Responding to Opposition
Notes
Transcript
James the brother of Jesus wrote “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteous ness of God.”
We currently are living in the middle of a pandemic, in the midst of social unrest, and on top of that, its also an election year. It’s the perfect storm for foolish speak. No one can agree about anything. Do you want the revival revolution of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the world? The last thing we need is to present ourselves in a way that paints Christianity to be an ignorant, hateful mess. The world already has enough reason to hate Christianity. We live in a culture where the accepted norm is increasingly anti-biblical. As Christs ambassadors we are responsible to speak God’s truth in the world, but how can we present ourselves in a way that is level headed and glorifying to God? Our platforms are many, how do we use them?
Whatever the topic or our situation, its a stretch to say that we are in the same situation of Paul, who has returned to Jerusalem, been wrongfully arrested, been in danger of being flogged, and now stands trial before a council of religious leaders to defend himself. We will not see Paul out of his bonds again for the rest of the book of Acts. However, I think that the Paul’s response in the face of opposition gives us some helpful guidance how we should present ourselves in the world today.
Our Response to Opposition
Our Response to Opposition
Paul Responds:
Paul Responds:
English Standard Version Chapter 23
And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers,
In Peace 23:1
In Peace 23:1
Paul doesn’t open the floor in hostility but addressing them as “brothers”
Why brothers? Not his family, not his spiritual family. They are his kinsmen still.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
Not only is Paul, not hostile, but he desperately desires his oppressors to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Do you “pray for those who persecute you” as Christ commanded?
English Standard Version Chapter 23
I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
In Good Conscience 23:1
In Good Conscience 23:1
Is this not the same man who hunted the church ruthlessly, and who called himself the foremost of all sinners?
John–Acts 22:30–23:11. Paul Speaks to His Accusers
Paul is not claiming to be perfect; he is speaking only in regard to his confidence in his calling from God and his faithfulness in carrying out that calling.
John–Acts 22:30–23:11. Paul Speaks to His Accusers
Paul goes before the council and says in effect, “I am innocent of whatever charges you might bring. I have done what God has called me to do”
What has God called us to do?
Be holy (set apart) for God’s purposes alone
Be led and sanctified by the Spirit
Be obedient to God’s commandments
To show love and compassion to the downcast
What is the fuel of debate and argument? Hostility or hurting people who have tried and failed to be fulfilled aside from Christ.
Are our motives in speaking out and arguing out of love or of our own selfish opinion? If it is not love, then we cannot say that we have lived in good conscience like Paul, and our words are of no value.
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?”
In Bold Truth 23:2
In Bold Truth 23:2
Ananias could not say that he had lived in good conscious. Although he was a popular with the people he was corrupt, unlawfully taking money from those who desperately needed it. Abusing his workers, and a corroborator with Rome. I know you probably have a few people in your mind right? Well be careful where that takes you because even though Paul rebukes him now, he’s going to throw a wrench into your self-justified criticism. But for now we see clearly that Paul clearly calls out the sin of Ananias. Ananias was going to have Paul beaten before he was convicted.
We live in a culture that is highly allergic to rebuke, unless that rebuke is thoroughly culturally grounded and not biblically grounded.
We are told that to point out the sin of another is to violate the command to “Judge not”, conveniently ignoring that the point of the command is not to do so hypocritically and that our calling out of sin must come from a place of love, not to ignore sin completely.
Not a very Christian response, very harsh
It is reminiscent of how Christ called out religious hypocrisy
In Ezekiel 13, the whitewashed wall is the unstable wall destined to fall, covered over in a whitewash to make it appear better.
The culture does backflips to make sin look presentable, but it will ultimately end in destruction.
Speaking prophetically, not necessarily futuristically, but speaking God’s word. What does God call the consequence of sin?
Paul was speaking prophetically to the high priest in quoting the OT to him. In this case, it was unwittingly fulfilled fully in the future. Ananias and his brother would hunted down and struck dead in the Jewish war in AD 66.
We cannot however take Paul’s example as an exact template for when we speak out against sin. It seems that he spoke out in anger and in violation of the law. The interaction here takes and interesting turn, causing Paul to speak:
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.’ ”
In Humility 23:5
In Humility 23:5
When he realizes that it is the high priest he has so sharply rebuked, he takes a humble stance admitting his error. He does not then excuse the sin of the High Priest. He doesn’t even really take the rebuke back, but seems to be acknowledging that the sharpness and public nature of the rebuke was disrespectful for a “ruler of the people”.
This law is cited from Exodus 22:28. Paul’s apology here shows that, though he is no longer bound to the law in Christ, the principle of this law still stands. We are called to be respectful of the leaders that God has appointed in the world, even the hypocritical and sinful ones. We do not excuse their sin. We are still called to call it out, but Paul admits that he was not respectful in his attitude.
In Knowledge 23:6
In Knowledge 23:6
Paul begins his defense by getting both to the main issue of the christian faith, and the one that is most relevant to the parties present. He doesn’t get distracted with side issues or bring up obscure dissensions.
The resurrection is the most important doctrine of the Christian faith.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
As Christians, we have many secondary issues that we may disagree with each other with. Our traditions, our view of the ordinances, or of the end times, but when we face the world, these must take a back seat to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Relevant to this situation, this is also an issue that Paul knows is highly important to the two parties present at this hearing.
English Standard Version Chapter 23
Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees
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.
In Wisdom 23:6
In Wisdom 23:6
Paul recognized that the two parties accusing him had very different issues with him. Did he mean to turn them against one another? If he did, i’m not sure we can say he was totally in the right since we are called to be peacemakers. But he did recognize that he would have to divide and conquer. Perhaps he intended to address the pharisees first and then the sadducees.
Paul showed wisdom in being alert to the situation and to the issues at hand. The result was a situation out of his control that God would use to move him forward in his calling and ministry.
Paul shows composure and grace is his response that is both admirable and intimidating. How are we to emulate Paul? Because we need to recognize that we can’t actually do this on our own strength. Jesus told his disciples:
14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
Jesus alone is:
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.”
The Presence of Jesus
The Presence of Jesus
English Standard Version Chapter 23
11 The following night the Lord stood by him
The translation to english barely does this picture justice. RC Sproul writes:
Acts Suffering Servants
The Greek words indicate that Jesus came and in a sense overshadowed Paul. His presence was enormous. There was Paul cringing in his cell, and suddenly the risen Christ came and hovered over him and said, “Be of good cheer.”
Jesus told the disciples “Behold I am with you even to the end of the age.” Paul experienced this presence in a special way many times in his ministry, even from the very beginning, but we can be confident of Christ’s presence with us to embolden and strengthen us.
The Words of Jesus
The Words of Jesus
English Standard Version Chapter 23
and said, “Take courage
Jesus tells Paul to stay constant in his course. His words empower and encourage him. We may not experience the words of Christ in this same way Christ does during our walk, but we have the resource of God’s Word easily accessible, but often ignored. We need to turn often to God’s word, because it is our fuel and strength.
The Commission of Jesus
The Commission of Jesus
English Standard Version Chapter 23
for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Finally, Jesus reveals to Paul that he will testify him in Rome. Not in the way Paul probably hoped, as he will be going in chains. From the very beginning of his ministry, God has had a special purpose for Paul in the kingdom, and that will follow him into the very household of Caesar.
You and I find our new purpose in Christ. Our words and actions in the world must look different to how the world presents itself because our core purpose has changed from elevating ourselves to living for God. This is the only purpose that can fulfill us as human beings.