-shirt, they have a lot of good stuff on that store there. And then the second prize winner will receive a $50 gift card. Third prize winner, a $35 gift card. So may the best man or woman win, okay? I should have said that with more enthusiasm, huh? Or woman win, all right? I think Ms. DJ won last year. So men, you guys got to step it up, man. And then lastly, please silence your phones. Either put it on airplane mode or silence them. We don't want any distractions during the preaching. And so keep that in mind, all right? And that's pretty much it for all of our announcements. Go ahead and take your songbooks, 120, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, 120 in your songbooks for the ball. Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, all together on that first. Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, as a mother stills her child. Thou can touch the ocean wild, boisterous waves obey Thy will. When I'll say to them, be still, wondrous summering of the sea. Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, when at last I near the shore. And the fearful breakers roar, twist me and the peaceful rest. Then while leaning on I rest, may I hear thee say to me, fear not, I will pilot thee. And at this time, the ushers will collect the offering. Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, as a mother stills her child. Thou can touch the ocean wild, boisterous waves obey. Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, all together on that first. Good evening. We're in Acts, Chapter 15. Acts, Chapter 15. And the chapter reads, And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenice and Samaria, declaring the conversation of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And 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 which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, Men and brethren, you know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth shall hear the word of the gospel and believe? And God which knoweth the hearts, bear them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us, and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon 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 even as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren hearken unto me. Simeon hath declared how God at first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down. And I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up, that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore are my sentences, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of all time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Then pleased at the apostles and elders, with the whole church to send chosen men of their own country to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely Judas, surname Barsebus, and Silas, chief men among the brethren, and they wrote letters by them after this manner. The apostles, and elders, and brethren, sent greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Silesia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your soul, saying, You must be circumcised and keep the law, to whom we gave no such commandment. It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things, that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, from which, if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well, fair ye well. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch, and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle, which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, confirmed them. And after they had tarried their space, they were let go in peace from their brethren unto the apostles, notwithstanding and pleased Silas to abide their still. Paul also in Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also. And some days after Paul set out to Barnabas, let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder one from the other. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed on to Cyprus. And Paul chose Silas and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. We thank you, Heavenly Father, for such a wonderful church, dear God, for the brethren, for dear sisters, for our pastor, dear God. We ask that you please fill with your Holy Spirit as he preaches your word tonight. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Okay, we're in Acts chapter 15. We're continuing our Bible study tonight on the book of Acts. And if I were to title this chapter, I would title it, James's Inaccurate Epistle. James's Inaccurate Epistle. And I'm not referring to the book of James, the book that comes after the book of Hebrews. What I'm referring to is the letter that he sends out here in chapter 15 at the latter end, the epistle that he sends to the Gentiles. And I'm going to talk about why it's inaccurate in just a bit. But let me just give you a brief overview of what's taking place here. Now, we just finished going through Paul and Barnabas' first missionary journey. Lots of people get saved, both Jew and Gentile. Great work is accomplished. And they're coming back home. They're going to Antioch, the church that's in Antioch there. But they come back to a whole new set of issues, okay? And the issue being that Judaizers have been infiltrating. These false brethren have come in unaware, teaching that people have to be circumcised in order to be saved. This is obviously what we would refer to as damnable heresy, what the Bible calls damnable heresy, right? It's basically saying, hey, you have to do some sort of work in order to be saved. And more specifically, they're saying you need to be circumcised in order to be saved. Now, keep in mind that what we see here in Acts chapter 15 is pretty interesting. What we see here is actually expounded upon in the book of Galatians. So when you read Acts chapter 15 and you compare what Galatians 1, 2, you know, pretty much up until chapter 5, you see a lot of what's taking place here is further expanded upon by the apostle Paul, the confrontation that takes place, a lot of the same issues that we see here. He recounts later on in the book of Galatians, and we're going to look at that in just a bit. Now, at the end of the book, we see Paul and Barnabas parting ways. If you remember, in their first missionary journey, they departed to the island of Cyprus, and it was Paul and Barnabas, but John Mark was with them as well. And he wasn't necessarily specifically named. He kind of operated as an assistant there, but then when they went to Pamphylia, for whatever reason, Mark decided not to go, and he ended up going back home. Well, that didn't sit well with the apostle Paul. You see later on in this chapter here that when they're going on their second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul didn't. He's just like, this guy's lazy. He doesn't know how to work. He left the work when we were out there in Pamphylia. Let's not bring him. And he's just like, no. And then there was such a contention between the two that they literally parted ways. Barnabas ended up going back to Cyprus with Mark, and then Paul took Silas, and he ended up going up north, taking a second missionary journey, and we'll see that in the coming chapters. Now, one thing that we can learn from this particular chapter here that we need to understand is that men of God make mistakes. And we see particularly with James. Now think about this, because the book of Galatians, Paul says that Peter, James, and John, Cephas, known as Peter, Peter, James, and John, they seem to be pillars in the church. And what they're referring to, what he's referring to is the fact that these guys are like the leaders. These are the men of God. I mean, James, he's referring to the brother, the Lord's brother, his half-brother. So this is someone who grew up with Jesus. Obviously, later on, he didn't believe, but then even further after that, he ended up getting saved, became a leader, and began leading there. So people would look to him, obviously. It's like, well, this guy's been with Jesus since he was a little kid. He's been serving with him. Peter, of course, is one of the 12, and you have John. So they see these guys as the foundational pillars of the catalyst of the church, basically. And they're just like, these are the men of God. And so they kind of look to them for wisdom and insight on what they should do. But here's the thing is that they're fallible men. They make mistakes. And here's a perfect example of this is that James is writing an epistle to basically state that the Gentiles should abstain from fornication, which is good, abstain from idols and things strangled and blood. These are all good things. But what he's doing is he's telling, hey, Gentiles, you keep these commandments, and then the Jews who've gotten saved, they can keep the law of Moses because we're two different types of people. Well, that's wrong. In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, according to the Bible. And you would think that James would know that. You would think that Peter would know that. You would think John would know that. But they didn't. And maybe they did, and they just kind of reverted to old ways. But they made a mistake. And this should teach us and show us that men of God today are going to make mistakes. Now, notice that the mistake wasn't about salvation, though. Notice the mistake wasn't about something like really damnable, right? You know, obviously, there's men of God out there who, you know, they may slip up or say you have to repent of your sins to be saved. But then when you corner them or you instruct them, you reprove them, they believe the Bible, they'll change on that, right? They'll say, okay, well, maybe that's not the right terminology I should use. You know, I should use more biblical terminology. And they make that transition. But when you have people just blatantly teaching false doctrine about salvation, at that point, you know, this is not a brother. In fact, he's more a false brother according to the Bible, right? This is someone who is a prior Judas Iscariot at heart, okay? So we need to make the distinction to when a pastor makes a mistake, that's different than someone who's teaching damnable heresy, okay? And look, again, if someone out there is teaching damnable heresy and they're corrected and they change, okay, then we'll let it slide. But if they're corrected or they know what's right or they know what the Bible actually says and they persist to teach false doctrine, at that point, that person's an evil individual who's perverting the ways of judgment, okay? So the thing that we can learn from this chapter is this, is that men of God make mistakes. Folks, I hate to break this to you, but I'm going to make mistakes. I've made mistakes, okay? You know, I've made mistakes even whether it was pastoring here or pastoring on my old church, you know, I've made mistakes, not crazy doctrinal errors, but there's going to be times when I make mistakes even doctrinally, not about salvation, not about hell, not about heaven, not about things that are essential, not about the Trinity, but just things that maybe I have a different interpretation of. Later on down the road, I learn more and I recognize, well, I guess I was wrong about this, okay? And you're going to have times in this ministry where you're going to be able to point out mistakes that I made. You know, it doesn't mean I'm a Judas Iscariot. It doesn't mean that I'm not safe. It means that I'm a fallible individual who makes mistakes, okay? By the way, you make mistakes too, amen? We all make mistakes, and so that should teach us here something. But further than that is it's important that when we're wrong, we change, right? You know, believe it or not, I used to believe in the preacher relation rapture, okay? I believe that I wasn't really like a strong proponent of it or anything like that, but that was just, you know, that was just part of who you are as an old IFP individual. It's like, what do you believe? I believe in salvation by grace through faith and the pre-jubilation rapture and all these things. The Jews are God's chosen people and all this. You know, I used to believe that, but you know what? When I was confronted with the truth, I changed on that because of the fact that I went with the Bible, not with man's tradition, you understand? So it's important that when we're confronted with the truth that we change. And you know what? Even here, we see Paul, you know, or later on, we'll see Paul. Paul was wrong on some things too. So was Peter, so was James. You know, individuals are wrong. It's just important that they change when they're corrected on those areas. So that's one thing that we can learn from the book of Acts. Now look at verse number one. Let's get into the story here. This is actually a pretty controversial, interesting story that we read here. I mean, there's a lot of activity going on and we're going to look at it tonight. Look what it says in verse one. It says, in certain men, excuse me, which came down from Judea, taught the brethren. Now notice that it says certain men. There's a reason it states that, okay? Often when you see that in the Bible, and it doesn't say brothers, it says certain men, the connotation there is that they're false prophets is what it's referring to, okay? They're coming down from Judea, they're teaching the brethren, and said, except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved, okay? So you have these Pharisees, these Jews that are going to the churches, and they're creeping in unawares. They're teaching literally that they have to keep the law of Moses, and more specifically, they need to be circumcised in order to have eternal life. This is nonsense, okay? Now hold your place there. Go to Galatians chapter five, if you would. Galatians chapter number five. Later on we see, and by the way, even previous to this, if you remember in the first missionary trip that Paul took, he's facing Jews, I mean, as soon as he lands on Cyprus, he faces a limus, a sorcerer who's a Jew, he's a false prophet. We see him later on going to Pamphylia and Perga. He's facing Jews there. They're stoning him. I mean, they're just like not happy with him, right? So, you know, he's probably thinking, well, I'm going home, where it's safe, it's doctrinally sound, everything's going to be A-okay, and he comes home to these false brethren who have been teaching, you know, that they need to be circumcised in order to be saved. Now, if you remember in the book of Galatians, he's dealing with this, like, throughout the entire epistle, and the book of Galatians is written to the churches of Galatia. So these Judaizers have been putting in a lot of work going to different local congregations teaching this false doctrine, and it shouldn't surprise us because Jesus said that the Pharisees will come pass sin land to make one proselyte, you know. So we see that. Now, you're in Galatians 5, and I'm going to read to you from chapter 1, verse 6. It says, I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another, he says, but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ, but though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be a curse. So he's saying, look, I'm like, I'm astounded at the fact that I'm coming here, you heard me preach the gospel unto you, and now you're, like, Judaized. Now you feel like you've got to keep the law of Moses in order to be saved. That's like another gospel, which, by the way, is not another. And he's telling them, hey, the people who are teaching you these things, let them be a curse. What does that mean? Let them be damned. To hell is what he's saying. A curse means to be damned. Circumcision, folks, in the Old Testament was a custom given to the nation of Israel as a custom as a token to basically identify them as God's chosen people. In the Old Testament. It's when the foreskin was removed and that was a token to basically establish that everlasting covenant that they had. Now, obviously, it wasn't everlasting, because why? Because they breached that covenant. And because they breached it, God breached it and made a new covenant, which the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 8 is a better covenant established upon better promises with a better mediator, which is Jesus Christ. Now, here's the funny thing. You know, I'm wondering if there was like a brother in there at that church that when those Pharisees came and said, hey, you've got to be circumcised in order to be saved, I wonder if someone just got up and said, well, what about my wife? Well, I've got three daughters. So am I the only one in my family that can be saved? Like, did you think about that? Because only males are circumcised, right? Only males can get circumcised. What about the females? You see how nonsensical this is? But then, you know, they probably didn't even question it. They're thinking, well, these are Pharisees. These are rulers. Sometimes people need to learn how to think for themselves, folks. And not just take everything that they hear at face value, be like the Bereans and basically study these things to make sure that they're so. Like, when you hear something, it's like you've got to prove all things, hold fast to that, which is good. Like, I don't know if that makes any sense. What do you mean we've got to be circumcised? What about like my cousins who are females, and my mom, and my wife, and my sisters? What about all the sisters that are in church? What about that? Are they all just damned to hell because they're not going to be circumcised? It's ridiculous. Look at what it says in Galatians 5 in verse 1. It says, Stand fast therefore in the liberty of Christ that made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Now look, this is not saying that if you today in 2020 are circumcised, Christ doesn't profit you anything. He's referring to the fact that if you're circumcised in order to be saved, Christ shall profit you nothing. Because if it's by grace, then there's no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be it works, then there's no more of grace, otherwise work is no more work, the Bible says in Romans chapter 11 verse 6. What that is teaching is this, you can say, well I believe in Jesus, but I also think you've got to get circumcised to be saved. Well guess what, Christ profits you nothing. Because it has to be exclusively by faith in Christ in order to be saved, not Christ plus circumcision. It says in verse number 3, For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. So what is he referring to? These people who say you have to be circumcised to be saved are cherry picking the law. You've got to be circumcised. Well hold on a second, is that the only law that Moses gave? No. There's plenty of other laws and rules and regulations that he had, the customs, the meats, drinks, and diverse washings, carnal ordinances that no one was ever able to keep perfectly. Right. He's like, look if you're going to be circumcised, then you're a debtor to the whole law. There's a lot of people today that say, you know, well I'm saved because, you know, I don't do X, Y, and Z. It's just like, well what about the rest of the law? Well I've never killed anybody, but have you lied? Have you stolen? Have you borne false witness? Have you, you know, have you been covetous? Or here's one, let's say you kept all of those. Okay, have you loved the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? And if you say yes, then you just broke another commandment because you just lied. No one can say that they love God 24-7 perfectly all the days of their life. It's impossible. It is impossible. So what he's saying here is like, hey, if you say you're circumcised, well just keep in mind you're a debtor to the whole law. If that's the route you want to go. Verse 4, Christ has become a no effect unto you. Whosoever you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace. And let me just tell you here, he's being facetious. Because you can't be justified by the law. He's telling those who think they're justified by the law, that's why he says, you're fallen from grace. For we threw the spear away for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love. Then he says he did run well. Who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. He's basically saying, who's this Pharisee that came in here and taught you that? Where are you getting this from? You were running so well, you were doing so well spiritually, and all of a sudden you're just detoured by this false doctrine. What's going on here? How can you believe this nonsense? That's what he's telling him. Go to 1 Corinthians chapter 7. 1 Corinthians chapter number 7. And look, a perfect example of this is the fact that even today in 2020, a lot of people are circumcised. I mean, this was like a common practice even in the United States of America. And look, you ask the average Christian about circumcision, well yeah, it's a good thing to do. Well, how do you know that? They got that from the Bible. More specifically, the Old Testament where it talked about circumcision. But they never questioned it. They never questioned the fact that the circumcision of the Old Testament is symbolically representing the circumcision of the heart in the New Testament. Which, by the way, those who were saved in the Old Testament also had their hearts circumcised. Okay, we'll get into that in just a bit. But people just blindly follow that. They say, well, you know, it's in the Bible. Yeah, but you got to look at what God has basically said it's done away with and what remains. We're talking about customs here. We're not referring to God's moral law, by the way. Look at 1 Corinthians 7.17. But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk and so ordain I in all churches. Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Okay. Do you get what he means here? Obviously, if you're circumcised, it's impossible. It's like, well, you know what? I changed my mind on this. Let me just reverse that whole procedure there. What he's saying is this. Don't seek to be under the law if you're already saved out of the law. Don't try to get yourself back under the law. Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called an uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. It's like, you don't need to follow that. Whatever you're called in is where you need to abide. If you're a Gentile, don't try to be a Jew. That's what he's saying. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God. Look, people say, well, this pleases God. No, keeping God's commandments pleases God. And it's not referring to the commandments of the customs. It's referring to God's commandments just in general. Christ's commandments. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. If you are a Gentile, you don't have to try to go keep Shabbat. You don't have to abstain from pork. It's like, oh man, now we have to live after the manner of the Jews, which is exactly what James is teaching. He's saying, look, Jews, you need to continue to live like Jews. Gentiles, you need to live like Gentiles. Just abstain from fornication, abstain from the pollution of idols and things strangled in blood. Which is kind of, it's really nonsensical if you think about it. So that's the only thing Gentiles are supposed to do? Or not do? Think about that. Right? It's like, okay, so these four things are the only things that Gentiles are not supposed to partake of? Hello? You know, the reason he's saying that is because potentially the Gentiles of this region were given over to fornication. They're given over to idolatry. They probably ate food or the meat of animals with the blood still in it. And therefore he said, well you guys kind of struggle with those things so you need to make sure you abstain from that. It's nonsense. Now, go to Romans chapter 2. Romans chapter number 2. Romans chapter number 2 verse 28 says here, for he is not a Jew. Please read this with me in your hearts. Which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. So what are the Jews known for in the Bible? Circumcision. And in fact, Paul refers to them as the circumcision. Because obviously that's something that's very important to them, right? He's specifically telling them, by the way, Paul who is a Benjamite, so to speak, he specifically says, he is not a Jew. Okay, who is circumcised. Verse 29, but he is a Jew which is one inwardly. And circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit, not of the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Folks, I've never read a more clear statement of who the true Jews are. For he is not a Jew. And then verse 29, but he is a Jew. And it gives the description of each. Now I remember going to someone and, you know, we were discussing replacement theology, and I said, hey, Romans 2, 28 to 29 says this. This is why I believe what I believe. This is like the basis for what I believe, because I remember reading it, I'm like, okay, that right there is the most clear statement I've ever read about replacement theology. And they said, well, that's just spiritually speaking. Well, yeah, well, they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. That's actually the most important thing. So, I mean, the flesh profit of nothing. It is the spirit that quickeneth, right? So it says here, and by the way, here's the interesting thing about that statement. He said, well, that's spiritually. Well, at the end of verse 29 it says, whose praise is not of men, but of God. So when it says praise, it's referring to that recognition. So people who are physically circumcised, they're like, oh, people are like, oh, yeah, that's a Jew for sure. But the people who are spiritually circumcised in heart, God says, yeah, no, that's a Jew right there. Because the praise is not of men, but of God. Okay? So, the point that I'm making here, go to Acts chapter 15, go back to Acts chapter 15. The point that's being made here is the fact that circumcision of valeth nothing. Look, parents, you don't have to worry when you go have your children, oh, man, should I do it? No, because the Bible says the circumcision of valeth nothing. Okay? And I know there's a bunch of studies been out there, supposed studies is more sanitary. Folks, a lot of that is hoopla. Okay? It's not true. They're basing it off of Judeo-Christian ideologies is what they're doing. Okay? And look, this is a big deal in the New Testament here. Even to the point you have people teaching that if you're not circumcised, you will be down. Now, I would agree with that if they're referring to the circumcision of the heart. Right? So if they're not circumcised after the law of Jesus, then yeah, they can't be saved. Because once we believe on Jesus Christ according to the Bible, then we receive that circumcision of the heart. And it doesn't require for you to do any works. It doesn't require for you to keep any of the commandments. The Bible says, therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. And look, if you're trying to keep the law in order to be saved, good luck with that. No one will ever be able to do that. And the Bible says, he that keepeth the whole law yet offended one point, he's guilty of all. And by the way, from the time that you broke it, so it's not like you get a fresh new start today to start it. Well, okay, now I know, so let me just start over again today. It doesn't work that way. It's better to just place your faith in Jesus, who's the one who actually kept the entire law, and have his righteousness put to your account. Rather than you trying to get into heaven based upon your account, which is blemished. The Bible says that our righteousness are as filthy rags in the eyes of God. Our righteousness cannot save us. The good that we do cannot save us. Therefore, it exclusively has to be by faith in Christ alone. Plus nothing, minus nothing. Okay? So, they come home, there's this issue here, look at verse two, when therefore Paul and Barnabas, I like what it says here, had no small dissension and disputation with them. What does that mean? In other words, it wasn't like, well I disagree with you. You know, it's just like, you know, you believe what you believe, I believe what I believe, we can just go our separate ways. It says they had no small dissension or disputation. So, what's the opposite of small? Big. Okay? So, in other words, it's just like, they're probably, they're yelling at each other, he's arguing with them, he's rebuking them, because there's no small dissension and disputation to dispute, right? Paul is just like, you Judaizers, you guys are wicked teaching you have to do this. It's a damnable heresy and you can see why he would be upset about it. We should be upset about that, right? It says, when therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension, I like, by the way I like that Barnabas was also included in that, because Barnabas is the son of consolation. You know, he's more like the refined one. But even he was just like mad about it. They determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Now, let me explain what that means, because some people will get a little confused about verse 2, the latter end, to say, well, maybe Paul and Barnabas were like, man, well, do they have to keep the law most or something? Because they're going to the elders, right, and Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders about this question. So it's like, well, what does that mean then? You know, question about what? Well, first and foremost, he's not referring to a question as an inquiry, because no inquiry was made. There's no question that was made here. And it's not like Paul is just like, maybe they're right about this or something. Maybe you do have to be circumcised to be saved. We've got to rethink our ministry here. You know, that's not what he's saying. Folks, he just got done disputing with them and rebuking them and reproving them, telling them that they're wrong. So the question is, what does this mean when he says that they went up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question? Well, question, the word question, we often think as an inquiry. Like, I got a question for you. They're asking something. But question also means matter, okay? And in fact, in Spanish, you have a term, a phrase that people will say, una question. Literally, that's how you say it. Like a question, you just put question. And they don't use it in context of like, they have an inquiry. Because in Spanish, when you say like an inquiry, sometimes they'll say segunta, okay? But they have a term that says question, which means like a matter. This is the matter at hand. So what this is actually saying is that they went to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this matter. And to further prove that, look down at verse number six. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. So what matter are they bringing to them? Paul and Barnabas started going there saying, hey, did you guys know there's like these Judaizers going into the churches there teaching false doctrine that you have to be circumcised in order to be saved? This is a problem. And by the way, this is a huge issue. Like, how come no one's doing anything about this? You know, this is taking place in the local churches. Paul and Barnabas just got back from the missions trip, and they have these guys teaching this false doctrine. It's just like, hey leaders, are you guys going to do anything about this? This person's teaching you have to repent of your sins to be saved. This person's teaching you have to be baptized in order to be saved. That dude over there believes in Calvinism. He's a five point Calvinist. This guy's a hyper dispensationalist. Is something going to be done about that? I'm coming to you regarding this question. You know? So that's what Paul and Barnabas are doing. They're not going to just turn a blind eye to it. And say, well, you know, they're just babes in Christ. We don't want to ruffle the feathers or cause any controversy. Folks, this is very important. And look, today in our church, these matters need to be brought to me. When they come up. You know, you have people in here that are teaching some works-based salvation. You know, discern and say, okay, maybe the pastor needs to know about this. And say, you know, obviously, if they're like, well, I believe you have to keep God's commandments in order to be saved. And it's just like, you correct them, and they're like, okay, you know, you're right. I was wrong. Okay, at that point, I don't need to know. But if they're just like, no, you do need to be circumcised in order to be saved. You need to blow the trumpet. You need to keep the Sabbath. You need to abstain from meats, drinks, and all these things. You need to abstain from pork. You got to make sure you do all these things in order to be saved. Okay, at that point, come tell me. Come to me about that matter. And here's the thing. Churches today, they can care less about that. I'm serious. I've been in churches where it's like you have a smorgasbord of false doctrine all over the church, and the pastor does not care. You can bring it to the pastor's attention, and it's just like, yeah, he's just off on that. Well, why don't you go correct them? Why don't you go tell him? Because here, or in Galatians, what Paul said, a little leaven, leaven it the whole lump. Folks, you allow a little false doctrine to enter into the church, and it goes unfettered, unchecked. It ultimately permeates the church, and then the church goes into apostasy eventually. It'll go into apostasy. So we need to make sure we're strict when it comes to these things. And not be like the doctrine police. I'm going around asking people like, what do they believe? But folks, if you have these false brethren who are creeping in, unawares, teaching weird doctrine, you know, we need to know about it. I need to know about it. We need to deal with it right away. So they come to them about this matter, about this question. Now, let's look at this more in detail. Go back to Galatians chapter 2. We're going to flip back and forth from Galatians to Acts chapter 15. Galatians chapter number 2. We need to get back to a biblical society where you have churches that actually esteem doctrine to the point where it's just like, hey, we can't just ignore if someone's teaching some damnable heresy. Okay, this needs to be addressed. And look, if the pastor's not willing to do that, then he probably shouldn't be a pastor. Because the pastor's job is to shepherd the people and to be able to bring down the hammer when it needs to be brought. Well, I thought you're supposed to be all nice. No, no, no. The pastor's not a politician. Politician needs to please everyone. Politician needs to smile and shake hands and kiss babies and steal money. I'm just kidding. They need to do all these things in order to please everyone. Look, too many pastors today think that they're politicians. They're like the spiritual politicians of the spiritual realm, so to speak. Wrong. That's why they get offended. It's just like, well, I don't really like listening to this pastor because he's a little rough around the edges. Well, what do you expect? You want a president? You want a mayor? You want a governor as a pastor or something? You want someone to flatter you and lie to you and not correct you? That's not God's man. The pastor means shepherd. And the job of the shepherd is to protect the sheep from the wolves with the staff. You just beat the wolf over the head if he's trying to eat the sheep. And sometimes you've got to hit the sheep. It's like, hey, that's bad grass. Don't eat it. And they go eat it. It's like, bah! You just hit it. Sheep get out. I'm not physically saying that I'm going to do this to you. Although sometimes. No, I'm just kidding. You know, hey, some sheep start going astray. They're going down a dark path. And you're trying to warn them. They don't listen. You've got to hit them with the staff of God's word. So you kind of wake them up. But see, people today, they want the politician. Well, I can't judge you for wanting to go hang out with that wolf. You know, I'm just saying, hey, you guys got to be careful with the wolves out there. What wolves? I can't say. I don't want to call any names. These wolves in sheep's clothing, they want like a governor or a mayor, they want some sort of politician to basically tell them what they want to tell them what they want to hear. Whereas God says, no, the pastor needs to make sure that he is preaching the word of God or proving, rebuking and exhorting with all long suffering and doctrine. You know, fighting the spiritual battles of false doctrine. We need to make sure we confront those things. Look at the Galatians chapter 2, verse 1. Then 14 years after, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation and communicated unto them that gospel which I preached among the Gentiles, but privately to them who were of reputation, lest by any means I should run or had run in vain. So in other words, he's basically saying, when I went there, I made sure I reported all the salvation, what God has done, because I want them to know what God is doing. He's saying, I don't want to run in vain, just do this work and no one knows about it. People need to find out about the work of God that's being accomplished. Verse 3, but neither Titus, who was with me being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised, and that because of false brethren, unawares, brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage. Not because they think they have the truth, not because they want to get you saved, they want to bring you into bondage. This is what's known as a wolf in sheep's clothing. Because it says a false brethren who's coming in unawares. How can someone come into our church unaware, like a false prophet, by looking like us, talking like us, using the same lingo as us. And look, they can have that facade as long as they want, eventually the truth will come out. Because the Bible says that their folly shall be made manifest. And thank God for that. But this is how they do it. They don't come into church with a sign over their neck saying, I'm a false prophet. You know, they come in trivially to spy out the liberty to try to teach false doctrine. Verse 5, to whom we gave place by subjection, no not for an hour. What is he saying? He's like, we didn't give them the time of day. We didn't even give them, we gave them like 30 minutes. I believe he's referring to what took place in Acts chapter 15. They disputed with them, they rebuked them, harshly, and it says here, they didn't give any subjection, they didn't capitulate to what they were saying. It's like, okay, well, you know, you're older in the Lord than me. Therefore, I'm just going to, we're just going to agree to disagree. No, it's like, you're wrong, and I'm right. Because the Bible's right. To whom we gave place by subjection, no not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. You know what this is talking about? You know when people, when God's man stands up and he preaches the word of God with certainty? What does that do? It propels the truth. But you know when you have someone who's not willing to fight these spiritual battles, it actually holds back the gospel. Because it doesn't encourage anybody, it doesn't embolden anybody to tell the truth. Because their leader can't tell the truth. I guarantee you there's tons of church members out there who are frustrated with their pastor. You know why? Because he doesn't stand up for truth. And it's like, man, just say something. Just rip every once in a while, would you? Can you just get a little, can you preach like you actually believe what you're saying? And it hurts them. Because they wish they would just get up and do the job of a pastor. Paul's just like, look, you don't have to worry about me, I don't subject to them, I don't capitulate to them, not even for an hour. So, hold your place or go back to Acts 15. Throughout the years of our church, we're going to have false brethren come in. We've had false brethren come in. But we're going to have more. That's just the nature of the beast. And look, there's this disconnect in independent fundamental Baptist churches where they know the Bible teaches about false prophets, but they just think, well, not in our church, though. Like, when you ask them, who's a false prophet, they'll pick out the most obvious one, like Joel or something. Joel's like, yeah, that's, come on. Duh. Unsafe people know that. You don't need to have any level, deep level of theology to know that. He's a wolf in wolf's clothing. Duh. But they think, well, you know, this person is just off a little bit. You might want to reconsider that phrase and dig in a little deeper to figure out if these people are just actual infiltrators. Because the Bible says there will be infiltrators. Okay. Look at verse 3 of Acts 15. It says, in being brought on their way by the church, they pass through Phoenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. And they cause great joy unto all the brethren. So this is really the beginning of Paul's reputation, if you think about it. Because all the other apostles at this point, they're only winning who? Jews. Winning Jews to the Lord. And in fact, in Acts chapter 21, when Paul brings the report of Gentiles being saved, those of James, his brethren, his closest guys, they're like, well, you know, didn't you hear about all these Jews that are getting saved too? They're becoming jealous of the law and stuff. So they're almost saying like, hey, don't forsake the Jews. Whereas God said, no, you need to go into all the world. You need to preach the gospel to every creature, not just the Jews. You can't just stick around in Jerusalem You need to go around and preach the gospel to everyone. So what Paul's doing here, he's like, hey, Gentiles being saved. Hey, did you hear about the Gentiles being saved? Hey, Cyprus, we saw a bunch of people saved in Cyprus. I like that. Hey, when I run into old IFP people, I tell them about the people who get saved all the time. Yeah, we went to Belize, it was great. We got a bunch of people saved. We went to this place and that place, we went to Compton, to Watts, we've seen a bunch of people saved. Tons of people are getting saved. And by the way, you know, these ghetto areas, that's like the Gentile areas to old IFP. Because they don't like going to areas like that. They send the bus ministry to those areas. Which is sad in my opinion. You know, you're sending the bus, you know, the bus ministry there to go get the children. What about the adults? What about the parents? Why don't you send your best soul winners to those areas instead? Well, it's so ghetto. It's just, you know, like, those places are so dangerous. For a soul winner? Let me just make something very clear. Ghetto areas are not dangerous for soul winners at all. And anybody who thinks, I remember once, when we announced we were going to Compton for soul winning, for a marathon, there was literally someone in our church, I was just like, hey, we're going to Compton. And they were like, what? They never came back after that. They left our church and they never came back. And then people in the comments section were like, hey, you guys got to be careful out there. People were asking like, what color should I wear? I'm like, you guys are joking, right? Obviously there's gangsters out there, but you must not know a whole lot about gangsters. Like, gangsters are not like, where those Christians at? About to blast me a preacher today. They're not like trying to kill Christians. In fact, if you know anything, they actually respect Christians. Folks, when we went to Compton, I led just this guy was, I mean, he was flamed out. What that means is that he was blood, like from head to toe. Slippers were red, socks were red, everything was red. It's just like, I think I know what gang you belong to. And you know what? You know what he did when I came to talk to him with Bible in hand? He put his hands over like this, took off his hat and he listened and he got saved. You know, why? Well, because he's near death all the time. So he's like, I need to know how to get saved, you know? You don't have to go there with a strap or anything. We have the Lord. We're not going there like gang members. Aren't you afraid you're going to get robbed? No, we have the Lord on our side. And look, if they rob us, then you know what? The Lord can provide more. I mean, what are they going to take? My tie? My debit card? There's not much in there. Don't concern yourself with those things. You know, and there needs to be a resurgence of going to these areas. Not being afraid of going to these areas because there's people. Look, I'm sure Satan has worked very hard to strike fear in the hearts of pastors in suburban areas or nice areas to not go to those areas because those people are actually receptive. They're extremely receptive. We had a great time in We had a great time in Watts. The only area that we went to that was just not as receptive was Inglewood. You guys remember that? That was bad. I thought Inglewood was up to no good, and I guess it was true because they weren't very receptive, amen? But, you know, other areas, we went to Watts. We went to Grape Street. You know, and projects and gang members and smoking weed and, you know, they're just living that type of lifestyle. But you know what? Extremely respectful. They got saved. They're very kind and gracious. You know, that's where we need to go. They want to go to the country clubs. I need to get me a millionaire in the church. We need to go to Beverly Hills. No, you just need to depend on the Lord. And you need to go where the fish are biting. Anyways, so he's basically telling what's going on. Verse 4 says, and when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received at the church and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. So you got to keep in mind, like, he's got to build his reputation up a little bit because he's new. He was one that was born out of due time. So maybe, you know, maybe the apostles don't really respect them as much. He probably doesn't have a whole lot of clout, so to speak. So he's got to show, like, hey, God's using me, too. And it's getting to a point here where, you know, you see later on in Galatians, we're like, you know what? Maybe God is using you. Let me give you the right hands of fellowship. You go to the Gentiles. We'll stick to the Jews. Kind of thing, right? Verse 5 says, But 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. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. I want to guarantee what I believe is going on here, okay? First and foremost, they're going to the church there to discuss the matter at hand, right? Which is that these false brethren are coming in teaching they have to keep the law of Moses, be circumcised in order to be saved. They obviously know that's not true, but they're reporting that. And what you have is that you have a sect of Pharisees that are saved in this area. How do we know that? Because it says which believed. And any time you see the phrase which believed, it's often in reference to saved people. Just like when you see the term certain men, you know, that obviously that should tell you this is referring to probably like a bad person, a false prophet. When it says which believed, it's the Holy, excuse me, it's the Holy Ghost that's saying this, and it's telling us these are saved people, okay? Now what are the Pharisees who are saved saying are they agreeing that they have to keep the law of Moses in order to be saved? I don't believe that's what they're agreeing to. They're basically saying, well yeah, not to be saved, but they should keep the law of Moses though. Not to be saved, but they should keep the law of Moses, they should be circumcised according to the law of Moses, they should do these things. These things are necessary for them to do. Not for salvation, just to do because it's the law of Moses kind of thing. And look, a modern day example of what we see here is people who are saved, but let me just give an extreme example. But they say, don't we have to keep the Sabbath still? By the way, someone who is saved and they get duped by these people who keep the Sabbath, doesn't mean they're not saved. Now after you show them in the Bible, and you're like, hey this is not good, this is what the Bible teaches about that, and they're like, no. I'm going to keep the Sabbath and that's necessary in order to be saved. At that point you're like, okay, that person's not saved. But I believe there's people like this even today who are just not well versed in the Bible, or maybe they're so duped into their traditions that they kind of carry that over into their Christian life even afterwards. Okay. Where they bring their traditions with them. You know, this is what they were doing prior to salvation because we're talking about Pharisees here. They're keeping the law of Moses, then they get saved and we're like, well we should just continue to keep the law of Moses. Why not? You know. So, saying that it was needful to circumcise them and to keep them and to command them to keep the law of Moses. So then the apostles and the elders, they come together like, so oh man, they make a point there. No, they don't. They don't make a point. Folks, Jesus Christ was crucified. At the crucifixion you have the new covenant. Old things, the old covenant has vanished away. You got to remember is that Jesus Christ being crucified was the culmination of all those meats, drinks, and diverse washings. He was the culmination of that. He was the representation of those Old Testament customs. Now go to Galatians chapter 3. Now look, now we're seeing that leaders sometimes make mistakes. This should not be considered. Someone should just get up and say, no. You don't have to do any of that. I get what you're saying. I know that's where you come from. That's what you used to do. You've done it for years on end, but now you're saved. We don't have to adhere to those things anymore. We're not to judge people and meats and drinks and of holy days and of sabbaths. You know, Jesus Christ was the representation of all of those things. We no longer have to keep those things. But they're like, hmm, let's consider this matter. Now, let me tell you why they're considering the matter. Because they're in Jerusalem. And what do you have more in Jerusalem? Jews or Gentiles? Jews. So they want to keep the Jews happy. And this is why they're telling the Jews to live after the matter of the Jews, even after salvation. Because they don't want to offend anybody. Okay. This is why Peter, if you remember in Galatians chapter 2, he, you know, he's winning Gentiles to the Lord. He's not teaching them to live after the matter of Jews. But then what happens? Once the Jews come, then he's like, oh, get away from me. I got to put on face. Gentiles. He has to play the part. And by the way, it says certain came from James. Think about that. So this is kind of showing you that James is like a leader who has a lot of influence. And his men are coming in and he's just like, oh man, James guys is coming. Tell those guys to go away. We got to like separate from there. He has dissimulated love, right? He's being a hypocrite is what he's doing. And of course he gets rebuked for that. Look at Galatians 3 verse 1, O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth? Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath evidently been set forth crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, receive ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith. Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit? Are ye not made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain, if it be yet in vain? He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Skip down to verse 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident, for the just shall live by faith. The law is not of faith, but the man that doeth them shall live in them. So what is he saying? No one is justified by the law. No one can keep the law and go to heaven, but the individual who wants to do that, you better make sure you keep the entire law. That's what he's saying. You better live in the law. And obviously, it's impossible. No one's ever been able to do that. Except for Christ. Verse 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on the tree, that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Now go back to Acts chapter 15. Go back to Acts chapter 15. So it's like, why consider it? You don't have to keep the law. It's done. It's the Old Covenant. And in fact, Old Covenant in the Old Testament is also defined by the Ten Commandments. Did you know that? When the Bible referred to the Ten Commandments, which is an actual phrase that you find in the Old Testament, the book of Exodus, it also had a synonym which is the Covenant. And the Bible says that the Covenant is done away with. Therefore, we're not under the law, but under what? Grace, according to the Bible. Romans chapter 6. Look at verse number 7 of Acts chapter 15. And when there had been much disputing, people are arguing here about this. So what is he saying? Hey, guys, Gentiles don't have to do this. Don't you remember when God gave me the vision of the animals upon the sheet, the four corners, and he taught me that I should go into the Gentiles? He's making a case against for what these Pharisees are saying. But define irony. Because then later on, he's being a hypocrite himself. What does this teach us? Leaders make mistakes sometimes. Peter's a great guy. He's a man of God. He's used greatly of God. But even him, he's like, it's like, what? You know this is written in the Bible, Peter, right? You know we're going to be able to pull this out later and compare Galatians with Acts chapter 15. What he's saying here is right. It's good. Verse 9. Which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear. Now, let me just chase a little rabbit here, okay. Verse 10 is a great verse to debunk dispensationalism. Because what does it say? It says, now therefore we're attempting God to put a yoke upon the next of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we are able to bear. Because what is the teaching of hyper dispensationalism? Oh, they got saved in the Old Testament by keeping them in the law. Doing the sacrifices, the meats, drinks and diverse washings. Well, that's funny because they weren't able to keep that. They couldn't bear it. They couldn't do it. What are you talking about? He's saying there, look, they weren't able to bear it just like we are not able to bear it. Why? Because no one is able to bear it. But somehow in the mind of a dispensationalist, a hyper dispensationalist, they say, well, no, in the Old Testament they were saved by keeping the Old Testament laws, doing the sacrifices, the meats, drinks and diverse washings. They have to believe in Jesus, but they also have to do with these other things. Lie. You're lying. They were not able to bear those things. That was a yoke that they could not bear. They couldn't do it. Verse 11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, look what it says, even as they. Even as who, Peter? Even as our fathers of the Old Testament. Checkmate. No, that's by words, no, that's by grace. Even as they. Because no one would deny that Peter was saved by grace through faith and he's saying there, we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they. Why? Because everyone was saved the same. Both Old and New Testament. Everyone was saved the same exact way by faith in the Lord, plus nothing, minus nothing. Salvation has always been the same. Never changed. To him give all the prophets a witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 10, 43. Look at verse 12. Then all the multitude kept silence and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. So look, everyone, they're arguing and then they keep silence and they're just like, Paul and Barnabas? What do you guys have to say? Well, I'll tell you what God did. He did all these works and worked miracles and the Gentiles, all they have to do is believe and that's it. Look at verse 13. After they had held their peace, James answered saying, Men and brethren hearken unto me. Now from verses 13 to 20, he goes through this entire dissertation and he's like, yeah, of course the Gentiles, they could be saved by faith alone. And so what James does at the latter end is he tries to appeal to both groups the Jews and the Gentiles. Because look, he doesn't want to lose his Jewish church members. You know, it's a big church. So he's got to compromise a little bit. I'm not saying it's right, it's just what he's doing. Look at verse 19. Wherefore my sentence is That's interesting. It's not what God's sentence is. He says, my sentence is that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles are turned to God, but that we write unto them that they abstain from pollutions of idols and from fornication and from things strangled and from blood. So what is he saying here? By the way, these things are not bad. The Gentiles as the Jews should abstain from fornication. They should abstain from idols. They should abstain from eating things with blood. That's good to do. The problem here is the fact that he's commanding this as though it's only for the Gentiles and not for the Jews. He's making a difference between the Jew and the Greek. Whereas God says, there is no difference. They're both one and the same in Christ. He had broken down the middle wall of partition between us, of twain he had made one new man, the Bible says. So it's not like well, you know, oh, you're you're like this Mexican Catholic okay, well you keep using your holy water, just abstain from this particular thing. You know, it might be sinful for you but it's not for them kind of thing. Folks, sin is the transgression of the law. And both Jew and Gentile need to abstain from things that God says abstain from, period. James is trying to find his middle ground because he doesn't want to lose his Jewish church members. It's nonsense. Look at Galatians 2. Galatians chapter number 2. James is being a hypocrite. Now look, I don't know how it was back then, but you know, you got to understand, he's the Lord's brother. Half brother. I don't know if he looks like him or something, you know. People are like, well this is you know, this is Jesus' brother. This is Jesus Christ's brother. We got to listen to him. We got to listen to him and his insight. He has insight. No, he does, but you know in this area he's wrong. And just because he's Jesus' brother doesn't mean he's divine. Okay. Galatians 2.11 says, But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with Gentiles, but when they were come, he withdrew him and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. Man, Peter's being a little coward. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with them. Look what it says, in so much that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou be in a Jew, liveth after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compel thou, the Gentiles, to live as do the Jews? He's basically rebuking them to his face. Now here's a modern day example of this, okay? It's like people who like the new IFB and they're willing to like kind of hang out with the new IFB or talk to the new IFB, but when their old IFB comes around, they're just like hold on, I got to get away. Oh, I hate Pastor Anderson. By the way, I've had that happen to me. Where people love talking to me about end times Bible prophecy, they call me, they chat with me, but you know what? God forbid that they should be caught in public with me while their church members are there, they come around, then they get all embarrassed and they're just like, they dissemble. It's hypocrisy, folks. And those are the worst types of friends, let me just tell you that. Don't be a friend to someone who is ashamed of you. At any time. Right? It's wrong. It's like, well, we could be friends here in church, but when we're in public, it's just like well, you know, I don't really, you know, I don't like to be associated with this individual. Yeah, that's that hay preacher over there. You know, it's wrong, folks. And by the way, I appreciate the people who are just like, doesn't matter who you're with, doesn't matter who's around, they're like, yeah, I talked to this person, this is my friend. I'm cool with that. But I know people and they're not necessarily wicked individuals, I don't believe they're wicked, they're just, they just have the simulated love. Where it's just like, when it's just you and I, alright, now we can talk, we can be friends, and you know, hang out and stuff like that, but oh, God forbid if someone from my church would see us together, I'm just going to turn my back on you and act like I don't even know you. There's people like that. And you know what? Right here. Peter was not an evil person. He just had the simulated love. Don't be like that. We got to finish up. We're pretty much done. I've gone way over the time here. So basically what happens is he writes this, James writes this letter, this epistle, and he sends it by the hand of Paul and Barnabas, Silas and Judas. They're like, send this to the brothers out there. And you got to wonder what's going on through Paul's mind. Like, are you serious? Are you really going to tell him to do this? But maybe he agrees with it at that time, and then later on he grew in the Lord and he recognized this was wrong. They give it to the Gentiles and the Gentiles are like, oh, great! You know, because if they're, if these are newborns, they're just barely saved, they just got saved, it's just like, you know, they're going to believe whatever the leaders tell them. So then happens Silas and Judas stay there for a while, then Paul and Barnabas end up departing, and that's when you had the whole confrontation with Mark and whatnot. But this is the main thing we need to learn from this passage of Scripture, okay? Number one, don't be a hypocrite. Don't be a hypocrite. And look, if you believe something, believe it wholeheartedly, and don't be ashamed of what you believe. Don't be ashamed of what you believe. Don't shy away from the truth with your family, with your friends. Now, you don't have to be a jerk about it. And just like, you know, because Thanksgiving's coming around, Christmas is coming around, and for some of us, it's a little rough, okay? You know, people don't necessarily look forward to having you over, and that's unfortunate, you know? By the way, if you have nowhere to go for Thanksgiving, you do now. You can come into my house. Um, as long as you're not ashamed of me, amen? I'm just kidding. But you know, you should be able to communicate the truths and not be ashamed of it, like, hey, do you really believe this? It's like, yeah, I believe that. Well, that's because of what the Bible says. And I'd be apologetic about it, and be like, well, I mean, sort of. But yeah, that's what the Bible says. And look, one of two things, they'll either really respect you and disagree with you, but respect you because you took a stance on it, or two, you win them over. Because who are you going to win over with this ashamed disposition of like, well, yeah, I mean, I kind of believe in it, but you know, we can disagree though. They don't want nothing to do with that. They'd rather adhere to someone who says, well, this guy's sticking to his guns. He obviously believes this to the core. This is part of who he is. So there must be some validity to that. You understand? Don't be a hypocrite. Don't have dissimulated love. And recognize leaders make mistakes, folks. It's going to happen. And obviously we sometimes hold leaders to a certain level, a degree, and we should. But you also can't have an unrealistic expectation of leaders where they can make no mistake. In the years to come, I will make a mistake that's going to bother you. Sorry, you know, I'm fallible. The leaders that you admire most are going to make mistakes. They're going to disappoint you. It's part of life. It's part of who we are. We're humans, okay? The big thing is, is that when we make the mistakes, we need to own up to it, move on, grow, and move on from that, amen? Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer. Father, we thank you so much for your word. And Lord, thank you for this chapter. So much content in this chapter, Lord. Thank you for the examples of Peter, James, and John, but also of Paul, Barnabas. We see them, that they had some character flaws that they were even involved in hypocrisy. I pray, God, that you'd help us to be aware of that. That we would not be hypocrites, and we would not have dissimulated love. Help us not to be ashamed. There's people that I know, Lord, whom I love, and Lord, we may not agree on everything, but I would never be ashamed of them. And Lord, that's how all relationships should be. That if we love someone enough that we are willing to associate with them, talk to them in public. Just, the people would know that we are associated with them. That should be enough. That should be great. It should be an easy task for us to do. For us to not have fake love, Lord, but to love someone genuinely in spite of the criticism, in spite of what other people say. And in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.