Gospel Unity

 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

~Ephesians 2:11-13

Key Defining Events in Israel History

1800

BCEAbraham &

Circumcision

1300

BCEMoses &

Law

825

BCESolomon &

Temple

Key Defining Events in Jewish History

722

BCAssyrian Exile (10 Tribes)

586

BCBabylonian

Exile (Diaspora) 52

7 BCJerusalem

Repopulated

Jew-Gentile Demographics in Roman EmpireGroup Population % of the Empire % of Palestine Entire Empire Gentiles 51,000,000 93 Jews 4,000,000 7 100

Palestine (Jews & Gentile) Palestine Gentiles 1,050,000 2 60 Palestine Jews 700,000 1 40 Jerusalem Jews 25,000-95,000

Jewish IdentityJews zealously guarded their

heritage and identity.

Relatively small numbers in comparison to Gentile neighbors only heightened sense of special selection by God.

Enter Jesus Christ and the gospel...

Jew-Gentile Gospel Relationship

John 12• Greeks meet

Jesus

Acts 1• Great

Commission

Acts 6• Hebraic/Greek

Widows

Acts 8• Preaching outside Judea

Acts 9• Paul sent to

Gentiles

Acts 10• Cornelius’

Conversion

Acts 11 - Flashpoint Antioch 41 AD, the Antioch church begins with

the first large-scale conversion of Gentiles.

Antioch becomes a major hub for the Gentile Christian church, Paul and Barnabas launch first missionary journey into the Gentile world around 49AD.

Within a year, the “Judaizing Controversy” would reach a fever-point, resulting in the letter of Galatians and the Jerusalem Council

Judaizing ControversyCertain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” – Acts 15:1

Question:Do you have to become Jewish before you can become Christian?

Controversy ResolvedThe apostles and elders, your brothers,To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:Greetings.We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.Farewell.

Paul’s ArgumentsLegal Argument

Circumcision obligates one to obey whole Law – impossible! (Gal 5:3). Christ is the end of the Law (Romans 10:4)

Historical ArgumentFaith, in Abraham's instance, preceded circumcision; Abraham (Gen

15:6) was declared righteous by faith before he was circumcised (Gen 17). God promised blessings through Abraham before circumcision and before the Law (Moses).

Paul’s ArgumentsProphetic Argument

God had indicated in the Scriptures that a time would come when the Gentiles would be included with His people. (Galatians 3:8, Romans 9).

Theological Argument Law and grace work oppositely. If we can work our way to God, or to

heaven, by Law, then there was no need for Christ to come and be sacrificed (Romans 11:5-6)

Controversy ResolvedGalatians 2:1-10 - Leaders united on big picture salvation doctrineRomans 10-11 - Importance of Jewish covenants, God’s plan for IsraelI Corinthians 10:1-11 - Jewish Scriptures are foundation for churchI Corinthians 8-10, Romans 14-15 – idol feasts restrictions, freedom in

disputable matters, law of loveEphesians 2:11-21 – Christ destroys barriers and reconciles Jew/Gentile Philp 3:2, Titus 1:10 – “Judaizers” continued to be a problematic

influence in early church

Key PointsUnity threat - Do you have to be Jewish in order to be Christian?

No!NT Books - Highlight books that speak to controversy

Galatians, RomansPortions of I and II Corinthians, Eph, Colossians, Philp, I Tim, Titus

Important church teachings that persist to this day:Salvation by grace through faithFaith/deeds relationshipLaw of Love and Disputable Matters

Jewish War 66-73AD Roman-Jewish tensions explode

over taxation, sacrilege, resulting in Great Revolt of 66AD

Roman general Vespasian dispatched from Rome

Campaign in Galilee against Zealot-backed forces in 67AD

Roman campaign halted around Jerusalem with emperor turmoil

Fall of Jerusalem70AD

Vespasian becomes emperor in Rome, leaves son Titus in commandSiege of Jerusalem breaks through in 70 ADRoman forces sack Jerusalem and demolish Temple

The End of Temple Judaism

No Temple = no sacrifices, no priesthood, no observance of Law Rise of synagogue Judaism and rabbis Christians viewed by Jews as disloyal Jesus’s prophecy regarding temple fulfilled