Justice by Another Means

The Leader

During Paul’s missionary stay in Corinth there was an incident that could’ve had major implications.

Paul was dragged before Gallio, who was the “proconsul” or essentially the judge of the region, and accused of some serious crimes.

Now Gallio was the brother of the famed philosopher Seneca and was usually described in glowing language. Usually being identified as a humanitarian, witty, pleasant, etc.

In Achaia Gallio would judge from a judgement seat that would overlook a raised platform called the Bema and the throne on which he would sit is called the Bema Seat.

This is important when understanding it’s purposes as Paul would later use this illustration with what will happen to believers.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Here’s something that isn’t often taught. While Jesus did take our penalty for rebellion against God there still is an accounting that will take place at the Bema Seat of Christ.

The term here of “judgment seat” is the same one used here that Gallio is presiding over.

One of the items that believers don’t seem to be aware of is that the pursuits, behaviors, and choices in our lives will be judged. It will be scrutinized.

One of the greatest powers I discovered I have as a parent is that of the “glare”....all you do is call your kids into the room and just stare at them. As they fidget and squirm wondering what they did they begin to examine their lives wondering where they have erred.

There will be loss in Heaven initially...

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 (ESV)

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

I believe we have lost this understanding…instead we believe that whatever we build…no matter what it is, that it will somehow last.

One of the greatest lies I’ve seen told to humanity is that of greatness…strive to be great…but what is greatness to God? Instead strive to be faithful, loyal, loving, humble, and bold for the truth! Those are the things that will last.

In this situation Gallio would be called upon to render judgement unilaterally.

Although there would be arguments from both sides it would be up to the judge to determine the outcome.

Not only was it up to Gallio but whatever his decision was could have implications in other areas as well

In much the same way family, you will be brought before your Lord and Savior and judged…although there won’t be any arguments. The only presentation you will give is of that which you have done in the Lord.

Paul remembered this moment and even during trials like this one where he was being accused unjustly he was thinking of how it reflected what would happen one day with Jesus.

I pray that as we face trials, whether it be just or unjust, expected or unexpected, that we will be mindful of how those situations and circumstances are always being used to teach us something about Jesus.

TR: So now here is Paul, before the Bema Seat in Corinth…being accused of breaking the Law...

The Law

The Jews accusation was that Paul was teaching people to worship God…contrary to the law.

Now the law being referenced here would have more than likely been the Roman Law and not necessarily the Mosaic Law because Gallio wouldn’t have been concerned about that.

Rome had what they considered to be religio licitia and religio illicitia. Basically there were other religions that they allowed and some that they did not.

One of the ones that they allowed was Judaism. And because they viewed Christianity as an off-shoot of Judaism it was permitted as well.

The Jews however did not want to be associated with Christianity and sought to have it defined as a separate religion and therefore unlawful.

Let’s break this down for a moment…the Jews hated Christianity, not for what it was saying, but particularly for what it was saying about them.

Isn’t that the case in so many circumstances? This is often how people nuance the Gospel in such a way as to take the sting out of it.

Jesus did in fact die for sin because he loved us so much. But sin wasn’t just some ethereal, thing out there that, the sin was our’s.

See the beauty in the Word of God is that it takes no prisoners. It gives hope to all because EVERYONE IS IN A PLACE WHERE THEY NEED HOPE TO BE FREE FROM THEIR SLAVERY TO SIN!

I was meeting with a Pastor the other day and he said he was asked if his church was a gay affirming church the person meaning did his church embrace a homosexual lifestyle…he paused and said, “no not really, we seek to offend everyone”.

Coming soon I will be trying to lead us through some discussions and honestly I’m nervous about it. I work with the And Campaign and the primary role it plays is to give a framework to think Christianly through things pertaining to politics and social engagement.

One of the items that we’ve lost is how the scriptures speak to us rather than to our opponents.

Let me be clear, I don’t want a church full of Republicans or Democrats…I want church full of believers willing to submit their politics, worldviews, emotions, justifications, traumas, fears, insecurities, doubts, frustrations, sexuality, to the Word of God....because the SCRIPTURE SPEAKS TO THEM!!!

Because presently it’s not the law of the land that the scriptures are offending…it’s the self-aggrandizing authority of human autonomy that says you can do what you want, say what you want, how you want, to whoever you want, and God has nothing to say about it...

That was the problem here with the Jews…they wanted the state to do their dirty work. It’s amazing how people are still looking to politics to silence their opponents.

And they were willing to unite with the very people that despised them simply because they despised the Christian more...

The Jews could excuse all manner of vileness and ratchedness from the Romans in their partnership because at least the Romans didn’t point out their sin....I know some believers that have fallen into this same trap…forsaking our witness for a social, political, marital, relational, financial, win....

Had Gallio ruled that in fact Christianity was not a Jewish religion but was a separate religion and was not permitted this could have easily set a precedent for Jews in other regions to begin to persecute Christianity.

The Jews were trying to leverage Gallio to achieve their own ends that they believed were righteous.

Listen believers, there are people that will oppose the Gospel truth that you live out and how you do it because it doesn’t suit their demands....and they’ll think they’re righteous doing it.

Sometimes though, it’ll be their own words that trip them up...

I remember years ago there was a person that went here that didn’t like that I wouldn’t give them a chance to lead and preach. They simply weren’t qualified. I remember one day in a heated conversation they attempted to get me to question my leadership by saying that they hadn’t “felt the Spirit of God in our church for 3 years”…I responded…so you’ve been going to the church for 3 years that you didn’t feel the Spirit in??? And I’m the one with problems??

Gallio however wasn’t concerned and discerned that the difference between the two religions was one of semantics rather than one of actual substance and therefore was not a crime.

He consequently dismissed their case against Paul and threw them out of the court.

TR: The throwing out of the Jew’s court case led to them lashing out...

The Lashing Out

The Jews were enraged by Gallio refusing to take up their case.

This marks numerous times that the Jews have sought to legislate their way to eradicting Christianity and chiefly Paul.

To take their rage out they seized Sosthenes who Luke describes as the ruler of the synagogue.

This was more than likely a response to him failing to win the case that he represented to Gallio. He would have been the “prosecuting attorney” and had failed.

We later see that Sosthenes becomes a believer when Paul mentions him in his writing of 1 Cor. 1:1.

I guess getting jumped by your own homies is a good reason to get out of the gang.

It’s ironic that they accused Paul of a crime and then it was they who acted it out in the violent beating of their own brethren.

However, Gallio is still unmoved by this and instead pays no mind to the obvious violence that’s been meted out to another Jew.

Take note Christian…that when the world doesn’t get the justice it desires (whatever distorted form that may be) it takes it into its own hands

Dick Rowland was a young black teenager accused of sexually assaulting a white woman. He was subsequently arrested and was to be tried in court. However, that didn’t appease the white mob outside who instead demanded it’s own form of justice. When the sheriff refused to release him to the mob they proceeded to terrorize and burn down the wealthy, affluent town of Greenwood Oklahoma and kill hundreds of black people as a response. Come to find out when Mr. Rowland was investigated all charges were dropped. He apparantly had either stumbled into or accidentally stepped on the white lady’s foot but by then the damage had been done.

It’s sad how people will take justice into their own hands to be meted out.

Whether it be Capitol Hill, city streets, or just trying to make your spouse, friend, or employer pay for a perceived sin…it is all rooted in the same ethos…the same logic.

LAND IT LOUD

And what’s sad is that just like Gallio here, those in power, whether physically or spiritually just sit back and watch US DESTROY OURSELVES!

Family that is the language of the world…THAT IS NOT OUR IDENTITY!!!

OUR IDENTITY IS FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A VICTORY THAT THIS WORLD KNOWS NOT OF AND A JUSTICE THAT IT CANNOT SEE!

While we may fight for truth and righteousness on this earth we KNOW that it ultimately will ONLY come from OUR righteous king and will be doled out in HIS TIME.

We KNOW WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD and therefore PREACH, PROMOTE, AND ARE ESTABLISHED ON HIS WORD!

DON’T SPEAK THE VIOLENT LANGUAGE OF THIS WORLD BY SEEKING YOUR OWN RETRIBUTION!

Yes, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter! Our SAVIOR WAS DENIED JUSTICE AND WE ARE BEING CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE!

WE CAN’T GET TO THE HEAVENLY IMAGE OF JESUS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE HUMILIATED IMAGE OF JESUS...

BUT WHATEVER IT MAY BE…KNOW THAT CURRENT SUFFERINGS AREN’T EVEN WORTHY OF BEING COMPARED TO THE JOY TO COME!!!

This is what stilled Paul’s soul in such moments…and I pray it steadies your hearts now.

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