Gospel Transforms Greece

There is a tension that has existed for thousands of years, that has elevated in our society in the last 3. That tension has to do with eternal allegiance and local patriotism.

I chose the word tension intentionally because I do not believe that Christ-following and patriotism are intrinsic enemies. The tension exists, but mutuality is possible.

Recently we have been studying Judges in the Fellowship Hall class and last week we saw how the books of Judges and Ruth set up the united kingdom of Israel for its first 2 kings. God established political authority in Genesis 9, yet He still desired to personally rule His people.

1 Samuel tells the account of how God’s people asked for a King rather than direct obedience to YHWH. Loyalty to a leader and alignment with dominions has been a problem ever since.

The conflict comes front and center as early as the 2ndchapter of the New Testament with a phrase that appears 18 times in the Gospels. The phrase was controversial at Jesus’ birth when the Magi used it upon arriving before Herod the King. The phrase is used again to condemn Jesus before Pilate and was placed above His head on his cross: King of the Jews.

What does Jesus as King mean when another king has dominion over your home and country? This questioned baffled the early church father Augustine of Hippo who mused over this question for 25 years following the establishment of Christianity as the official Roman religion and his in-depth study of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. Augustine’s thoughts are recorded in a piece called City of God.

The impetus behind Augustine’s work is that the Roman Empire was showing clear signs of decline and collapse. Some were blaming the Christians who had angered the Roman gods by their refusal to call Caesar Lord. In twenty-two books, Augustine first answered critics, arguing that Rome fell because of sin and internal corruption, then criticized Roman culture, especially its glorification of violence and sensuality, and finally reminded Christians that there are two cities which must always be kept distinct, the “City of Man” and the heavenly oriented “City of God.”[i]

Now 1600 years later the same accusations are leveled against Christ-followers who are labeled as zealots with fear and hatred for the advancement of our society. Mandates enacted apart from action by our legislative bodies at the state and federal levels have divided our citizens and many churches have experience great discord over the “City of Man” claiming public health as their authority over the “City of God”.

It has become abundantly clear in my reading of Scripture that the Gospel is not only about our afterlife, but it also has direct impact upon our “NowLife”.

Transition: Acts 16-18 records Paul’s 2nd missionary journey into Greece and several ways the Gospel challenged life as normal. The first is that…

The Gospel Generates New Relationships (Acts 16:34)

Acts 16:34 ESV:2016

34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Explanation

The background to this verse is that famous scene where Paul and Silas are chained in prison for nothing more than preaching, singing at midnight. God sends an earthquake that opens all the prison doors.

This happens in Philippi, so how did Paul and Silas get to Northeastern Greece (Macedonia)? Paul was headed north and is in the town of Troas (16:8) when he received a vision to come to Macedonia (Greece).

While there a demon-possessed girl is getting on Paul’s last nerve so he exorcised the demon. Without this demon she was now useless to her owner’s profit margin. These men trump up charges that prompt the magistrate to beat and imprison the missionaries.

What happens in this story is that the regular power dynamics are turned upside down.

a. The servant girl is exploited for profit

b. The magistrates are controlled by businessmen.

c. The warden is fearful of his own life when the magistrates would learn of an escape.

5. By the end of chapter 16, prisoners are now houseguests of the warden, and the Wardens family and servants are becoming allegiant to Christ as their new master.

6. The Power Dynamics are totally upended by new relationships.

a. The Warden is now a nursemaid (V.33)

b. The Magistrates are now in fear of the Prisoners (v.38b-39)

Illustration

Why do musicians, actors, athletes and businessmen make so much more money and receive so much more respect than teachers, first responders and soldiers? Why do the ideas of the wealthy seem to have more credibility than the person in the laboratory? I’ve learned that a person who snakes drains may not be featured on the news, but when I need that service I appreciate what Mike Rowe is doing to give more dignity to those who do the dirty jobs.

Application

1. In God’s kingdom first become last, last become first.

2. In God’s kingdom those with little respect are made prominent.

1 Corinthians 12:23 ESV:2016

23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,

Transition: Shortly after the power dynamics are reversed in Philippi because of new relationships, in Thessalonica the power switch involves new allegiance.

The Gospel Obligates New Reign (Acts 17:7)

Acts 17:7 ESV:2016

7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

Explanation

Those who are enslaved by the current system are threatened by the liberty that the Gospel delivers. Allegiance to Jesus in no way was going to harm the Jews, apart from their addiction to intimidation and power.

Their addiction drove jealousy, uproar and attacks. (17:5)

Jason’s household had experienced the liberty that comes from the Gospel. Rather than blind obedience to the jewish yoke of intimidation, they threw off the yoke of slavery as they submitted to the reign of King Jesus.

Romans 5:21 clearly describes the liberty associated with a new reign.

Romans 5:21 ESV:2016

21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Illustration

When I think of being redeemed from an old master, I think of the word emancipation. Originally in Roman law emancipation was a legal act by which a paterfamilias released a child from parental control (emancipo = e manu capio, “let go of the hand,”[i] Relying upon the Gospel (Faith) forces sin to let go of our hand so that we can willingly follow after King Jesus.

Application

The power of the Gospel is not just a benefits letter that we put in a safe deposit box for some future redemption. It is a full surrender to a new ruler, a new reign, a new master.

Transition: The Gospel give new dignity in this life, the Gospel gives new liberty in this life, and it happens because…

The Gospel Pivots on Resurrection (Acts 17:31-32)

Acts 17:31–32 ESV:2016

31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”

Explanation

Acts 17:16 is driven by Paul’s understanding of the exclusivity that Jesus claimed for himself in John 14:6. An exclusive Gospel was just as distasteful to the Athenians as it is to modern critics.

The Epicureans and Stoics were early proponents of personal truth, but their were honest enough to admit that contrary claims cannot be equally valid.

Our culture likes to claim that my beliefs may differ from yours, but my right to my beliefs ought to be no threat to your beliefs. However in practice, if my beliefs cast shade on your beliefs, your tolerance disappears and I am labeled as a bigot.

The philosophers of Athens admitted that their beliefs were different. And they understood that the differences of belief could not co-exist—if one were true, by reason the other(s) had to be untrue.

Within this environment, Paul makes a claim that sets Christianity apart from all other deities. Some refused to acknowledge the uniqueness of Christ.

To those who believed that God raised Jesus from the dead, they received assurance of the truthfulness of the Gospel.

Illustration

If you refuse to make a cake for my celebration, you will not be permitted to make cakes for any occasion. If you refuse to rent space for my event, you will not be permitted to exist as a venue for any event. Because my right to my event and your obligation to participate in my event trumps any other belief system.

Application

Buddhism sees ultimate fulfillment within man. Hinduism sees ultimate fulfillment outside of humanity. Mythology sees many gods. Judaism and Jehovah’s witnesses see 1 God, but Jesus is something other than God. These claims are mutually exclusive, and they cannot all be true. If they are not all true, then not all paths lead to God!

When any other religion gains the credibility of the crucifixion and resurrection of God in the flesh then we can discuss. But until then, The Uniqueness of the Gospel is anchored in the Resurrection of Jesus!

Transition: Tso So far today we have seen that the power of the Gospel in Greece has generated new dignity, granted new liberty, introduced new confidence, and fourthly we see…

The Gospel Includes New Rules (Acts 18:15)

Acts 18:15 ESV:2016

15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.”

Explanation

Have you noticed that the cities mentioned in these points also have books of our New Testament? We’ve been to Philippi, Thessalonica, and now we move to Corinth. Paul wrote 4 letters to Corinth and 2 of them are considered inspired Scripture. Corinth was a San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York City type of city. Acts 18 reminds us that true understanding of the Gospel leads to a change in lifestyle.

Corinth was a city with at least 3 major parties: Jewish party, pagan party, & Christian party. Because all 3 of these parties had very different lifestyles, the Jewish Party tried to get the Federal Senator (Gallio the proconsul) to force the Christian party to follow their rules. The Senator kicked the issue back to the city, saying it was beneath his jurisdiction.

This conflict tells me that it is possible (necessary?) for Christians to live distinct from those around them.

Illustration

There are myriad of issues where we can hold very strong opinions. But can we respect those who disagree with those opinions? Can we agree to disagree and still remain friends? My primary care physician is a fan of a certain professional football team that USED TO beat the Chiefs consistently. My last physical just happened to be the day after the Broncos got beat on Thursday Night Football. We teased each other, laughed together and I left the office with neither of us changing our mind. You probably have not looked this closely at the December calendar, but did you realize that Christmas Day is on Sunday this year? On Friday night I shared a bench with another pastor in our community at the Football game. I asked him if they were going to do Christmas eve and/or Christmas Day. I told him that our Elders have not yet discussed the options, and we walked away from the game with just as much respect for each other as before I asked the question. Sometimes Agree to Disagree (as Gallio did) is the best choice.

Application

Just because something is legal, doesn’t mean it is godly!

Just because someone obeys God differently than you does NOT mean she is worldly or he is godless!

Conclusion:

There is no doubt in my mind that we are more polarized than we have been in the past. Too often we are blurring the lines between the City of Man and the City of God.

Do yard signs for the candidate or the issues that are different from your ballot prompt you to keep others at arm’s length or to draw them closer?

What may be a way between now and Nov 8 for you to live out gospel power by generating a new relationship? How might the reign of Christ and the shape of your morality be calling you to love God by loving others?

Song of Response #303.. “People Need the Lord”

Benediction: Jude 23–24 (ESV) — save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. 24Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,