When The Gospel Divides
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[SLIDE 1] Introduction
If you have your Bible, then I would invite you to turn to Acts 13:42-14:7. (READ)
Illustration
Let me begin by making a confession to you. I do not like conflicts and divisions. I think all of us do not want to be put into a position where we have to talk to someone at work, school, home or even at church for misbehaviour. When that happens, we cannot predict how that person would react. If you have to confront someone who doesn’t like you, then most likely he/she won’t welcome your remark.
This is especially true in the Christian life when we try to share the gospel and give them the biblical worldview to non-believers. Sometimes, they may want to listen and accept your thoughts, or they’re not interested and push your thoughts aside.
Context
We recall that Paul preached the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue. Throughout his sermon, he’s pointing his audience to Jesus Christ by summarizing the story of the Old Testament, showing them how Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises found in Scripture, and pleading them to respond to the message of salvation.
Whenever the gospel is proclaimed, we must be prepared for different responses. One of which is opposition. When the gospel is proclaimed, it can divide people.
This may sound shocking to some of you. Jesus not only came to bring salvation to sinners who repent and believe, but also become the “Great Divider” of humanity. Hear these words from our Lord Jesus:
[SLIDE 2]
51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
As Christians, we shouldn’t be personally offensive. We should be loving, gracious, and kind to others, but the gospel we proclaim is an offensive message. When we choose to follow Jesus Christ, there will be those who will not.
It is in the passage that we read that people in Antioch and Iconium responded differently to the gospel. [SLIDE 3] It says clearly in Acts 14:4 that some believed in the message and sided with Paul and Barnabas; some rejected the message and sided with the Jewish leaders to oppose and antagonize the missionaries.
[SLIDE 4] So, in this passage, we will learn about the two groups: those who believed and those who rejected. But, I’ll add one more group, but you’ll find out near the end of my message.
Exposition
[SLIDE 5] First, let’s talk about Those who believed.
a. They hungered for the word of the Lord (vv.42-44)
After Paul concluded his sermon, people in the synagogue begged them to return so that Paul’s sermon would be preached again. The message that they’ve heard was not anything that they’ve heard. It’s fresh and perhaps new to them to know that Jesus the Messiah was the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Many Jews and Gentiles followed Paul and Barnabas, who, I think, might have become believers after the sermon. We’re not told how many of them followed, but this is great news because they want to know and learn more about the word of the Lord.
The desire to hear the word of God is one of the marks of a born-again believer. There is spiritual hunger in them.
[SLIDE 6]
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
[SLIDE 7]
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
They can hardly wait until the next Sabbath to hear the Word again, but in the meantime, they’re instructed to continue in the grace of God. Having just heard the gospel of grace, they’re to believe and walk in that message and not fall away from grace by depending on the law of Moses.
[SLIDE 8] These people probably spent the whole week telling their family members, friends and neighbours about what they heard, and so almost the whole city went to the synagogue to hear the word of the Lord.
Notice that they didn’t go there to hear the word of Paul nor the word of Barnabas, but the word of the Lord. Ultimately, preaching is not all about the messenger, but the message found in God’s word.
I would wish and pray at least that it would happen in the Oakridge and Marpole neighbourhood. I know the whole city of Vancouver may be too much, but what if the whole neighbourhood came to hear the word of the Lord? I pray that OBC would be the church where everyone hungers and thirsts for God’s word and sound doctrine.
[SLIDE 9] b. They bring glory to God (v.45-48a)
The salvation of sinners ultimately bring glory of God. When a sinner becomes a believer, another worshiper of God is added. God’s purpose is that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. Salvation for sinners is NOT the end goal, but the means to a goal. That goal is that people would become worshippers of the triune God.
We’ll return to verses 45-46 in a bit. After Paul and Barnabas faced some opposition from the Jews - namely, the Jewish leaders in this context - they’re going to turn to the Gentiles because these Jews rejected the gospel.
They proceed to quote from Isaiah 49:6 where the LORD commanded this, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
What’s interesting about this quotation is that the context of Isaiah was describing God’s Servant. This image is normally connected to Jesus Christ. Now, Paul and Barnabas are taking the role of the servant and actually EXTENDING the work of Jesus Christ by bringing the message of the gospel to the ends of the earth.
[SLIDE 10] This alludes to Jesus’ final message to His disciples in Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
[SLIDE 11] So, the Gentiles heard this news and rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord. They didn’t glorify Paul. They didn’t glorify Barnabas. They glorified the word of the Lord, the gospel because they were included in the plan of salvation without the need to go through circumcision and other Jewish rites.
When sinners are saved, they should discover their meaning and purpose in life found in Scripture. They’re created in the image of God for the purpose of glorifying their Creator. And that everything they do and say from then on is an act of worship to the One and Only true God.
That’s one of the purposes why we as the church exist. We gather together for the purpose of worshipping and glorifying God through praying, reading Scripture, singing, and receiving the Word.
[SLIDE 12] c. They were chosen by God. (v.48b)
Luke says, “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” This word, “appointed,” can also be translated as chosen or ordained. The grammar of this verb is a past action. Also, this verb is in the passive form, meaning that the object is receiving the appointing. This strongly indicates that God does the appointing, choosing, and ordaining.
How these many people believed unto eternal life is due to the fact that God appointed and chosen them. This is known as the doctrine of election. Unless God chooses those whom He saves, no one can come to faith in Christ.
[SLIDE 13] Our statement of faith: “We believe that election is the eternal act of God’s sovereign grace by which He chooses, calls, justifies and glorifies sinners; that it is effectuated by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word in drawing sinners to Christ so that their wills are freely brought into compliance with God’s elective purpose...”
God is sovereign over everything. He is sovereign over the events of the world. He is sovereign over nature. He is sovereign over history. He is sovereign over our lives. He is also sovereign over salvation. He is the One who has assigned and appointed those who come to eternal life.
Here’s what you need to know about the doctrine of election. The faith of these Gentiles did not cause God to choose them. Biblically, it’s actually the other way around. It’s God’s choosing that caused them to have faith.
The idea of election fits with the context of Paul’s sermon earlier whereby God is the One who’s actively fulfilling His promises.
[SLIDE 14] Darrell Bock: “Just as God was the major active agent in the events of Israel’s history earlier in the speech, so he is the active agent in bringing Gentiles to himself.”
[SLIDE 15] Jesus said this in John 6:65
65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
The truth is that if you’re a born-again believer, it is because God’s choosing. God chose to save you and gave you the gift of faith not because you were special. Not because you’re worthy. Not because God saw into the future that you’ll choose him. God chose you in spite of your sinfulness, in spite of your rebellion, in spite of your idolatry. He chose you because of His grace. And that should humble any believer from taking any pride and credit in their salvation.
[SLIDE 16] Charles Spurgeon: “I believe the doctrine of election, because I am quite sure that if God had not chosen me I should never have chosen him; and I am sure he chose me before I was born, or else he never would have chosen me afterwards; and he must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why he should have looked upon me with special love.”
[SLIDE 17] d. They were spreading the message (v.49)
Just as these believers spread the message throughout the city of Antioch, these believers spread the word of the Lord throughout the whole region of Galatia.
That’s the point of Acts 1:8. When sinners become believers, they in turn become witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ. They would continue the Great Commission that God has given them in making disciples of all nations.
God was doing a supernatural work to transform this city by the word of the Lord. Therefore, this city was turned upside down because Paul preached God’s Word. He didn’t use political discourse. He didn’t use gimmicks. He didn’t focus on social issues. He’s all about the Word. Similarly, these new believers were also all about the Word.
When Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium, they went to the Jewish synagogue to preach the gospel again.
Instead of giving us another Paul’s sermon, we can assume that Paul and Barnabas were preaching the word of the Lord.
They didn’t change their methodology. They didn’t change their message. They didn’t change their strategy and tried to figure out what they could do better. They continued to remain faithful.
Luke gives us a result that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
Like, I wonder what OBC and this neighbourhood would be like if we literally mimic what these believers did.
Not keeping the Word to ourselves, but actually spreading it to our schools, workplaces, family members, and wherever we’re at.
And pray that many people would believe in the Lord.
[SLIDE 18] e. They were joyful and Spirit-filled (v.52).
After Paul and Barnabas departed from Antioch, these believers did not seem to feel grieved and sad that they left (although that’s possible). But because God saved and caused them to be born again, and because they have discovered the truth of God found in Scripture, they rejoiced and lived a Spirit-filled life.
So, when the gospel divides, it divides those who believed from those who rejected. And those who believed:
were hungering for the word of the Lord.
were bringing glory of God.
were chosen by God.
were spreading the Word.
were joyfully Spirit-filled.
Now, we move onto the second group.
[SLIDE 19] Second, let’s talk about Those who rejected.
In both places where Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel, they were met with opposition because the Jews rejected the message. Let’s go back to verse 45.
I want you to notice the word, “But.” This word repeated many times in this passage. Three times it is used when the Jewish leaders responded in hostility towards the missionaries (v.45, 50, 14:2).
a. They were motivated to silence the message. (v.45)
These Jews were filled with jealousy to see that the crowds went to hear the word of the Lord from Paul and Barnabas. They were gaining an audience INSTEAD of the Jews.
In light of the context, it would seem that the Jews weren’t happy with the Gentiles knowing the word of the Lord, which is why Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles.
The Jews may have narrow-minded view of salvation, which only belongs to them, while being ignorant of the OT teaching that salvation always included the Gentiles.
Human jealousy is potentially destructive. Jealousy is closely connected to envy and covetousness.
Jealousy can destroy relationships.
Jealousy can lead to theft.
Jealousy can lead to murder.
Jealousy can lead to slander.
Jealousy can lead to lying (James 3:14).
Jealousy can lead to inciting violence (v.50).
Paul will experience suffering and persecution. People will slander him. People will injure his reputation. People will speak falsely against him. People will do what it takes to silence Paul, even if it means putting him to death.
Now, that may not always happen to us. Perhaps, it may never happen because we’re Canadians and we’re suppose to be nice and respectful of other peoples’ beliefs in this pluralistic society.
However, when we stand firm on our conviction on biblical sexuality and marriage, we may be slandered by society and we may be labelled by society as “haters,” “intolerant,” “backwards,” and words that end of “phobic.”
[SLIDE 20] That’s exactly what happened when Paul and Barnabas went 145 KM southeast from Antioch to the city called Iconium in chapter 14:2-7
[SLIDE 21] This time, the unbelieving (disobedient) Jews didn’t directly attack Paul and Barnabas, but they stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
To poison their minds means to cause a person’s attitude to be bad against someone.
They spoke badly about them and provided public opinion against them. It’s unclear what exactly these Jews said to the Gentiles, but the goal is to make them become hostile towards the missionaries.
This can easily be done on the internet. Perhaps at least just one word of slander can put a shock wave to those who hear.
Since these missionaries seem rather popular in the city of Iconium, it’s not hard to receive criticism from the public.
What’s fascinating is that while traditionally Jews and Gentiles did not speak or eat with each other, they somehow formed an alliance of opposition against Paul and Barnabas.
Opposition and dispute from the Jews have been common themes for the followers of Jesus. Most of them have been antagonistic towards Jesus, the Apostles, and now Paul. This will continuously be the pattern in Acts, and we should be reminded of this reality on a regular basis.
Here’s what’s terrifying about those who reject the gospel:
[SLIDE 22] b. They will be held accountable for their unbelief (vv.46)
Paul and Barnabas responded to the Jews with an indictment.
It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to them. God chose Israel to be His witness to the Gentile nation. Christ’s ministry was first to Israel and it was through Israel that salvation was to come to the world. Similarly, the Apostles went to the Jews first because their Messiah came and fulfilled the Scriptures.
Here’s what’s ironic about this situation. The Jews believed in the word of God. They believed in the Old Testament. Yet, all at the same time, when Paul and Barnabas preached from the Old Testament in regards to Jesus Christ, they rejected the Word. They say that the Jews thrust the word of God aside.
It can also be translated as “to repudiate” or “to no longer pay attention.”
These Jews were no different from their forefathers in the Old Testament. When Israel was in rebellion, God sent prophets to them to declare His message to them. But they were stubborn people. They rejected God’s word and warning through the prophets, and they condemned and persecuted the prophets and killed them.
The unbelieving Jews rejecting the word of God is a theme in Scripture. It happened to Jesus when He testified before the Jewish leaders that the Scripture pointed to Him.
[SLIDE 23]
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Not only did the unbelieving Jews thrust the word of God aside, but they also judged themselves unworthy of eternal life. What does that mean?
Since they chose to repudiate the gospel - a message of how to receive eternal life - they essentially condemned themselves for their destructive decision. They will take responsibility for their choice when they face the Lord on the day of judgment.
Jesus told a parable about the wedding feast. There were those who’re invited to the wedding feast, which were referring to the Jews, but they would not come. And Jesus said that those who are invited were NOT worthy.
Oh what a terrifying thing to hear that you are invited to the wedding feast. You’re invited to the kingdom of God. You’re invited to repent and believe in the gospel, but you rejected it. And then you judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life.
[SLIDE 24] However, the Jews were not fazed at all by the indictment and warning. They moved to the next stage in their hostility, which is to incite violence and persecution against Paul and Barnabas in verse 50 and eventually driving them out of the city district. This is a mob mentality.
As they’re going out, they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. What’s going on here?
Well, for my family, before we go inside our house, we always take off our shoes because we do not want to bring stains and germs into our carpet and floor from the places we walked around.
To shake off the dust from their feet is a symbolic gesture to communicate that the very soil of the country from where they walked was defiled.
Traditionally, whenever the Jews return to Israel from their travels, they would not want to bring Gentile dust back into Israel for the Gentile land was defiled so they would shake off the dust from their feet.
For Paul and Barnabas, they shook off the dust from their feet AGAINST the Jews and not want to bring their unbelief and defilement to the next location.
It was a way to tell them: Your unbelief is not my problem…the responsibility and consequence of your unbelief is on you.
[SLIDE 25] Such response was also given by our Lord Jesus in Luke 9:5
5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
What these Jews did in Antioch and in Iconium, in rejecting the gospel and in preventing people from hearing the message, is rather damning upon their own souls.
Paul wrote these words in 1 Thessalonians…and it’s quite possible he had this event in mind when he wrote it...
[SLIDE 26]
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
This is the second group that is divided from those who believed. I wouldn’t want anyone this morning to be those who reject the gospel. If that’s you, may the LORD grant you the gift of faith to believe in Christ and follow Him all the days of your life.
But there is one more group that Luke talks about:
[SLIDE 27] 3. Those who proclaimed
Now, those who proclaimed are also in the same group as those who believed. We should take note of Paul and Barnabas and how they handled the events unfolded before us.
a. They continued to be bold. (v.46, v.3)
With the strong opposition against them in Antioch and Iconium, Paul and Barnabas were not intimidated by their threats. They will not leave their post unless it’s absolutely necessary. In both situations, they continued to be bold in their faith.
I think boldness should be an essential quality of the Christian life. Timothy was timid and fearful, but Paul said that God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
Without boldness, Christians cannot fulfill the Great Commission that our Lord has given to us. Without boldness, Joshua and the army of Israel wouldn’t have crossed the Jordan River to take the Promised Land. Without boldness, David wouldn’t have confronted Goliath.
We have seen in Acts how the Apostles were bold in their faith in the midst of suffering and persecution. Troubles didn’t faze them. They were bold because the Spirit of God empowered them. They were bold because they were confident and convinced that Jesus was raised from the dead, and they were willing to tell everyone about this news even if it would cost them their lives.
[SLIDE 28] So, after Paul and Barnabas were threatened with mistreatment and stoning, they fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country [in the Roman Province of Galatia], and there...
[SLIDE 29] b. They continued to preach the gospel (vv.5-7)
They did not hide from persecution. They did not retreat and go back to Jerusalem. They continued to be faithful in doing what they’re called to do.
Plus, they did not change the message of the gospel to be less divisive and offensive to the crowd.
We are in the greatest danger in our day of taking the offense out of the gospel. Some have have become ashamed of the gospel message.
Some have made the gospel a safe, palatable message that would offend no one. Don’t talk about sin, repentance, the holiness of God, and hell. Talk about how Jesus loves you and He has a plan for your life. Yes, He died for you, but so long as you simply believe in Him, you’re then saved…but there’s no repentance and change of heart. Brothers and sisters, that is not the gospel.
[SLIDE 30] Augustine pointed out, “If you believe what you like in the gospel and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”
The gospel is offensive. I didn’t make it offensive. The church did not make it offensive. God made the message offensive. That doesn’t mean Christians are to be obnoxious and brash, but lovingly deliver the message.
This message is divisve because it confronts the deadliest thing in the human heart: sin. The gospel confronts your pride. It confronts your lust and sexual immorality. It confronts your apathy. It confronts your unbelief. It confronts your idolatry. It confronts your greed. It confronts everything that is wrong with you, and everything that is wrong with this godless society. It convicts you of your sins before a holy and righteous God.
Since the gospel is offensive, how can we expect anyone to believe in the message?
[SLIDE 31] c. They continued to trust in the sovereignty of God
Since God made the message offensive, this same God made the same message powerful and sufficient enough to save lost sinners by offering them a way to have their sins forgiven.
The responsibility of Paul and Barnabas was to proclaim the message, the gospel, the word of the Lord, the word of grace, to those who hear it. That God sent His one and only Son to be the sacrifice and substitute for unworthy sinners, and that He raised Him from the dead.
They don’t have the power to transform lives. Only God can. Only God has appointed and chosen those who will believe unto eternal life.
Similarly, it is not by our own intelligence, strategy, method, and eloquence that can ultimately persuade sinners to believe, it is God alone through gospel that can do that. No one can come to Christ unless God has granted it to him.
Nobody can be saved apart from faith in Christ. If you are saved this morning, it is because God chose to save you, and all the glory goes to Him. If you are lost and have rejected the gospel, it is because of your stubborn pride and disobedience. And if you die tonight not having repented of your sins and trust in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then you will be condemned by the holy God and you will be responsible for your own choice.
Therefore, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us proclaim this gospel to the dying world that is in need of the Saviour. Even if it is a divisive message, it is the only gospel that can save sinners.
Application
Conclusion
Others
It can divide those who believe from those who reject it. It is a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles, but to those of us who believe, the gospel is the power of God that continues to transform us on a day-to-day basis…because we are reminded of the amazing grace of our God through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ that can save unworthy sinners like us.
According to an article I read by vitalsmarts, new research has revealed that employees waste an average of $1,500 and an 8-hour workday for every crucial conversation they avoid. These costs skyrocket when multiplied by the prevalence of conflict avoidance.
According to the study conducted by the authors of the New York Times bestselling book Crucial Conversations, 95 percent of a company's workforce struggles to speak up to their colleagues about their concerns. As a result, they engage in resource-sapping avoidance tactics including ruminating excessively about crucial issues, complaining, getting angry, doing unnecessary work and avoiding the other person altogether. In extreme cases of avoidance, the organization's bottom line is hit especially hard.
The study of more than 600 people found that eight percent of employees estimate their avoidance costs their organization more than $10,000. And one in 20 estimate that over the course of a drawn-out silent conflict, they waste time ruminating about the problem for more than six months. Joseph Grenny, author of Crucial Conversations, says it's time organizations stop viewing interpersonal competencies as soft skills and start teaching their people how to speak up and deal directly with conflicts rather than avoiding them.
The reason I bring this up is how it can connect to our responsibility to proclaim the good news to non-believers. wonder how many souls are lost when we avoid sharing our faith with non-believers.
think all of us do not want to be put into a position where we have to solve a difficult dilemma in our life. This is especially true in the Christian life when we try to share the gospel to non-believers.
Maybe that’s one reason that most of us are afraid to tell others about Jesus Christ.
On the one hand, we know that if we don’t tell them about the good news, they will perish in eternal darkness.
On the other hand, we may be afraid that telling them about our faith would hurt the relationship and that person won’t respond favourably. So,