Christ Alone

Introduction

Puzzles have experienced a revival during quarantine.

From simple to complex; few pieces to thousands; large pieces to tiny pieces. Enjoyable to frustrating!

There is the fear that all dissectologists (that’s the official name) share: the lost piece.

It doesn’t matter that the puzzle is solved! The fact that the one piece is missing leaves us feeling empty.

When that piece is missing, you feel it.

Christ is the missing piece.

When you are without Him, you feel it. You simply know something is missing.

Paul shares what his life was like before it was completed by Jesus Christ.

Chains Don’t Always Bind

Paul finds himself before some of the most powerful people in the Roman Empire.

Certainly, this would be the most powerful earthly audience Paul would ever have.

He could make his case for release or share the power of the Gospel.

As he raised his hand to speak, the audience would hush into silence.

One sound they would hear: the rattling of chains.

Paul had been bound for two years at this point.

Don’t you think he was ready to be free? To travel freely and plant churches and share the Gospel!

To spend time on the road and on the seas with his companions, discipling and encouraging!

But, as that chain rattled, Paul knew that

Chains don’t always bind.

Sometimes, it is God keeping us exactly where we need to be.

Joseph, falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned in Egypt.

But, when it was time for him to be used to save Egypt and to save his family, he was right there.

He was there to interpret the dreams of the baker and the cupbearer. For the Pharaoh. For his family.

Where do you feel stuck?

Maybe at a job? Maybe some aspect of your family? Maybe just in general.

Is it possible that God has you right there for a reason. To share the Gospel? To give the hope of Jesus?

Is it possible that God has you there for a reason? Absolutely.

Rather than looking at the challenges and seeing the darkness, look for the opportunity!

Christ Doesn’t Leave Us

As Paul shares his testimony - he reminds his audience how Christ never leaves us where we are.

Jesus didn’t leave Paul in his previous despair-filled life.

(vv. 9-11).

The way that Paul thought and acted before becoming a Christian. Before Jesus changed him.

Jesus did not leave him there, but came to him, saved him from a works-based religion.

Paul went from a Strict Pharisee to a Fanatical Persecutor to a Commissioned Apostle.

Jesus doesn’t want you to be left where you are. He wants to save you. This morning! May be coming to you!

Also,

Jesus didn’t leave Paul in a state of religious paralysis.

(v. 16).

Sometimes we are there, we are in such awe of Jesus and we just want to stay there.

But, we aren’t just saved for our own sake! But to glorify Jesus.

The weird way it looks to see sports without spectators.

Some professional athletes have made comments that they don’t want to play without fans in the stands.

Understandable! It would be weird! Not the way it was meant to be played!

The Christian faith is not a spectator religion. Not the way it’s meant to be lived.

Believers are not spectators, cheering on a certain few who are out living their faith.

All are involved in the race.

Jesus Saves us to Sanctify us to Send us.

Especially with such an overwhelming vision! (v. 19)!!

Chaos Doesn’t Solve Itself

As we look at the chaos that 2020 is. Chaos has led to hate, division and violence.

We wonder what will solve the chaos.

Well, certainly we know.

The only solution to the chaos is Jesus.

For the Christian -

Be light and be salt.

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Not salty! There’s enough of that already!

For those who are not yet Christians. You have yet to ask for forgiveness and commit your life to Jesus:

I can’t fix me. Ecclesiastes.

You can’t fix you.

We all need Jesus. His forgiveness. His restoration.

Conclusion

That response of Agrippa, it just gets me every time.

As the KJV (and many of us remember it): “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

Literally:

“In a short time, would you convince me to become a Christian?”

You just wonder what is worth holding onto instead of the grasping onto the eternal salvation that Jesus offers.

And we know that, for some, it will take them longer to finally accept Jesus.

And for some others, they will continue on in rejection. We have no evidence of Agrippa ever changing his mind.

So we pray.

And we share.

And we invite.

Yes, to church. But, more importantly, to Jesus.

Who are you sharing the eternity changing Gospel with?

Who are you helping to identify that Jesus is the missing piece of their life?