To Win Some
Notes
Transcript
To be winsome
To be winsome
1: generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence 〈a winsome smile〉
In our family we have a running joke amongst our older three kids. When they were little, James was adorable, he had big blue eyes that melted his mom’s heart. His older sisters were cunning. They knew that if they got James to ask Rachelle for something their odds of getting what they wonted would go up exponentially. This is a great illustration of the power behind a winsome person. The winsome person is someone that is hard to say no to. You feel like you are crushing a puppy when you say no to them.
For Christians, being winsome takes on a whole new level of importance. whether we are talking about our relationships with each other, or reaching the lost, we want to be winsome. Not manipulative, but truly loving and sacrificial.
In today’s passage we will see Paul do this very thing. He will submit to a request from the Jerusalem elders and James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church, in order to help the faith of fellow Jews who have become Christians.
PRAY
READ
17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,
21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.
22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;
24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.
25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.
The Reunion
The Reunion
17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
So Paul and his companions met with the elders of the jerusalem church. Among them was James the leader of the church in Jerusalem. Their purpose was to deliver the offering sent from the gentile churches and to inform the Jerusalem church of all that God was doing amongst the Gentiles.
The Gift
The Gift
Here they would have delivered the large gift they had carried from the Gentile churches.
This gift is mentioned in a few places, here are a couple of them:
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
Romans was written while Paul was in Corinth prior to coming to Jerusalem. Paul would also mention this purpose for his trip to Jerusalem before Felix in Acts 24.
17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
The Report
The Report
In way of reminder we can look at what Paul may have reported to the Elders. This would include possibly the journey with Silas and certainly his third missionary journey:
Travels of Paul and Silas:
Travels of Paul and Silas:
Meeting Timothy
Lydia and Philippian church
Casting out the demon in the girl with the power of divination
Paul and Silas imprisoned and set free
The salvation of the Philippian Jailer
Struggles with the Jews in Thessaloniki
Meeting the Bereans
Preaching in Athens about the unknown God
Paul’s time in Corinth with Priscilla and Aquila
The Third Trip
The Third Trip
The growth in the church at Ephesus
The spread of the Gospel throughout Asia
The healing through handkerchiefs
The seven sons of Sceva
The conflict in Ephesus with Demetrius
Paul’s trip home avoiding the assassination plot.
The resurrection of Eutychus
The final encouragement to the Ephesian elders.
Verse 20 reveals their response and transitions us into an issue they will ask Paul to help with.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,
They glorified God. This is a full affirmation of the ministry of Paul and a rejoicing to see how mightily the hand of God was working.
After this, they turn to an issue the church is facing that Paul may be uniquely helpful in.
The Request
The Request
20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,
21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.
22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;
24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.
25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
The purpose of the request is the protect the hearts of Jewish believers that were convinced of that Jesus was Messiah but were struggling with the idea of letting go of the law and all its requirements.
Paul was uniquely positioned to set an example because of the rumors spread about him and his work amongst the Gentiles.
There are no details about the vow given but it was likely a Nazarite vow:
13 “And this is the law for the Nazirite, when the time of his separation has been completed: he shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting,
14 and he shall bring his gift to the Lord, one male lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as a peace offering,
15 and a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and their grain offering and their drink offerings.
16 And the priest shall bring them before the Lord and offer his sin offering and his burnt offering,
17 and he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread. The priest shall offer also its grain offering and its drink offering.
This was the same vow that Paul likely took early in his travels:
18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.
This vow ended with expensive sacrifices to the Lord.
On top of this, Paul with be able to go through ritual purification in order to enter the portion of the temple reserved for Jews.
Should Paul do this?
Should Paul do this?
Was the council right in requesting this of Paul?
Was Paul right to do this?
Didn’t Jesus set us free from the law?
Isn’t this a step backwards?
The Response
The Response
Let’s look at Paul’s perspective. Listen to what Paul wrote to the Corinthian church,
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Paul was free to do all of these things because none of them were sinful Although, for believers, these actions would symbolize nothing more than a love offering to the Lord Paul was free to participate with his fellow Jews.
It is interesting to note that this was not Paul’s plan. No where does it state that he was worried about going to the temple, being purified, and rejoining the Jewish practices.
So Paul’s response was one of submission and willingness for the sake of his brother.
Why is this important to the Gospel?
Why is this important to the Gospel?
In the case of unbelievers it may keep us from adding hindrances that are keeping someone from coming to Christ. When we set up personal laws and standards that are extra biblical and demand that the lost meet those we have destroyed the simplicity of the Gospel.
In the case of believers (as this text discusses) it may preserve our testimony to the world.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Our love for one another and unity in spite of our differences is one of our greatest testimonies. Paul did all of this with a focus on the Gospel.
Are your decision being driven by the Gospel?