God's Design for Sexuality
Notes
Transcript
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Last week Paul gave them the gospel...
He showed them their need.
He told them a savior had been sent.
He told them Christ was crucified for them.
He told them Christ rose again.
He told them they could be forgiven if they repent and believe.
He finishes by giving a warning to those who reject the gospel.
The gospel is a dividing truth!
The gospel is a dividing truth!
After Paul shared the gospel with them we see 4 ways people responded to the gospel.
I want to just give you 4 points - no sub points- three reactions to the gospel that we can see in this passage.
1. There is curiosity towards the gospel.
1. There is curiosity towards the gospel.
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
Later we read...
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
1. There is curiosity towards the gospel.
1. There is curiosity towards the gospel.
Not all of these people recieved Christ - but there was a curiosity towards the gospel.
There was a stirring - something going on.
This was new to them.
Some of them just wanted more answers.
It is interesting to note the levels of curiosity.
Some wanted them to come back next week.
Others were so curious they followed.
Some people were curious because they had a need.
I talk to people often who have a great need but they really just want a quick fix it to their problems.
God is using our online ministry but we have much less people watching than when we the majority of the country was afraid of what was happening.
Some people were curious because they wanted to feel better about themselves.
Maybe they can find some peace if they start checking the church box in their life.
Curiosity isn’t bad… we see it in Jesus’ ministry.
Almost everyone we read about in the scriptures that came to Christ was first curious.
The woman at the well.
Zacchaeus.
The Ethiopian Eunuch
Cornelius.
John 1 Bible study: Andrew and the unnamed disciple were curious.
Curious people have questions and they are looking for answers.
How can I know this is real?
What would a relationship with God do for me?
How can I have a relationship with God?
Be ready to meet their curiosity with answers.
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
There are people who are curious about the gospel.
We need to lean into that curiosity. God is working.
Pull them into a Bible study. Especially John.
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Work through John with them.
Thinking Out Loud with PJ.
There are people who are curious.
2. There is indifference towards the gospel.
2. There is indifference towards the gospel.
43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
2. There is indifference towards the gospel.
2. There is indifference towards the gospel.
The key phrase is: “MANY of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas.”
This is crazy to us who are saved!
You have just heard as clearly as can be preached the message of the gospel… and you aren’t even interested to learn more.
To me nothing is more frustrating than an indifference to the gospel.
I have shared the gospel with people.
I have preached a clear gospel message to people I know are unsaved but there is indifference.
Even a “good sermon pastor.”
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Before you get frustrated...
Remember - they aren’t going to care unless the Holy Spirit is working to draw them to Christ.
Their natural response it indifference at best.
We clearly see our need.
We understand the amazing gift God gave us.
We completely aware of the eternity that awaits the lost.
We know it is real.
But the lost world is not going to get it.
3. There is animosity towards gospel.
3. There is animosity towards gospel.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.
3. There is animosity towards gospel.
3. There is animosity towards gospel.
These Jews became a problem for Paul and Barnabas.
This is not indifference - this is hatred.
This is actively apposing the gospel.
NOTICE - not for a theological reason but for JEALOUSY!
For selfish reasons.
They didn’t sit down and figure out a good reason why they should hate the gospel it was just an outpouring of their fallen nature.
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
The lost world is outside of Christ.
They are naturally at odds with Him.
Sinners by birth and by choice.
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
This verse is telling us there are two kingdoms.
A dark and evil Kingdom and God’s Kingdom.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Its like when you are on vacation and you are trying to sleep in but the light starts to sneak through a crack in the curtain.
Or somebody turns on the light.
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
You are not of the world.
You are not preaching world’s system.
You are not validating their choices.
4. There was belief in the gospel.
4. There was belief in the gospel.
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
It is no wonder they were rejoicing!
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
4. There is belief in the gospel.
4. There is belief in the gospel.
Now they are being brought near to God.
Having previously had no hope!
This is what we pray for… a relationship with God!
This is why we witness… to bring them hope!
You cannot make them believe.
Don’t try to make it more believable.
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
There are four responses to the gospel.
Curiosity
Indifference
Animosity
Belief
These are outward responses.
The truth of the gospel actually only creates ONE dividing line.
The truth of the gospel actually only creates ONE dividing line.
God only recognizes two responses to the gospel: rejection or reception.
God only recognizes two responses to the gospel: rejection or reception.
Those who were indifferent still rejected.
They were still enemies of God.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
You are either a friend of God or an enemy of God.