08-07-2022 Preaching Jesus (3): The Paradoxical Reaction

PREACHING JESUS (3): THE PARADOXICAL REACTION (Acts 13:42-52) August 7, 2022 Read Acts 13:42-52 - One major misconception about Jesus is the idea He came to bring peace on earth. You say, "Well isn't that what the angels sang at his birth - peace on earth and good will to men?" No - it isn't! It's an unfortunate KJV translation. What they really sang was, Lu 2:14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Those "with whom he is pleased". Who are those? They are those who believe in His deity, in His atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, who put their faith in Him alone and therefore have peace with God. That's who! Jesus never came to give peace to everyone on earth. He once made this frightful statement: Lu 12: 49 "I came to cast fire on the earth. . . . 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." He divides families right down the middle. It's peace to believers, yes. But to the world in general, He brings the fire of division. President Truman once fired an American hero, Genrl MacArthur, for insubordination. There was no peace between them! Bob Hope claimed he saw one leaving the Waldorf in NYC just as the other entered. He said, "That was 3 days ago and the revolving door is still spinning." That's the reaction the gospel brings. Acts 13 gives an overview of Paul's sermon to the Jews at Antioch. No surprise: he preached Jesus. He preached Jesus as the Focal point of human history, as the Fulfillment of prophecy and as the Forgiver of sinners. A great sermon. And surprise! It divided the audience right down the middle. Why? I. Preaching Jesus Rouses Interest Paul preaches and is invited back. That's good preaching when they ask you back! Others sought more info - "many Jews and devout converts to Judaism (literally 'proselytes') followed Paul and Barnabas who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the faith." They professed faith. P&B urged them "to continue in the faith." The proof of their profession was not that they prayed a prayer or made a profession. The proof of faith would be their follow through. Would they continue in the faith or would they be like those in Jesus parable of the sower who "when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But [having no root] they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away" (Lu 8:13b). Or those whose faith is "choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature" (Lu 8:14). Paul knew interest does not commitment make. It's great they're interested. But where will they be a year from now - two years from now - five years from now? Is their faith real or will it be choked out by the cares of this world, by the hardships of life, by some perceived slight on the part of other believers? Is it real, or is it just really interesting at the moment? In the early 1900's a man named Bell wrote of a famous parrot at a hotel in Alaska. He had a reputation as one of the most formidable drinkers in the north. Bell writes, "Tipsy miners used to stagger out of the bar next door and slip him a shot of beer or a scotch." But the parrot got religion. Bell writes, "A few owners ago, the hotel was run by a man who toned down the Parrot's purple prose and cut off his booze." Instead of racy sea shanties, he now sang, "Onward Christian soldiers." He was transformed. The HS also brings transformation. Only it works inside out, not outside in. Time reveals if it's real. If it is, it will lead to life-changing commitment. So Paul urges, "Continue in the faith." If you're real; you will. II. Preaching Jesus Riles Legalists When the whole city came out the 2nd Sabbath, trouble came. The Jews "were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him." Literally, "blaspheming him," and since Paul was preaching Christ, they were blaspheming Jesus. Probably saying, "Jesus? He was a convicted criminal. You cannot possibly believe in Him." They claimed to be standing for truth, not wanting anyone misled. But their motivation wasn't a love of truth; it was jealousy. They had God in a box, believing you got God by obeying the traditions; they were a closed club who wanted no one in who didn't comply with their regulations. The idea of salvation by grace thru faith in a crucified carpenter - free to all who believe - that turned their stomach. But there were consequences of rejecting Jesus. 46 "And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles." Chilling words. "By your actions against Jesus you judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life." In other words, reject Jesus and you have no one to blame but yourself for a lost eternity. Hope doesn't reside in your righteousness; it's always been in Jesus. In turning Him down, you keep yourself on death row spiritually. Most people today reject Jesus for the same reason as these men - self-righteousness. "I'll make it on my own. I don't need anyone dying for me. My good is good enough." So the Jews thought. So many today think. But Jesus counters: Jn 3: 17 "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, [self-condemned. Why?] because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." Jesus counters in Jn 5:40: "You refuse to come to me that you may have eternal life." You get that in one place only, and it is not at the store-front labeled "Works-righteousness." No eternal life there. Jesus counters: Jn 8:24: "I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins." It's either die in your sins, or believe Jesus died for your sins. There's no 3rd door. Some years ago a prof at an Ivy League school had her students read and react to the Sermon on the Mount, most for the 1st time. Typical reaction: "I don't like this sermon. It makes me feel I have to be perfect." They knew they weren't, and it riled them. "This is ridiculous. No one can be like this." The prof then asked them, "But aren't these the kind of people you want to hang with? Don't you want others to be unfailingly loving and kind? Aren't these the kinds of things you demand of other people?" The room got very quiet. They realized they were saying in essence, "I am very angry if you hold me to this standard. But this is just what I expect of everyone else." They were condemned by their own words. This is why unbelievers will always hate the gospel of Jesus because it says they cannot meet their own standards - but they are not willing to accept the gift of grace He offers. Legalists rail at the standards of God, but refuse the One who met those standards on their behalf. Sadly, in rejecting Him, they condemn themselves. III. Preaching Jesus Reveals the Elect V. 46b, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you." The Jews were God's chosen people. BC, God's revelation filtered thru them. So, Paul always went first to the synagogues to preach to Jews. They, of all people, should have seen that Jesus fulfilled the OT prophecies. They, of all people, should have known it was not outward circumcision, but circumcision of the heart that resulted in saving faith. And they, of all people, should have been passing this message on for God chose Abe in the first place so that "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen 12:3c). But the Jews blew it at every level. They made the Law a means of salvation. They hoarded God's truth, rather than sharing it. They were a Dead Sea - no outlet - rather than a river of living water. Still, the gospel went to them first. But when they refused and self-condemned, Paul says in 46d: "we are turning to the Gentiles." In doing so, he was fulfilling God's plan for Messiah: 47 "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth." And, look! 48 "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." People got saved. But look who they were - "as many as were appointed to eternal life." Appointed by whom? By God! "Appointed" means "to inscribe or enroll." God, not man, brings salvation. Saving faith is a gift given to those God chooses. The Bible always affirms: man does not choose God; God chooses man. Jesus says in Jn 6:65: "No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." Paul says of believers in Eph 1:4: "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will." Some hate this teaching, but it is the best possible news. Why? Bc apart from God, no one would ever be saved. One commentator says, "God's sovereignty is absolute; yet it is never used to condemn men who ought to be saved, but rather results in the salvation of men who deserved to be lost." So, here we have God's appointing and man's choosing side-by-side without hesitation. Those who go to hell do so because they "judge themselves unworthy of eternal life" (46). Conversely, the elect are saved because God appointed them to eternal life (48). To emphasize either truth at the expense of the other is to misconstrue God's revelation. When challenged it was unfair for God to choose some and leave others, Spurgeon responded, "'Is there any of you here who wishes to be holy, regenerate and to leave off sin?' One says, 'Yes, there is. I do!' Then God has elected you. But another says, 'I do not want to be holy or give up my lusts and my vices.'" Spurgeon answers, "Then why should you grumble that you are not elect. If you were elect, you would not like it by your own admission." Preaching Christ reveals the elect. They will rejoice in that fact; others won't care. IV. Preaching Jesus Raises Persecution The gospel always offends unbelievers. 50 "But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district." The opposition got some women to do their dirty work. They convinced them P&B were undesirables and got them kicked out of town. Preaching Jesus costs. Jesus knew it would: Jn 15:20b: "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." We need to pray for backbone. A preacher named John Nelson said, "When I was in the middle of my discourse, one at the outside of the congregation threw a stone which cut my head: but, that made the people give greater attention, especially when they saw the blood run down my face." When the persecution comes, whether it is mocking, a rock on the head, a night in jail or martyrdom, when it comes, God will in some way overrule it for good. No suffering for Christ is ever wasted. That's a good thought. Jesus will one day right every wrong. V. Preaching Jesus Rejoices Believers As the men start for Iconium (8 miles away), they leave behind them two diverse groups: the rejecting, prejudiced, hate-filled Jews; and the joyous, Spirit-filled believers. The rejecters rage at being told all their own cherished goodness is like counterfeit money with God. It will not pay. They can only come thru Christ. That requires a humility and a repentance they can't endure. But 52 "the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Believers love to hear Jesus preached. Why? They know that even their best is woefully inadequate to come before a God of whom it is said in Hab 1:13: "You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong." His blazing glory cannot help but wipe out any self-centered human endeavor. They've discovered a Savior - one who took their sin in his own body on the cross, one who rose again bringing new life, and one who offers that life to all who believe. So they rejoice at the preaching of Jesus. It is their eternal lifeblood. He is their beloved Savior, Friend, Lord, Master and elder brothers. Conc - So, we've seen how and why the message of Jesus divides. But which side of the divide are you on? Are you mildly interested? Internally enraged that someone would suggest that your good isn't good enough? Or have you humbly bowed to His Lordship in your own life, found that His yoke is indeed easy and His burden light and now rejoice in His glory? Who are you this morning? In Paul's words, "We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (II Cor 5:20b). Having heard this message, choose you must. No choice is to reject Him. Indifference is a damning option. Let me illustrate how critical this is. Jack Kent Cooke, who owned the Lakers in their early glory days, got call one night from his doc: "He told me I had the constitution of a 25-year-old and the heart of an ox. I was elated. I hung up and immediately had a heart attack." Fortunately, he was at dinner with Dr. Bob Kerlan who performed mouth-to-mouth and got him to a nearby hospital where he revived. His first visitor was his mother. He described all he'd been thru in great detail then said, "Mother, believe it or not, for 30 seconds I was dead. But Dr. Kerlan revived me." His mother looked him square in the eyes and asked, "Tell me, Jack, which way were you going? Heaven or hell?" That's the question the preaching of Jesus raises for all of us because we are all a matter of seconds from one or the other. Jesus prayed in Jn 17:3, "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Do you know him today? If not, cast yourself on His mercy. Do it now. Do it sincerely. Do it quickly. Let's pray. DONE 7