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Today we are picking back up in our study of the book of Acts.
If you’re new to our church, it would be good for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”. What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible, and then breaking them down from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what it means in our lives today.
With that said, we are currently doing that through the NT book of Acts. A book written for two purposes. First to give us a history of how the church started, and the circumstances that surrounded it. And secondly, to give us a template for how Jesus intends for us to accomplish the mission of taking the Gospel from where we live to the world we live in.
So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online to mcf.life where you can listen to or watch all of the messages leading up to today.
You may recall we wrapped up Acts chapter 6 a couple of weeks ago with what you might call a “standoff”.
We’re probably all familiar with what a standoff is, right? I don’t know about you, but when I think of a stand off my mind goes to an old west scened with a couple of gun fighters facing off against one another on some old dusty street scene.
And while the street is deserted, these two men are not alone as the town folk peer out from behind closed windows and doors.
Subtly there’s a whistling of wind in the background as tumble weeds blow across the street between them.
And then there’s that eerie gun fighter music playing in the background that sounds something like this: Play sound.
That’s what I think of when I here the word “standoff”. And the way this stand off works, is whoever has the fastest draw and better aim is the one who is going to be left standing while the other is going to end up in a pine box.
Pretty exciting, right?
And in a way, that’s how chapter 6 ended, with the beginning of what you might call a stand off.
But in our case, it’s not an old west stand off. Instead it’s a 1st century stand off. And it’s not two gun fighters. No, it’s a Christian named Stephen and a group of religious leaders known as the Sadducees standing face to face in what has now become a stand off to the death.
So, what’s caused this stand off? Well, the Sadducees technically instigated it because they didn’t like what Stephen is doing. So, what we he doing? To put it simply, he was telling people about Jesus. He was presenting the gospel. And it’s got him in hot water.
So, why do the Sadducees have a problem with Stephen’s message? Well, the reasons are many, but it comes down to one main reason. And the reason is simply this: The Gospel threatens what people have ultimately put their hope in.
And in the case of the Sadduccees, the gospel is stepping on their religious toes. It’s brining into question their religious beliefs.
And as we learned in chapter 6 is, when that happens, you can most definitely expect opposition. In fact, you can expect some people to even hate you for your faith in Jesus, which is the case with the Sadducees. Jesus himself put it like this:
“…and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake...” (ESV)
So, for example, when it comes to the secular person, they hate Christians because the gospel forces them to consider that there is a God to whom they are accountable. Something they don’t want to hear.
The same is true for a secular person, because the gospel forces them to consider that there is a God to whom they are accountable. Something they don’t want to hear.
It forces them to consider that what this world offers is temporal and fleeting and that it will never provide the hope, happiness, peace, and joy they are so desperately seeking. Again, it’s something they don’t want to hear, but that is true.
The Apostle John puts it like this:
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
John says while the world pretends to have something to offer, it doesn’t. And the truth is, when you poke that bear, the bear is going to respond.
For the religious person, the gospel forces them to consider that their rituals, traditions, and good works will never be enough. That as hard as they try to please God and work their way into heaven, their religion will never save them. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this:
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
For the religious person, the gospel forces them to consider that their rituals, traditions, and good works will never be enough.
The writer says listen, “Good works, offerings, sacrifices, rituals, and traditions do nothing to take away our sins.” That’s what the Bible says.
So, you see, the gospel forces everybody whether secular or religious to face the truth that their way is faulted. The gospel forces us to face the truth that there is only one way.
So, what is that way? Jesus puts it like this:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (ESV)
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
Jesus says, the only way to be right with God is through Him. The only way to find hope, peace, happiness, joy, fulfillment, and reconciliation with God is through Him. That’s why the writer of Hebrews says:
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
You see, Jesus is the sacrifice. Jesus is the offering. Jesus is the one who is good enough. And as a result, He’s the one who brings hope.
He’s the one who brings peace.
He’s the one who brings joy.
He’s the one who reconciles us to our creator.
Only through Jesus can the gap between God and man be repaired.
And the good news of the Gospel is that God has freely offered this gift. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
It’s not something you have to work for. It’s not something you have to earn. All you have to do is accept it. All you have to do is put your faith in Jesus and make Him Lord. And if you’re willing to do that, then you can experience the life God wants you to have, and not only in this life, but in the life to come. It’s that simple.
But unfortunately, while it’s an amazing gift, it’s not a gift all are willing to accept or receive. In fact, some will not only reject it but persecute those who offer it. Jesus puts it like this:
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Jesus says, “If they rejected and persecuted me, then they will reject and persecute you as well.”
And that’s exactly what Stephen was facing in as he presented the gospel to a group of people who didn’t want to hear it. A group that was more committed to their religious beliefs than they were the truth. And it’s now led to a stand off. A stand off where at the end of the day somebody is going to end up in a pine box.
But before the bullets start flying, and in Stephen’s case, the stones, Stephen has something to say, as in a final effort to witness to this group, Stephen takes them on a Biblical journey. A journey that recounts the history of God’s redemptive plan. A journey that Stephen hopes will lead them to the conclusion that they need Jesus.
So, what does Stephen say? Well, he actually has a lot to say. In fact, for the next 5 weeks leading up to Easter weekend we’re going to look at what Stephen has to say.
And while we’re not officially starting our Easter focus until next Sunday, today’s message set’s the stage for our journey towards Easter. A journey that will hopefully lead all of us to the conclusion that we need Jesus. A journey that will show us that Hope is Alive, and not only is it alive, it’s available to anybody who would seek it.
The question then is, “How do we seek it? How do we lead people to it? How do we discover the Hope that God has offered us?” That’s where we’re going to start today.
So, in order to set the stage for Easter and for our passage today, I want to begin by asking you to consider a situation you may have encountered at some point in your life.
And the situation goes something like this. Have you ever been in a situation where you were Promised something you wanted now, but you weren’t going to receive it until later?
For example, maybe a family member promised to give you an inheritance when they retired or passed on. And while you wished you could have it now, not that you hope they would die or something, the reality is, you’re probably years from receiving the promised inheritance. Anybody?
Or maybe your a teenager, and your holding onto the promise of making all of your own decisions. You can’t wait to be 18 where you’ll finally be an adult and you can make your own decisions. But for now, it’s not reality. It’s just a promise that hasn’t been fulfilled yet.
How about this, maybe somebody promised you a future raise or promotion in your workplace, and while you would like to have it now, the reality is, it’s going to be awhile before the promise of promotion and raise comes.
Or what about this. Maybe you’re a teenager and your holding onto the promise of adulthood. You’re looking forward to the magic age of 18 when you can make your own decisions and carve your own path. But the reality is, right now you’re still under your parents guidance. You want to be an adulthood now, but the reality is you’re a year, two years, maybe even three years away from receiving that promise.
If we think about it, I think we’ve all been in a situation where we were promised something we want now, but won’t receive until later.
And the truth is, that can be frustrating. Frustrating because we want it now. Frustrating because we could use it now. Frustrating because we would rather not wait.
So, let me ask you this. Have you ever wondered why you might have to wait? Why you have to wait for the inheritance. Why you have to wait for the promotion. Why you have to wait to be an adult.
Have you ever asked yourself why not now? To be honest, there are probably a number of reasons why we have to wait for promises. But what I’d like to submit to you this morning is, that maybe one of the reasons we have to wait is because we’re not ready to receive the promise yet.
For example, you’re not ready for the inheritance. Because maybe if you had it now, you’d blow it or mishandle it. In fact, there’s a story in the Bible about that. The prodigal son wanted his inheritance now, and so his father gave it to him. Jesus tells the story like this:
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
and in the end he lost everything and was shoveling manure at a pig farm.
So, like the prodigal son, maybe you’re not ready for the inheritance. Maybe you’d blow it.
Or, maybe you’re not ready for the promotion now. Maybe you need more time to mature in your current position. Maybe there’s more for you to learn before you take on greater responsibility.
Teenagers, have you ever considered at 15, 16, or even 17 years old, your not ready for the full weight of adulthood. That there’s more to learn from your parents. More to discover about yourself. More that you need to learn in order to become a successful productive adult.
What I’d like us all to consider is that sometimes we have to wait for promises because we’re not ready to receive them. And that before we can receive what was promised, we have to go on a journey of discovery and growth.
The reason I ask you to consider this idea, is because when it comes to our faith, that is often the case. The truth is, faith is a journey. A journey of discovery. A journey of growth. A journey that leads to the fulfillment of a promise that God has made to us.
And what many people fail to understand is not only is it a journey, but how that journey works.
And the fact is, if you want to understand the gospel and if you want to lead somebody to Jesus, especially somebody who opposes you, you need to understand how the journey works. In other words, you can’t just say, “You need Jesus or you’re going to burn in hell!”. How many of us know that’s not going to work.
What you have to be willing to do is take them on a journey of discovery and growth.
This is Stephen’s approach, because for whatever reason, the religious leaders of Stephen’s day had lost site of the promise of God’s redemption and the journey it entails.
And so now Stephen over the course of the next several verses is going to remind them. And to do that, he’s going to tell the redemptive story of God. The story of God’s plan to redeem us, and believe it or not, like all good things worth waiting for, it starts with a promise.
So, as we move into our passage this morning, I have three goals.
First, we’re going to read through our passage in order to get some context for the situation.
Second, we’re going to go back through the passage and discover what God’s promise of redemption entails.
Finally, we’re going to end by discovering what this promise means for our lives.
So, with that said, let’s jump into the beginning of this speech as the stand off continues and Stephen delivers what will be his final address and ultimately his final words.
Beginning in verse 2, Luke writes:
2 And Stephen said:
“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6 And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
As we walk through this portion of the speech this morning, I want to highlight two truths concerning God’s promise of redemption. Two truths we must understand if we want to receive God’s promise of redemption. Here’s the first one:
1. God’s Promise of Redemption Comes by Faith.
Listen to what Stephen says first to his opponents:
2 And Stephen said:
“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.
:2-
Stephen begins his defense by pointing to a familiar story in Biblical history. A story about a man named Abraham.
So, a good first question might be, “Why this story and why this man?”
Well, he tells this story for at least two reasons:
Number one, he does it to establish some common ground. In other words, before brining up Jesus, something they don’t agree on, he begins with something they do agree on. And what every Jewish believer can agree on is the story of Abraham.
Luke writes:
2 And Stephen said:
“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’
What I want you to notice first, is as Stephen begins to speak and defend his faith, he doesn’t start with Jesus. He doesn’t say, “Hey guys, let me tell you about your need for Jesus.” Why not? Because he knows that’s not going to work.
So, instead, he begins by establishing common ground as he tells the story of Abraham.
So, a good first question might be, “Who is Abraham and why does Stephen start with Abraham?”
Well, without going into a lot of detail, tells us that Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation. In other words, Abraham is ground zero for the nation of Israel. It’s from this man and his offspring that the Jewish nation will be born.
So, why does Stephen start with Abraham? Simply put, he starts with Abraham because he knows everybody can agree on Abraham. Everybody in the room understands who Abraham is and why he’s important.
So, a good question might be, “Why does he start with a summary? Why not just jump into the details? Why not just tell them they need Jesus?”
So, a good quesiton might be,
In other words, verses 2-8 are the cliff notes of the story.
And so by starting this way, Stephen has automatically established common ground.
Simply put, he starts with Abraham because he wants to establish some common ground. He wants to begin with something everybody in the room can identify with and agree upon. Which is a great way to begin a defense.
Think of it like this. When you’re trying to resolve a conflict with someone, what’s the best way to solve it? Typically by finding common ground, right? Finding some middle ground to work from.
For a couple in conflict, it’s establishing that they both have stuff to work on.
For a friendship, it’s both recognizing they could be better friends to one another.
For two co-workers working on a project, it’s both recongizing, we
That’s what Stephen is doing. Because the truth is, if he starts with Jesus, it’s going to go nowhere fast. So, he starts by talking about somebody they all know and would agree upon. And in this case it’s Abraham.
That’s what Stephen is doing. Before he goes into the details that will lead them to Jesus, he starts by establishing some common ground by summarizing God’s promise for Israel.
And the truth is, if you want to lead your opponents to Jesus, before you take them to Jesus, sometimes you have to begin with what you do agree upon.
For example, if you’re trying to lead a religious person to faith in Jesus, there is already much you have in common with that person.
For instance, you both believe in God. You both believe in Jesus. You both believe in the Bible. You both agree going to church is a good thing. And the list goes on. So instead of starting with what you don’t agree on, start with what you do agree upon. Start with something you both have in common.
If it’s a secular person, maybe the common ground is a similar view on the immorality of abortion. Maybe it’s the challenges of social media. That fact is, even if a person isn’t a person of faith, more than likely you have something in common with them. Something that could get you on the same page with in order to open a door for greater conversation concerning faith.
That’s what Stephen is doing. And that is further confirmed by the first words that come out of his mouth. Notice how Stephen begins his address. He begin by saying, “Brothers and fathers, hear me...”
Here’s the second thing I want you to notice. After establishing some common ground, Notice how Stephen begins his address by saying, “Brothers and fathers, hear me...”
Why that story? Because in Jewish history, Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation. We know this because back in , God appeared too Abraham and made him that promise. Let’s look at it in :
Here’s what I want you to see. Stephen doesn’t start his speech by attacking his opponents, but instead with great respect and a desire to bring people together as he refers to his opponents as brothers and fathers.
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
G
This is the passage Stephen is referring to, and in , God promises Abraham that he will become the father of a great nation. A nation and offspring from which the entire earth will be blessed. Why? Because from this nation and this offspring the promised redeemer will come.
And for the most part, every Jewish believer held to this belief. So, that’s where Stephen starts, with something they all agree on.
Here’s what this is saying to us. The fact is, if you want to reach somebody with the Gospel, especially someone who opposes you, begin with something you have in common. Something you can both agree upon.
For example, if you’re trying to reach a religious person, you already have a lot in common. For instance, you both believe in God. You both believe in Jesus. You both believe in the Bible. You both believe that going to church is probably a good idea. And the list goes on. So, instead of going for the jugular, approach your opponent first by finding something you agree upon.
The same would be true when approaching a secular person. Find something you can agree upon. Look for common ground. Maybe you share similar moral beliefs concerning abortion or other hot topic issues. Topics that could lead into a deeper conversation about faith. Instead of starting with something you don’t agree on, start with something you do agree on.
Stephen begins by finding common ground.
What I also want you to notice is, in order to further establish common ground, Stephen addresses his opponents with a specific greeting. He says, “Brothers and fathers, hear me.” (ESV)
So, what do those two addresses reflect?
Stephen’s use of the words “brothers” and “fathers” is intentional and gives us great insight into Stephen’s attitude towards his opponents.
So, why these terms?
For example, the word “brothers” highlights the fact that everybody present has something in common. Meaning everybody Stephen is talking to in this moment shares a common ancestry through Abraham. It’s a term meant to remind everybody present that they are fellow Jewish brothers.
It’s like when the President makes a national address and he says, “My fellow Americans.” That term is meant to remind us that whether we are democrat or republican, at the end of the day we are fellow Americans. It’s a phrase meant to unite us.
Think of it like this, if they were all Kansas City Chiefs fans, they would have all had red jersey’s on and Stephen would have said, “Fellow we almost won fans”.
So despite their theological differences, Stephen begins by reminding everybody present of their Jewish heritage.
The term, brothers, is meant to reflect unity and identity. To remind everybody present that they are all fellow Jewish brothers. That they all have something in common. That they all come from the same place. That they all have a common origin.
The word “fathers” is a term of respect and is meant to identify the elders in the room, specifically the religious leaders.
This is important because while Stephen is on a different theological page, he still honors the roles and positions of these religious leaders.
So, what is this saying to us? A couple of things:
First, the truth is, when we’re attacked for our faith, in that moment it’s easy to only see our opponents as the enemy. But what Stephen models is that they are not the enemy. In our case, they are our fellow man. Human beings made in the image of God and designed by the same creator that made us. Human beings that God loves. Human begins that Jesus died for, just like He died for us.
And so if you want to lead an opponent to Jesus, you have to stop seeing them as the enemy. You have to see them as a fellow human being who needs Jesus just as much as you did at one time. Because the truth is, at one time, you were an enemy as well. Paul writes:
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Pauls says all of us have been God’s opponent at one time. But despite that, God looked past that and saw somebody worth saving.
And again, for us, if we’re going to lead people to Jesus, then we have to be respectful even to those who oppose us. Meaning, we shouldn’t come across as haughty or arrogant, but as loving and respectful. The apostle Peter puts it like this:
Second, if we’re going to lead people to Jesus, then we need to be respectful to those who oppose us. Meaning, we shouldn’t come across as haughty or arrogant or proud, but as loving and respectful. The apostle Peter puts it like this:
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,
Peter says when defending your faith, treat your opponents with respect.
So, why is this so important? It’s important because not only does it establish common ground, but when the world comes against us, it’s easy to see them strictly as the enemy. It’s easy to only see them as opponents. But the truth is, our opponents are our fellow man. They are human begins just like us. Human beings made in the image of God and designed by the same creator that made us. Human beings that God loves. Human begins that Jesus died for.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
And yes, they’re coming against us, but they are our fellow man. And the truth is, if you want to lead an opponent to Jesus, you have to stop seeing them as an enemy, and start seeing them as somebody that Jesus loved and died for. Because the fact is, at one time you were God’s enemy, somebody that Jesus died for. In Romans Paul writes:
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Paul says at one time we were all God’s enemy. But despite your opposition to Him, He still sent His Son to die for you.
romans 5:0
So, if we want to reach those who oppose us, we have to stop seeing them as our enemies and as somebody Jesus loves and died for.
The second phrase Stephen uses is “fathers”.
This is important because while Stephen is on a different theological page, he still honors the roles and positions of these religious leaders.
And again, for us, if we’re going to lead people to Jesus, then we have to be respectful even to those who oppose us. Meaning, we shouldn’t come across as haughty or arrogant, but as loving and respectful. The apostle Peter puts it like this:
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,
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, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
Peter says when defending your faith, treat your opponents with respect.
All that to say, in order to lead these religious leaders to Jesus, Stephen begins first by establishing common ground through the story of Abraham, and then he treats them with great respect as fellow Jews.
And the same must be true of us.
Think of it like this. When somebody comes at you because of your faith in Jesus, don’t let your first response be to put your hand on your pistol and fire. Because that’s what we do, right? You post something on Facebook about your faith, somebody makes some comment, and then you automatically fire back.
2 And Stephen said:
“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’
-2-3
Don’t do that. Instead, take your hand off your pistol and begin with hands of mercy and grace. See them as somebody who needs Jesus. Somebody who represents and reflects what you used to be. Treat them with respect. Be kind. Be patient. Don’t treat them like an enemy.
So number 1, Stephen uses this story to establish common ground.
Number 2, and really the main reason Stephen highlights the Abraham story, is set the stage for God’s promise of redemption. A promise that God made too Abraham about a future hope. Listen again to what he says:
3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.
Stephen goes on to say:
As Stephen references father Abraham, his goal is to remind his fellow Jewish brothers of the promise that God made too their Jewish father. A promise that came when Abraham had nothing and was living in a land where he had no inheritance.
2 And Stephen said:
“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.
Acts 7:2-
And no inheritance meant, he didn’t have any land and didn’t have any children. But in this moment of lack, God promised Abraham that someday he would be the father of a great people in a promised land.
As Stephen references father Abraham, he now reminds his fellow Jewish brothers of the promise that God made too Abraham. A promise that came when Abraham had nothing. Stephen says while Abraham was living, he had no inheritance, not even a foot’s length. Meaning, he didn’t have any land. He also didn’t have any children. Stephen says he had no child. But in that moment God promised Abraham that someday he would have a child, and someday the offspring of that child would possess the land.
So, what exactly is Stephen trying to remind them of? Two reminders:
First, he wants to remind the religious leaders that God’s promise isn’t based on what we can achieve or see, but only on what God can provide.
You see what Stephen is trying to show these religious leaders is that God’s promised redemption is based solely on faith, not works. Faith, not religion. Faith, not a sacrificial system. Faith, not a temple. Only faith.
So, a good question might be, “What is faith?”
The writer of Hebrews defines it for us. He writes:
Hebrews 11:
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The writer says faith is the assurance of things hoped for. The belief that what you’ve been promised will one day come to fruition. That’s faith.
the promise comes by faith. It come as you put your hope in something that’s been promised, but hasn’t happened yet. The writer of Hebrews goes on to say this about Abraham’s faith:
And it was by faith that Abraham believed what God had said. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews goes on to say:
the promise comes by faith. It come as you put your hope in something that’s been promised, but hasn’t happened yet. The writer of Hebrews goes on to say this about Abraham’s faith:
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Stephen wants to remind the religious leaders that receiving God’s promise comes by faith.
The religious leaders had forgotten this. For them, their hope was in works. Their hope was in a temple. Their hope was in a system of religion. But Stephen reminds them it’s always been about faith. About believing God can provide something that we can’t. That’s where our hope should be. And in order to have that hope, you have to have faith in God’s promise.
The religious leaders had forgotten this. For them, their hope was in works. Their hope was in a temple. Their hope was in a system of religion. But Stephen reminds them it’s always been about faith. About believing God can provide something that we can’t. That’s where our hope should be. And in order to have that hope, you have to have faith in God’s promise.
You see, the religious leaders had forgotten this. For them, their hope was in works. Their hope was in a temple. Their hope was in a system of religion. But Stephen reminds them it’s always been about faith. About believing God can provide something that we can’t. That’s where our hope should be.
If you put your hope in possessions, guess what, they will eventually fail you. If you put your hope in money, guess what, it will eventually fail you. If you put your hope in human ideology, guess what, it will eventually fail you. If you put your hope in a religious system, guess what, it will eventually fail you. But the gospel offers a hope that will never fail you. A hope of future redemption. A hope of salvation. The prophet Jeremiah puts it like this:
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Second, he wants to remind them that God’s promise isn’t based on what we have, but on what we don’t have. Because Abraham recieved the promise before he had anything. Before he had any land. Before he even had a son.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
What that means then is, the promise is for people who recognize just how broke they are. The promise is for people who recognize without God, they have nothing.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
You see, what Stephen is trying to help these religious leaders see, is even when Abraham didn’t have the inheritance, even when he didn’t have a child, God was at work in his life. God was going before him. God had a plan and a promise for his life.
You see, the religious leaders thought they had everything they needed. They had the law of Moses. They had their religion system. They had their beautiful temple. But what Stephen reminds them of is that the promise wasn’t based on any of those things. Because before Abraham had the land or had the offspring, he had nothing.
Here’s what this is saying to us. First, if you want to receive God’s promised redemption in your life, it has to come by faith. Not by your works. Not by your religion. Not by anything you have to offer. Only by faith.
And to have that kind of faith, you have to come to a place where you recognize you have nothing to offer God. Where you recognize how broke you are, and that without Him, you’re sunk.
And that’s what makes the gospel so amazing. But it’s also what makes it so difficult for people to receive. And it’s hard because we tend to put our hope in what we can see.
So, we put our hope in people or a relationship. We put our hope in material possessions. We put our hope in money. We put our hope in addictive substances. And the list goes on.
But the truth is, all those things you can see, will eventually fail you.
If you put your hope in people, you’re putting your hope in a fallen person, and they will eventually fail you.
If you put your hope in possessions, you’re putting your hope in something that’s not lasting, and it will eventually fail you.
If you put your hope in money, you’re putting your hope in something that will never provide en it will eventually fail you.
If you put your hope in human ideology, you’re putting your hope in the flawed reasoning of man, and it will eventually fail you.
If you put your hope in a religious system, you’re putting your hope in what you can do, and you will eventually fail you.
The fact is, until a person comes to the conclusion that this life has nothing to offer, it will be impossible for them to receive the promise of God’s redemption.
Because the gospel offers us a hope when we have no hope. The gospel offers us something that nothing in this life can offer, but we have to come to that conclusion first in order to receive it. Because why would you need God’s redemption if you think the world can offer it.
You see, the gospel offers a hope that will never fail you. A hope of future redemption. A hope of salvation. The prophet Jeremiah puts it like this:
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
But it’s a hope that can only come by faith, not in what you have now or can provide later, but only in what God can do for you.
You see, what Stephen is trying to help these religious leaders see, is their hope can’t be in their religion, works, or a temple, but only in what God can provide through faith.
And what was true for Abraham, and for these religious leaders, is true for all of us. The fact is, until we come to the end of ourselves. Until we come to a place where we quit putting our hope in a hopeless world, we can never experience God’s promise of true hope and true redemption that Jesus offers us. A promise that comes through faith.
This leads us to a second truth about this promise.
2. God’s Promise of Redemption Involves a Journey.
Listen to what Stephen goes on to say concerning the promise:
6 And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
Acts 7:
In these three verses Stephen summarizes over 400 years of Jewish history. And while we don’t have time to go into the details of this history today, over the next four weeks leading up to Easter, Stephen we will unpack this time period as he takes us on a journey of discovery. A journey that will eventually lead us to the cross and to Jesus.
But for today, Stephen gives us a glimpse of this journey. A journey that would begin in the land of Egypt under Egyptian bondage. Luke writes:
6 And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years.
A journey that would continue through the covenant of circumcision handed down by Moses which would lead to a 40 year wilderness experience. Luke writes:
Acts 7:7-8
7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’
7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
And finally a journey that would end as the nation of Israel would enter the promised land and establish the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke writes:
8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
And finally a trek that would end as the nation of Israel would enter the promised land establish the twelve tribes of Israel.
Acts 7:
So, why does Stephen begin with a summary of the journey? Why not just jump into the journey?
Because before he takes them on a journey of redemptive history, he wants to remind the religious leaders that faith is a journey. A journey that eventually leads to the promise.
A journey that will entail some hardships. A journey that will test their faith. A journey that will teach them to trust God. A journey that won’t end until they are with Him.
Again, the religious leaders had lost sight of this. Because in their mind, the journey was pretty much over. They thought because they were in the promised land they had attained the inheritance.
They thought because they had the temple, that they had arrived.
And here’s the deal about the promise of Jesus,
They thought the journey was over. But what Stephen is about to show them is that the journey is not over, in fact, it’s just begun. Because the promise isn’t a place, the promise isn’t a religious system, and the promise isn’t a temple. The promise is a person, and his name is Jesus. And Stephen is about to take them on that journey.
So, as we close this morning, a good question might be, “How does what Stephen is about to say apply to us? How does this apply to my life?”
Great question!
Here’s how it applies. The fact of the matter is, we already know what those religious leaders didn’t understand. We know Jesus is the promise, not the land. We know Jesus is the source of salvation, not the temple. We it’s not religion that saves but Jesus.
But unfortunately, what we fail to understand is that faith is a journey. What we fail to understand is that initial faith in Jesus is isn’t the end of our journey, it’s just the beginning.
You see, what happens for a lot of Christians is that once they say a prayer of salvation, once they get water baptized, and once they join a church or go through a class, they think the journey for them is over. They think their done. They’ve done what they needed to do to be right with God. Now they can just sit back, enjoy the ride, and wait.
The journey will test our faith as we journey through the wilderness of this life. The journey will teach us to trust God as he prepares us to enter the promise of eternal life.
But nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is, putting your faith in Jesus is just the beginning of the journey. Because unfortunately we haven’t arrived yet.
Think of it like this. If you decided to go on a trip, and it’s going to require you to fly in order to get there, what's the first thing you need to do?
You need to buy a ticket, right? That’s the only way you get on the airplane. Without that ticket, you can’t board.
We’re still waiting on the promise of God to be fulfilled in our life. We’re still waiting on the promise of eternal life.
But here’s the deal with the ticket. The ticket alone doesn’t automatically get you to the destination point. You still have to board the flight. You still have to go on a plane ride.
A plane ride that will take you to a new destination point.
25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
A plane ride that may involve some tuber-lance.
A plane ride that requires you to put some blind trust in the pilot flying the plane.
A plane ride that will eventually land you at your desired destination point.
In the same way, God’s journey to His promise requires a ticket. And the tickets name is Jesus, and all it requires for purchase is faith.
But here’s the deal. The ticket alone doesn’t get you to the destination point. You still have to board God’s plane. You still have to take a journey. A journey that will involve some trust. A journey that will involve some turbulence. A journey called the life of faith. A journey that will eventually lead you to the promised destination.
You see, we’re still waiting on the promise of God to be fulfilled in our life. We’re still waiting for what we can’t see. We’re still waiting on the promise of eternal life.
Because that’s what God promises us. The Apostle John writes:
25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
And yes it would be wonderful if we could have it now. It would be less frustrating if we didn’t have to walk through the wilderness of this life. It would be nice if once you invited Jesus into your life He just beamed you up Scotty into heaven.
But it doesn’t work that way. The fact is, God wants to take us on a journey first.
A journey that will involve some hardship as we break free from the bondage of this world.
A journey that will test our faith as we journey through the wilderness of this life.
A journey that will test our faith as we journey through the wilderness of temptation, persecution, and challenges.
A journey will teach us to trust God as he prepares us to enter the promise of eternal life.
A journey will teach us to trust God as he prepares us to enter the promise of eternal life.
And unfortunately it’s not a journey that takes place over night. It’s a journey that lasts a life time. But it’s a journey worth taking. And over the next 4 weeks we are going to unpack what that journey entails spiritually and practically in our lives.
We are going to discover how to endure the hardships of this life. We are going to learn how to trust God in the wilderness of fear and despair. And we are going to discover how to keep our eyes on the promise that awaits us.
So, as we close, I’d like to invite you on the journey. I’d like to invite you to board God’s plane to Easter. And that for in the next few weeks you would be committed to being here as together we take this journey. As together we discover and look forward to the promise that God has given us. As together we discover that HOPE IS ALIVE.
Will you join me on this journey?
Let’s Pray
Questions to Consider:
What is it you’ve put your hope in? Is it in what this world has to offer? Is it in a religious system? Or is it in Jesus? Is Jesus your ticket?
What is keeping you from putting your hope and faith in Jesus? What is keeping you from boarding the plane?
Are you willing to commit to the journey. To God’s plan for your life. The prophet Jeremiah writes:
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Because the gospel offers us a hope when we have no hope. The gospel offers us something that nothing in this life can offer, but we have to come to that conclusion first in order to receive it.
God has a plan for your life. God has a future and a hope for you. But in order to obtain it, you have to embark on a journey of faith. Are you ready to take that journey?
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Peter says the promise of redemption is for anyone and everyone for whom the Lord calls.
