En Fuego

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2Tim 1:6).

There are times when an athlete is absolutely on fire. Stephen Curry can’t miss a shot. Everything Bryce Harper hits is a vicious line drive. Tom Brady’s right arm rips apart the defense. In the words of Dan Patrick’s famous catchphrase, they are en fuego. But when this happens, it isn’t luck. These are highly skilled athletes who have worked their tails off. They’ve practiced. They’ve prepared. They’ve put themselves into position to sizzle when the moment arises. 

In a letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul tells the young pastor to do everything possible to get ready to ignite. His Grandma Lois and Mom Eunice had stacked the kindling in his life as a young man, hoping and praying for the day God would set him on fire (2Tim 1:5). At this critical time, Tim’s mentor knows it’s important to stoke the blaze. “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (v6). Do what you can and prepare yourself for Jesus to make you en fuego.

Paul pleads with his protege because he knows his own fire will soon go out. He writes from behind bars of the notorious Mamertine Prison. The apostle is well aware he’s on Death Row (2Tim 4:6-7). As a dead man walking, he begs the young pastor to do everything possible to make it to Rome before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). He’s all alone except for his good friend Dr. Luke (2Tim 4:11). Paul writes the final letter of his life, encouraging Timothy to let God transform him into a human torch for His glory.

“For this reason I remind you” (v6). The apostle refreshes Tim’s memory about the purpose for what he’s about to say. This is the fourth time in just a few short sentences where Paul walks down memory lane. “As I remember you constantly in my prayers…As I remember your tears…I am reminded of your sincere faith…For this reason I remind you…” (2Tim 1:3, 4, 5, 6, emphasis added). He’s not getting all nostalgic and simply reflecting on the good times. Paul wants Tim to remember what God has done in his life so he’ll know without a doubt where he’s headed.

The man from Tarsus reminds Tim how his own memaw and mom stacked the kindling around him as he grew up in Lystra (2Tim 1:5). They prepped Tim for the day would God ignite the faith flame through Paul. Who did the Lord use to place flammable materials in my life and get me ready for the day He lit the match? Who am I splashing the gasoline of grace on? God is calling each of us to be an accessory to spiritual arson.

The apostle tells Tim that now’s the time for the young pastor “to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you” (v6). Is Timothy’s fire starting to fade? Possibly. When he received the last letter, Paul had left him in charge of getting the Ephesian church out of the ditch and back on the road to following Jesus (1Tim 1:3-11; 4:6-16). It’s a great reminder that we have seasons in our walk with Jesus. There are going to be times when we’re absolutely smoking for our Savior. And there are going to be days when we’re barely smoldering. Here at the end of his life, Paul is passing the torch of ministry to his spiritual son. He wants to make sure Tim’s burning white hot as he carries the Gospel to a lost and dying world. 

The phrase “fan into flame” is actually one word in the original Greek (Gr. anazopureo). It describes rekindling or stirring up a fire. This is the one and only time we see it in the entire Bible. Outside of Scripture, first century writers used it when talking about pumping air through a bellows to increase the heat of a live bed of coals. In other words, take something that’s already roasting and turning up the heat. Think blast furnace. Paul wants Tim to be en fuego.

We see that the original fire was NOT of human origin. It’s the “gift of God” (v6). We may be able to place spiritually flammable materials around someone, but it’s ultimately up to the Spirit of God to ignite the blaze. We don’t earn it. He gives to us what we could never do for ourselves as an act of overwhelming grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Billy Joel is right. We didn’t start the fire. It’s God’s gift to us. But according to Paul, we can raise the temp.

So what can I do to stoke the faith fire in my life? What can I do to put myself in position to fan the flames that He started? You probably already know what I’m going to say. It’s not brain science. Make sure you’re plugged into a great local church. And by “plugged in,” I mean serving, giving, and being part of a small group. This is a WHOLE lot more than showing up for a service a couple of times a month. You may have heard the story of how the Holy Spirit first fills believers at a small group meeting during Pentecost when tongues of fire flicker over every follower of Jesus in the room (Acts 2:3). Few things fan the flames better than being around others who are on fire.

We’ve all heard the other activities that act as accelerants. Make prayer a regular part of your day. Talk to God. Thank Him for all He’s done. Tell Him your hopes and hurts. Ask Him for help. For you. For your family. For your friends. For our world. Jesus’ kid brother James is famous for saying, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16). One of the most incredible examples of prayer and fire is when King Solomon asks God to show up in a big way at the brand new temple. The next thing you know, Yahweh unleashes His heavenly blowtorch incinerating the sacrifices and His glory fills the temple (2Chr 7:1). Prayer certainly stokes the fire.

God also loves to fan the flames of our faith through Scripture. So there’s every reason to include reading and studying His Word a habit. Remember, the Bible isn’t some dusty document filled with fables and myths. God personally inspired every single word as His way of revealing Himself to us (2Tim 3:16) in order to perform delicate spiritual surgery on each one of us (Heb 4:12). Luke tells the story of the time the resurrected Jesus traveled incognito with a couple of dudes headed back to Emmaus. In one of the greatest Bible studies the world has ever seen, our Savior walks through the Old Testament and told them how it all points to Christ (Lk 24:27). When He suddenly disappears and they realize just Who was talking to them, they said, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened the Scriptures?” (Lk 24:32). Maybe every Bible should come with a warning label: Caution! Contents Flammable!

Just like great athletes who prepare themselves to catch fire in crunch time, we can stoke the flames of God’s gift in our lives. We can do that using three key flammable materials. Community. Prayer. Scripture. You’ve seen those boxes that read: “In Case of Fire, Break Glass!” Well, in case of NO fire or LOW fire, bust open these three combustable contents. Before you know it, you’ll be an example of spontaneous spiritual combustion. There’s really nothing like being en fuego for Jesus.

Gospel Centered Community

The church in Antioch waits on pins and needles for a ruling from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.  They need to know if they must first become Jews before they can officially be followers of Jesus.  Some Jews have been telling these Gentiles that they need to pump their spiritual brakes (Acts 15:1, 5).  In other words, non-Jewish men would have to be circumcised. 

The church has sent Paul and Barnabas to find out (Acts 15:2).  They know nothing yet of the decision of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.  Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, these leaders decide they "should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God" (Acts 15:19).  They ask that they avoid four things: (1) food sacrificed to idols, (2) blood, (3) food that has been strangled, and (4) sexual immorality.  These were four detestable practices in pagan idolatry.  In other words, these non-Jews didn't have to become Jews in order to follow Jesus.  They had to repent of their own idolatry.

They had sent two men to Jerusalem.  But four men return.  Judas Barsabbas and Silas arrive with with Paul and Barney.  They immediately get the church together and deliver the letter.  Notice that it wasn't first read to a committee.  They simply gathered the church to hear what had been written.  This is the practice we see in many of the NT letters.  The church is gathered and the letter is read OUT LOUD to the entire body.  There were no chapters or verses.  The read the entire letter, except maybe for some special instructions to the leaders.  This is a great reminder that these were real letters to real people in real churches in real cities dealing with real problems.

"And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement" (v31).  The people of the church in Antioch explode in celebration over what they hear.  The leaders in Jerusalem accept them as brothers and sisters in Christ AS GENTILES!!  It's hard to imagine just how radical and revolutionary this must have been.  To this point, The Way was seen by many as simply a sect of Judaism.  And historically, the relationship between Jew and Gentile could best be described as frosty.  The First Church of Antioch may well have expected the news that they would need to become Jews.  But no!  They could follow their Savior as Gentiles.  The people of the church were encouraged beyond belief.

Just as God had accepted them just as they are, so would the followers of Jesus.

This is a huge reminder that there are no God ordained divisions among followers of Jesus.  No races.  No denominations.  No cultural or economic barriers.  No staff or lay people.  We are all one.  We are all His!  Like the church in Antioch, we should rejoice because of this encouragement.

Judas and Silas hung with the folks in Antioch for a while (v32-33).  Luke tells us that these two men are actually prophets.  This is a gift of the Holy Spirit by which God enables someone the privilege of insight into His divine will and the responsibility to share it with His people.  Judas and Silas properly used their spiritual gifts to encourage and strengthen the local church.  This is exactly how we are to employ these God-given abilities (1Cor 14:12, 26).

It's hard to imagine the extent of the encouragement in Antioch by the extended presence of Judas and Silas.  These two Jews apparently had no problem hanging out with their Gentile brothers and sisters.  What a breath of fresh air.  They proved that the acceptance of the non-Jews by Paul and Barnabas was no fluke.  In Christ, they were truly one family and one body.

Judas and Silas spent a great deal of time in Antioch, encouraging and strengthening these new Christ followers.  I love the original Greek that we often translate encourage: parakaleo.  It is literally "to call (kaleo) alongside (para)."  Think of walking side by side with someone else, encouraging them.  You can do it!  We can do it together!

The word "strengthen" is the Greek episterizo.  It's the same verb found in Acts 14:22.  It means not only to strengthen, but more specifically, to make to lean upon.  In other words, Judas and Silas helped these Antiochan believers understand that their strength was in Jesus.  They taught them that apart from Christ they can do nothing (Jn 15:5) but in Him they can do anything (Phil 4:13).

At some point, Judas and Silas headed back to Jerusalem after an extended stay (v33).  Most of the oldest manuscripts don't contain v34.  This may well have been inserted to explain how quickly Paul chose Silas for his return trip to Asia (Acts 15:40-41). 

Luke goes on to tell us that "Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also" (v35).  The two men clearly saw these believers as their responsibility.  They had invested a great deal of time and energy in these folks (Acts 11:23-26; 14:28).  Paul and Barney also traveled as missionaries on behalf of the church in Antioch (Acts 13:2-27).

This dynamic duo continue to teach and preach to this largely non-Jewish congregation.  The door would have been wide open to teach them the OT Scriptures.  They would have had very little working knowledge of the Hebrew Bible, the ONLY Bible they would have had at the time. 

Dr. Luke tells us specifically that they were preaching.  This is the Greek verb euangelizo.  It means to proclaim or bring about the good news.  It's where we get our words evangelism and evangelize.  While it certainly means to preach, I think it's a much more robust word than just that.  These two men continually reminded the Christ followers of Antioch that it is all about Jesus.  He lived the perfect life that we were supposed to live.  He died the awful death that we were supposed to die.  He is raised to an eternal life we don't deserve.  It's only IN CHRIST that we have anything. 

To "preach" or euangelizo is to remind us of who we are IN JESUS.  This is NOT a "do better" gospel.  I mean, what's the good news in that gospel?  We continually need to know that He did it for us, in our place.  And we are IN HIM.  He has also given us His Holy Spirit to enable us to live the life He's set before us

These four men proclaimed to the people of Antioch that apart from Jesus it was impossible.  But IN CHRIST it was all possible.  

Take a Letter

Church leaders gather in Jerusalem to decide what to do with Gentiles that come to Christ.  There is a strong move among them that these non-Jews must first convert to Judaism before becoming Christians.  Specifically, they need to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law.  In other words, they hold that for Gentiles, it is a two-step process.

But thanks to impassioned speeches by the apostle Peter (Acts 15:7-11), Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:12) as well as James (Acts 15:13-21), these leaders decide that there is no reason to add such a yoke to these non-Jewish believers.  If God has given them His Holy Spirit marking them as followers of Jesus, how could they ask more of them? 

At this point, the leaders of the early church decide to send a delegation to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas (v22).  The two men are "Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers."  There is little known about Judas Barsabbas from Scripture except that he was a prophet (Acts 15:32).  There is speculation that he is the brother of Joseph called Barsabbas, one of the two candidates put forth to replace Judas Iscariot as apostle (Acts 1:23).  Their nickname Barsabbas probably indicates they were the sons of Sabba.  There is probably some connection between these two men, but nothing conclusive can be gained through Acts.

The other man is Silas.  He will be a key figure in Paul's second missionary journey (Acts 15:50-18:5).  He is also called Silvanus.  He acted as Peter's amanuensis (scribe) for his first epistle.  Silas is most likely Jewish as well as a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37).

The leaders of the Jerusalem church selected Judas and Silas because they were among the best and brightest.  The various translations describe them as "leading men," "chief men" or "leaders."  These two had stepped up into positions of authority and responsibility.  This is a great reminder of the continual need to identify and train new leaders in the local church.

The leaders in Jerusalem send these four men with a letter to not only the church in Antioch, but "to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia" (v23).  Clearly non-Jews made up much of these churches.  Chances are that Paul planted these churches.  His hometown of Tarsus is in the region of Cilicia.  In his letter to the Galatians, he describes how he returned "to the regions of Syria and Cilicia" after visiting Jerusalem (Gal 1:21).

The Jerusalem leaders go out of their way to include these Gentile believers as brothers and sisters in Christ.  This is VERY important.  If Jewish Christians from Jerusalem welcome their Gentile brethren into the family of faith, who could exclude them? 

The letter goes on to say, "Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions" (v24).  In other words, those folks may have come from Jerusalem but they didn't have permission to speak on behalf of our church. 

The verbs "troubled" and "unsettling" deserve a closer look.  "Trouble" is the Greek tarasso.  It means to trouble the mind, to shake up or stir up (like water), to terrify.  "Unsettle" is the Greek anaskeuazo.  The basic term carries the idea of packing up baggage or breaking camp.  Used in this context, it means to dismantle or destroy something.  In extrabiblical literature, writers used the term to describe someone in financial bankruptcy.  The terms used in this letter let us know the spiritual damage these men had done in the Gentile churches. 

The letter goes on to say that the apostles and elders have come to agreement on the issue, "having come to one accord" (v25).  They are in consensus regarding what is required of any non-Jews who follow Messiah Jesus.  They have chosen these two men, Judas and Silas, to accompany Barnabas and Paul to bring their decision to Antioch. 

The church leaders describe how Barnabas and Paul "have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v26).  Remember how Jews in Iconium put a hit on these two (Acts 14:5), eventually stoning Paul to the point that they thought he was dead (Acts 14:19).  Christ had given these men a message that was too important to let the threat of death stop them. 

What the Jerusalem church leadership wrote in the letter will be reinforced by Judas and Silas (v27).  These two men will answer any questions the churches might have about the ruling.

The Holy Spirit has guided these leaders in their decision.  They didn't simply come up with what they thought was the best idea.  God inspired their decision.  "It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us" (v28).  Peter, James and the others sought the Lord's guidance in what to do. 

The leaders decision is in agreement with James' proposition in Acts 15:20.  Gentile Christians should avoid anything sacrificed to an idol, blood, anything strangled and sexual immorality.  These things were important because each of them were central to pagan idolatry.  Non-Jewish Christians were to completely turn their backs on the activities of the pagan temples.

Such letters would be key to early believers, explaining doctrine and helping people understand what it meant to be a follower of Jesus.  This letter to the churches of Antioch, Syria and Cilicia came about the same time as James' epistle and Paul's letter of instruction to Galatia. 

Safe Place for a Dangerous Message

Let's set the scene.  Church leaders have gathered in Jerusalem to decide how to handle the "Gentile problem."  God has used men like Peter, Paul and Barnabas to reach out to non-Jews (Acts 10, 13, 14).  There are many who believe very strongly that these Gentiles must become Jewish in order to follow Jesus.  They need to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1, 5).

Peter has just delivered a powerful speech encouraging the inclusion of Gentiles AS GENTILES (Acts 15:7-11).  Why should the church raise the standard of salvation higher than God's?  God has given these non-Jews His Holy Spirit without them first becoming Jewish.  Pete tells the leaders that the people God saves "will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus," whether they are Jew or Gentile.

When Pete finishes his speech, "the assembly fell silent" (v12).  At this point, Paul and Barnabas describe the miraculous "signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles."  These men understand completely WHO really deserves the credit and glory for what they had been a part of.  God.  And God alone.  This was a move of Yahweh among the various non-Jewish people they had visited.  They were simply tools in the hand of the Master.  The phrase "signs and wonders" reminds us of how God has partially fulfilled His words through Joel here in the pages of Acts (Joel 2:28-32).  God used these miracles as a means of giving His divine stamp of approval on the Gospel these men proclaimed.

When Paul and Barney wrap up their report, James takes the mic.  This is Jesus' half brother who has risen to a major position of responsibility in the early church.  This can't be James the apostle.  King Herod Agrippa I martyred John's brother (Acts 12:2).  This James had originally mocked his half brother (Jn 7:5) but later repented and accept Him as his risen Savior (1Cor 15:7).  He is not only a key leader but goes on to write what is probably the first book of the NT, the letter that bears his name.

James reminds the gathering that this is God's move, not theirs.  "God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for His name" (v14).  Once again, this wasn't something cooked up by Pete, Paul or Barney.  This is God.  Who are they to question a move of Almighty God?

He goes on to say that this is perfectly in line with what God has declared through His prophets for centuries (v15).  Over and over again, God guided these men to describe how He will use His chosen people as a light to the world.  God has chosen them to declare His goodness to people from every tribe, tongue and nation.

Using the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the OT), James goes on to quote from the prophet Amos (Am 9:11-12).  Amos describes how God has called a number of Gentiles "by My name."  Nowhere does Amos ever say that these called non-Jews must become Jewish converts.  Amos is talking about God's move of salvation during His millennial kingdom.  If the Scriptures never insist on Gentiles becoming Jews, why should the church make such a demand?

James comes to his recommendation.  "Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God" (v19).  The word "trouble" is the Greek verb parenoxleo.  It means to add extra difficulties, to trouble greatly, to annoy.  According to MacArthur, it describes how one "throws something in the path of someone to annoy them."

In other words, James insists that they not make the Gospel any more difficult than it is.  We need to remember that Jesus' message is challenging enough.  He is asking us to turn our backs on everything in order to follow Him.  His message is a dangerous message.  There is absolutely no reason to demand Gentiles to jump through extra Jewish hoops in order to come to Christ.

We must make our churches a safe place to hear a dangerous message.  The call to follow Jesus alone will rock their world.  Don't burden people with a lot of unnecessary mumbo jumbo.  The Savior's call to repentance is radical enough.

James goes on to make his recommendation on how to handle these Gentile Christians.  He would like for these leaders to write to them that they should do four things.  "Abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood" (v20).  All of these were key things involved in pagan idol worship at the time.  And each of these activities were highly offensive to Jews.

James makes the point that these new Gentile Christians need to understand the danger of pagan idolatry.  God alone is to be worshiped (Ex 20:3).  And from the earliest days, He commanded that His people not eat or drink blood (Gen 9:4).  These are key teachings in the synagogues that are taught every Sabbath (v21).

Let's not add anything to Christ's call of repentance.  It's dangerous enough.  It's challenging enough.  There's no reason to raise God's bar any higher

Our churches should be a safe place to hear a dangerous message. 

No Yoking Matter

The "Gentile Problem" has come to a head.  Paul and Barnabas have reported to the church in Antioch how God had used them to save not only Jews but Gentiles in Asia (Acts 13-14).  A group from Judea argued that there is no way these non-Jews could be saved unless they became Jews through circumcision and following the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1, 5).

As a result, they sought a decision from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem (Acts 15:2).  Their ruling on this vital issue of the early church makes such decisions like Roe v Wade or Brown v Board of Education pale in comparison.

Luke tells us that "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter" (v6).  The author doesn't name names except Peter, the leader of the apostles, and James, the half brother of Jesus.  This is one of the two times in the Bible where we see Peter and Paul, the two key missionaries of Acts, in the same room together (the other mention is in Gal 2:11-14).

The two sides present their cases before the leaders of the church.  "There had been much debate" (v7).  The Greek describes it as zetesis.  This means an investigation or inquiry.  Lots of questions were asked of both positions.  This was no quick decision.  These leaders made a careful examination of the issue.  They clearly understood that whatever they decided would impact the the future of the Gospel.

After both the legalistic Jews as well as Paul and Barnabas presented their cases, Peter stands up (v7).  And when the leader of the apostles has something to say, you listen.

He tells the people in the room, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe."  Pete reminds everyone there of God had done through him.  Almighty God chose him personally to take the salvation offered through the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to unclean Gentiles.  That was the whole purpose of Pete's rooftop vision of a zoo on a blanket in Joppa (Acts 10).  That immediately led Pete to travel to Caesarea and tell the non-Jewish Cornelius and his family about Messiah Jesus.

God made it clear to Peter that He was not limiting salvation to a particular ethnic group.  "What God has made clean, do not call common" (Acts 10:15).  "God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean" (Acts 10:28).  "God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him" (Acts 10:34-35).  "Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name" (Acts 10:43).  And don't forget Peter's jaw-dropping report to the home office about this incredible move of God among non-Jewish people (Acts 11:1-18).

Peter goes on to tell his audience that no one but God knows the human heart (v8).  He alone is able to judge who is has truly repented and come to Jesus for salvation.  That's His job, not ours.  He's the One who decides who receives the Good News.  We must not limit those we tell.  When in doubt, tell people about Jesus.

Pete makes the point that God's salvation of non-Jews is 100% genuine because of one critical factor: He game them His Holy Spirit!  God gave these born-again Gentiles His Spirit just as He did to those Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2:4).  God saved them without circumcision, without obedience to the Mosaic Law, without sacrificial ritual.  All they had done was repent and followed Jesus.  How can anyone doubt the salvation of these Gentiles since God gave them the Holy Spirit?

The leader of the apostles goes on to say, "He made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith" (v9).  Pete tells that God saw no difference between Jews and Gentiles.  And it was God Himself that scrubbed their sinful hearts clean.  This was David's prayer (Ps 24:4; 51:10).  This sounds a lot like New Covenant language (Ezek 36:24-29).  Through Ezekiel, God promises to pull together a new people "from the nations."  They will be cleansed, given a new heart and a new Spirit.  It certainly sounds a lot like what is happening in the book of Acts.

If there's no doubt about Pete's position in the debate at this point.  He turns to the legalistic Jews and let's them have it with both barrels.  "Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers or we have been able to bear?" (v10).  Come on, guys!  There was no way anyone has ever earned any kind of salvation through law-keeping.  Rather than put the same burden on non-Jews that no Jew could ever keep, Pete says we should celebrate what God is doing among them!

This is no yoking matter.

Whenever we ask others to prove their salvation by jumping through manmade hoops, we're on a very slippery slope.  When we do that, Peter tells us that we're "putting God to the test" (Dt 6:16; Mt 4:7; Lk 4:12).  And, I'm not sure if you've heard, this is not a good idea.

Let's be clear on this.  VERY clear.  We must not make our requirements for salvation tougher than God's!  This doesn't mean that there shouldn't be expectations of discipleship and service in the local church.  But this doesn't mean that we can make a call on someone's salvation through some well-intentioned but misguided manmade rules.

This is no yoking matter.

Pete certainly remembers Jesus' own words.  "For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Mt 11:43).  Christ busted the Pharisees' chops for doing exactly what these Jews were attempting here.  "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger" (Mt 23:4).  You have to wonder if Peter's words influenced Paul's letter to Galatia.  "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Gal 5:1).

Let's be clear.  This is no yoking matter.

Pete brings his speech home with one of the most powerful statements on salvation by grace through faith found in the Bible.  "But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will" (v11).  In other words, God saves everybody through the grace of Christ.  Jews.  Non-Jews.  Everyone comes to faith the same way.  Through trusting in the free gift offered only through the radical and risen Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth.

There are many modern scholars that try to drive a wedge between Peter and Paul.  They try to make a distinction between the Gospel preached by each man.  They hold that Peter professed a very Jewish message while Paul was the one who opened the doors of faith to the Gentiles.  Did the two men have their differences?  Absolutely.  Paul's confrontation of Peter in Galatians tells us they had their moments (Gal 2:11-14).

But Pete's impassioned plea here in Acts 15 makes it clear that these two men were singing from the same page of the hymnal when it comes to God's gracious invitation of non-Jews.  "We will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."  Paul will echo this same idea of justification by grace through faith over and over again (Eph 2:5-10; Rom 10:9-13).

Most of you reading this are non-Jews.  Think how different your relationship with Jesus would be if God did not make such a gracious move to us Gentiles.  We can come simply by faith through His grace.  No circumcision.  No Mosaic Law.  No ritual

This is no yoking matter.      

Jesus+Nothing=Everything

After Paul and Barnabas return from their amazing trip to Cyprus and Asia, they share what God has done through them (Acts 14:27).  The BIG story is how Jesus "had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles."

Twenty-one centuries later, it's almost impossible for us to understand what a mind-blowing reality this was for Jews.  They were in the midst of an exploding new paradigm of faith.  God was throwing the doors wide open on His revelation regarding the salvation of non-Jews.  Things were happening fast and furiously.

To get a better grasp on just how rapidly things were changing, let's do a comparison with modern technology.  Think about the technological advances in our society since 1960.  It's hard to keep up with all that has happened.  That's sort of what is happening for first century Jews in regards to faith in Jesus.  That's the context for what Luke describes in Acts 15.

At some point after Paul and Barney have returned from their trip (probably about one year), the good doctor tells us that some Jews roll into Antioch from Judea (v1).  They teach that "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

Paul and Barnabas consistently faced Jewish opposition on the road (Acts 13:44, 50; 14:2, 5, 19).  Now they faced it at home in Antioch.  Jews couldn't believe how this Gospel of Jesus was "polluting" their faith with these unclean Gentiles.  Understand that this new movement was still VERY Jewish.  In many ways, it's best understood that the followers of Jesus were Christian Jews rather than Jewish Christians.  They were still part of Jewish society.  They had simply come to understand that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.

These Jews from Judea demanded that these Gentile converts be circumcised.  In many ways, this made perfect sense to them.  If these non-Jews were coming to faith in Jesus Messiah, certainly they would need to do what others had been doing for centuries.  To become a proselyte, Gentiles would be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law.  It was a sign of God's covenant promise to Abraham (Gen 17:10-14).  Why should it be any different in the first century?

But circumcision was not a part of Paul and Barney's trip to Cyprus and Asia.  Non-Jews simply believed in the risen Jesus and were saved.  No circumcision.  No Mosaic Law.  Now that they were back home, things had come to (ahem) a head.

Circumcision was a HUGE issue in these important early years of the church.  It was central point of Paul's teaching and letters.  It's the entire focus of his epistle to the church at Galatia (not coincidentally, the apostle wrote that letter in this same time frame).  The apostle wrote to the Philippians, "Look out for the dogs, look out for evil doers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh" (Phil 3:2).  He wrote to the Colossians that the followers of Jesus have indeed been circumcised, but it is a VERY different circumcision.  "In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ" (Col 2:11).

As a result of the debate over the "Gentile Problem" in Antioch, the church decides to send Paul, Barnabas and representatives of the circumcision crowd to Jerusalem (v2).  They need to get a ruling from the home office.  They will present their case and hear it straight from the mouths of the apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem

There is an enormous reminder here against adding anything to salvation in Jesus.  He has invited us to come to Him and to follow Him.  As Tullian Tchividjian says, "Jesus plus anything is nothing.  Jesus plus nothing is everything."  It's the NEW math of the Gospel.  There is nothing required to be saved except Jesus.  No circumcision.  No works.  Jesus.  That's it.

Stack the Kindling

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2Tim 1:5).

When you want to build a fire, you’ve got to start small. You don’t begin with a few big logs and then strike a match. You need kindling. You need the smallest pieces of wood that will ignite easily. Then as the fire builds, you stoke it with bigger and bigger sticks and limbs. Eventually it’s time for those logs. Before you know it, the fire is crackling and popping. But you have to start small. You have to stack the kindling. 

(This is where I could insert a story about the time I really didn’t have any small pieces of wood to get our fire pit going. I figured a little gasoline would do the trick. I splashed a little from the gas can and tossed a match. WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH! Let’s just say it I’ll never forget the smell of scorched eyebrows. From now on, I’ll stack the kindling.)

In many ways, faith in Jesus is a lot like that. I first heard this idea from Matt Chandler While each person much have an individual trust in our Savior, other people in their life can get them ready. Paul reminds his buddy Timothy of how his family got his faith fire ready. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (v5). A methodist missionary named E. Stanley Jones is famous for saying, “God doesn’t have any grandchildren.” But that doesn’t stop mom, dad, memaw, and pawpaw from prepping kids for the day Jesus lights them up.

As Paul looks back on the blaze burning brightly in Tim’s life, he knows his fire is about to be extinguished. He writes to his spiritual son from the slammer. Specifically, Rome’s Death Row. Alcatraz, Folsom, and Shawshank got nothing on the Mamertine Prison. It’s where enemies of the empire go to die. The apostle is a dead man walking and he knows it. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2Tim 4:6-7). In the last letter of his life, the apostle does what he can to fan Tim’s flames.

Paul starts by telling Timothy just how much he’s encouraged by his legit love of the Lord. “I remember your sincere faith” (v5). He describes the young gun’s trust in Christ with the Greek word anupokritos. It means genuine, undisguised, or transparent. The term comes from the same root word as hypocrisy (Gr. hupokrisis) which means putting up a front or wearing a mask or impersonating someone you’re not. Tim’s faith is legit. The real deal. Not fake. Not phony. Not a front. 

What a powerful reminder that we’re not supposed to be cookie cutter Christ followers. God has wired each one of us very differently. He’s given every believer varying combinations of spiritual gifts. He’s placed each of us in different places and different times. While we all trust in the same Jesus, we don’t all look and act exactly alike. And that’s a good thing. There’s tremendous freedom knowing I don’t have to put on a front and pretend to be somebody I’m not. Paul tells the Corinthians how God’s grace allows him to be exactly who God made him to be. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (1Cor 15:10). What a relief to know that we can all be sincere and transparent in our faith. 

Tim’s faith may not be phony but what exactly is Paul talking about. Belief in the Bible is a lot more than just a simple acknowledgement of a fact. A whole LOT more! “Faith” (Gr. pistis) is an active trust, confidence, total reliance, and complete conviction in someone or something. In this case, the apostle is talking about Jesus. Andy Stanley says the best way to understand faith is to picture a stool. I may think the stool will hold me when I look at it. I may think the stool will support me when I lean against it. But the only time I’m REALLY trusting in the stool is when I put all of my weight on it.

Tim has placed the entire weight his life onto Jesus. He trusts in who Jesus is and what He has done that Tim could never do for himself. Christ lived the perfect life of obedience to God’s commands that he could never live. He died the death for sin that Tim should have died. He rose to an awesome new life that Tim doesn’t deserve. As a result, Timothy submits himself to our Lord’s leadership. That’s the Gospel. That’s the Good News. It’s not about the strength of your faith. It’s about the strength of the object of our faith. No matter what comes your way, keep your eyes locked on Jesus, the Starter and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). He’ll NEVER let go of you.

Paul reminds his young friend that following Jesus is a family tradition. Tim has “a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice” (v5). John MacArthur is pretty sure the apostle knew these ladies personally. There’s a good chance that they came to place their faith in Jesus during Paul and Barnabas’ first tour through Lystra and the surrounding region (Acts 13:13-14:21). Lois and her daughter Eunice were Jewish. Dr. Luke tells us Tim is “the son of  Jewish woman who was a believer” (Acts 16:1). 

These two women were apparently strong believers in God’s promises made in the Jewish Scriptures called the Torah. It’s what we know as today as the Old Testament. Tim’s memaw and mom trusted in God’s promise to send a Messiah to the rescue (Gen 3:15; 12:1-3; 17:1-8; 2Sam 7:9-16). Their faith was fully realized when they heard that Jesus was indeed the fulfillment of God’s promise and the ultimate Good News. Imagine finding out the long-awaited Savior of the entire world is a resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from the boondocks of Galilee! 

It seems clear that Grandma Lois and Momma Eunice invested into the spiritual growth of Timothy. They took the time to tell young Timmy all about God’s incredible faithfulness, goodness, and grace as told in His Word. That’s exactly what Paul says later in his letter.  “From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2Tim 3:15). These women wanted the boy they loved to know the God they loved. So they stacked the kindling.

Parents, grandparents, and other friends do this by telling the little ones about all the amazing things God has done in their own lives. Teach them stories from the Bible. Help them memorize Scripture. Sing worship songs with them. Pray with them, around them, and over them. It’s what my Grandmothers Ethel and Clarabelle as well as my own mom Elma did for me. It’s what my wife Deb and I tried to do with our own kids as well as our grandchildren. While God is the only one who sets someone on fire in the faith, we can certainly stack the kindling.

What can we take away from Paul’s words to Timothy? First of all, we don’t have to be phony when it comes to our faith in Jesus. We don’t have to dress like a TV evangelist, use enough hairspray to make a personal dent in the ozone layer or wear so much makeup it looks like we lost a paintball fight. You and I are free to be the person God made us to be in Christ. I don’t know about you, but that’s a HUGE weight off my shoulders.

Second, think back on the people who gently and consistently invested in your spiritual growth as a child. Was it a grandparent? Your mom? Your dad? A neighbor? A teacher? A coach? Reach out and thank them for fanning the flames of your faith. And don’t forget to let God know how much you appreciate how He placed these people in your path to stack your kindling.

Third, let’s stoke the spiritual fires of the young people in our lives. Parents and grandparents have a very powerful position of influence in children as they grow. Don’t miss any opportunity God gives you to tell them just how good the Lord has been to you. Read the Bible with them. Pray with them. Sing with them. Do I need to warn you not to ram it down their throats? Do NOT be heavy handed.

Find those flammable materials. Spiritual sticks. Gospel branches. Place them all around those you love. You can’t set them on fire yourself but you can do everything possible to get them ready. Stack the kindling. And then you might want to step back. Take it from me, you’re really gonna want those eyebrows.