What's Our Message of Salvation- How Do We Share It?
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Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Radical individualism of the West; ie. cf. Asian childrearing, family; Middle Eastern hospitality, Eastern Europe - not just boyfirends girlfriend -school friends.; Think of howmuch we’re alone with screen. All individual preferences, makes church life all the more difficult - safe - own preferences with McChurch, but lose so much in the vulnerablity of being there, and beign with.
In our series on Acts, wonderful to see the churchin action, encouraging, praying, - powerful witness in Alivia, jayden’s sister bone marrow, chemo taken well; Brandon’s dad whether lives or dies - strong peace and strenght inthe Lord; When we stiness professions of faith, two baptisms - evidence of work of God not justin those individuals, butin their famileis, in this whole church family. In this passage in Acts, in background - a radical shift, paradigm shift of understanding.
In our society try to address radical individualism with ME to WE program. At this seem as the gospel goes tot he world, not insular community of law-keepers, ritual religion - you Jews. The shift is from YOU to US! Be a bit of a detective to sense this shift but two places in particular show how radical it is:
goind through problems and suffering
In this middle ofPaul’s impromptu message he says:
“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
Need to understand the us, includes not only Jews, but those proselytes, God-fearers, and Gentile converts from the nations. Paul says to both Jews and Gentiles who will accept the message of salvation in Jesus:
But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.
Need to undertand in the OT when the Gentile nations, a epople group it was the word YAM, butwhen it was God’s special treasured people, his possession, When God speak of His people as his children and he therir Father, when he speaks of Israel as his birde. When he says -you people in my family - are brothers and sisters - the speical word, is this one qahal, LAOS. The rabbis in speaking of udnerstood whole creation made for the sake of God’s special people - sanctuary for that kind of relating to God. In LXX special term for israel as privelleged religious position. That’s the word for the people to whom wtinesses of jesus death and resurrection are now sent. And in this passage its not the religous leaders, who are the people but common people Jew and Gentile, who now form the new israel of God!
This is amazing, in proseletyte baptism say: “Blessed are you, to whom have you joined yourself? To him at whose behest the world was, for the world was created for the sake of Israel alone and only Israelites are called the children of God! But now Paul is saying - you are all can join that special group!
This is amazing,
But just as atounding is this shift from you to us, is what Paul saysin the end of his impromptu sermon:
For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
As Paul turns to the Gentiles, he understands that , that prophesy is not only for the Messiah, but even more the you of the Messiah, has shifted in meaning to the US of the New Testament church. Pual understands, its not just accident or optional things that we have opprotunity to sahre our faith with those outsdie the covenant circle. As he gets kicked out by the legalists and ritualist - we undertands - this going out into peple lives and shining the light of Christ to the ends of the earth - taht is our mission and our destinty - Soveriegnly planned and divinely empowerd by almighty God. Paul understands from Isiaah that the salvation Messiah would work - was one for every nation, taht would reach heathen rulers of the world, like the non-Jewish people of Pisaidan Antioch.
He knew as teh apostles conclucded from Amos in that God is now taking a LAOS, speicial community among the nations!
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
Paul knew as he later saw the prphesy being fulfilled that
As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ”
So this morning I want to ask you whether you have experiecend the YOU to US shift? Have you become the US of God’s speicial community on earth in Jesus? That’s the core of the mewssage of salvation, absolutely necessary you get it, if you are going to be part of the second you to US shift,. have you takenin that lighto f salvation and now know how to go out and share it:
Key Truth: God’s people take the sure blessings of Jesus and shine them into the lives of those in the dark.
Let’s examine the first shift of A. Becoming the People of God by taking the sure blessings of Jesus
Paul and Baranabas traveled realitively short voyage to Perga. Lower lying ort city, hot humid, possibly contrracted malaria, pehrhpa later comlications being this thorn inthe flesh. John Mark leaves them, and perhaps its because they have decided not to do a preaching tour, but have et a destination over 100 miles away, but 3,600 feet above sea level through the dangers mountains to the border twon between Pamphylia and Pisdia Known as Antioch. Whatever the reasons why, it is ilikely, went with letter of introduction by that Gentile convert Sergio Paulus. City had disctinaction of being a Roman colony, meaning mitliary leader and poiliticalns and their families - settled there at retirement. Very interesting theat Sergio Palusu had family their - ancient incsription bearing his name. With a large Jewish population, seems to Paul the ideal spot to plant the first Christain congregagion.
These are jews scattered in dispresion who don’t read Hebrew and then translate into Aramaic, but Hellenstiic Jews who read the OT in Greek and understand it iwth out translation. The great shema had been ricited, elders and presider led in other parts. Readings of dayfrom lectionary - Parasha reading -a bout God Putting up with Israel, leading and carrying them for 40 years int he desert. And then the Haphtarah a reading from the Prophets liekly Habukeuyk 1:- Then they would select one of the elders, or visiting rabbi. And now a pupil of most famous teacher in Jersuaelm, named Gamalietl, that was Paul’s training and they bring him up fromthe back - to give the exhortation, the encouragement teh preaching for the people!
And here I want you to learn a technique, a how to in sharing the gospel from Paul’s first recorded message. The message actually divides bythe address brothers into three parts, and the whole first part is about what? He stands rathen than sits following the Roman custom and from 17-25 he does what he did in different form to all Gentiles in Athens -And herei s the first principle in starting a gospel presentation:
i. Make a Point of Contact With God’s Work in their Life Already
Some people are so nerous about sharing faith, yet feel - must and so they just exploded it on people. - probablly won’t be interested, has nothing to do with anything in your life, but this is what I blevie. In Athens Paul quotes their poets about God. He makes apoint of contact iwththeir serachin in Aogora . He took theri experience with God seriously. Do you - never forget Prof Tuit - expalingin work of great Dutch Missiologist and missionary - God has left hismelf without a wintess, long before Missionary shows up - God has been at work - they have been repsonidng to God - why other religions, why - tap into their expeience of God - connect with them there. Could be the beauty of creation, could be their sense of justice - say I hope worse eveil doeers burn in hell, could be their belief in karma - or experience of mercy - love… Make a connection.
Paukl does this with these religious Jews and God-fearers. He recounts that despirte wining and grubmling, God carried them , the gift of the land.
God has chosen them elected them for Himself, In a foreign land he not only liifted them up but exalted them and made them a great covenant people God bore them up. Ever talk to an unbelvier about their story, the blessing , the mercy in hard times?
But what is the pinnacle of God’s involvment with them? David - Why
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
Unique emphamaiss not only his pious character, but what David would do. had to hunt down where Scriputre says that. What was God’s special unique will for David, taht non one else done?
George our pastor and tour guide, on trip to Israel - Begins his speel about rabbis keepig old paths. “The best way to keep a path alive, is to keep walking it.” He explains how Solomon, the richest, the wisest, wasn’t the best king. Taking an Egyptian wife, for poiitical reasons, turned his heart away from Lord, Jews said, “Never go that way of Solomon again” No keep david’s path laive. Explain that David great unifier of God’s epoole - period of peace. But the bigegst Part of God’s will for Dabvid’s life wasn’t in his life. Gets to end of his reign - Scripture goes out of the wya to show disqappoint, failure, broken family with little peace - and the ont is Daivd could bring the fulifllmento f God’s poromseis to his special people. But his seed, offspring would.
Doyou see waht Paul has done, uncovered the great jewish hope - allthe blessing enjoyed but the fulness God had planned and shows that is in a person and that person is jesus!
Did it the same way in his first step with idle talkeers in the aogora the market place- this gunkwon god - now I am going to rpoclaim toyou.
Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.
We need to get this. The gosppel isn’t my expeireince, it isn’t allthe wonderful benefits like a proper self-esteem, a deep down joy, wonderful to belong to church… The good news isn’t about me - it’s about Jesus.
In the second step of the sermon, he takes that evdiecne of what God’s bbeen doing in theri life, and then declares a YOU to US tranformation. He says:
“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
Abraham had beeen told he would bless the nations, and Paul says that’s about to happen now through what Jesus has done, and you can be involved in it. He describes what those jews had done, waht we humanity had done to Christ, didn’t understand the prophecies, didnt get who He was or what He was upto, put himto death. But even though people shove aisede Jesus, God worked his purpose, and that is what I need to describe to you:
BUT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.
And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’
So like Paul we must being with that point of contact of God at work in their lives andin this world, but then show that all his goodness leads to Jesus Christ. Thisi s proclamation - taht Jesus in time and space - was God in the flesh - when else did those wrods come - baptism, tranfiguration - God has come in the poersno f the Son incarnate of Jesus - and the voice from heaven didn’t just announcehe’s divine, but He is God the Farther’s special chosen one, he is God but atthe saem time huan and fulfilling what Diavid was called to do but failed bring to the world.
This is the second part of the shift from you to us, and the thrust of the seocnd step of his message:
B. Move from Proclamation to Personal Application
Paul says this Jesus Christ has pormises that could be worked out in your life andm ine today. That he is playing a role in world history that you and I can’t afford to miss out on.
I can’t emphasizie enough that true prayer isn’t just throwing up our needs to God and y which way to any which God - We plead the promises - change your prayer life and your relationship to the God who made all these porimses. Well so too in evangelism - sharing the gospel isnt’ just about making an appealing inspiringk warm fuzzy talk about spiritual things. It is about real concrete proaies that the SAaviour and King of the wrold would make through us.
Paul says:
And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,
And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’
Who cares if you ahve a more spiritual outlook on life that gives a bit more peace /happiness.. always look on the brigh side of life - doesn’t really change naything does it. But in Jesus Christ - we have precious and very great promises from God that will happen in a persons life and will cahnge the world! And wan’t we’ve made a piotn of contact with a persons walk with God and their real relationshisp with God, the greatest joy is to say in Jesus there are concrete promisess for you in that relationshisp andin your greatest needs!
And thereis something so leveling and huamn about doin that with integrity Paul doesn’t call them mrerley teknia children -general term . Children of patriarchs, childre oif \Isreeal - but techinical term - you 9male and female , jew and Gentile - this Jesus fulfilled to us SONS - the idea is dear children, heirs
Caling them to become true childreno f Abrhaam - with the faith and blessing\s bpromised to Abraham - says to us all the mporseis of QAbrhaam, and more imoprantly the promsies of David are now being realized:
And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
This is where proclamation becomes appliaction. YOu and I have the privelege of standing before others and saying, God has somehting foryou in jesus rightnow that you don’t yet have. In jEsus - holy and sure blessings. you’ve only known temporal blessings some \ahve more some have less. But Christainity is all about Jesus death and resurrection bringn a new covenant, a new relationship to God wtaht brings something so holy so sure.
You have only known blessing from fallible dying peole whose life and igfts and influence will fade a nd die away. Like david, But htis Jesus is incoruptible and so are his promsies and blessings. This Jesus is alive, reaised up as the Prince of Life and Judge of Livcing and Dead. And at this very moement from heaven and by His Spirit so alive he holds out two hands of blesing toyou:
With one
And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.
Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
That’s everyone greatest need and noe can find it from God accept in Jesus . But look now at his other hand:
and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
Imagine the good news each of us can offer, it is like a cheque has been made out fromGod to Jesus - and we get to bring it to peplek expalin it, and tell them go ahead you can scrtch out Jesus name and this chque and write your own name there - everything he acocmlished now for you,. There is no other way of getting sins forgiven, of being set free from sin and death and hell.. than simpoly trusting in this Christ and thesignifiance of what he did on the Crosss and empty tomb.
Thre is sin in your life, stuff can’t get a handle on, Blind sots only others see, we lie about - Grip of greed, lust, offensive tongue thoughts, harsh meansness . more there is suffering and ultimately death that’s going to level us all, and sik us further than the grave, a hell of punishment for our sins, and in all this suffering and in all this sin - law of Moses, or the lawo f your religion, or your philosphy can’t save you. - but taht’s what the two biggest events of world history -w ehre allabout jesus winning these blessing of forgivenes sand mroe redemption, restoration to life freed from sina nd suffering and death - God publically raised him up as Prince of Life, Ruler you and Imust knwo - sent us his church to you .
And Paul concludes this application part wwith a warning they’d know well from
“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.
Pilate, the Jewish leaders, scoffers in this world did everything to put this Jesus down. One peson can’t really be indifferent too. but God was usiing it all to manifest him, , with eey witness, and with freinds of Jesus - and it uliifes mean spirit but weak effort to keep Jesus down.
God’s et him apart and raised him up - a saviour youi and I and our neighbour needs - and you ahve a decision to make you can thrust him aside, judge yourslef not needing this kin dof oforgivenes ss this kind of freedom .
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
Or you can see the promises to begin to be fullfied in you. People begged for more, and yet the Jewish leaders persecuted severely and cause trouble again., there being criven out of their district, code for Roman flogging… and we can expect both results in our lives today too.
but taht brings us to the last you to us shift, which should get us beginign to share like this, and then keep us going.
C. The LORD commands us as Light to Bring Salvation to the Ends of the Earth
And ehre we reach a surrpising twist. Though flogged and meeting with opposition these guys don’t give up.Sure they have wisdom to know when not to beat a dead horse. There comes a time when dealing with ubleief when instead of urgings and warning and proimses - when the lord leaves aperson to reap the consequences of their rejectio f the gospel. There is a time to shake the dust off and move on. Discernment to know .. but seeingthe exalted Jesus with new covenant, and Kingo f eehavenand earth, knwoing he won’t see corrutpoino, and that like his life on earth he has sent us to the suffering and darkness to shine the light of the gospoel, - with full confidencein their Lord they keep witnessing:
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Fiath in God’s soverignty you see - comes from seeing who jesus truly is right now, and that with the witness we go out to share knowing His word won’t return empty. The resutls are not up tous, nor the repsonsiblity of thosewho don’t respond, but HIs arm is not shroteened. And so whatever fruit they see, know it isthe gospel of jesus at awork. They are experiecnign the grace and saving power of Jesus for all who beliver. Are we not as wel. And Paul sees this and feels it in his bones after waiting 15 years for His call to be an apostle to the gentiles.
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
The Jewish leaders rejected the message andthe messangers. Be a reason to give up for you and me. Imagine that flogging. But just becauseyou don’t do soemething well yet, doesn’t mean shouldstop. Just because youdon’t see results. Witnessing wasn’t an opotion. In light of who Jesus is and what His plans for this world are… Paul discerns its a command. They won’thear you in yoru family, in yoru church - I will go to those who haven’t heard, who are now part of God’s plan as much as those within the church.
The Lord asked, if it were to small a mission to restore Israel after they feel into sin,but God says, you know what I am going to makeyou effective in restoring the world to me! And you going as that light will result in slavation at the ends of the earth. Whrere is the end, the nook or cranny we have been sent, how about you personally - Jesus said to all of us
and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Do you feel it witnesseing isn’t a nice optional for some when the time arises, it is our calling, and it is our joy whateer the results. It is bothwath Jesus is doing in acts:
that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
And it is what we through his Spirit and in His opwoer are called to do. Not jsut say a few words , nor just be sielent and pray. .. but to proclaim his light into people’s lives. And inspite of this results, as discipes do that look at what God does to empower them:
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
People may thrust away the mesageo fo eternal life and of our witn4ess of jesus, but Jesus with His love thrusts us backinto other peoples lives with joy and expectanlty