Building the Church (24)
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In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
Good morning and welcome back.
How did you see God move this past week?
Ever heard this:
Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships - Bear Bryant
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
Have you ever had to defend your actions or choices?
How about your beliefs?
There are 4-10,000 religions in the world today
Christianity is most persecuted - more than 380 million face high levels of it
15 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,
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
We live in a growing culture of division and disbelief.
If you haven’t been questioned about your faith, it is coming.
Paul has made it to Jerusalem but his defense has just begun.
What began as keeping course and sharing the Gospel to his people would lead to a witness in front of the most powerful people of the time.
Let's pray
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twenty-One: Paul the Prisoner (Acts 22:30–23:35)
St. Augustine said, “Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.”
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
For the Roman Captain - all he knew was Paul was a Roman citizen but still had no idea what the problem was.
30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.
Make sure your life reflects your words
1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
Make sure your life reflects your words
Paul knew his life and the way lived reflected not only his Jewish heritage but his transformation.
The High Priest disagreed
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”
Make sure your life reflects your words
Ananias was an awful High Priest
Whether Paul knew who he was or not he was correct in calling out his hypocrisy.
In AD 66 - the Jews revolting against Rome found him and killed him
Keep the main the main thing
6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
Keep the main the main thing
I don't think this was a political ploy between Pharisees and Sadducees.
The doctrine of Resurrection was the main issue between these groups.
This could of opened the door for proclaiming Christ, instead it started a fight.
7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.
No matter what, Christ gives us what we need.
11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
No matter what, Christ gives us what we need.
He offered courage “Be of good cheer”
He gave commendation - not angry about going Jerusalem but proud.
Gave confidence - he would testify in Rome
12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
BUT
16 Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.”
And then
23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
Paul was faithful and obedient and ready.
His life and words matched.
25 And he wrote a letter to this effect: 26 “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”
33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
In Defense of the Faith Pt 1.
Now Paul would have the opportunity to share to the powerful
Apologetics is the reasoned defense and explanation of a faith, using logic, history, and evidence to address doubts and critiques.
It is knowing the “why” of our faith, having a life that matches our message, and being ready.
“Defending the faith to the best of our ability is not a luxury or an indulgence in intellectual vanity. It is the task given to each one of us as we bear witness to our faith before the world.”
― R.C. Sproul
Let’s pray
