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Acts 13:44-52 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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  If you will please take out your copy of God's Word, I hope you have it here with you today.
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  and turn or swipe your way to Acts chapter 13.
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  Our text for today is Acts chapter 13, verses 44 through 52.
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  And while you're getting there, thank the band for leading us well in music.
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  This morning, Liz, you may or may not have noticed, I hope you've noticed, she's very pregnant, seven months.
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  And she was dizzy, and she said, I don't know if I can sing this morning.
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  And I said, please sing that song particularly.
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  I don't know if I had anything to do with her getting up and singing or not,
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  but she decided to sit on a stool, which I'm really, really thankful for.
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  And I'm thankful that Wes, in giving leadership to the band, sees his ministry not as separate from ministry of preaching the Word,
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  but he sees it as the same, and that is that he ministers to us the Word of God in song.
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  It's a wonderful thing that we should treasure together.
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  So Acts chapter 13, but before we get to this week's text, I want to remind you what happened in last week's text.
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  After proclaiming the gospel on the island of Cyprus, Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark sailed northwest back to the mainland.
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  At this point, John Mark leaves his companions and returns to Jerusalem.
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  We don't know exactly why, but it was probably because the danger of the journey that was ahead of them and the likelihood of further persecution.
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  Paul and Barnabas then go from the coast and travel 100 miles north through the Taurus Mountains to Antioch in Pisidia,
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  which is not to be confused with the Antioch that they were originally commissioned from.
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  There's lots of Antiochs in the area that's now modern Turkey in that day.
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  In Antioch in Pisidia, they attend the synagogue on the Sabbath where they are asked to speak,
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  probably because Paul was an understudy of the well-known rabbi Gamaliel.
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  So they likely knew who he was or he had told them who he had studied underneath,
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  and he's asked to speak to address the congregation on that day.
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  Next, we observe the first and longest of Paul's sermons in which Paul preaches Jesus Christ.
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  Let me clarify that statement, the recorded of his sermons.
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  Luke records it here for us.
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  Paul preaches Christ as the culmination of human history, as the fulfillment of prophecy,
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  and as the justifier of the sinner.
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  And he calls his listeners to believe in this message, the gospel that he is preaching to them.
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  Verse 42 and 43 of Acts 13 reads, was kind of the summary of last week's text.
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  As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.
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  And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas,
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  who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
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  So we see a favorable response to the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
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  and they've asked him to come back the following week.
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  Would have been a Saturday to preach more.
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  And this brings us to our text today, beginning in verse 44 and through the end of the chapter.
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  The next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
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  But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.
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  And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying,
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  It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you,
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  since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life.
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  Behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
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  For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
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  I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
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  And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord,
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  and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
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  And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
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  But the Jews, inside of the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city,
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  stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.
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  But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
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  And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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  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 this morning in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands.
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  So we see Paul and Barnabas return to the synagogue on the next Sabbath, verse 44.
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  And this amazing thing that almost, Luke records for us, the whole city gathered to hear.
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  Isn't this a wonderful work of God that almost the whole city gathered?
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  There were no flyers mailed out.
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  There's no promise of entertainment whatsoever.
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  But simply to hear the word of the Lord.
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  What a work of God to bring together a city in this way.
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  Not to be entertained, but to hear the gospel preached.
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  Luke does not record for us what was said by Paul.
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  But we do know that Paul speaks.
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  We know this because verse 45 tells us that Paul spoke.
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  The Jews were responding to what he had said.
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  And I think it's proper to presume that he spoke as he did the week before.
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  I am sure that Paul spoke to them of the crucified and resurrected Christ.
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  I am sure now having an audience gathered that is both Jew and Gentile.
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  He spoke to them of a sovereign ruler of heaven and earth who created all things.
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  Who set up a standard in the garden.
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  A single rule that Adam transgressed and brought sin to all of mankind.
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  I am sure that he spoke to them of the law.
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  Which laid out for them a standard by which God would be pleased.
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  And then expressed our complete and utter inability to keep that law.
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  I am sure that he told them of the great separation that existed between them and God.
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  Because of their sinfulness.
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  Which would have pressed upon him the necessity of preaching good news.
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  After telling them the bad news.
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  The good news of Christ.
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  Come to earth.
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  Taking the form of a man.
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  Fully God.
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  Fully man.
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  Living a perfect life.
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  Obtaining the righteousness of God that the law requires.
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  So that by faith in him we could have that righteousness.
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  But not just that.
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  Dying the death of a sinner on the cross.
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  Bearing in his body the wrath that was due them and us for their sin.
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  Then in there Jesus was resurrected.
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  And is seated with the Father now.
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  Wes mentioned earlier.
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  Making intercession for us.
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  Because he's alive we can have life.
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  I'm sure that Paul proclaimed the gospel once again.
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  It was his call.
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  As it is ours.
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  To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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  1 Corinthians 9.
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  Verse 16.
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  Paul says.
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  For if I preach the gospel.
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  That gives me no ground for boasting.
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  For necessity is laid upon me.
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  Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.
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  I believe that Luke does not record for us the specifics of what Paul said.
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  Because he intends for us to focus on the characters of this account.
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  And their responses to Paul's gospel proclamation.
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  So for the sake of your soul today.
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  I want to draw your attention by making five observations of the text today.
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  And I'll try to move through them quickly.
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  I'm going to listen for you real quick.
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  I'll readdress them.
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  Because you won't be able to get these out.
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  In pen.
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  In the time I say them.
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  So.
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  They are.
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  Number one.
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  The persecution that accompanies gospel proclamation.
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  Number two.
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  The responsibility of mankind to respond to the gospel.
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  Number three.
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  The sovereignty of God and the salvation of his people.
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  Number four.
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  The evangelistic fervor of God's people.
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  And number five.
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  The unwavering commitment of Paul toward the Gentiles.
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  So number one.
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  First observation.
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  The persecution that accompanies gospel proclamation.
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  I hear you, Silas.
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  He's saying data.
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  I just want to point that out.
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  The persecution that accompanies gospel proclamation.
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  So the week before.
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  They're very pleased.
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  The Jews are.
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  They're very pleased to have Paul proclaim the gospel to them.
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  But when the Jews see the crowds.
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  When it's no longer this elitist thing for them alone to hear this gospel proclamation.
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  But almost an entire city is gathered now to hear what it is that Paul has to say.
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  When they see the popularity of the message of Jesus Christ.
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  They're filled with jealousy.
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  Because it would seem that their elitist mindset.
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  That they have been God's people for all of ages.
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  Their special in some way was getting destroyed.
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  And it made them jealous.
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  Seeking the applause of men.
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  They failed to seek the approval of God.
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  And they begin to contradict what was spoken by Paul.
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  They revile him.
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  In the Greek, they blaspheme.
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  They slander.
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  They malign.
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  They defame Paul.
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  It's not just an emotion that they're feeling toward him.
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  It's an action that's taking place.
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  It's as the crowd is gathered.
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  And as he's proclaiming the gospel.
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  They're trying to discredit him at every turn.
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  Verse 50 goes on and expands upon what goes beyond just this meeting.
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  The Jews incited devout women and leading men.
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  And they stirred up a persecution.
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  We don't know the exact nature of it.
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  But likely they wanted to cause them physical harm.
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  And so Paul and Barnabas are driven out of the district.
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  I will not grow tired of saying to this generation in this place where we live.
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  Us in this place.
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  Gospel proclamation and persecution are mutually inclusive.
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  We're going to see this time and time and time again in the book of Acts.
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  They are mutually inclusive, beloved.
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  And persecution is going to take different shapes in different places.
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  A couple of weeks ago we spent some devoted time praying for the persecuted church.
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  And when we said that we meant the persecuted church abroad that's persecuted physically.
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  Imprisoned.
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  Beaten.
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  Killed.
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  For their faith.
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  We don't want to belittle that.
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  We don't want to make small the sacrifice of many believers around the world.
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  But we are deluded if we think that we are devoid of such a thing because we're Americans.
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  The world does not like the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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  And if we are proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will experience pushback from it.
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  Gospel proclamation and persecution are mutually inclusive.
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  Jesus, our Lord, was crucified.
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  He says in John chapter 15, verses 18 through 21,
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  If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
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  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own.
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  But because you were not of the world, but I chose you out of the world,
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  therefore the world hates you.
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  Verse 18 is conditional.
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  Verse 19 is not.
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  I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
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  Remember the word that I said to you.
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  A servant is not greater than his master.
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  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
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  If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
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  But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
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  What Jesus spoke to the apostles was already proving true.
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  In Acts chapter 3, Peter and John are arrested for preaching Christ.
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  They stand trial in chapter 4 and are charged to speak no more to anyone in the name of Jesus.
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  In chapter 6, a deacon named Stephen is falsely accused, arrested.
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  And in chapter 7, serves the kingdom of God as the first Christian martyr when he is stoned to death.
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  We can read of a great persecution that arises in Jerusalem in chapter 8,
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  which causes the church to scatter and the gospel message with them.
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  In chapter 12, the apostle James is killed by Herod, and Peter is imprisoned, then miraculously set free.
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  At the beginning of chapter 13, Paul and Barnabas are opposed by a magician named Elimus on the island of Cyprus.
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  And now, at the end of chapter 13, the theme remains, and it will continue on.
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  Gospel proclamation and persecution are mutually inclusive.
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  If you do not suffer in the name of Christ, then you are not following him.
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  If someone is not offended, if someone doesn't call you names, if someone doesn't want to spend time with you,
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  if you don't lose a job or are passed over for a promotion,
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  if your grade suffers in a particular class, then you're not following Christ.
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  It's going to take many shapes and forms.
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  I don't want you to make anything I just said absolute, and I certainly don't want you to go seek it.
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  But if you are proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ,
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  some people will treasure that, some people will listen to the words that you say,
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  and some will hate you for it.
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  Verse 19, John chapter 15,
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  If you are of the world, the world will love you as its own.
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  Beloved, if you are in Christ, and you are living as the world lives,
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  the world will love you.
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  But if you don't live as the world lives, but because you are not of the world,
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  but I chose you out of the world, the world will hate you.
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  Secondly, the responsibility of mankind to respond to the gospel.
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  The responsibility of mankind to respond to the gospel.
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  People are accountable to their decisions to accept or reject the gospel message.
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  You'll note in our text today that the crowd is divided along ethnic lines.
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  I find that fascinating.
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  Who's to know if there's not some mixture here, I suppose?
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  Acts 13, we see Jews and converts to Judaism, known as proselytes.
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  Last week I said proselytites seven times, and Wes pointed it out to me afterwards.
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  Proselytes, converts to Judaism.
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  Seem to be favorably following the encouragement in verse 43,
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  is that they would continue in the grace of God.
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  But Luke makes the record here, the Jews hated the gospel message,
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  and the Gentiles responded favorably to it.
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  One group accepted, the other group rejected.
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  Luke simply records the Jews were jealous in verse 45,
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  and that the Gentiles were rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord.
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  Note what Paul and Barnabas say to their Jewish listeners.
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  Verse 46,
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  Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying it was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first.
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  Since you thrusted aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life,
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  behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
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  Paul and Barnabas say to the Jews that they are condemning themselves by judging themselves unworthy
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  by rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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  If men are damned, it will only be because of their rejection of God and His ways.
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  John 3, verse 18,
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  Whoever believes in Him is not condemned,
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  but whoever does not believe is condemned already,
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  because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
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  John 5, verse 40,
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  Jesus says,
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  You refuse to come to me that you may have life.
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  If you do not know Jesus Christ this morning,
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  do not respond as the Jews did,
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  thinking that they were pleasers of God,
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  but being condemned for their rejection of Jesus.
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  Be like the Gentiles.
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  Rejoice and glorify God,
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  for this can be the day of your salvation.
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  Verse 48,
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  When the Gentiles heard this,
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  they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord.
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  The gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them,
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  and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
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  Let's bring us to our third observation.
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  So, second observation,
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  mankind is responsible for their response to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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  But thirdly,
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  the sovereignty of God in the salvation of His people.
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  Oh, this is a good one.
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  And we could talk a long time about this.
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  And as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
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  Now, the Greek word for appointed means to inscribe or to enroll.
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  To inscribe or to enroll.
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  To write down a name.
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  Psalm 69, verse 28.
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  The psalmist says,
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  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living.
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  Let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
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  Revelation 13, 8.
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  All who dwell on earth will worship the beast.
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  Everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world
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  in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
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  So, there's an unrolling happening.
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  And there's an unrolling that's happening before the foundation of the world.
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  Ephesians 1, 4.
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  God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.
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  That we should be holy and blameless before Him.
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  Now, many will take this phrase,
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  As many as were appointed to eternal life believed,
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  and try to flip it around on us.
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  They would say, rather,
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  As many as believed were appointed to eternal life.
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  They'll give us some complex explanation of God
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  and the way that God exists outside of time,
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  which I certainly agree with.
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  However, we don't simply look at the plain meaning of the text.
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  The Greek does not allow us just to take it and flop it around.
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  Right?
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  Luke recorded, in this way,
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  As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
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  There's a cause, and there's an effect.
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  They were appointed, therefore, they believed.
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  Beware of those who want to use exegetical tricks
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  to do exegetical somersaults with a text
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  to suit their purpose.
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  There's an apparent paradox, right, presented here.
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  I was going to read you a long J.I. Packer quote,
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  but I forgot the book downstairs that it was in,
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  so I'm not going to.
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  If you know who J.I. Packer is,
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  he's a contemporary theologian.
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  When you're in good company,
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  if the paradox tears at your mind a bit,
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  ask me later, I'll read the quote to you.
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  This apparent paradox is apparent contradiction,
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  although it's not one at all,
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  but the apparent one of man's responsibility
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  and God's sovereignty.
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  We can see here Paul and Barnabas saying to the Jews,
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  right,
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  you've rejected,
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  you've dismissed,
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  you've counted yourselves unworthy.
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  But then Luke records for us
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  that as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
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  The Scripture teaches both things, beloved.
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  Man is ultimately responsible
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  and God is fully sovereign.
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  If you have a problem
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  with the doctrine of election,
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  your problem is not with me
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  or with a denomination
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  or a historical figure.
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  The problem is with the Scripture
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  and therefore the God
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  of the Scripture.
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  If you have a problem
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  with the doctrine of election,
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  I want to very humbly
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  and lovingly encourage you not to.
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  It will benefit your soul
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  to take up the promises of the Bible
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  and they are sure
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  because of God's sure purpose.
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  The doctrine of election
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  is always taught in the Scripture
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  to give us a pillow
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  to rest our heads upon.
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  That is why it is taught, right,
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  to those who are in Christ
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  to know that we did nothing
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  to find ourselves in Him
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  and therefore we can do nothing
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  to find ourselves outside of Him.
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  He saves.
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  He has worked.
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  We're the recipients
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  of this grand blessing.
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  This is why it's taught
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  a pillow to rest our heads upon
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  and I like to say
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  and never a rock
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  to bash somebody over the head with.
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  I believe here that Luke
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  means to help us understand
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  the broad rejection
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  and the broad acceptance
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  of Paul's gospel message
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  by making this statement.
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  Why?
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  What is going on
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  in redemptive history
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  that Paul is preaching
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  this gospel message
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  and it seems a whole ethnicity
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  rejects it
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  and a whole ethnicity
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  in this city receives it?
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  What is happening here?
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  And Luke simply says,
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  and as many were appointed
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  to eternal life,
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  believed.
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  God is at work.
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  God is sovereignly
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  making His plans
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  come to pass.
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  As God's people,
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  we should treasure
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  such doctrine.
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  It is precious to us
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  in so many ways.
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  I want to take you
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  to a place
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  and show you
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  just some of
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  why I love
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  the doctrine of election
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  and I want you to turn
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  there with me
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  to Romans chapter 8.
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  Romans chapter 8
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  is a grand chapter
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  of the scripture.
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  If you're not familiar,
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  when I say turn to Romans chapter 8
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  and your mind doesn't start racing
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  with wonderful things
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  from Romans chapter 8,
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  you need to study
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  this chapter.
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  Your assignment this week
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  is to read Romans chapter 8
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  every day this week
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  and just consider
• 25:10
  all that is given to us
• 25:12
  in Christ.
• 25:14
  I'll give you a couple of examples.
• 25:16
  It starts out,
• 25:17
  chapter 8 verse 1,
• 25:19
  there is therefore now
• 25:20
  no condemnation
• 25:21
  for those
• 25:23
  who are in Christ Jesus.
• 25:26
  No condemnation for us.
• 25:27
  We don't have to bear
• 25:28
  the guilt of sin
• 25:29
  any longer.
• 25:30
  We've been set free from it
• 25:31
  because we are
• 25:32
  in Christ.
• 25:35
  Praise God.
• 25:36
  Verse 15,
• 25:37
  for you do not receive
• 25:37
  the spirit of slavery
• 25:38
  to fall back into fear,
• 25:40
  but you have received
• 25:40
  the spirit of adoption
• 25:42
  as sons
• 25:43
  by whom we cry
• 25:44
  Abba,
• 25:46
  Father.
• 25:47
  We have God
• 25:48
  as our Father
• 25:49
  because we've been adopted
• 25:50
  as sons.
• 25:51
  Ladies,
• 25:51
  that's for you too.
• 25:52
  That's a promise for you
• 25:53
  with all of the privileges
• 25:54
  that came for sonship
• 25:56
  in this day.
• 25:57
  All of the blessing
• 25:58
  that comes with being
• 25:59
  the son of a father.
• 26:01
  We've been adopted
• 26:02
  as sons.
• 26:04
  Verse 18,
• 26:05
  for I consider
• 26:05
  that the sufferings
• 26:06
  of this present time
• 26:07
  are not even worthy
• 26:08
  to compare
• 26:09
  with the glory
• 26:10
  that is to be revealed
• 26:11
  to us.
• 26:13
  Right?
• 26:13
  Precious.
• 26:14
  Precious promises.
• 26:16
  Down to verse 28.
• 26:18
  Familiar to you,
• 26:19
  I hope.
• 26:19
  And we're going to read
• 26:20
  through the end of the chapter
• 26:20
  because I can't not
• 26:21
  at this point.
• 26:22
  And we know
• 26:25
  that for those
• 26:25
  who love God,
• 26:27
  all things work together
• 26:28
  for good.
• 26:29
  What a promise that is.
• 26:30
  Right?
• 26:31
  All things,
• 26:32
  everything we're walking
• 26:32
  through in this life,
• 26:33
  all of the troubles
• 26:34
  of this life
• 26:35
  are aimed
• 26:36
  and are good
• 26:37
  for those who are called
• 26:38
  according to His purpose.
• 26:41
  For those whom He foreknew,
• 26:42
  He also predestined
• 26:43
  to be conformed
• 26:44
  to the image of His Son
• 26:46
  in order that He might be
• 26:47
  the firstborn
• 26:48
  among many brothers.
• 26:49
  And those whom He predestined,
• 26:50
  He also called.
• 26:51
  And those whom He called,
• 26:52
  He also justified.
• 26:53
  And those whom He justified,
• 26:55
  He also glorified.
• 26:58
  Paul gives to us here
• 26:59
  in brief
• 27:00
  kind of what's called
• 27:02
  an ordo salutis.
• 27:03
  Right?
• 27:03
  The order of salvation.
• 27:04
  How did this all come to pass?
• 27:06
  And he's anchoring us
• 27:08
  in this reality
• 27:09
  that we have been chosen
• 27:11
  in Christ.
• 27:14
  Why?
• 27:15
  What do we do with this?
• 27:16
  Right?
• 27:16
  I'm making the point to you
• 27:17
  that this is a pillow
• 27:17
  to rest our heads on.
• 27:19
  Right?
• 27:19
  Rest easy, beloved.
• 27:20
  Verse 21.
• 27:21
  What then shall we say
• 27:23
  to these things?
• 27:26
  If God is for us,
• 27:27
  who can be against us?
• 27:31
  He who did not spare
• 27:32
  His own Son
• 27:32
  but gave Him up for us all,
• 27:34
  how will He not also
• 27:35
  with Him graciously
• 27:36
  give us all things?
• 27:39
  Who shall bring any charge
• 27:41
  against God's elect?
• 27:42
  It is God who justifies
• 27:44
  who is to condemn.
• 27:47
  Christ Jesus
• 27:48
  is the one who died
• 27:48
  more than that
• 27:49
  who was raised,
• 27:50
  who is at the right hand of God,
• 27:51
  who indeed
• 27:52
  is interceding for us.
• 27:54
  Who shall separate us
• 27:56
  from the love of Christ?
• 27:57
  Shall tribulation
• 27:58
  or distress
• 27:58
  or persecution
• 27:59
  or famine
• 28:00
  or nakedness
• 28:01
  or danger
• 28:01
  or sword?
• 28:03
  As it is written,
• 28:04
  for your sake
• 28:04
  we are being killed
• 28:05
  all the day long.
• 28:06
  We are regarded as sheep
• 28:07
  to be slaughtered.
• 28:09
  No, in all these things
• 28:12
  we are more than conquerors
• 28:13
  through Him
• 28:14
  who loved us.
• 28:16
  For I am sure
• 28:16
  that neither death
• 28:17
  nor life
• 28:18
  nor angels
• 28:19
  nor rulers
• 28:20
  nor things present
• 28:21
  nor things to come
• 28:22
  nor powers
• 28:22
  nor height
• 28:23
  nor depth
• 28:24
  nor anything else
• 28:26
  in all creation
• 28:27
  and put yourself
• 28:28
  in that category as well
• 28:29
  and you
• 28:30
  will be able
• 28:31
  to separate us
• 28:32
  from the love of God
• 28:33
  in Christ Jesus
• 28:35
  our Lord.
• 28:37
  It's beautiful, right?
• 28:39
  all of the goodness
• 28:40
  of God to us
• 28:41
  in Christ.
• 28:44
  And what happens
• 28:45
  at this point
• 28:45
  in Paul's letter?
• 28:47
  Remember that the chapter break
• 28:48
  is not inspired.
• 28:50
  He goes on to lament
• 28:51
  that there are those
• 28:53
  that are of His flesh,
• 28:54
  right?
• 28:55
  The Jews
• 28:55
  that do not believe.
• 28:57
  He goes right on to say,
• 28:59
  right,
• 28:59
  in light of God's
• 29:00
  elective purposes
• 29:01
  there are people
• 29:02
  who will not respond
• 29:03
  favorably to the gospel
• 29:04
  of Jesus Christ.
• 29:05
  He is broken over that.
• 29:07
  He wishes that
• 29:08
  He Himself
• 29:09
  could be accursed,
• 29:11
  cut off from Christ
• 29:12
  for the sake of them.
• 29:13
  That's verse 3.
• 29:15
  So in the midst
• 29:16
  of all of this
• 29:17
  speaking about election,
• 29:19
  Paul is not cold
• 29:20
  about it.
• 29:21
  Right?
• 29:21
  At all.
• 29:22
  Right?
• 29:22
  He's broken over it.
• 29:24
  He wants His brethren
• 29:26
  to know Christ.
• 29:29
  Verses 16-18.
• 29:31
  So that depends
• 29:32
  not on human will
• 29:33
  or exertion,
• 29:34
  but on God
• 29:35
  who has mercy.
• 29:38
  For the Scripture
• 29:38
  says to Pharaoh,
• 29:39
  for this very purpose
• 29:40
  I have raised you up
• 29:40
  that I might show
• 29:41
  my power in you
• 29:43
  and that my name
• 29:43
  might be proclaimed
• 29:44
  in all the earth.
• 29:46
  So then He has mercy
• 29:47
  on whomever He wills
• 29:48
  and He hardens
• 29:49
  whomever He wills.
• 29:52
  Beloved,
• 29:52
  this is difficult stuff
• 29:54
  to understand.
• 29:56
  Right?
• 29:56
  My mind is too little
• 29:57
  to entirely comprehend
• 29:59
  the great
• 30:00
  chasm
• 30:01
  that seems to exist
• 30:02
  but seeing the responsibility
• 30:04
  of man
• 30:04
  and the sovereignty
• 30:05
  of God.
• 30:05
  How do we reconcile
• 30:06
  these two things?
• 30:08
  I don't know
• 30:08
  that we actually can,
• 30:10
  but the Scripture
• 30:10
  teaches us to it
• 30:11
  for our benefit.
• 30:14
  You cannot have
• 30:15
  Romans chapter 8
• 30:17
  without Romans chapter 9.
• 30:20
  You just can't do it.
• 30:21
  You can't claim
• 30:22
  all of the promises
• 30:23
  of God to you
• 30:24
  in Christ
• 30:24
  without grasping
• 30:26
  hold of rightly
• 30:27
  the doctrine
• 30:29
  of election.
• 30:30
  So humbly
• 30:33
  and lovingly
• 30:34
  work through it,
• 30:36
  wrestle with it,
• 30:37
  study the Scripture,
• 30:38
  ask hard questions,
• 30:40
  and then embrace it.
• 30:41
  It's a glorious,
• 30:43
  glorious truth
• 30:44
  and it's meant
• 30:44
  to give us rest
• 30:46
  as God's people.
• 30:49
  Note fourthly,
• 30:51
  and I love that Luke
• 30:52
  did this,
• 30:54
  the evangelistic fervor
• 30:55
  of God's people
• 30:58
  in verse 49.
• 31:00
  Right after saying this,
• 31:02
  stating this massive
• 31:04
  elective truth,
• 31:06
  all who were appointed
• 31:09
  to eternal life
• 31:10
  believed.
• 31:11
  And then what happens?
• 31:15
  If the doctrine
• 31:17
  of election
• 31:17
  has ever slowed
• 31:18
  the advance of the Gospel
• 31:19
  is because it
• 31:20
  wasn't understood.
• 31:22
  I would argue
• 31:23
  historically
• 31:23
  that it never has,
• 31:24
  but if it ever has,
• 31:25
  it just wasn't rightly
• 31:27
  understood.
• 31:29
  Understanding God's
• 31:30
  purpose
• 31:31
  for His people
• 31:32
  in the world
• 31:33
  has historically
• 31:34
  driven people
• 31:35
  out
• 31:36
  to share the Gospel
• 31:37
  of Jesus Christ.
• 31:39
  I've shared this
• 31:40
  with you before,
• 31:40
  but you may not
• 31:41
  have heard it.
• 31:42
  When speaking
• 31:43
  of election,
• 31:44
  many people think
• 31:45
  of the name
• 31:45
  John Calvin.
• 31:47
  And for some people
• 31:50
  that name
• 31:50
  is a dirty word.
• 31:52
  Calvin,
• 31:54
  when he was in Geneva,
• 31:56
  pastored a church
• 31:57
  and he led,
• 31:58
  was the overseer
• 32:00
  of a seminary.
• 32:02
  And his seminary
• 32:02
  became known
• 32:03
  as the School of Death
• 32:05
  because as he gave
• 32:06
  pastors that were
• 32:07
  fleeing persecution
• 32:08
  from all over Europe
• 32:10
  that came to Geneva
• 32:11
  to learn more about God,
• 32:12
  as he taught them
• 32:13
  the doctrine of election
• 32:15
  and many other doctrines,
• 32:16
  not just this one,
• 32:17
  but many other doctrines,
• 32:18
  they were driven
• 32:19
  by a passion
• 32:20
  for God's glorious purpose
• 32:22
  with their people
• 32:23
  to go back home
• 32:24
  and most of them
• 32:25
  were martyred.
• 32:27
  It became known
• 32:27
  as Calvin's
• 32:28
  School of Death.
• 32:31
  Properly understanding
• 32:32
  God's purpose
• 32:33
  in the world
• 32:33
  drives evangelism.
• 32:36
  So note the evangelistic
• 32:37
  fervor of God's people,
• 32:38
  verse 49,
• 32:39
  and the word of the Lord
• 32:40
  was spreading
• 32:41
  throughout the whole region.
• 32:45
  Right?
• 32:46
  Different words
• 32:46
  have been used
• 32:47
  in this text.
• 32:47
  District,
• 32:48
  they're driven
• 32:48
  out of the district
• 32:49
  the word of God
• 32:51
  was spreading
• 32:51
  throughout the whole region.
• 32:52
  This is a much broader place.
• 32:54
  The region is much bigger
• 32:55
  than the district.
• 32:57
  So the gospel's
• 32:58
  going forth
• 32:58
  far and wide.
• 33:00
  Paul and Barnabas
• 33:01
  have not been driven
• 33:02
  out of the district
• 33:03
  yet.
• 33:04
  Right?
• 33:04
  It's safe to say
• 33:05
  that they're
• 33:05
  still in this place
• 33:07
  and maybe that
• 33:08
  they're part
• 33:09
  of the spread
• 33:10
  of it
• 33:11
  to the whole region.
• 33:13
  But it would be
• 33:14
  wrong to assume
• 33:15
  that they were
• 33:15
  the only proponents
• 33:16
  of that spread.
• 33:18
  They have come
• 33:18
  to a new place,
• 33:20
  a place that has not
• 33:21
  heard the gospel
• 33:21
  of Jesus Christ yet.
• 33:22
  They preach the gospel
• 33:23
  of Jesus Christ.
• 33:24
  People are converted.
• 33:26
  Right?
• 33:26
  Gentiles in large numbers
• 33:27
  embrace the truth
• 33:29
  of Christ.
• 33:30
  And we see
• 33:30
  that the word of the Lord
• 33:32
  spreads
• 33:33
  throughout the whole region.
• 33:34
  Right?
• 33:35
  Far and wide.
• 33:36
  The gospel
• 33:37
  is being proclaimed.
• 33:39
  Right?
• 33:39
  Being a follower
• 33:40
  of Jesus Christ
• 33:41
  necessitates
• 33:42
  that we be gospel
• 33:43
  preachers.
• 33:44
  Jesus made a promise
• 33:45
  in Acts 1.8.
• 33:47
  He said
• 33:48
  to the apostles,
• 33:50
  but you will receive
• 33:50
  power when the Holy Spirit
• 33:51
  has come upon you
• 33:52
  and you will be
• 33:53
  my witnesses
• 33:54
  in Jerusalem
• 33:54
  and in all Judea
• 33:56
  and Samaria.
• 33:58
  And here's where
• 33:58
  we find ourselves
• 33:59
  in the story
• 33:59
  and to the end
• 34:00
  of the earth.
• 34:03
  The gospel proclamation
• 34:04
  has now gone
• 34:05
  outside of the borders
• 34:06
  of Samaria.
• 34:07
  It's gone beyond
• 34:08
  that place
• 34:09
  and they're filling
• 34:09
  in the gaps
• 34:10
  all along
• 34:11
  as newcomers
• 34:12
  to Jesus Christ
• 34:13
  or sharing
• 34:13
  the gospel
• 34:14
  of Jesus Christ
• 34:14
  with those
• 34:15
  that they know.
• 34:16
  But it has now
• 34:17
  gone beyond that
• 34:18
  in the work
• 34:19
  of Paul
• 34:19
  and Barnabas.
• 34:21
  Right?
• 34:21
  That promise
• 34:22
  was being fulfilled
• 34:24
  and it is still
• 34:26
  now being
• 34:27
  fulfilled.
• 34:29
  We are
• 34:30
  followers
• 34:31
  of Christ.
• 34:33
  We are Gentiles
• 34:34
  saved by grace.
• 34:35
  I don't know
• 34:35
  that there's anybody
• 34:36
  in here of Jewish descent.
• 34:37
  If you are,
• 34:38
  you're also saved
• 34:39
  by grace.
• 34:41
  I'm a Gentile.
• 34:42
  Right?
• 34:43
  Saved by grace.
• 34:44
  Praise God.
• 34:46
  And understanding
• 34:47
  rightly that salvation
• 34:49
  drives evangelistic effort.
• 34:54
  Fifth thing
• 34:55
  I want you to notice
• 34:55
  and in closing
• 34:56
  we'll go through
• 34:57
  this really quick.
• 34:59
  The unwavering
• 35:00
  commitment of Paul
• 35:01
  toward the Gentiles.
• 35:03
  The unwavering
• 35:04
  commitment of Paul
• 35:05
  toward the Gentiles.
• 35:07
  You have to remember
• 35:08
  as we consider
• 35:09
  Paul's ministry
• 35:10
  that he was
• 35:11
  of Jewish descent.
• 35:13
  He prized
• 35:15
  highly that.
• 35:16
  We see in the book
• 35:17
  of Galatians
• 35:17
  oh my gosh
• 35:18
  my brain
• 35:19
  Philippians
• 35:19
  he tears down
• 35:20
  counts things
• 35:21
  as rubbish
• 35:22
  that he once
• 35:22
  treasured.
• 35:24
  He had studied
• 35:25
  to be a Jew
• 35:26
  a zealous Jew
• 35:27
  a Jew among Jews
• 35:29
  right?
• 35:30
  And here he is
• 35:30
  going to his people
• 35:32
  and they are
• 35:32
  wholeheartedly
• 35:33
  almost rejecting
• 35:34
  the gospel
• 35:35
  of Jesus Christ.
• 35:36
  and he has
• 35:37
  set his attention
• 35:37
  now to a people
• 35:39
  that by his
• 35:40
  upbringing
• 35:40
  would have been
• 35:41
  inferior in
• 35:42
  every way.
• 35:45
  The Jews
• 35:45
  were very
• 35:46
  proud.
• 35:47
  This nationalism
• 35:49
  even as they
• 35:50
  had been scattered
• 35:50
  and recollected
• 35:51
  and scattered
• 35:52
  again
• 35:52
  a very
• 35:54
  very proud
• 35:55
  people
• 35:56
  a minority
• 35:57
  in most places
• 35:58
  trying to stand
• 35:59
  firm against
• 35:59
  the oppression
• 36:00
  of Rome
• 36:01
  and the
• 36:02
  dissolving
• 36:03
  of their
• 36:03
  culture.
• 36:04
  and this
• 36:06
  is who
• 36:06
  God
• 36:06
  calls
• 36:07
  Paul
• 36:07
  to reach
• 36:08
  a people
• 36:10
  that in
• 36:10
  his
• 36:10
  mind
• 36:11
  would
• 36:11
  have
• 36:11
  been
• 36:12
  and
• 36:12
  ceased
• 36:13
  to be
• 36:13
  inferior.
• 36:15
  He sees
• 36:15
  these as
• 36:16
  people
• 36:16
  desperately
• 36:17
  needing
• 36:18
  the gospel
• 36:19
  of Christ.
• 36:22
  Verse 46
• 36:23
  we've
• 36:23
  touched on it
• 36:24
  a few times
• 36:24
  it was necessary
• 36:25
  that the word
• 36:25
  of God
• 36:26
  be spoken
• 36:26
  first to
• 36:27
  you
• 36:27
  since you
• 36:28
  thrust it
• 36:29
  aside
• 36:29
  and judge
• 36:30
  yourselves
• 36:30
  unworthy
• 36:30
  of return
• 36:30
  behold
• 36:31
  we are
• 36:32
  turning
• 36:32
  to the
• 36:33
  Gentiles
• 36:33
  in the
• 36:34
  verse 47
• 36:34
  for so
• 36:35
  the Lord
• 36:36
  has commanded
• 36:37
  us
• 36:37
  saying
• 36:38
  I have
• 36:39
  made you
• 36:40
  a light
• 36:40
  for the
• 36:40
  Gentiles
• 36:41
  that you
• 36:42
  may bring
• 36:42
  salvation
• 36:42
  to the
• 36:43
  ends
• 36:44
  of the
• 36:44
  earth.
• 36:45
  Now you
• 36:45
  might scratch
• 36:46
  your head
• 36:46
  there and
• 36:46
  say but
• 36:46
  wait a
• 36:47
  second
• 36:47
  is there
• 36:48
  a record
• 36:48
  of God
• 36:49
  saying
• 36:49
  to Paul
• 36:50
  I have
• 36:51
  made you
• 36:51
  a light
• 36:51
  for the
• 36:52
  Gentiles
• 36:52
  that you
• 36:52
  may bring
• 36:52
  salvation
• 36:53
  to the
• 36:53
  earth.
• 36:54
  No
• 36:55
  not directly
• 36:56
  not explicitly
• 36:57
  to Paul
• 36:58
  but what Paul
• 36:59
  is doing
• 36:59
  is citing
• 37:00
  Isaiah
• 37:00
  49
• 37:01
  6
• 37:02
  chapter 49
• 37:03
  verse 6
• 37:04
  which says
• 37:05
  it is too
• 37:07
  light a thing
• 37:07
  that you
• 37:08
  should be
• 37:08
  my servant
• 37:08
  to raise
• 37:09
  up the
• 37:09
  tribes of
• 37:10
  Jacob
• 37:10
  and to
• 37:10
  bring back
• 37:11
  the
• 37:11
  preserved
• 37:12
  of Israel
• 37:12
  I will
• 37:13
  make you
• 37:14
  as a
• 37:14
  light
• 37:15
  for the
• 37:15
  nations
• 37:15
  that my
• 37:16
  salvation
• 37:17
  may reach
• 37:18
  to the
• 37:18
  end
• 37:19
  of the
• 37:19
  earth.
• 37:20
  Paul is
• 37:21
  interpreting
• 37:22
  for us
• 37:22
  Old Testament
• 37:24
  promises
• 37:24
  that God's
• 37:25
  people would
• 37:26
  take the
• 37:27
  good news
• 37:27
  of Jesus
• 37:28
  Christ
• 37:28
  now
• 37:29
  understood
• 37:29
  to the
• 37:30
  ends
• 37:31
  of the
• 37:32
  earth.
• 37:33
  In many
• 37:33
  places in
• 37:34
  scripture
• 37:34
  God speaks
• 37:35
  of his
• 37:36
  global
• 37:37
  intention
• 37:37
  for his
• 37:38
  glory
• 37:38
  to be
• 37:39
  made
• 37:39
  known.
• 37:40
  I'll
• 37:40
  just give
• 37:40
  you one
• 37:40
  other
• 37:41
  example
• 37:41
  this
• 37:41
  morning
• 37:42
  for the
• 37:42
  sake
• 37:42
  of
• 37:42
  time.
• 37:42
  Psalm
• 37:43
  96
• 37:43
  3
• 37:44
  the
• 37:44
  psalmist
• 37:44
  commands
• 37:45
  declare
• 37:45
  his
• 37:45
  glory
• 37:46
  among
• 37:46
  the
• 37:46
  nations
• 37:47
  his
• 37:47
  marvelous
• 37:48
  works
• 37:49
  among
• 37:50
  all
• 37:50
  the
• 37:51
  peoples.
• 37:52
  The
• 37:52
  notion
• 37:53
  that God
• 37:53
  was not
• 37:54
  for the
• 37:54
  nations
• 37:54
  was a
• 37:55
  sentiment
• 37:56
  unique
• 37:57
  to the
• 37:57
  Jews
• 37:57
  of this
• 37:58
  time.
• 37:59
  They had
• 37:59
  developed
• 38:00
  as I
• 38:00
  said
• 38:00
  a
• 38:01
  superiority
• 38:01
  complex
• 38:02
  as God's
• 38:03
  people.
• 38:04
  They looked
• 38:04
  down their
• 38:05
  noses
• 38:05
  at everyone
• 38:06
  else.
• 38:09
  The Jews
• 38:10
  of Paul's
• 38:11
  day
• 38:11
  this is the
• 38:11
  severity
• 38:12
  of it
• 38:12
  the Jews
• 38:13
  of Paul's
• 38:13
  day
• 38:14
  took great
• 38:15
  pains
• 38:15
  not to
• 38:16
  carry
• 38:17
  Gentile
• 38:18
  dust
• 38:19
  into the
• 38:20
  borders
• 38:20
  of Israel.
• 38:22
  Catch this
• 38:22
  little important
• 38:23
  detail for
• 38:23
  some of the
• 38:24
  rest of
• 38:24
  our text.
• 38:25
  They took
• 38:25
  great pains
• 38:26
  as they
• 38:27
  traveled
• 38:27
  through
• 38:27
  Gentile
• 38:28
  lands
• 38:28
  before
• 38:29
  they
• 38:29
  entered
• 38:29
  Israel
• 38:30
  to
• 38:30
  clean
• 38:31
  up
• 38:31
  to
• 38:31
  get
• 38:31
  all
• 38:32
  of
• 38:32
  the
• 38:32
  dust
• 38:32
  off
• 38:33
  because
• 38:33
  it
• 38:33
  was
• 38:33
  seen
• 38:34
  as
• 38:34
  defiled
• 38:34
  because
• 38:35
  Gentiles
• 38:35
  lived there.
• 38:36
  This was
• 38:37
  their
• 38:37
  disdain
• 38:37
  for the
• 38:39
  Gentiles.
• 38:41
  But the
• 38:42
  widespread
• 38:42
  rejection of
• 38:42
  the gospel
• 38:43
  of Jesus
• 38:43
  Christ
• 38:43
  for the
• 38:44
  Jews
• 38:44
  served
• 38:44
  as a
• 38:45
  catalyst
• 38:45
  for that
• 38:46
  gospel
• 38:46
  to go
• 38:47
  to the
• 38:48
  nations.
• 38:49
  And note
• 38:50
  what Paul
• 38:50
  and Barnabas
• 38:51
  do in
• 38:52
  response to
• 38:53
  being driven
• 38:53
  out of
• 38:55
  Antioch and
• 38:56
  Pisidia
• 38:56
  by the
• 38:57
  Jews.
• 38:57
  Verse 51,
• 38:59
  but they
• 38:59
  shook off
• 39:01
  the dust
• 39:01
  from their
• 39:02
  feet
• 39:02
  against
• 39:03
  them
• 39:03
  and went
• 39:04
  to
• 39:04
  Iconium.
• 39:06
  There's the
• 39:07
  significance
• 39:07
  of this,
• 39:08
  right?
• 39:09
  This was to
• 39:10
  suggest
• 39:10
  that the
• 39:12
  Jews in
• 39:12
  Antioch and
• 39:13
  Pisidia
• 39:14
  were no
• 39:14
  better
• 39:15
  than
• 39:15
  pagans.
• 39:17
  And Paul
• 39:17
  and Barnabas
• 39:18
  didn't want to
• 39:18
  take their
• 39:19
  unbelief
• 39:20
  with them.
• 39:22
  That's
• 39:22
  symbolic,
• 39:23
  shaking the
• 39:24
  dust
• 39:24
  off.
• 39:26
  The only
• 39:27
  thing that
• 39:28
  matters in
• 39:29
  the end,
• 39:29
  beloved,
• 39:30
  is whether
• 39:30
  or not we
• 39:31
  are in
• 39:31
  Christ.
• 39:33
  Our
• 39:33
  ethnic
• 39:33
  descent
• 39:34
  matters
• 39:34
  not at
• 39:35
  all.
• 39:36
  And the
• 39:36
  question to
• 39:37
  ask you
• 39:38
  primarily,
• 39:40
  I know there's
• 39:41
  some exceptions,
• 39:41
  I praise God
• 39:42
  for the
• 39:42
  exceptions in
• 39:43
  this room,
• 39:43
  but primarily
• 39:45
  white,
• 39:46
  middle class
• 39:47
  Americans
• 39:48
  in this
• 39:49
  room.
• 39:49
  Is there
• 39:50
  any ethnicity
• 39:51
  that we
• 39:52
  consider outside
• 39:53
  the grace
• 39:53
  of God?
• 39:54
  Is there
• 39:55
  any people
• 39:55
  that you
• 39:56
  would think,
• 39:56
  oh, but
• 39:57
  not to
• 39:57
  them?
• 39:59
  I'd suggest
• 40:00
  that's the
• 40:00
  very people
• 40:01
  you should
• 40:01
  carry the
• 40:01
  gospel message
• 40:02
  to.
• 40:04
  Have it
• 40:04
  rend your
• 40:05
  heart.
• 40:07
  You would
• 40:07
  see that
• 40:08
  people are
• 40:08
  all in
• 40:09
  the same
• 40:10
  position
• 40:10
  apart from
• 40:11
  Christ,
• 40:11
  damned
• 40:12
  eternally
• 40:12
  in desperate
• 40:13
  need of a
• 40:14
  Savior.
• 40:16
  And so we
• 40:17
  can observe
• 40:17
  the
• 40:17
  persecution
• 40:18
  that
• 40:18
  accompanies
• 40:18
  gospel
• 40:19
  proclamation
• 40:19
  in this
• 40:20
  text,
• 40:20
  the
• 40:20
  responsibility
• 40:21
  of
• 40:21
  mankind
• 40:22
  to
• 40:22
  respond
• 40:22
  to
• 40:23
  the
• 40:23
  gospel,
• 40:23
  the
• 40:23
  sovereignty
• 40:24
  of
• 40:24
  God
• 40:24
  in the
• 40:25
  salvation
• 40:25
  of
• 40:26
  his
• 40:26
  people,
• 40:26
  the
• 40:26
  evangelistic
• 40:27
  fervor
• 40:28
  of God's
• 40:28
  people,
• 40:29
  the
• 40:29
  unwavering
• 40:29
  commitment
• 40:30
  of Paul
• 40:30
  toward
• 40:31
  the
• 40:31
  Gentiles,
• 40:32
  all in
• 40:32
  these
• 40:32
  few
• 40:33
  verses.
• 40:33
  What a
• 40:34
  text.
• 40:36
  And note
• 40:36
  finally the
• 40:36
  result of
• 40:38
  these
• 40:39
  observations.
• 40:40
  Verse 52,
• 40:41
  and the
• 40:41
  disciples were
• 40:42
  filled with
• 40:43
  joy and
• 40:45
  with the
• 40:45
  Holy Spirit.
• 40:46
  Let's pray
• 40:47
  together.
• 40:47
  Let's
• 40:48
  pray together.