There Is One Gospel
Notes
Transcript
TEXT INTRODUCTION
TEXT INTRODUCTION
SCRIPTURE ANNOUNCEMENT
Open your Bibles with me to the book of 1 Timothy, chapter 1.
SCRIPTURE INTRODUCTION
Last week we began a new series in the book of 1 Timothy.
As Pastor Jake opened the series, we learned that:
This was a letter from Paul,
who was set apart by God to spread the good news of Jesus to non-Jewish people.
He was writing to Timothy, who was like a protege/apprentice to Paul.
They grew so close Paul referred to him as a son in the faith.
Paul stationed Timothy at the church in Ephesus to lead it.
As Jake mentioned last week, Paul asserted his authority as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God.
Therefore, we are to see this as God’s authoritative Word, which applies to us today.
Transition
This morning, we will learn more about the reason Paul placed Timothy in leadership over the church in Ephesus.
SCRIPTURE READING
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God,
SERMON INTRODUCTION
SERMON INTRODUCTION
August 1911 at the Louvre Museum in Paris,
a small portrait of Mona Lisa hangs in a Renaissance gallery.
Until now, the Mona Lisa is not very well known,
but she's about to become a sensation.
After the museum locks it’s doors, a handyman, Vincenzo Perugia,
climbs out of hiding and pries the portrait from its frame.
He knows the layout of the gallery well.
He was recently hired to do renovation work at the Louvre Museum.
Perugia carefully wraps the priceless wooden panel in a cloth.
The next morning, in broad daylight,
he walks out with the Mona Lisa tucked under his arm.
There were close to 150 guards working at the Louvre,
and they had all failed to guard the painting.
In fact, no one even noticed it was gone until the next day…
and then it hit the headlines.
Up until the heist, Leonardo da Vinci's portrait was known mainly only to art experts.
Almost overnight, the Mona Lisa became a household name.
The scandal has made her a superstar.
Perugia hid the work of art in his apartment for 2 years.
His goal was to sell it, but was worried about getting caught because of the publicity.
He eventually tried to offload it to a dealer,
who called police, and Perugia was arrested.
Today, if you visit the famous Louvre museum in Paris, there is a little more security.
There is a bag check,
where all bags, purses, and backpacks must be x-rayed.
And then all visitors must pass through a metal detector.
The museum also employs almost 3,000 people,
one thousand two hundred of which are security guards.
They even have their own team of 48 firefighters.
Summary
All of these security measures, and staff,
are put in place to protect around 500,000 valuable objects and works of art.
Transition
As we pick back up in the book of 1 Timothy this morning,
we are going to see the most valuable thing for the life and health of the church…
THE GOSPEL!
My sermon title this morning is…
There is One Gospel
There is One Gospel
This is the name of a song we recently added by CityAlight.
The first line of the song says,
“There is one Gospel on which I stand”
BILLBOARD
There is only one path to God, and it’s through Jesus.
That is the Gospel truth!
And it is so vital to the church that Paul is going to encourage Timothy to:
Guard the Gospel;
Celebrate the Gospel; and
Fight for the Gospel.
First…
I. We Must Guard the Gospel
I. We Must Guard the Gospel
(13 min)
EXPLAIN
EXPLAIN
One of the main reasons Paul charged Timothy to stay in Ephesus was to “Guard the Gospel.”
Paul warned the Ephesians when he left…
that false teachers would rise up.
That’s exactly what happened.
These false teachers were distorting the gospel,
so Paul had to discipline some of them.
In his absence, he sent Timothy to continue to guard the gospel.
How do we guard the gospel?
We must learn to rightly handle the Word of God.
We must learn…
a. How NOT to Use God’s Word
a. How NOT to Use God’s Word
As Paul describes the false teachers,
we see how NOT to use God’s Word.
Look at...
1 Timothy 1:3–4 (ESV)
charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies
These false teachers were straying from sound teaching…
thinking God’s Word had some sort of hidden meaning…
Reading between the lines to find the secret code.
We see in verse 4 the fruit of their teaching…
1 Timothy 1:4 (ESV)
promote speculations…
Rather giving people confidence and trust…
Their teaching created confusion.
Their teaching also lead to…
1 Timothy 1:6 (ESV)
vain discussion,
Empty words… fruitless conversation… meaningless debate.
Talk that doesn’t benefit anyone.
We also learn later in 1 Timothy that they were adding to God’s law…
who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
These false teachers were adding requirements to God’s law He never intended.
These kind of legalistic rules promote a works-based salvation…
With the false idea that…
“You can earn your salvation”
This sort of teaching produces arrogance and self-righteousness.
In verse 7, Paul says…
desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
These teachers were acting like know-it-alls…
but they did not have the knowledge or experience to back it up.
This sounds like me as a teenager!
Summary
These false teachers were mishandling God’s Word,
They were treating it like a secret code/puzzle to solve…
which led to confusion.
They were adding rules God never intended…
which led to arrogance and pride.
This is “How NOT to Use God’s Word”.
That leads us to…
b. How to RIGHTLY Use God’s Word
b. How to RIGHTLY Use God’s Word
In verses 8-11, Paul goes on to show how to rightly use God’s Word.
In verse 8 he says…
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
The problem with the false teachers wasn’t the law.
The law is good…
if you understand how to use it.
He goes on to say in verse 9…
1 Timothy 1:9 (ESV)
understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient
What Paul is saying is that the law is meant to restrain sin.
Paul then lists sins the law is meant to restrain.
If there was no sin, then there would be no need for God’s law.
In his commentary, David Platt talks about…
The Three Uses of the Law
To show God’s restraint of sin
Through His Law, God gives us boundaries to avoid sin.
This seems to be what Paul is referring to here in verses 8—11.
Even God’s law helps restrain sin, ultimately, we still sin…
leading to the next use of the law…
To show God’s condemnation of the sinner
No matter how hard we try to live up to God’s standards, we fall short.
This means that we are guilty before God, and realize we need to be saved.
This leads us to Christ!
He came to pay the debt of sin we owe,
and through faith in Him we are made righteous.
This leads to the third use of the law…
To show God’s will for the saved
Because of Christ’s incredible grace and mercy in our lives…
we now long to follow Christ…
and His Word shows us how to do that.
Rather than producing confusion, and meaningless debate,
Paul says in verse 5 that rightly using God’s Word produces…
1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV)
love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Summary
Paul is calling on Timothy to “Guard the Gospel” by being a faithful teacher…
and stopping false teachers who mishandle God’s Word.
ILLUSTRATE
ILLUSTRATE
Last year, Albert Mohler became the longest tenured president at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (where I attended seminary), celebrating his 30th year as president.
It’s hard to imagine now, but only 2 years into his presidency, he was almost thrown out.
During his doctoral studies, Mohler sensed an urgency about theological education and the future of the evangelical world.
He initially thought he would serve God by becoming a pastor,
but when the president of Southern Seminary retired, he sensed the call to apply for the job.
When Southern Seminary began in 1859, it’s founders did their best to build a solid foundation that would help the seminary remain faithful to God and His Word.
They formed a confession of faith,
as well as boundaries of acceptable belief for the faculty to agree with and sign.
But as the school grew, many teachers departed from the school’s confessions.
By the 1960’s, most of the faculty were thoroughly liberal in their theological commitments.
They had strayed from faithfulness to God’s Word, and
allowed culture to shape the theological training of Southern Seminary.
When Mohler was voted in as president, he declared war,
promising to work toward restoring the seminary to faithfulness to God and His Word.
Those early years were filled with hostility.
Students and faculty opposed and protested Mohler…
Students would stand with their backs to him as he preached in chapel…
He was even spat on…
During his opening convocation, students protested by hanging a dummy made in his likeness.
The tension increased, and came to a boiling point when
Just 2 years in, the faculty voted to throw him out as president.
Speaking of that difficult time, Mohler said…
“I sat down on the floor in the guest room in the President’s Home with Mary, and we just closed the door and lost it. And we, honestly, as tearfully as we could, prayed, ‘Lord, it’s in your hands; we’ve got nothing more to give.’”
Even though the professors did not have faith in Al Mohler,
The Board of Trustees stood by him.
It wasn’t easy, but by God’s grace under Mohler’s leadership,
Southern Seminary has regained it’s theological convictions to God’s Word,
and is guarding the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Speaking of Mohler’s impact during the last thirty years,
Joshua W. Powell, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said:
“Trying to measure the impact that Albert Mohler has made at Southern Seminary would be like trying to measure the amount of water in the ocean with a tablespoon
Under his leadership, Southern Seminary has:
experienced record enrolment;
sent out over 15,000 graduates as ministers of the gospel;
assembled a world-renowned faculty; and
restored a God-glorifying joy to the campus.
Speaking of his perseverance, Albert Mohler said:
“If it’s about the convictions, then you can handle the opposition, the criticism, the controversy because it’s not most importantly about you,” he said.
“My ambition and goal and purpose has been to articulate convictions that I believe are not only true, but are important for the sake of the church, for the sake of the world, for everything from eternal life to human flourishing.
If you understand the issue of the truth, if you have confidence in the truth — and your convictions you know are not only true, but urgently important — then you have to be willing to undergo a great deal of controversy.”
Summary
Mohler was willing to guard the truth of the gospel because of his convictions to it.
APPLY
APPLY
We too must be willing to stand up for and guard the gospel…
even if that means we will be hated for it…
because the truth is at stake!
In their book, Health, Wealth, and Happiness, David Jones and Russell Woodbridge highlight a disturbing trend in the church…
“A new gospel is being taught today. This new gospel is perplexing—it omits Jesus and neglects the cross.”
They report that
“46 percent of self-proclaimed Christians in the United States agree with the idea that God will grant material riches to all believers who have enough faith. This teaching has become known as “the prosperity gospel.”
This is a false gospel that is leading many astray.
Christ never promised us wealth…
what He promised was hardship, persecution, and being hated for His name’s sake.
He called on those desiring to follow Him to:
take up their cross; to
to surrender everything in this life;
and to work for treasure that lasts through eternity.
Maybe you know people who are caught in false teaching that promotes legalism.
Rules, and restrictions that God never intended us to follow.
They believe that if they follow these strict rules,
that they might hopefully be good enough to get into heaven.
Thank God that we don’t have to wonder if we will be good enough to get into heaven!
We already know we’re not!
But we can have confidence that we will be with Jesus in eternity forever,
when we repent of our sin,
believe in the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
and confess Him as our Lord.
Summary
When we come across family members, friends, coworkers who believe these false gospels,
we should lovingly and graciously challenge their beliefs,
and point them to the hope we have in Christ.
But when we come across people in our church who believe and teach these false gospels,
we must confront and stop them…
We Must Guard the Gospel!
Next…
II. We Must Celebrate the Gospel
II. We Must Celebrate the Gospel
(8 min)
We never graduate from the gospel.
We will never outgrow our need for the gospel.
We must always remember and celebrate the wonder of God’s love for us.
This love was displayed in Christ,
and this is the heart of the gospel.
EXPLAIN
EXPLAIN
We celebrate the gospel because…
a. The Gospel Offers Forgiveness to Sinners
a. The Gospel Offers Forgiveness to Sinners
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
The phrase “this saying is trustworthy” is unique to the pastoral epistles (Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus)
Paul uses this phrase 5 times in these three letters.
Paul expected them to obey ALL his teaching…
but it seems these sayings were important truths that were to be accepted and known by ALL churches.
This is a beautiful example of a statement that we should all know.
In only 9 words, Paul displays the glorious truth of the gospel…
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
Jesus didn’t come for the holy, the righteous, the qualified…
He came for sinners!
Paul goes on to say in verse 16…
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
What Paul is saying is, “If God can save me, He can save anyone!”
Summary
We celebrate the gospel because although God’s law shows us our sin…
Christ came to save sinners.
We celebrate the gospel because…
b. The Gospel Redeems Our Past
b. The Gospel Redeems Our Past
1 Timothy 1:12–13 (ESV)
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.
You think you’re a bad sinner?
You look like a straight “A” student at Harvard University compared to Paul!
Paul was opposed to Christ,
literally fighting against Him.
Paul opposed the Church of Christ,
and was devoted to single-handedly wiping it off the map!
John MacArthur, in his commentary said:
“Paul violated the first half of the Ten Commandments through his overt attacks against Christ. Paul violated the second half through his attacks on believers.”
Paul goes on to say in verse 13…
1 Timothy 1:13–14 (ESV)
But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Summary
God redeemed Paul from his sinful past.
What a glorious reason to celebrate the gospel!
We celebrate the gospel because…
c. The Gospel Brings Glory to God
c. The Gospel Brings Glory to God
Paul ends this section with a magnificent doxology…
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
After remembering the grace of God in his life,
Paul overflows with praise to God!
Paul did not deserve to receive forgiveness and redemption…
What he deserved was to be killed and condemned!
But God had mercy,
offering him forgiveness through Christ…
and a new life lived to the glory of God.
This resulted in Paul’s outpouring of praise to God.
Summary
We Must Celebrate the Gospel because:
it offers forgiveness…
redeems our past… and
brings glory to God.
ILLUSTRATE
ILLUSTRATE
As many of you think back on God’s grace on your lives…
you can relate to the song, “All I Have is Christ”
VERSE 1
I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
VERSE 1
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still
VERSE 2
But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
VERSE 2
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace
CHORUS
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Summary
We praise God,
and celebrate the truth of the gospel,
as we think back on His incredible grace in our lives.
APPLY
APPLY
But we don’t stop there.
There is a reason God has saved us.
Paul mentions this purpose in verse 16…
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
God’s grace in Paul’s life was meant to be an example to others.
Maybe you know someone who, if you’re honest,
you think they are too far gone…
their heart is too hard…
Maybe you think YOU’RE too sinful to be saved.
If Jesus can save Paul, He can save anyone!
If Jesus can save Paul, He can save anyone!
Keep praying for them!
If they are open and willing to having conversations,
keep sharing the good news of the gospel with them.
God’s grace can penetrate the hardest of hearts.
Paul is an example of that.
Maybe you look back at the sin in your life.
and it’s holding you back.
You struggle to believe God would ever want to use you.
If Jesus can use Paul, He can use you.
If Jesus can use Paul, He can use you.
God can do incredible things through sinful, broken, weak people,
who surrender their lives to Him.
May our prayer be verse 3 of the song “All I Have is Christ”…
VERSE 3
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
VERSE 3
O Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You
Summary
Would it be our willingly desire to give our lives to God,
as we celebrate the gospel!
Next…
III. We Must Fight for the Gospel
III. We Must Fight for the Gospel
(13 min)
At the end of last year we preached a sermon series on the Apostles’ Creed.
Our goal was to strive for unity.
We do this by agreeing on issues of greater importance,
and making allowance for disagreement on issues of lesser importance.
However, as we will see this morning, there are times to stand up and fight… (not literally)…
WHEN THE GOSPEL IS AT STAKE!
Paul is telling Timothy,
“This is a hill worth dying on!”
We must fight for and preserve the truth of the gospel.
EXPLAIN
EXPLAIN
Where do we fight for the gospel?
a. We Fight for the Gospel in Our Lives
a. We Fight for the Gospel in Our Lives
1 Timothy 1:18–19 (ESV)
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience.
Paul reminds him about the calling of God on his life.
Since God has
saved you,
given you this position, and
confirmed it through prophecy.
be faithful and fight for the gospel.
Paul commands him to do this “holding faith and a good conscience.”
Faith... is of utmost importance.
The world thinks faith is silly and childish,
and often we think it would be better if we could reason and explain our belief in God.
But as Hebrews 11:6 says…
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
We can’t explain everything,
but we must hold on to a child-like faith that believes God’s Word.
Paul also commands Timothy to wage warfare with a “good conscience.”
Our conscience is a gift from God.
Speaking about our conscience, John MacArthur says…
“God created man with a “conscience” as his self-judging faculty. Because God has written his law on man’s heart, man knows the basic standard of right and wrong.
When he violates that standard, his conscience produces guilt, which acts as the mind’s security system that produces fear, guilt, shame, and doubt as warnings of threats to the soul’s well-being.
On the other hand, when a believer does God’s will, he enjoys the affirmation, assurance, peace, and joy of a good conscience.
Summary
Paul is calling on Timothy to fight for the gospel
holding to faith…
with a sensitivity to his God-given security system, his conscience.
It is through these that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide Timothy…
Where else do we fight for the gospel?
b. We Fight for the Gospel in Our Churches
b. We Fight for the Gospel in Our Churches
1 Timothy 1:19–20 (ESV)
By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Paul had just told Timothy to wage the good warfare…
holding faith and a good conscience…
And now he says…
“by rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith.”
We don’t know much about Hymenaeus and Alexander.
But given the fact that they are mentioned in the context of this chapter,
most believe these men were leaders/elders in the church.
Paul uses these men as an example of what happens when you stray away from the gospel.
They turned away from faith in Christ, and
were led into sin and false teaching by ignoring their consciences.
What’s worse, they began leading others astray as well.
For this reason, Paul handed these men over to Satan…
He had them removed/excommunicated from the church so that they could not continue misleading others.
Summary
Paul was willing to take drastic action to fight for the gospel to protect the church.
Transition
To some, excommunication may seem harsh.
As Christians, aren’t we supposed to be loving, gracious, and forgiving?
Absolutely! But we also need to guard and protect the church.
Let’s look at a biblical example of church discipline that helps us see the necessity of it.
ILLUSTRATE
ILLUSTRATE
In his letter to the Corinthians,
Paul confronted the church because there was a man sleeping with his stepmother.
To Paul’s shock, the church was proud of it!
Paul calls on them to remove the man from among them for three reasons:
First, excommunication is for the good of the sinner.
Paul says in…
When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
The goal of excommunication is not payback or revenge…
it’s an act of love that desires that person to see their sin and turn back to God!
It is for their own good.
Second, excommunication is for the good of the church.
Paul goes on to say…
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
If sin is tolerated in the church, it will eventually affect and corrupt the whole church.
Excommunication is an act of love that protects the church.
Third, excommunication is for the good of Jesus’ reputation.
How people perceive us, is how they will perceive Jesus,
and we don’t want to stain his reputation.
We see this in…
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
We are to be a holy people, representing a holy God.
Excommunication is an act of love as we pursue holiness,
in order to preserve Jesus reputation.
Excommunication is necessary:
For the good of the sinner
For the good of the church
For the good of Jesus’ reputation
Summary
Paul is calling on Timothy to fight for the gospel,
which may mean he will need to excommunicate these false teachers.
APPLY
APPLY
As the church of Jesus Christ…
We need to be willing to stand on the truth of God’s Word,
and fight for gospel truth!
One of the ways we do this is by confronting sin in one another.
It is easy for us to avoid this confrontation,
but it is vital to health and purity of the church.
As Paul continues teaching the Corinthians he says…
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
It is not sinners OUTSIDE the church that Paul is primarily concerned about avoiding.
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
It is sinners INSIDE the church Paul is concerned about!
Those outside the church are directly opposed to Christ, and we can easily see their false ways.
But it is those inside the church, who claim to be followers of Christ, yet live in unrepentant sin that we should avoid.
The gospel is at risk of being perverted,
and we must fight to keep it pure and unstained!
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
We are called to hold one another accountable!
If someone claims to be a follower of Christ,
but we see them living in sin, we must confront them.
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
The purpose of our confrontation is restoration.
Our desire is to help one another grow in holiness,
and walk in the favour and blessing of God.
Summary
We must fight for the gospel in our lives, and in our churches,
as we seek to maintain the pure truth of God’s message of salvation for the world.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
(4 min)
Ananias & Sapphira
If you’ve been following our church Bible reading plan,
you read the first few chapters of the book of Acts this past week.
The early Christian community in Jerusalem is experiencing rapid growth and unity.
Believers are sharing their possessions and resources,
and there's a sense of communal living and support.
One significant event is the account of Barnabas selling a field,
and giving the proceeds to the apostles to give to the needy.
This act sets a positive example of generosity and selflessness within the community.
A pattern throughout the book of Acts is that…
Whenever the gospel makes an advance,
there are increased spiritual attacks.
That’s exactly what we see in chapter 5.
Amidst the growth and sacrificial giving of the church,
we read of Ananias and Sapphira.
Together, they hatch and plan that will make them appear godly and sacrificial.
They sell a piece of property…
keep part of the money…
then give the other portion to the church,
claiming that was the full amount.
Then Peter said to Ananias,
Acts 5:3 (ESV)
“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
About three hours later his wife came in…
And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”
But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
We might wonder why God would be so harsh…
The purity of the church was at stake.
If sin and hypocrisy was allowed to creep in at the very beginning,
it would destroy the church before it could really get started.
Rather than hypocrisy catching on and permeating the whole church,
we read that…
Acts 5:11 (ESV)
great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
God’s judgement came on Ananias and Sapphira to protect His church!
Landing the Plane
Landing the Plane
One day, God’s judgement will finally, and fully come down on sinners.
Praise God that we have the truth of the gospel!
That…
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
This is the gospel that we, as Christ’s people, are called to:
Guard;
Celebrate; and
Fight for.
If you are here this morning, and you have not trusted in the sacrifice of Christ,
You will have to bear your sin on your own, and you will be condemned.
Thankfully, there is a way for you to be saved!
Romans 10:9 (ESV)
if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
The road will not be easy.
Christ will teach you to die to yourself everyday.
But you will find loving God and loving your neighbour as yourself,
to be the most fulfilling thing you will ever do,
as you joyfully wait for Christ to return and lead us safely home.
Let’s pray…