Make Your Choice

Introduction

Welcome to NXT High School, everyone! Glad you joined us this week as we are wrapping up the book of Acts. Next week we will be honoring our seniors and doing a sort of wrap up of what we’ve learned in Acts the past 2(!!!!) years. Then, we will be looking forward to NXT Summer Nights! We are so excited for everything that is coming. But, we still have 2 weeks, so lets make the most of it! Go ahead and turn your Bibles to Acts 28: 23-30.

Before we read this portion of the text let me summarize what has happened that has led us to this point. If you remember, Paul’s presence in the temple in Jerusalem stirred up a riot which eventually put him in prison under false accusations. He went from governor to governor and eventually to a king still in chains for preaching the Gospel. Since they were refusing to let him go he used his roman citizen right to appeal which allowed him to plead his case in front of the Emperor Caesar. Years have passed since the riot in Jerusalem and Paul found himself on a boat sailing towards Rome- as Zane talked about last week. This boat would capsize in a storm and leave Paul and those guarding him stranded on an island called Malta. While on this island Paul and his companions meet the native people, and there is a story of Paul being bitten by a poisonous snake. The native people saw the snake bite Paul and they said to themselves that Paul must have been a murderer and that justice was coming down on him through the form of a snake, since he had survived the shipwreck. When Paul never died from the snake bite they changed their mind and instead decided that he was a god. Paul stayed on Malta for 3 months and it says that the Holy Spirit healed many people on the island from diseases and sickness. Paul began his time in Malta as a murderer in their eyes, and he left as an honored guest.

Three months go by and Paul finally gets on another ship and begins once again his journey to Rome. After a few more stops he finally makes it, and is immediately placed under house arrest once he gets there. While under house arrest Paul calls together the “local leaders of the Jews” where he once again defends himself and gives his side of the case. The Jewish leaders in Rome claim they have no idea who he is and have heard nothing about the chargest against him (In a moment I’ll tell you why that is wholly untrue), but they still want to hear what his views are because they have heard of Christianity, and know that their people speak against it. And so we pick up with the Jewish leaders scheduling a time for Paul to plead his theological case,

Acts 28:23–31 ESV

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: “ ‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Content

Though he was confined under house-arrest and guarded, perhaps even chained to a soldier, he still pursued his mission at full velocity. Three days after arriving in Rome and he already began the work of pleading his case for the Gospel. The Jewish leaders who Paul invited into his home claimed they knew nothing about Paul. Which, according to one commentator is

“undoubtedly untrue. Christianity had been known among the Jewish community for many years, and there had been such division over it that Emperor Claudius banished all Jews from the city of Rome. The truth is, the Jews wanted as little to do with Paul and Christianity as possible!— they wanted Caesar to take care of it.”

Already, unsurprisingly, Paul finds Himself in hostile territory. We see a little bit of their agenda or feelings come through when they call Christianity a “sect.” Our english word for heresy comes from the same Greek word.

Paul regardless of his reception decides to entertain them further. He schedules a time with them where he gets to argue his case, and its there where he’s really in the thick of it.

The same commentator calls this the most exciting home Bible study in history! Paul was trying to convince them about Jesus! The word translated as “explained” means to set out or place before.” Paul was placing Jesus in front of them, “Look at who Jesus is! See the man who met me on the damascus road and has set me on this journey. Taste and see that the Lord is good!” He gave his argument with detailed logic and care. All his rhetorical and persuasive powers were channeled to this single most exciting Bible study in history. The word says that he was trying to persuade them “from morning till evening..” Some were persuaded…but others were not. They did not believe that Jesus was Lord.

During the gymnastics portion of the 1976 Olympics a Japanese gymnast named Shun Fojimoto had the performance of his lifetime, check out this video - (1:24-3:22) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq-C5-vIim8

Shun broke his leg during one of his routines, and everyone thought he was finished. As the competition turned out, the last day’s performance would determine whether or not his country won the gold medal. With a broken leg, Shun mounted the rings for his final performance, which would end as his best performance. If you watched closely you could see the sheer pride on his face as he performed his routine. Which was quickly followed by anguish as from ten feet in the air he came hurtling to the floor for his dismount, landing on his broken leg. The doctor who treated him afterwards said he couldn’t comprehend how shun didn’t “collapse in screams of pain” after his landing. His fighting spirit made him indomitable. He refused to quit, no matter how severe the pain.

Conclusion

Shun and Paul had a lot in common. The end-goal was firmly in sight, the task at hand was obvious and the cost was tangible. Neither were willing to step down, neither were willing to allow the pain of what would follow to scare them away from their goal. Paul, like Shun, with his goal firmly in mind, refused to quit, no matter how severe the pain.

One Biblical scholar says, “Paul’s pain became the fulcrum from which he moved the world.” How did that come to be?

Philippians 1:12–13 ESV

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

Paul’s chains served as the advancing platform of the Gospel of Jesus Christ not just in Rome, but to all of the world, even still today. Its in this home that Paul, through the Holy Spirit, wrote the books of Philippians, Philemon, Ephesians, Colossians, and 2 Timothy. During Paul’s most difficult years God did great and amazing things despite Paul’s chains.

Shortly before being martyred for Christ Paul wrote this,

2 Timothy 2:8–9 ESV

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!

I wonder, what have we done with our limitations? Have we taken them into the pit of self-pity while we wallow in hopelessness? Or have we given them to God so he can do his greatest works through us?

I want to leave you with this question, what is the Gospel? Most of us in this room would probably say we know it, we can recite it, most of us believe in it and believe that it is completely true. But I still ask, what is it? In fact, take the next 2 minutes and turn to your neighbor. I want each of you to share the Gospel in 1 minute. Are you ready? Go.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ: We all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. The word “sin” is an ancient archery term that means to miss the mark. Each of us have done that. Each of us is born broken, after all we do come into this world weeping. Yes, it is a sign of life when a child cries after leaving their mothers womb. But isn’t it telling that the same sign of life for a newborn baby is the same sign of despair for the fully grown adult? This sin & brokenness separates us from God and places us under His wrath which we each rightfully deserve because of our sin. To be separated from God is a dangerous place to be. But God, in His mercy and love, sent His Son Jesus Christ into our world to live a perfect life that we cannot live and die a perfect death that we did indeed deserve. His death was an atoning sacrifice for all who believe. But the story did not end with His death, because 3 days later the stone from the front of the tomb where Christ was lain was rolled away and Christ walked out. He was resurrected into new life so that we also can be resurrected into new life with Him. Christ died so that we did not have to and he was raised so that we could be raised with Him. But the story doesn’t end there. Jesus is coming back! Did you know that in ancient Jewish culture the guest in a home, just like Jesus was a guest in our home, would crumple up their napkin if they weren’t going to return, but if they folded it neatly it said to the home owner that they were indeed going to be returning. Did you also know that the Apostle John says in his Gospel account that Jesus left his head wrappings folded neatly on the stone which he was lain? Friends. Jesus died. Jesus rose. and Jesus is coming back. Come Lord Jesus!

Its the best story ever told, its also the most important truth you could ever believe. I said before that His death was atoning, or another word could be effective for all who believe. So friends the Gospel that Paul died for requires something of us. Not simply understanding, but belief. So I ask you, and I leave you here with this final question...

Do you believe?