Acts 15:1-5
Receiving the Holy Spirit lets us enjoy the kingdom of God. In order to do so, we need an assurance in salvation, and the assurance in salvation is different from anything from the world. The kingdom of God is about righteousness, joy, and peace. But without an effective help from the Holy Spirit, there is no one to have the kingdom of God. Let us think about the salvation of the Holy Spirit.
First, we need an assurance in salvation. The Church in Antioch was taught by Paul and Barnabas for a year. They were called Christians, and the church was a healthy church. However, while Paul and Barnabas left for the first missionary journey, the church was captured by other disturbing doctrine. People converted and accepted the Gospel, but some people with pride in Jewish customs came from Judea and spoke that the Gentile converts also needed to be circumcised and to keep the Law of Moses to be saved. They heard the news of the Church of Antioch that evangelized many people, and they came all the way from 500 kilometers away just to teach their pride, the Law. They did not just teach once, but they were consistent and passionate. And some members in the Church of Antioch became uncertain about their faith. The believers of the Church in Antioch were only beginners, and they only knew that they would be saved by faith in Jesus, but when some pious-looking people came and taught the Bible and the history of Judaism, they were allured by their saying, 'One must be circumcised to be saved.' The believers of the Church of Antioch certainly had faith they recited the acceptance prayer, but their assurance in faith was becoming doubtful. On the contrary, those who came from Judea did not have faith but were very affirmative. Christians should be able to discern these things. Judaism came from the redemption history of Abraham, but a mans natural desire for blessing changes things time to time. Salvation needs the assurance that it is given by God freely. It cannot be earned just by attending the churches of Jerusalem or Antioch.
Yes, the Holy Spirit gives us the assurance of salvation. But the faith comes from listening to the Word of Christ. I bless you in the Lords name that at least one of you would have the assurance in salvation when I give this sermon today.
Second, we have to debate based on our lives, not just with words. Paul and Barnabas could not stand this humanistic teaching. 'Dispute' means to stand against, and 'debate' means to argue with passion to find the truth. And the wrong teaching of the Jews could shake up the entire identity of the Church. People might have not believed the words of an individual, but no one could not disagree with people from Jerusalem Church, the mother church with special authority. However, there is no mention about debating with words. The important thing was the change in Pauls attitude towards a viewpoint of Pharisees. The debates with words cannot draw a complete conclusion most of the time. The answer to stop the uncertainty is a changed life, not some words. A person with an assurance in salvation can put down the wrong standards of his past through the Word then he could make the suffering his main point, the Word his textbook, and the Holy Spirit his Teacher to give a debate of the Holy Spirit. Without a sincere repentance, we cannot understand the suffering, the wilderness, or humanistic viewpoints. That is the reason we are not able to debate against all the things. Only when we thoroughly have realized our sin and turned back from it, we can stand against the viewpoint of the Pharisees. The Church of Antioch had listened to this debate for a long time, but they did not try to solve this arrogantly by making sides or using the power of the majority. They humbled themselves and decided to ask the apostles and the elders of the Church in Jerusalem, obeying the order. And this decision of obedience was the result of training through the Word. Pauls Gospel was recognized by the whole world, but Paul and Barnabas obeyed their orders without making their claims. This is how to debate through a changed life. An assurance in salvation should be shown through the debate of life in this way.
Third, God gives us the community that rejoices in salvation with us. Paul and Barnabas stopped by Phoenicia that was by the shores and Samaria. Phoenicia signified the worldly Gentiles, and Samaria was even more despised than the Gentiles as a mixed race with Assyrians. The Church of Samaria was built by the believers who were scattered after Stephens martyrdom. Paul and Barnabas reported their first missionary journey here, and the church was very glad. They knew what it felt to be discriminated against like the Gentiles so they could rejoice for the salvation of grace that was given to the Gentiles unconditionally. I believe that the members who could cry and rejoice with us just for the sake of salvation are God-given gifts of the Holy Spirit. I believe that this small group meeting is the community of salvation
A new year has come. We are having new small group meetings. It is sad because of COVID these days, but I hope that you would have great joy from the small groups.
Fourth, the conclusion of salvation is perseverance. We have to persevere wherever we go. When Paul reported about his journey that God had walked with him regardless of his weakness, the believers of Phoenicia and Samaria were very glad, but some Pharisees in the Church of Jerusalem attacked Paul who had the fruit of salvation. The way of salvation is tough and endless. But with the strength of the community that rejoices over hearing the Gospel, the believers must persevere the attacks of those who stand against the Gospel and persuade them like Paul. In the end, the conclusion of salvation of the Holy Spirit is perseverance.
87-year-old Professor Eo-ryung Lee did an interview while he is fighting pancreatic cancer. It might be his last interview: 'We have experienced bloodshed revolusion and grew financially with our sweats. But one thing we have not experienced is tears. The way to be free from COVID-19 is tears shed for others. The tears for others we do not know, the tears of warm body temperature...The key to finish this disaster and the key to heal the body, soul, and the spirit is one drop of tear that only man can shed.'
We might shed tears for selfishness. But as time passes, it could be changed into tears for others. I pray that each one of us long for the grace of that one drop of tear and that shed tears for salvation.
