Christ and His Church 38

Introduction

One of the barriers to sharing Jesus in Germany was the language

We worked through it to some degree through the missions team translating for us

But it was a challenge

Paul’s desire in his minstry was that nothing would get in the way of the gospel

In fact in our passage this morning we see Paul go from Greek to Hebrew and back again.

But Paul’s desire was deeper than that even

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 ESV

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

2 Cor 9 Paul gives a long list of all the hardship he had faced for the sake of the gospel.

Paul was driven by the call of Christ in his life

As Paul enters Jerusalem in Acts 21 he will face all these again

Do we think the same about the gospel?

Do we view our current political, moral or cultural climate as barriers to the gospel?

Or does the current state of Canada create a desire in us to put up barriers ourselves?

Tensions were high as Paul enters Jerusalem

Acts (1) The Concern of the Jerusalem Elders (21:17–26)

Josephus described this period of the mid-50s as a time of intense Jewish nationalism and political unrest. One insurrection after another rose to challenge the Roman overlords, and Felix brutally suppressed them all. This only increased the Jewish hatred for Rome and inflamed anti-Gentile sentiments. It was a time when pro-Jewish sentiment was at its height, and friendliness with outsiders was viewed askance.

So Paul encounters a mixed welcome as he connects with James and the Elder’s of the Jerusalem church.

I. No Barriers to Unity

A. Potential opposition from Jewish believers

“Zealous for the law”

They had been told

Paul was teaching Jews among the Gentiles:

not to circumcise their children

to not walk according to the customs

Romans 7:4–6 ESV

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

B. Recommended Purification

to squelch these rumors and to keep peace in the church James and the Elders recommend Paul goes through a cleansing or purification

Most commentators state that this would have been expected by Jews “zealous for the law” as Paul had been away from Jerusalem and among Gentiles

But he was to also sponsor 4 men as they took their nazarite vows

Point: Acts 21:24

Acts 21:24 ESV

take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.

C. Paul’s Obedience

Why did Paul obey and follow their request?

This had far reaching implications and James, the Elders and Paul did not want this to get in the way

Especially in light of the climate of Jerusalem

Out of respect for the leaders of that church but also for the sake of the gospel and the unity of the church

II. Testimony of Christ

On the last day of his purification he is attacked by Jews from Asia Minor

Map

Ephesus - where he spent significant time and faced significant opposition

accusation:

he’s teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place

he even brought Greeks into the temple and his defiled this Holy place

Notice these accusations are trumped up and false

1 Peter 3:15–17 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Paul is experiencing this

This uprising brings the Roman authorities, who arrest Paul

Paul is brought into the Barracks so that they can hear him

Paul requests to address the people

When he is allowed Paul testifies to the work of Christ in his life

Past: zealous Jew and religious leader

Met Christ on the way to Damascus

Christ sent him to the Gentiles

At this point things explode again and Paul is ordered back into the barracks to be flogged in order to get to the truth

Application: Even when we seek to remove any barrier and While we might testify to the power of Christ in our lives, there will always be those who reject it.

III. Citizenship

This flogging was the Roman form of truth serum

Literally beating the truth out of a prisoner

Boice, “This is not a normal flogging but the dreaded Roman flagellum. It was a beating so severe that is some cases it resulted in the death of the victim.”

Flagellum: a wooden handle to which was attached leather thongs tipped with bits of metal and bone.

This was the beating Jesus endured before his crucifixion

Stretched out and ready to be scourged Paul states his Roman citizenship

It was illegal to flog a Roman citizen without a trial

It is uncertain how Paul’s family became Roman citizens but Paul had been born into it.

They took Paul at his word because it was the death penalty to falsify a claim to citizenship

While this saves Paul from an unwarranted and unfruitful scourging Paul remains in chains

Our hope cannot be in our earthly citizenship

Philippians 3:17–4:1 ESV

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Conclusion