To The Ends of the Earth - Introduction: Journey to Acts

Why We MUST Study the Book of Acts Still Today (and with a goal in mind)The Apostles (or Nicene) Creeds – A centralized emphasis of core doctrines in which we MUST agree upon in order to assure we share in the same salvific faith in Jesus Christ as Lord AND Savior James – As the target of our study and the basis of information that became readily disseminated-              How we know James (the brother of Jesus) was compelled to collect a centralized letter of instruction for widespread dissemination.o   At The Jerusalem Council as found in Acts 15:12-15 (BSB)§  How we know this is James, the brother of Jesus? (See Acts 12:1-2 and the martyrdom of James the Greater [James of Zebedee]) The Jerusalem Council – As the conference (to confer; have discussions; exchange opinions) of a need for closed handed, centralized core doctrine-              See, Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (BSB)-              See also, Jesus further into a need for a centralized core doctrine in Revelation 2:4-5 (BSB) What happened to get us here? – In a nutshell, certain things that were a caveat, had been enforced on people who they were never intended to apply to (see circumcision to the Gentiles, in this context)-              Not everyone felt the same level of conviction for “The Law” but rather the necessity to believe in the grace upon grace that was a prerequisite for salvation, see Acts 15:7-11 (BSB). Why does this still matter today? – There are many different denominations, affiliations, cooperations, etc. who divide themselves today not over core beliefs necessary for salvation but over tertiary issues of governance and organization structures, styles of worship, clothing for gathering of the saints, etc.-              These divisions do more harm than good in an increasingly post-Christian world. One where non-believers have no interest in the gathering of the saints as the saints cannot favorably gather and often tear one another down over trivial issues. We MUST rightly teach and orient ourselves around the core doctrines that are necessary, not to divide amongst ourselves, but to “separate the chaff from the wheat” (Luke 3:17) or to distinguish those who are sealed believers and those who are pretenders or are distant from the Gospel.