This Life: Living the Gospel in the Face of Opposition

Intro

A frightened world needs a fearless church. -A.W. Tozer

Summary of Acts 1:1–5:16

Acts 1 – After His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days teaching His disciples about the kingdom of God. He commanded them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit. Before ascending, He gave the Great Commission in Acts 1:8: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The disciples then prayed and chose Matthias to replace Judas.

Acts 2 – At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with power. The apostles spoke in many languages, declaring the mighty works of God. Peter preached Christ crucified and risen, calling people to repent. About 3,000 believed and were baptized. The early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer—living as a Spirit-filled, gospel-centered community.

Acts 3–4 – Peter and John healed a lame beggar at the temple gate, showing Christ’s power. Peter preached again, declaring Jesus as the promised Messiah. This bold witness stirred opposition from the religious leaders, who arrested Peter and John. But they could not deny the miracle. When threatened, the apostles prayed for more boldness, not for safety. The church shared everything in common, showing unity and generosity.

Acts 5:1–11 – We then saw a sobering event. Ananias and Sapphira lied about their giving, pretending to be more generous than they were. God struck them down, teaching the church that holiness matters. Great fear came upon all who heard it—God was building a holy, reverent people.

Acts 5:12–16 – Despite opposition and fear, the apostles continued to perform many signs and wonders. The believers were highly respected, multitudes were being saved, and people brought the sick to be healed. The church was growing in power, purity, and witness.

Opposition for the Word (v. 17-26)

Sadducees defined: The Sadducees were the wealthy, politically connected priestly group who denied resurrection and opposed the apostles because the gospel threatened both their theology and their power.

The location of the apostles was Solomon’s Portico, which was a few hundred feet from where the Sadducees were located. And where they would return to for future teaching after being released

Why were the apostles opposed? “this Life”

You can be religious or You can be morally good and the enemy has no need to oppose you

But when you live according to this Life, you oppose his power

In this case the Sadducees were politically and religiously powerful

Note the motive: not truth, not righteousness, but jealousy.

Doctrinal point: False religion always opposes the true gospel, because the gospel threatens man’s pride and exposes falsehood.

What does this life encompass?

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

the way- only way to salvation, not in ways constructed by man

the truth- dictates how we live, man is not to dictate how we live

the life- This leads us to leading a life that looks totally different than the world we live in

When we live according to the Life

We live with boldness

We speak with boldness

How does the boldness express itself in the face of prosecution?

The apostles were arrested for how they were living

When God delivered them what did they proceed to do?

Began to preach at daybreak

How many of us can say we would have went back to preaching without hesitation?

Would we have tried to negotiate the location?

Would we came back with an attitude of pride?

Would we have retreated completely to the shadows?

OR

Would we have faithfully and humbly without hesitation returned to the God given task set before us

Would the way we walk show we are submitted to a higher power?

Remember The gospel cannot be chained (2 Tim. 2:9). Persecution only advances it.

1. China (20th–21st Century)

After Mao’s Communist takeover (1949), foreign missionaries were expelled, pastors imprisoned, and churches shut down.

Many predicted Christianity in China would vanish. Instead, underground house churches exploded.

Estimates: from ~1 million believers in 1949 to 70–100 million today.

The forced removal of foreign support caused Chinese Christians to depend on Scripture, prayer, and the Spirit’s power — just like in Acts.

2. Iran

Under Islamic rule, conversion from Islam is illegal and can cost your life.

Yet, the Iranian underground church is one of the fastest-growing in the world.

Believers gather secretly, often in homes, discipling one another with Bibles smuggled in.

Many testimonies report Muslims encountering Christ through dreams and visions, driving them to Scripture.

3. North Korea

Christianity is brutally persecuted — imprisonment, torture, even execution.

Despite that, tens of thousands of Christians worship secretly, some in prison camps.

The gospel spreads quietly, proving the truth of Acts 5:39 — “if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.”

4. Africa & Middle East (Sudan, Nigeria, Syria, etc.)

Boko Haram, ISIS, and other groups have targeted Christians.

Yet, stories abound of churches not only surviving but multiplying.

Persecution often purifies the church — nominal believers fall away, while true disciples deepen in boldness and witness.

Overall we escape persecution here but we have seen the church refined:

COVID pruned the church

Christianity has became less of a cultural thing to do

Strength to Stand in Face of Opposition (v. 27-32)

Why were they able to preach with such boldness in the face of opposition with real life consequences?

They were able to because they stood on the truth of what we see in verse 29, “We must obey God rather than man”

This truth would have been drawn from (in fact this story is them living this truth out) , Matthew 10:26-33

Matthew 10:26–33 ESV

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

They had heard Jesus say these words, and now are seeing him divinely take care of them to open doors not for their comfort but to further the gospel

So lets take a moment to reflect on the words of Matthew that gave the apostles strength, so that we may find the same strength

God knows the heart and intentions of all people

Boldly proclaim Scriptural truth

Don’t live by the philosophy of “Only use words when necessary”

Romans 10:17 ESV

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Actions are to give credibility to our words not to replace them

God has ultimate control and the source of power and provision

The disciples saw this in action as he opened the jail cells and allowed them to keep preaching

They very much wanted to see “this man’s blood upon” them, this is why the boldy preached without relenting

It would very much reveal to them they were living according to the fruits of the flesh rather than those of God

The fruits evident were fruit of jealousy, hostility, rivalry, and selfish ambition

But like many when they encountered the divine they became angry and opposed

What to Do In the Face of Opposition?

They proclaimed truth, acknowledged the sin, but focused and spent their words on the Gospel

1 Peter 3:14–15 ESV

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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,

The apostles were able to give a defense of why they done what they did

That reason is their was an authority that outranked them

Give a defense, recognize sin but spend the bulk on the Gospel

Why?

1 Corinthians 2:12–14 ESV

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Biblical principles do not add up to folks until they encounter the Spirit and have their lives transformed

Gospel conversations come from opportunities found in everyday conversation

Outro

Examine your fears – Are you more afraid of men’s opinions or of God’s authority? (Matt. 10:28)

Live “this Life” publicly – The Sadducees weren’t bothered by morality or religion; they were bothered by resurrection life in Christ. Is your life so Christ-shaped that it provokes a response?

Boldly but graciously proclaim truth – Like the apostles, we should give a defense (1 Pet. 3:15), recognize sin, but spend most of our words on the gospel.

Trust God’s providence – If He can open prison doors, He can open opportunities for you to speak. He may not always deliver you from suffering, but He will always be with you through it.

Leave the results to the Spirit – Remember 1 Cor. 2:14 — people don’t understand until the Spirit opens their eyes. Our job is faithfulness, not forced results.