SERMON: SALVATION DOESN'T ALLOW ADDITION

SALVATION DOESN'T ALLOW ADDITION
27 July 2008

I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Acts 15

1. Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."
2. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
3. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.
4. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."
6. The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
7. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
8. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
9. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
10. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11. No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

-- the story is told about this 13-year old boy who was causing his parents a lot of grief -- he was disrespectful and refused to help around the house -- and to top matters off, he was doing horribly at school and was even failing math -- his parents were worried, because they wanted him to do well in school and go to a good college and get a good job when he graduated -- and they realized that they were going to need some help
-- they heard about this Catholic school in their community that was turning out well-disciplined kids who were excelling in math -- so, even though they were not religious people, they enrolled their son in the school
-- the first day their son went to school, he came home, went straight upstairs, and began doing math homework -- he didn't even stop and watch TV or play his video games -- he worked all the way till supper, and then he helped his mother clear the table and wash dishes
-- the next day and every day after that, he did the same thing -- he'd come home, immediately start on his homework and would be polite and respectful to his parents and help them around the house
-- when his first report card came in, his parents were excited to see that he had gotten straight A's in all his subjects, even math -- so they called him in and asked him what made the change -- was it the discipline of the teachers -- the school uniforms -- the rules? -- what was it that made him change and become polite and respectful and try to do his best at math and the other subjects?
-- "No," he said, "when I walked into that place on the first day and saw that man nailed to the plus sign, I knew they meant business -- and I figured if I didn't want to end up like him, then I needed to change."

-- well, this little joke was just my way of reminding you of what time of year it is -- if you've been around town the past couple of weeks at any stores, then you know that everyone's getting ready to go back to school -- the stores all have their back-to-school supplies out -- there are sales on clothes and backpacks and other items -- Georgia is even having their tax-free weekend this week from July 31st to August 3rd to help parents and kids get ready to go back to school
-- and while a lot of parents and kids are ready for school to start back, there's a lot of people who get very anxious and worried this time of year about the subjects they are going to be taking, especially math -- there's just something about math that causes people anxiety
-- I always did pretty well at math, but even I got anxious about word problems -- remember those? -- they went something like this: "Two trains leave Atlanta at 6:35 pm heading north -- the first train runs 60 miles per hour and the second train runs 45 miles per hour -- when the first train has gone 120 miles, how far has the second train gone?"
-- sitting down and looking at a page full of word problems like this used to drive me crazy -- I'd just worry and worry about whether I was doing them right or not -- to this day, I still think that all algebra teachers secretly want to work on the railroad because it seemed like every one of their word problems had to do with trains
-- as I was thinking about those mathematic word problems this week, it occurred to me that there are some word problems in the Bible, too -- except that these don't instill anxiety or worry in people -- instead, they offer hope and peace
-- so, in recognition of school starting back, for the next several weeks I want us to look at God's word problems in the Bible and to consider what God would teach us if He was our math teacher
-- with that in mind, my sermon title this morning is "Salvation Doesn't Allow Addition"

II. Adding to God's Word
-- I don't know what it is about people, but we just feel like God's word is not enough -- it seems like we're always trying to add something to it -- and God is always warning us not to do that
-- for instance, in Revelation 22:18, God told John, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. "
-- there's just something in our human nature that wants to add to what God's already done -- especially in the area of salvation -- we see that quite clearly in this passage that we opened with this morning

-- as the Christian church was getting started, the first major controversy to hit the church was the question of the Gentiles -- what would it take for a Gentile to be saved?
-- as you remember, Jesus began His ministry to the Jews -- to the people of Israel -- God's chosen people -- every single one of the disciples and all of the apostles were Jewish -- they were raised in the Jewish traditions -- they were taught at an early age that male children were to be circumcised, that the Jewish feasts and dietary laws were to be observed, and that sacrifices were to be made for sinful acts
-- this was what they knew -- this was what they understood -- and now they were grappling with the issue of salvation through Jesus -- they understood that He had died for their sins -- they understood that He took the place of the animal sacrifices that they had previously offered for their sins -- but they didn't know what to do about circumcision or the dietary laws or the celebration of the Jewish feasts
-- previously, if a Gentile wanted to convert to Judaism, then they had to be circumcised and follow all the laws and traditions of the Jewish people -- but what about now? -- could the Gentiles be saved? -- could they be filled with the Holy Spirit -- God's presence that had been promised to His chosen people? -- did they have to be circumcised and follow the dietary laws and celebrate the Jewish festivals in order to be saved?
-- as often happens in churches when questions like this come up, the early church began to split into two divisions -- one sect, called the Judaizers, believed that Gentiles must first be converted to Judaism before they could receive salvation -- the other sect believed that God's grace was sufficient for salvation

-- look back at verse 1

1. Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

-- Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire -- it was about 300 miles north of Jerusalem in modern day Turkey -- which meant it was a cross-roads city -- it had a cosmopolitan population, comprised mostly of Gentiles -- non-Jews -- but with a large Jewish population as well
-- when the early church started to be persecuted in Jerusalem, most of the Christians fled to Antioch and this became the capital of their new religion -- in fact, the Bible tells us that it was in Antioch that these new believers of Christ were first called Christians
-- so, with both a large Gentile and Jewish population, it's no small wonder that this would be the first battleground in this issue of salvation for the Gentiles
-- Paul and Barnabus had been doing ministry there for quite some time -- and a number of Gentiles had heard the good news of Christ and turned to Him for salvation and joined this growing church
-- it wasn't long before the Judaizers showed up -- they came to town and began to tell the Gentile believers there that they weren't really saved because they hadn't done enough -- these Judaizers were saying that you had to do more than just believe in Jesus through faith -- you had to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law -- you had to observe the dietary laws and observe the Jewish feasts if you wanted to be saved
-- these men were setting up a qualification for grace -- they were trying to say that you can only attain salvation through human efforts -- the teachings of Paul and Barnabus weren't right -- you had to add something to them if you really wanted to be saved

-- if you've learned anything about Paul's character from the Bible, you can imagine how he responded to these Judaizers -- look at verse 2

2. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
3. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.
4. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

-- Paul and Barnabus got into arguments with the Judaizers on this issue -- Luke says they were in "sharp dispute" -- knowing Paul, I think it's safe to say that he and the Judaizers were yelling at each other about this
-- so the decision was made to go to Jerusalem and present the issue to the apostles and have them decide, once and for all, what would be required for Gentiles to join the church
-- Paul and Barnabus appeared before the church council and shared with them all the miraculous stories of how the Gentiles were coming to faith -- how they were being filled with the Holy Spirit -- how they were growing in grace and in Christ -- and how the church was getting larger everyday
-- but then their opponents stood up -- verse 5

5. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

-- once again, it's quite clear what they were saying -- the blood of Jesus is not sufficient to save -- something must be added in order to be saved -- the Gentiles must become Jews and be circumcised and follow the Mosaic law or they would not be saved
-- this was a major issue -- this question would decide the direction of the Christian church for eternity -- do you have to do something to be saved? -- what do you have to add to the blood of Jesus for salvation? -- circumcision? -- following the dietary laws? -- observing the Jewish feasts?
-- we look at this problem in the early church and we wonder how people could ever think that -- but, if we're honest, we think the same thing ourself
-- what does it take to be saved? -- does someone have to come to the altar? -- do they have to say the sinner's prayer? -- do they have to be baptized? -- do they have to have their name on the church roll? -- do they have to live a pure and moral life? -- what are the requirements in your mind for salvation? -- have you added anything to the gospel of Christ?

-- I've shared with some of you before a parable a friend told me -- the parable of the bicycle -- let me share this with you one more time
-- there once was this little girl -- about 6 or 7 years old -- who decided that she wanted a bicycle really bad -- so she went to her father and told him, "I want a bicycle and I'm going to earn it all on my own" -- so he told her that when she thought she had enough money to buy a bicycle to let him know, and he'd taker to the store to pick it out
-- so she started doing jobs around the house -- unloading the dishwasher -- taking out the trash -- things like that -- and every time she did something, her parents would give her some change -- a quarter here -- a dime there -- until finally, she felt that she had enough money to get her dream
-- so her father carried her down to the store and they hunted and hunted and finally found the perfect bicycle -- she walked up to it, looked at the price tag, and her face fell -- there was no way she could ever buy that bicycle -- it cost way too much and she had only earned $0.67 -- but then her father stepped in and paid the rest and she got her bicycle
-- the point of the parable -- my friend said -- is that you do all you can and then Jesus steps in and makes up the difference

-- now, when you listen to that parable, it sounds pretty good, doesn't it? -- the only problem with it is that it's message is exactly the same as that of the Judaizers -- all the Gentiles have to do is get circumcised -- all they have to do is follow the law -- all they have to do is observe the Jewish feasts -- and then Jesus will step in and save them
-- in other words, you have to add something to the gospel to get saved -- that's what the Judaizers taught -- and, if we're not careful, that's what we can teach and believe, too
-- how many of you believe that we have to do good things or good works -- go to church -- be nice to people -- help people out -- read our Bible -- go to Sunday School -- something -- anything -- to be saved?
-- we understand that the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose on the third day proving victory over sin and death -- we understand that we receive salvation when we accept Him as Lord and Savior through faith
-- but if we're honest with ourselves, there is some place deep in our hearts that believes it can't be enough to simply believe in Jesus and be saved -- that is too easy -- we have to do something to make up for all the bad things that we did in our lives -- we have to do all we can -- and then, just like the parable of the bicycle says, Jesus will step in and make up the difference and pour out His grace and save us
-- that is what Paul and Barnabus were fighting against in this controversy with the Judaizers over the Gentiles -- do you have to add something to the blood of Jesus in order to be saved?

-- verse 6

6. The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
7. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
8. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
9. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
10. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11. No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
-- verse 11 says it all -- it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved -- it is the gift of God's grace through Jesus that saves us
-- as Paul later wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, "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."
-- not by works -- that means, the grace of God is sufficient for salvation -- nothing else needs to be added to it -- not circumcision -- not the law -- not the Jewish feasts -- not joining the church -- not doing good works
-- the blood of Jesus is enough -- it is all this required -- nothing else is necessary -- there is nothing for us to do except to receive this free gift of grace that God offers us through Jesus

-- that's why the parable of the bicycle is wrong -- you don't have to go out and earn your $0.67 first so that God will step in and make up the difference -- you don't have to add anything to what God has done -- God, through His grace, would just carry us to the store and buy us the bicycle without us having to do anything in the first place

-- this is the point of this passage -- you cannot be saved by works -- you cannot add anything to your salvation through works -- you cannot, in any way, contribute anything to the forgiveness of your sins -- circumcision doesn't help -- following the law doesn't help -- observing the Jewish feasts or getting baptized or joining the church doesn't help
-- there is absolutely no way on earth for you to bring about your salvation -- as Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, "with man, this is impossible"
-- but, thanks be to God, there is a way for us to be saved -- and that is solely through the blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross of Calvary
-- nothing else needs to be added, because in God's math, salvation doesn't allow addition

-- I'm going to close now, and as the last hymn is played and the altar is opened, I want to invite you to respond to God's word as you feel led -- I want you to think about what your salvation is based on -- is it based on your good works? -- is it based on something that you did? -- is your salvation based on something that you added to the blood of Christ?
-- if so, then I would invite you to turn from this understanding and to just come to Christ this morning in faith that He has done all that is required for you -- that His blood that was shed on the cross is sufficient for your salvation -- that there is nothing that you can do -- nothing that you can add -- that can offer anything to save you of your sins
-- let us pray