Sincerely Wrong

Discovering the Church   •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  34:53
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Paul begins defense of his teaching telling the mob that he was sincere but wrong about those who follow Jesus.

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Outlines from Mark and Acts 22. Practicing—Acts 22

A. Person—vv. 1–2. Paul tells the Jewish people he is a Hebrew. He speaks to them in the Hebrew language.

B. Practice—v. 3. Paul explains how he, as a Hebrew, practiced the Hebrew customs and teachings.

C. Persecution—vv. 4–5. Paul tells how he persecuted the Christians, placing them in prison. The Jewish high priest gave him permission to persecute and punish all Christians he found. He stood by as Stephen was being stoned to death—Acts 7:57–60.

Outlines from Mark and Acts 22. Practicing—Acts 22

A. Person—vv. 1–2. Paul tells the Jewish people he is a Hebrew. He speaks to them in the Hebrew language.

The Person: Paul lets the mob know he used to be just like them.

Paul identifies with the crowd many times...
He’s letting them know he was there where they are now...
We can identify with the crowds we interact with as well...
Acts 13:26 ESV
26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
Paul’s life contains a convincing testimony because he was sincere...
What does your life testify about you?
Acts 23:1 ESV
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.”
It was Paul who lamented for His Brethren, knowing that there sincerity would only condemn them for being wrong...
Romans 10:1–4 ESV
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Paul was sincerely wrong and he recognizes that his brethren are caught in the same fate...
Paul tells the crowd he is aware of their traditions and practices...

The Practice: Paul lets the mob know that he understands the traditions and the old faith of Judaism.

Paul attempts connecting with the crowd through demonstrating his understanding of what they believe...
Not many in the crowd knew Judaism better than Paul...
Galatians 1:14 ESV
14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
Paul’s practice may have been wrong at one time but he kept his zeal...
What you do, even though you might do it fervently can still be wrong...
Philippians 3:4–7 ESV
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Paul essentially went from the persecutor to the persecuted...
We are no different, we once were lost but now we’re found; blind but now we see;
Paul sincerely persecuted and now he is being sincerely wrongly persecuted by those he was just like...
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 4060 Sincere Flattery?

4060 Sincere Flattery?

A curmudgeon on British publishing finally decided to retire at age 70. He was given the usual dinner. Associates, joyous at the prospect of his leaving, vied in elaborate praise. When the time came to respond, the old gentleman got up and said, “I had no idea I was held in such esteem. I shall stay on.”

—Eugene Exman

Outlines from Mark and Acts 22. Practicing—Acts 22

C. Persecution—vv. 4–5. Paul tells how he persecuted the Christians, placing them in prison. The Jewish high priest gave him permission to persecute and punish all Christians he found. He stood by as Stephen was being stoned to death—Acts 7:57–60.

The Persecution: Paul tells the mob what his ignorance caused, the persecution of the truth and the church.

A short 8 years ago Paul held the coats of those who stoned Stephen to death. He was sincerely wrong!
Wrong is just plain wrong even if one is sincere...
Man must operate in Godly sincerity because only that operates out of the truth...
2 Corinthians 1:12 ESV
12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
If sincerity is to be profitable it must be inline with the truth...
Paul encouraged movement from the Old way to the new way because it was the truth...
1 Corinthians 5:8 ESV
8 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.
Is your sincerity in line with the truth?
Do you just do things out of tradition?
Do you act and follow in ignorance?
Then you might be sincere but you are dead wrong in what you do...

God’s Plan of Salvation inline with the Truth

Hear the Truth

Romans 10:14 ESV
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Romans 10:17 ESV
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Believe the Truth

Hebrews 11:6 ESV
6 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.

Repent - turn to the Truth

Acts 26:20 ESV
20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

Confess - the Truth of Jesus

Romans 10:9–10 ESV
9 because, 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. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Be Baptized - Truth demands it

Acts 2:38 ESV
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Remain Faithful to the truth

1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
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