Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Acts 25-26

Transcript

Acts 25-26 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please take out your copy of God's Word, which I pray you have with you, that it's well read and treasured in your hearts this morning.
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And turn with me to the book of Acts, chapter 25.
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If you were with us last spring and then not for the summer and you're back now, yes, we are still in the book of Acts.
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We are hastening our way to its end, however, moving rather quickly, not because we are tired of the book of Acts,
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but because the story hastens us to the end.
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Back in chapter 21, Paul's back in Jerusalem and he's arrested there for no good reason.
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But the Jews bring up charges against him, blaspheming the temple, causing false worship of God.
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And the Romans, evil men that they were, are used by God to rush in and to rescue Paul from certain death at the hands of the Jews.
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And we've been walking now through the subsequent chapters, looking at various trials that Paul is standing.
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Different places have been.
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Last week, chapter 24, he stood trial before the Roman governor, Felix.
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And they concluded there was nothing really he could be charged for, but he held him anyway for two years.
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And at the end of chapter 24, Felix is, he wasn't a very good governor, so he's removed from his post.
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And he's replaced by a man named Festus.
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So we saw that at the very end of chapter 24, verse 27 says,
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When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus.
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And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
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And so today we're going to look at chapters 25 and 26.
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Yes, both chapters all together, although we'll come and focus in on just a few verses.
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But I am going to read it for our benefit.
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It only takes about eight minutes, so hang with me in the text.
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I'll pause from time to time and just make some comments, some clarifying comments,
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hopefully to keep you on the same page.
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You're understanding what's happening in this episode of Paul's life.
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But before I do that, let me just introduce to you, in real brief, three characters that you're going to hear in this story.
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Obviously, we have Paul as a primary character.
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Festus, who I already mentioned, Roman governor of Judea, successor to Felix.
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We have King Agrippa, who was the Jewish client ruler of Judea.
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And that is to say, he ruled the region that was ruled by a higher power, which in our story is Rome.
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He was granted power by Rome to rule the religious life of the Jews in Judea.
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He would have appointed the high priest, and he would have judged matters of Jewish law.
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So he's underneath the authority of Rome, but still holds quite a bit of power for Jewish worship.
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And then we're also going to see Bernice, who is Agrippa's younger sister.
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Just as an interesting historical aside to you, it's most likely that they were also lovers.
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So you, King Agrippa, but this is what's happening.
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This is why she's probably with him at this trial.
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So, beloved, this is God's word to us.
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It was written for his glory and for our good.
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We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands.
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We see in Acts 25, verse 1, Luke writes,
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Now, three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
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I'll stop for a moment here to remind you that Caesarea was the Roman capital of Judea,
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but Jerusalem is still the center of Jewish life.
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It's in a higher elevation, so everything goes up to Jerusalem or down from Jerusalem.
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And he travels there to earn favor with the Jewish population.
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Festus, as a governor, a Roman governor, was charged with keeping the peace in the province.
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And so he goes to pay his dues, as it were.
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We also will see that he's apt to grant favors to the Jews to gain their approval of him being there in that region.
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Verse 2,
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And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul.
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And they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem,
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because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
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Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly.
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So, said he, let the men of authority among you go down with me,
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and if there's anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.
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After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea.
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And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
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But when he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him,
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bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.
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Paul argued in his defense,
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Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar,
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have I committed any offense.
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And this is a duplication of Paul's previous trial before Felix,
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which was two years prior.
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Standing in the same place, he's now again having to defend against these same false accusations.
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Verse 9.
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But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul,
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Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?
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But Paul said,
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To Caesar you have appealed.
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To Caesar you shall go.
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Now, Paul's appeal to Caesar was his right as a Roman citizen.
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Although Festus did not have to grant the request to Paul,
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the complication of the matter and his charge to keep the peace in Judea
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made Paul's appeal a convenient out for Festus.
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It was his chance to say,
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Oh, well then okay.
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Festus was a fairly unseasoned governor.
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He was very young.
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And you'll note in verse 12 that he confers with his council.
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Is this a thing we should do?
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Is he within his right as a Roman citizen?
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They say,
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Yes, he is.
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And he uses it as an opportunity to escape what could happen
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if he doesn't put Paul on trial.
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Now remember that after Paul's trial before the Sanhedrin in chapter 23,
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when he's experiencing a great discouragement,
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Jesus shows up and encourages him with the following from Acts chapter 23 verse 11.
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Luke records this,
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The following night the Lord stood by him and said,
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Take courage,
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for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem,
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so you must also testify in Rome.
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So Paul has been given clear instruction by Jesus himself, right?
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Jesus encourages him by saying,
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I'm going to preserve your life unto Rome.
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I still have a purpose for you to go to that place.
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And Paul seizes the opportunity to bring this to pass.
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He exercises his Roman right and he says,
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I appeal to Caesar.
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Verse 13.
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Now when some days had passed,
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Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
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And as they stayed there many days,
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Festus laid Paul's case before the king saying,
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There is a man left prisoner by Felix.
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And when I was at Jerusalem,
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the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him,
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asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
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I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans
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to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face
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and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.
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So when they came together here,
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I made no delay,
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but on the next day took my seat in the tribunal
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and ordered the man to be brought.
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When the accusers stood up,
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They brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.
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He's saying they brought silly charges.
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That wasn't what I thought they were going to be.
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Verse 19.
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Rather,
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they had certain points of dispute with him
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about their own religion
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and about a certain Jesus
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who was dead,
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but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
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Being at a loss,
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how to investigate these questions,
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I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem
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and be tried there regarding them.
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And I love what he basically says is,
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I don't have a way of affirming whether or not Jesus is alive.
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So I asked him if he wanted to go to another trial.
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Verse 21.
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But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody
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for the decision of the emperor,
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I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.
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Then Agrippa said to Festus,
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I would like to hear the man myself.
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Tomorrow, said he,
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you will hear him.
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So on the next day,
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Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp
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and they entered the audience hall
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with the military tribunes
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and the prominent men of the city.
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Then at the command of Festus,
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Paul was brought in.
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And Festus said,
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King Agrippa and all who are present with us,
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you see this man about whom
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the whole Jewish people petitioned me,
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both in Jerusalem and here,
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shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
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But I found that he had done nothing deserving death.
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And as he himself appealed to the emperor,
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I decided to go ahead and send him.
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But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him.
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Therefore, I have brought him before you all
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and especially before you, King Agrippa,
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so that after we have examined him,
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I may have something to write.
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For it seems to me unreasonable in sending a prisoner
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not to indicate the charges against him.
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So it's interesting to note at this point
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that Festus isn't even sure
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under what charges he would send Paul to Rome.
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It's very vague,
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the charges that are placed against him.
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He's hoping to gain some clarity
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in matters of Jewish religious law.
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All of the injustice that Paul is experiencing
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is due to his proclamation of Jesus as the Christ.
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And this is not inconsistent with Jewish belief.
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They believed in a Messiah,
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particularly the part of Judaism that he was,
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a Pharisee.
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They believed in the resurrection of the dead.
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He's just saying,
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this has happened.
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The thing that you guys believe,
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I believe,
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but I believe it rightly
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because Jesus is the Christ.
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And this is infuriating to them.
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Just as Jesus was unjustly tried and crucified,
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Paul is being held for crimes
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that he did not commit.
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The student is certainly not greater than his master.
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Chapter 26, verse 1.
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So Agrippa said to Paul,
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you have permission to speak for yourself.
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Then Paul stretched out his hand
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and made his defense.
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I consider myself fortunate
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that it is before you, King Agrippa,
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I'm going to make my defense today
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against all the accusations of the Jews,
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especially because you are familiar
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with all the customs and controversies of the Jews.
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Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
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My manner of life from my youth,
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spent from the beginning among my own nation
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and in Jerusalem,
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is known by all the Jews.
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They have known for a long time,
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if they are willing to testify,
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that according to the strictest party of our religion,
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I have lived as a Pharisee.
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And now I stand here on trial
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because of my hope and the promise
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made by God to our fathers,
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to which our twelve tribes hope to attain
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as they earnestly worship night and day.
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And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O King.
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Why is it thought incredible by any of you
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that God raises the dead?
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I myself was convinced
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that I ought to do many things
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in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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And I did so in Jerusalem.
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I not only locked up many of the saints in prison
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after receiving authority from the chief priests,
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but when they were put to death,
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I cast my vote against them.
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So he's saying,
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I was a Pharisee,
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the strictest order of Jews,
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looking to the promise of the Old Testament
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that the prophets had made.
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And I was zealous against what's called the way,
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against Jesus of Nazareth.
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We know that Paul was present
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at the stoning of Stephen,
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the first Christian martyr.
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It would appear that he voted for the death of others
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as well that may not be recorded in the book of Acts.
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He possibly, quite possibly,
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was part of the Sanhedrin,
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part of that ruling group of Jews.
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Well known.
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He's saying,
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these men know the kind of Pharisee that I was.
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So it's likely that he's amongst his peers
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in Judaism being accused.
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Verse 11.
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And I punished them often in all the synagogues
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and tried to make them blaspheme.
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And in raging fury against them,
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I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
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In this connection,
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I journeyed to Damascus
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with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
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At midday, O King,
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I saw on the way a light from heaven,
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brighter than the sun,
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that shone around me
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and those who journeyed with me.
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And when we had all fallen to the ground,
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I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language,
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Saul, Saul,
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why are you persecuting me?
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It is hard for you to kick against the goads.
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And so that you're not distracted by that.
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Goads were sharpened rods used to prod cattle.
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So all that Jesus is saying to him,
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and he would have understood,
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is that it's futile for you to resist
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God's will in the world.
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What a silly thing for a cow to do
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to kick against a stick made
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to make them move forward.
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Verse 15.
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And I said,
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Who are you, Lord?
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And the Lord said,
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I am Jesus,
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whom you are persecuting.
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But rise and stand upon your feet,
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for I have appeared to you for this purpose,
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to appoint you as a servant and witness
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to the things in which you have seen me
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and to those in which I will appear to you,
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delivering you from your people
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and from the Gentiles
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to whom I am sending you,
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to open their eyes
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so that they may turn from darkness to light
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and from the power of Satan to God,
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that they may receive forgiveness of sins
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and a place among those
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who are sanctified by faith in me.
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Therefore, O King Agrippa,
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I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
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but declared first to those in Damascus,
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then in Jerusalem,
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and throughout all the region of Judea,
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and also to the Gentiles,
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that they should repent and turn to God,
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performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
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For this reason,
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the Jews seized me in the temple
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and tried to kill me.
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To this day,
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I have had the help that comes from God,
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and so I stand here testifying,
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both to small and great,
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saying nothing but what the prophets of Moses said
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would come to pass,
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that the Christ must suffer,
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and that by being the first to rise from the dead,
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He will proclaim light both to our people
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and to the Gentiles.
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And as he was saying these things in his defense,
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Festus said with a loud voice,
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Paul, you are out of your mind.
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Your great learning is driving you out of your mind.
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But Paul said,
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I am not out of my mind,
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most excellent Festus,
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but I am speaking true and rational words.
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For the King knows about these things,
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and to Him I speak boldly.
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For I am persuaded that none of these things
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has escaped his notice,
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for this has not been done in a corner.
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That is to say,
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the spread of the gospel,
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the teaching of the gospel,
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wasn't hidden from him.
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He was fully aware of the teaching of the gospel
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of Jesus Christ.
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Verse 27, and we're almost there.
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King Agrippa,
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do you believe the prophets?
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I know that you believe.
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And Agrippa said to Paul,
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in a short time would you persuade me
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to be a Christian?
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And Paul said,
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whether short or long,
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I would to God that not only you,
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but also all who hear me this day
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might become such as I am,
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except for these chains.
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Then the King rose,
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and the governor and Bernice,
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and those who were sitting with them.
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When they had withdrawn,
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they said to one another,
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this man is doing nothing
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to deserve death or imprisonment.
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And Agrippa said to Festus,
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this man could have been set free
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if he had not appealed to Caesar.
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So, I have posited to you before
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that I believe it is correct
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to think of Luke's account,
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most often referred to
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as the Acts of the Apostles,
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as the second of a two-volume work.
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The first, we call the Gospel according to Luke,
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is an account of Jesus' earthly ministry.
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The second is an account
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of Jesus' ascended ministry
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in the life of His apostles
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by the agency of the Holy Spirit.
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This is why I prefer to call this work
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the Acts of the Holy Spirit
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or the Acts of the Ascended Jesus.
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I'm sure I never will,
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but if I ever work as a Bible translator,
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that's the way my suggestion would go.
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In Matthew 28, verses 18-20,
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before Jesus ascended,
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He said,
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I hope you're familiar with this,
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He said to His apostles and to us,
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all authority in heaven and on earth
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has been given to Me.
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Go therefore and make disciples
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of all nations,
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baptizing them in the name of the Father
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and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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teaching them to observe
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all that I have commanded you,
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and behold, I am with you always
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to the end of the age.
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He says, in essence,
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I possess all power over all things,
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and I want you to go and make disciples.
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Don't be troubled in your making of disciples,
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for My power, My provision,
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and My presence will be with you.
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We often misread this, right?
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The Great Commission,
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the command for us to go on,
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to go and work for Jesus,
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and miss that He so carefully sandwiches
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in the middle of us going and making disciples
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that the authority belongs to Him
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and that He is with us.
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He's made these beautiful promises for us
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in the process of our disciple-making,
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of Paul's disciple-making.
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And how is it that Jesus' promise is accomplished?
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How is it that He is with us?
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His authority and His power is with us.
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Acts 1.8.
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Again, before Jesus is ascended,
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He says,
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You will receive power
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when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
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and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem
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and in all Judea and Samaria
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and to the end of the earth.
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The early disciples received the Spirit
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in a unique way on the day of Pentecost.
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And now, all who place saving faith
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in Jesus Christ have been given the Spirit.
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And that Spirit produces in us
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obedience to Jesus' commands.
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Observe Paul's immediate obedience
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from our text today.
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Chapter 26, verse 19 and following.
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He says,
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Therefore, O King Agrippa,
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I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
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But declared first to those in Damascus.
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This is where He was, right?
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He was in Damascus,
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and He began immediately
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to be a witness to who Jesus is.
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Then, in Jerusalem,
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so catch Acts 1.8,
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in Jerusalem,
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and throughout all the region of Judea,
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and also to the Gentiles,
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which would be to say,
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to Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
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That's an immediate obedience
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to what Jesus said would happen
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in Acts 1.8.
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So, Jesus' earthly ministry
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is continued in His ascended ministry
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in the lives of His followers
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by the agency of the Holy Spirit.
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Beloved, that's where we find ourselves today,
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in the continuation of that ministry.
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Luke ceased recording
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at the end of Acts 28.
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But the church lives on
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and carries the ministry of Christ
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as He is with us
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and as He has all authority.
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So today, let's observe
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six things that Jesus works to do
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through Paul and us.
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So this is your outline for today.
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Six things that Jesus works to do,
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aims to do,
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through Paul,
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and through us.
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Number one,
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to go and tell.
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To go and tell.
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Chapter 26, verse 16.
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In the middle of verse 17,
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Jesus says,
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But rise and stand upon your feet,
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for I have appeared to you
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for this purpose.
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To appoint you as a servant
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and witness to the things
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in which you have seen Me
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and to those in which
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I will appear to you.
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In verse 17,
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the middle portion,
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to whom,
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the Gentiles,
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to whom I am sending you.
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Jesus sent Paul
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and He sends us
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to be a servant
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and witness
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to what He had done
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and to what He would do.
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Jesus emptied Himself
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of the glories of Heaven
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to become a man
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in order to be
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a servant
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and a witness
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to the Father.
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And He said in John 20,
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verse 21,
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As the Father has sent Me,
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even so,
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I am sending you.
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So,
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go and tell.
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This is God's will
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for you
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in Christ Jesus.
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And in our going and telling,
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Jesus intends to save
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all who call upon His name,
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all who believe in Him
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for their salvation,
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all who He died
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to save.
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Jesus' ascended ministry
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is the justification
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and sanctification
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of His church.
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So we can have
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a great confidence
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in our going and telling
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as we are merely tools
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in the hands
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of Him
23:43
who all authority
23:44
in Heaven and on Earth
23:45
has been given.
23:47
We can join with Paul
23:48
in saying,
23:49
Romans 1,
23:50
verse 16,
23:51
For I am not ashamed
23:52
of the Gospel,
23:54
for it is the power
23:55
of God
23:56
for salvation
23:57
to everyone
23:58
who believes.
24:00
In Paul's telling
24:02
of Jesus' words
24:03
to him
24:03
on the Damascus road,
24:04
he presses further
24:07
that confidence.
24:09
Look at the following things
24:10
that Jesus works to do
24:12
through Paul
24:13
and through us.
24:14
That was number one,
24:15
to go and to tell.
24:17
Number two,
24:19
to open the eyes
24:21
of unbelievers.
24:23
Jesus works to do this
24:25
through Paul
24:26
and through us.
24:28
The first part of verse 18,
24:31
to open their eyes.
24:34
Paul was made blind
24:35
on the Damascus road
24:36
to later be given sight.
24:38
In the same way,
24:39
Jesus makes those blinded
24:41
to the truth
24:42
able to see
24:43
and live.
24:45
Paul wrote to the
24:46
Corinthian believers
24:46
in 2 Corinthians 4,
24:48
verse 4,
24:50
In their case,
24:52
those who don't believe,
24:53
in their case,
24:55
the God of this world
24:56
has blinded the minds
24:58
of the unbelievers
24:59
to keep them
25:00
from seeing
25:01
the light of the gospel
25:02
of the glory
25:03
of Christ
25:04
who is the image
25:05
of God.
25:07
So,
25:07
unbelievers
25:08
have darkened
25:10
vision,
25:11
darkened hearts.
25:12
They cannot see
25:13
the glorious truth
25:15
of the gospel.
25:17
But,
25:19
our text this morning
25:20
tells us
25:21
that Jesus
25:22
aims through
25:24
our evangelism
25:25
to bring about
25:27
spiritual sight,
25:29
to take the spiritually
25:30
blind
25:31
and give them
25:32
sight.
25:34
But how?
25:34
How is it that
25:35
He works this?
25:37
Paul goes on
25:37
in 2 Corinthians 4,
25:38
verse 6,
25:40
and saying,
25:41
For God who said,
25:42
Let light shine
25:43
out of darkness,
25:45
has shown in our hearts
25:46
to give the light
25:47
of the knowledge
25:48
of the glory of God
25:49
in the face
25:50
of Jesus Christ.
25:52
Paul states
25:53
that the all-powerful God
25:55
who spoke light
25:56
into existence,
25:58
said it
25:58
and it appeared,
26:01
births believing faith
26:03
into the hearts
26:03
of men.
26:06
So,
26:06
when Jesus says
26:07
to Paul,
26:08
I am sending you
26:09
to open their eyes,
26:12
we should rightly
26:13
understand
26:13
that we are
26:15
instruments
26:15
in His saving
26:17
purpose.
26:18
God saves people
26:19
through the proclamation
26:20
of the Gospel.
26:21
So,
26:22
we go and
26:22
proclaim
26:23
as God
26:24
works
26:25
to make the blind
26:26
see.
26:28
Jesus also
26:29
works
26:30
in the life
26:31
of Paul
26:32
and in our lives
26:33
to turn
26:34
unbelievers
26:35
from darkness
26:37
to light.
26:38
the second part
26:41
of verse 18.
26:43
18b,
26:45
if you will.
26:47
To open their eyes
26:48
so that
26:49
they may turn
26:50
from darkness
26:52
to light.
26:54
The heart
26:55
of an unbeliever
26:56
is dark.
26:58
John writes
26:59
in 1 John 1
27:00
verses 5-7,
27:02
this is the message
27:03
we have heard
27:04
from Him
27:04
and proclaim
27:05
to you
27:05
that God
27:07
is light
27:07
and in Him
27:09
is no darkness
27:10
at all.
27:12
If we say
27:12
we have fellowship
27:13
with Him
27:13
while we walk
27:15
in darkness,
27:16
we lie
27:17
and do not
27:18
practice
27:19
the truth.
27:21
So,
27:21
these metaphors
27:22
are being used
27:23
for the way
27:24
of righteousness
27:24
and the way
27:25
of wickedness.
27:27
The light
27:27
is righteousness
27:28
and the darkness
27:29
is wickedness.
27:32
John goes on
27:32
to say,
27:33
but if we walk
27:34
in the light
27:35
as He is in the light,
27:36
we have fellowship
27:37
with one another
27:38
and the blood
27:38
of Jesus His Son
27:40
cleanses us
27:40
from all sin.
27:43
So,
27:43
Jesus works
27:44
to make the unbelievers
27:46
see with spiritual eyes
27:48
so that they will not
27:49
walk in the darkness
27:51
in the evil ways
27:52
of the world
27:52
but in the light
27:53
of the truth.
27:56
And it is good
27:57
to be in the light.
28:00
Jesus also works
28:01
works
28:01
to open the eyes
28:03
of unbelievers.
28:04
Number four,
28:05
to deliver unbelievers
28:07
from the power
28:09
of Satan.
28:12
We'll call it
28:13
18c,
28:15
verse 18c,
28:16
so that they may
28:17
turn from the power
28:20
of Satan
28:20
to God.
28:23
The unbeliever
28:24
is turned from the power
28:25
of Satan to God
28:25
through the giving
28:27
of spiritual sight
28:28
because Satan's
28:30
only power
28:32
is the power
28:33
of deception.
28:35
In John 8,
28:36
verse 44,
28:37
Jesus calls Satan
28:38
the father of lies.
28:41
In Ephesians 6,
28:43
verse 11,
28:44
Paul instructs believers
28:45
to,
28:46
in order to avoid
28:49
the powers of the world,
28:50
put on the whole
28:53
armor of God
28:54
that you may be able
28:55
to stand against
28:56
the schemes
28:57
of the devil.
28:59
And he lists
29:00
as the first
29:01
and last
29:02
metaphorical items
29:03
to put on
29:04
as the armor of God.
29:05
In verse 14,
29:06
the belt of
29:07
truth.
29:09
In verse 17,
29:10
the sword
29:11
of the Spirit,
29:13
which is the
29:14
Word of God,
29:15
which is the
29:16
Scripture.
29:16
Scripture.
29:18
Gospel proclamation
29:19
has such great power
29:21
because by it,
29:22
Jesus makes people
29:23
believe the truth.
29:27
He unbinds them
29:28
from the many
29:28
varied deceptions
29:29
of Satan
29:30
and turns their hearts
29:32
toward the truth.
29:34
If you are in Christ
29:35
today,
29:36
if you have believed
29:37
in Him,
29:37
it is because belief
29:39
has been worked
29:39
in you.
29:41
You have believed
29:42
the truth
29:42
because you are
29:43
a child of God
29:43
and no longer
29:44
a child of the devil.
29:46
Well,
29:48
Jesus works this
29:49
through the life
29:51
of Paul
29:51
and in our lives
29:52
as well.
29:55
He also works
29:56
to bring about,
29:57
and we are going
29:58
to take five
29:58
and six together,
30:00
to grant
30:02
unbelievers
30:04
forgiveness
30:04
of sins.
30:06
Five.
30:07
Number five.
30:08
And number six,
30:09
to give unbelievers
30:10
a place
30:10
in the kingdom.
30:13
The last part
30:14
of verse 18.
30:15
18D.
30:19
That they may receive
30:20
forgiveness of sins
30:21
and a place
30:22
among those
30:23
who are sanctified
30:24
by faith
30:25
in me.
30:27
That is to say
30:28
that by believing
30:29
in Jesus Christ,
30:31
they would be
30:32
justified.
30:34
To be justified
30:35
is to be declared
30:36
righteous.
30:38
But it has two
30:39
components to it.
30:40
It's a legal
30:41
declaration.
30:42
We stand before God
30:44
and we're declared
30:45
justified.
30:47
And the two sides
30:48
of that are
30:49
the forgiveness
30:50
of sin,
30:52
this infinite debt
30:54
that we could not
30:54
pay because of
30:55
our infinite
30:56
disobedience
30:57
against an infinite
30:58
God.
30:59
The darkness
31:00
not able to dwell
31:01
with the light.
31:03
We needed
31:03
forgiveness of sin.
31:05
There's nothing
31:05
we could do
31:06
in order to gain
31:07
that forgiveness.
31:08
forgiveness.
31:10
But we have it
31:11
in Jesus'
31:12
sacrifice
31:12
on our behalf.
31:14
He was put forth
31:16
as a propitiation,
31:17
as a replacement
31:18
sacrifice
31:19
for us.
31:20
He stood
31:21
in our place.
31:22
In our stead,
31:23
He died.
31:25
He was the only
31:26
one that could
31:27
accomplish this.
31:29
That could bear
31:30
the infinite
31:30
wrath of God
31:31
against our
31:33
sins.
31:34
That's one side
31:35
of justification,
31:36
right?
31:36
The infinite debt
31:37
of your sin
31:38
has been dismissed
31:39
if you've been
31:39
declared justified.
31:41
Now, that's not enough.
31:42
You're just brought
31:43
up to zero now.
31:45
But we must also
31:46
keep the law
31:46
to be found
31:47
right before God.
31:48
We must be
31:48
righteous before God.
31:50
And so,
31:51
the granting
31:52
of righteousness
31:52
is also part
31:54
of justification.
31:55
That Jesus came
31:56
and lived
31:57
a perfect life
31:59
was necessary
32:00
for us.
32:00
He fulfilled
32:01
the law
32:02
that we might
32:03
have His
32:04
righteousness.
32:05
And so,
32:06
when we believe
32:07
in Christ,
32:09
both things
32:10
are imputed
32:11
to us.
32:12
It's called
32:12
double imputation.
32:14
Our sin
32:15
cast off
32:16
onto Christ,
32:17
His righteousness
32:18
given to us.
32:20
Wonderful verse
32:21
that sums this up
32:22
so well.
32:23
2 Corinthians 5,
32:24
verse 21.
32:25
For our sake,
32:28
God made Christ
32:30
to be sin
32:30
who knew no sin
32:31
so that in Him
32:33
we might become
32:34
the righteousness
32:35
of God.
32:39
So,
32:41
believers are granted,
32:43
unbelievers are granted
32:44
forgiveness.
32:45
They become believers
32:45
and they're given
32:47
a place by righteousness
32:49
in the kingdom.
32:50
5 and 6.
32:54
So,
32:55
Paul,
32:55
right,
32:57
Paul believed.
32:58
Paul believed
32:59
in the gospel
32:59
of Jesus Christ.
33:02
And we see him
33:03
as one character
33:04
in this story
33:05
responding to the truth
33:07
proclaimed.
33:08
He tells us of it
33:10
proclaimed to him
33:11
by Christ Himself.
33:13
Right?
33:13
And he responds
33:14
in belief.
33:17
Right?
33:18
His belief
33:19
which is evidenced
33:20
by his obedience.
33:23
What does he do?
33:24
He immediately
33:25
goes and does
33:26
the thing
33:26
that Christ
33:28
commanded him
33:29
to do.
33:31
And in the same way,
33:31
beloved,
33:32
in our day,
33:32
we can't simply say,
33:34
right,
33:34
when I was a child,
33:35
I prayed a prayer.
33:38
I can't with confidence
33:39
when my young children
33:40
say to me,
33:41
I believe in Jesus,
33:42
go,
33:42
yay!
33:43
I go,
33:44
I really hope so.
33:46
Let's see.
33:47
Let's see.
33:48
Is there an evidencing
33:50
of your faith
33:51
in Jesus Christ?
33:53
Work out your salvation
33:54
with fear and trembling.
33:56
Make your calling
33:57
and election sure.
33:59
And I don't want to make this
34:00
extra complicated for you.
34:02
I'm not trying to make it
34:03
mystical for you.
34:05
How do we ever know
34:06
if we're a Christian?
34:08
You obey.
34:10
You find in yourself
34:11
the desire
34:12
to pursue holiness.
34:14
If you find that your life
34:15
is entirely bent
34:16
against the commands of God,
34:18
then you're not a Christian.
34:21
If you come to church
34:22
and you find yourself
34:23
offended because you
34:24
don't want to change,
34:27
you may not
34:28
be a Christian.
34:30
If you find rather yourself
34:31
gladly submitting yourself
34:33
to the Word of God,
34:34
going,
34:35
God has given me
34:36
good commands.
34:36
I want to please Him.
34:38
And I don't do so perfectly,
34:39
but oh,
34:40
I want to.
34:41
Right?
34:42
My sin grieves me
34:43
and it grieves me
34:44
the more I mature
34:45
in Christ.
34:47
What a wicked,
34:48
horrible thing
34:49
that I've been set
34:49
free from sin
34:50
and yet I still,
34:51
like a dog,
34:53
return to my vomit.
34:55
You'll find that impulse
34:56
within yourself.
34:59
Make your calling
35:00
and election sure.
35:02
Measure it out
35:03
by your obedience.
35:05
Not that you're
35:05
perfectly obedient,
35:07
you hear me say,
35:08
but that you are
35:08
striving for obedience.
35:11
This is an evidence
35:11
that the Spirit of God
35:12
lives within you
35:13
and He's working
35:14
to bring about
35:15
obedience in you.
35:17
We're caught up
35:18
in our American
35:20
Christian culture
35:21
of decisionism.
35:23
Right?
35:23
It's wicked.
35:24
It's deceptive.
35:25
And if it's deceptive,
35:27
you know who it belongs to?
35:29
Amen.
35:31
We see another character
35:32
in our text today.
35:35
Festus.
35:37
Who thought that the gospel
35:38
was absolute foolishness.
35:42
Right?
35:42
He doesn't even entertain
35:43
the idea.
35:44
He says to Paul
35:45
in verse 24,
35:46
Paul, you're out
35:47
of your mind.
35:49
Your great learning
35:50
is driving you
35:51
out of your mind.
35:53
He saw Him
35:53
as absolutely crazy.
35:58
And beloved,
35:58
we're going to deal
35:59
with people like that
36:00
in the world.
36:00
That's not changed.
36:02
There's no new thing
36:03
under the sun.
36:04
People are going to think
36:06
that the way of Jesus
36:07
is insanity.
36:09
Right?
36:11
These people
36:12
have turned the world
36:13
upside down
36:15
following Christ
36:17
is the world
36:18
right side up.
36:19
Take a confidence
36:20
in that.
36:21
What a great benefit
36:22
it is that we can gather
36:23
as a church
36:24
and we can all look
36:25
around at each other
36:25
and say we're not crazy.
36:28
Right?
36:28
We're not alone
36:29
in this world.
36:30
Right?
36:30
These fantastic stories
36:33
that we believe
36:34
to be true,
36:35
we believe together
36:36
that they're true.
36:38
I'm so thankful
36:38
that Christ saved me
36:39
as an individual,
36:40
but He saved me
36:41
to a church,
36:42
a people for His possession.
36:46
I am increasingly encouraged
36:49
that other people
36:50
are crazy like me.
36:53
Festus thinks
36:54
it's absolute foolishness.
36:57
And then Agrippa.
36:59
I think Agrippa
37:00
is the most sad to me
37:02
because he had knowledge
37:04
but not belief.
37:07
And I think that many people
37:09
in our day fall into
37:10
this category of person,
37:12
the way they respond
37:13
to the gospel.
37:13
They have knowledge.
37:16
They're aware of it,
37:17
but they don't believe in it.
37:19
Or they say they believe in it,
37:20
but they don't believe.
37:22
It doesn't actually change
37:23
who they are.
37:25
Verse 26, Paul says,
37:26
For the King knows
37:27
about these things,
37:28
and to Him I speak boldly.
37:30
For I am persuaded
37:30
that none of these things
37:31
has escaped as noticed,
37:33
for it has not been done
37:34
in a corner.
37:35
He's aware,
37:36
he's informed about
37:37
this way,
37:38
this way of following
37:39
Jesus Christ.
37:40
Jesus is the fulfillment
37:41
of the Old Testament prophecies,
37:43
which is why he asks him,
37:45
Do you believe the prophets?
37:47
I know you believe.
37:48
I know you're standing.
37:49
You have to believe
37:50
the prophets.
37:52
And Agrippa's response to him
37:54
is in such a short time,
37:55
would you persuade me
37:56
to be a Christian?
37:59
It's particularly sad
38:00
when people have
38:01
access to
38:04
knowledge of the truth,
38:06
but don't place
38:06
believing faith
38:07
in it.
38:09
On your bulletin today,
38:11
there's a Spurgeon quote
38:12
as I like to use.
38:14
He said,
38:14
Wisdom
38:15
is the right use
38:17
of knowledge.
38:18
To know
38:19
is not to be wise.
38:21
Many men know
38:22
a great deal
38:23
and are all
38:23
the greater fools
38:24
for it.
38:26
There is no fool
38:27
so great a fool
38:28
as a knowing fool,
38:29
but to know
38:30
how to use knowledge
38:31
is to have wisdom.
38:33
So,
38:36
in conclusion this morning,
38:39
believe
38:40
the exhortation
38:42
this morning
38:43
to you.
38:45
If you have not placed
38:46
saving faith
38:47
in Jesus Christ,
38:49
find in this moment
38:50
the day of your salvation.
38:53
You don't need
38:53
for me to lead you
38:54
in a prayer.
38:55
Cry out to God
38:56
that He would save
38:57
your soul.
39:00
Believe that He is
39:00
the only Son of God,
39:01
made man in order
39:02
to live a sinless life.
39:04
Sacrifice on a cross
39:05
for the forgiveness
39:06
of your sin.
39:07
Risen and ascended,
39:08
exalted
39:08
at the right hand
39:10
of the Father.
39:12
Open your eyes
39:13
so that you may turn
39:14
from darkness to light
39:15
and from the power
39:15
of Satan to God
39:16
that you may receive
39:17
forgiveness of sins
39:18
and a place among those
39:19
who are sanctified
39:20
by faith
39:21
in Jesus Christ.
39:24
If you have believed
39:25
in Christ
39:25
for the salvation
39:26
of your soul,
39:28
evidence that
39:29
belief
39:30
by obedience
39:32
heartily agree
39:34
with Paul's response
39:36
to Agrippa,
39:38
I would to God
39:39
that not only you
39:41
but also all
39:42
who hear me this day
39:43
might become
39:45
such as I am.
39:47
Let's pray together.