Apologetic Preaching

Apologetic Preaching

Acts 17: 16 – 34.

Introduction

The word “apologetic” is an interesting word.  “Apologetic” has two meanings.  And these two definitions are practically opposites. 

The more common meaning of “apologetic” describes a person’s tone or attitude as being remorseful or regretful for having said or done something to harm another person.  In this sense, to “apologize” or to be “apologetic” means to be sorry for something you have done or caused.

The other meaning of “apologetic” comes from the Greek word apologia, which means to defend your point of view.  This is the opposite of being remorseful of something you have done.  Instead, it means to develop a carefully argued position to defend what you believe.  There is even a discipline within Christian theology known as apologetics.  In Christian apologetics, theologians use reason and philosophy to defend the core beliefs of the Christian faith.

As Christians, our preaching should never be “apologetic” in the first sense.  We should not feel remorse over preaching the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.  However, our preaching should be “apologetic” in the second sense.  We preach Jesus and defend the truth claims of the Christian faith.

In the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday, I am preaching from New Testament examples of ways to tell others about Jesus.  This is a part of our emphasis on One Focus. Our goal is for every member of our church to identify one person to pray for, to love, to invest in spiritually and to share with them how they can become a Christian.  If you have already identified your One Focus, I want you to begin looking for a way you can witness to them about Jesus…AND, I want you to invite them to come to church with you on Easter Sunday, March 31…Five weeks from today.

The New Testament gives us more than one example for sharing the Christian faith with others.  One reason it gives us several examples is the fact that we are all different.  Christians have different spiritual gifts, different personalities, different life experiences and different passions.  If we are not all exactly alike, then we should not try to share our faith in the same way.  Another reason the New Testament gives us several examples is the fact that as the Gospel spread around the world, it went into different contexts.  The people sharing the Gospel were different, and the people hearing the Gospel were different.

In the Scripture we read today, we read about the Apostle Paul preaching an “apologetic” message.  He was defending the Christian faith in a culture that was much like the culture we live in today.

Acts 17: 16 – 34.

 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Athens was an interesting city in the ancient world.  It was known as a cultured city with political influence.  It was a university town with some of the brightest philosophers of the ancient world.  It was a religious city.  No matter what religion you belonged to or what god you worshipped, you could find a place to worship in Athens.

In many ways, it makes sense that Paul would want to preach the Gospel in Athens.  However, this was not a planned stop on his missionary journey.  In the previous verses we read about how Paul ended up in Athens.  When Paul preached in Thessalonica, a riot broke out in the city.  The mob threatened to kill Paul, and he barely escaped to Berea.  The mob followed Paul to Berea, so some of the Christians there helped him find safety in Athens.  Paul was supposed to enjoy a few days of vacation in Athens, seeing the sights, until the rest of the missionaries could catch up with him.

In the first verses we read this morning, we found Paul doing the touristy things.  He rested and relaxed.  He took leisurely strolls around the city.  This vacation did not last long for Paul, because he was “greatly distressed” by all the idolatry in Athens.  Everywhere Paul went he saw shrines, altars and statues of false gods.  Since Paul was a Jewish Christian, he was doubly distressed by what he saw.  As a Christian, he knew these people were worshipping false gods.  As a Jewish Christian, he recognized these people were in violation of two of the Ten Commandments—no other gods before me, and do not make false images.

Paul was not supposed to preach in Athens.  But, he could not stop himself.  He had to share the Good News of Jesus with the people of Athens.  Paul started out preaching, just like he always did, in the Jewish Synagogue.

Identify with Audience

Paul’s first sermon in Athens was probably a lot like his earlier sermons in Acts.  He was in a Jewish Synagogue.  So, he probably used the Old Testament Scriptures and showed how those promises were fulfilled in the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. 

Whenever Paul preached to the Jews, he used the Jewish Scriptures as the entry point.  The Jews recognize the Old Testament as God’s Word, so this is the obvious place to start talking about Jesus.  The Law points to Jesus.  The prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus.  The sacrifices have come to an end, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

The Greeks did not accept the Old Testament as God’s Word.  And, that is a problem for Paul.  The Old Testament was common ground for Paul and the Jews.  Now, if Paul wants to speak with the Greeks about Jesus, he needs to find common ground with them.  He cannot start quoting the Old Testament.  He needs to find another way to talk with them about Jesus.  He needs an entry point to begin talking about Jesus.

Ironically, Paul found an entry point in all the statues to the false gods.  Ancient writers refer to Athens as a “forest of gods.”  It was the cultural intersection of Roman and Greek religion.  They had statues representing all of the Greek gods and all of the Roman gods.  Paul even found a pedestal with the inscription “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.”  (More than likely, this was their attempt to cover all their bases.  They didn’t want to accidentally leave out any gods…And, they certainly didn’t want to face the wrath of this unknown god.)

This is ironic, because their idolatry demonstrates the fact that there is an innate human desire to seek after God.  Paul took their desire to seek after God and used it to explain to them who God truly is.  The One, True God sent his only Son, Jesus to be the Savior of all who believe in him.  Jesus offers forgiveness of sin, relationship with God, and eternal life.

Paul sets an example for us anytime we try to bring the message of Jesus into a new culture.  This is what modern-day missionaries do in the beginning of their work.  They learn the language, and they study the culture.

This has not always been necessary in the United States of America.  Fifty years ago, we lived in a culture that knew the Bible and often accepted it as the Word of God.  Billy Graham could preach sermons in packed football stadiums and use his famous expression, “The Bible says…”  And, people would take his word for it.  Sadly, this is no longer the case in our culture.  People today neither know the Bible nor recognize the Bible as an authority for their lives.  Just like Paul, we need to find an entry point to introduce the message of Jesus.

A couple of years ago, I had an opportunity to talk with a man from New York State about church and faith.  He was a salesman and spent the first few minutes of our conversation getting to know me.  He asked about my family, and I asked about his family.  I told him that I am married with three children.  He told me that he was engaged to be married.  Eventually, I was able to ask him about church and faith.  He told me that his grandmother goes to church every week, but he goes once a year to be with his grandmother.  He said he more inclined to believe what science could prove and therefore didn’t believe in God.  I asked him why he was getting married to his fiancée.  He said it was because they love each other.  I asked him if that was something he could prove with science.

Love became the entry point to talk about faith.  How do you prove that you love someone?  How do you prove that someone loves you?  Love does not exist in the realm of science and empirical observation.  Love is a matter of faith.  You believe that you love someone, and you trust that they love you in return.

We could make similar arguments about beauty and morality.

 For example, how do you know that a sunrise, a sunset or a mountain landscape is beautiful?  Beauty is not about scientific discovery.  Beauty is an experience which affects something other than our rational side. 

What about morality?  Some argue that there is no such thing as an objective morality.  Morality varies from person to person, from situation to situation, from culture to culture.  If that is true, then there is no explanation for what happens almost every day on the school playground.  Children playing on the playground will often get into a disagreement, and one child will say, “That’s not fair!”  If there is no such thing as objective morality, then there is no such thing as fairness.  And, by the way…Who taught that child what is fair and what is not fair? 

Any of these entry points can be used to talk about Jesus.  The innate human desire to seek God…Love…Beauty…Morality…  But, the entry points are not sufficient.  We must move the conversation beyond the entry point to share the Good News about Jesus.

Speak the Good News

Some interpreters have been critical of Paul’s approach in this sermon.  They don’t like that Paul did not use the Bible as his entry point.  They criticize the fact that there weren’t many converts in Athens, and there wasn’t a widespread Christian movement which came as a result of this sermon.  Some even point to the fact that this is the only time Paul used this approach in the entire New Testament.  (But, I would point out this is the only time Paul addressed an entirely secular audience in the entire New Testament.)

I am not critical of Paul, because I believe Paul never compromises his message.  Even though he never quotes from the Bible in this sermon, Paul does present a biblical theology of God and salvation.

Notice Paul’s theology in verses 24 – 31…

God is the Creator of Heaven and earth.  If God created us, then we did not create God.  If we did not create God, then we cannot control God or even contain God in images or temples or anything made by human hands.

God is the sustainer of all life.  God did not create the world and then step aside to let the world work out its own problems.  No.  God is intimately involved in the affairs of the world, working out his purposes for what God has created.

God created human beings with an innate desire to seek after God.  This is not a pointless pursuit.  God wants us to seek after him, and God wants to be found.  God is not far away from us.  He has entered into his created order in a way that God can be found and experienced by anyone who truly seeks God.

God calls all people to repentance.  The world we live in (and all the people who inhabit this world) is mired in sin and rebellion against God.  But, God sees the world as worth redeeming!  Another way to say this is to say…  God loves you just the way you are.  When we were unlovely and unloveable, God still loved us.  But, God will not allow you to stay the way you are.  God wants to redeem you and change you.  He calls all people to repentance.

God will one day judge the world with unquestionable justice.  This is not to say God cannot be questioned.  It is to say that God’s judgment will be based on an objective and unchanging justice.  God’s justice is based on the Resurrection of Jesus.  No one will be held to a different standard.  The standard will be the same for all people, all generations, all races, all religions…What do you believe about the Resurrection of Jesus?  The One who rose from the dead will be both the judge and the standard for judgment.

Paul never compromised the Gospel.  This Gospel is Good News for all people.  In one sense, this is an exclusive Gospel—Salvation is only for those who believe in the Resurrection of Jesus.  In another sense, this is an inclusive Gospel—Salvation is available to all who believe…all people, all races, all nations…

Again, I believe Paul sets an example for us in sharing our faith.  He found an entry point to begin talking about Jesus and the Resurrection.  And, once Paul began talking about Jesus, he presented a thoughtful and intentional argument for the Christian faith as a viable alternative in a culture with many different religious options.

Leave Conversion to God

It seems to me that Paul’s audience was divided when he began to talk about the Resurrection.  They were agreeable to everything Paul said about creation, God’s presence in creation and the human desire to seek after God.  But, Resurrection was a different story.  As soon as Paul began talking about Resurrection, the sermon was over.

Verses 32 – 34 tell us that the audience divided into three groups.  Some (perhaps most) of the audience “sneered” and rejected the message about Jesus.  Some of the audience was curious and wanted to hear more about the Resurrection.  And only a few people believed and became Christians.

Again, there are some interpreters who use this to criticize Paul’s approach.  I do not criticize Paul, because this is the way the message of Jesus is always received.  Some refuse to believe.  Some become curious and want to seek after God.  And some make decisions to become Christians.  I do not criticize Paul, because I believe salvation is God’s work.  Paul could not make anyone become a Christian that day or any other day.  I cannot save anyone either.  All I can do is faithfully present the Good News about Jesus and leave salvation in God’s hands.

Truthfully, the best we could ever hope for is that someone will hear our testimony about Jesus and experience a small change in their lives.  Sometimes, we have the opportunity to share with someone and see them become a Christian on the spot.  But, that does not always happen.  Other times, we share with someone and watch as they make the next step in their spiritual journey.  We share the Good News about Jesus so that an atheist can become an agnostic, an agnostic can become a seeker, a seeker can become a Christian, or a Christian can become a disciple.

There is no pressure on you and me.  Our job is to tell the story.  It is God’s work to make that change in a person’s life.

Conclusion

Last Sunday, I shared a CD (The Invitation) with you.  On that CD is an “apologetic” presentation by Lee Strobel.  Lee Strobel described himself as an atheist and was happy.  That all changed one day when his wife became a Christian.  He wanted to prove that his wife had made a terrible mistake and set out on a two year investigation into the claims of Christianity.  At the end of his two year investigation, he wrote out a list of pros and cons—why Christianity is true and why Christianity is not true.  As he looked at his list, he made the decision that it would take more faith to be an atheist than to be a Christian.  He describes his journey to faith on that CD.  

I want you to have that CD for two reasons.  (We have more CD’s if you did not get one last Sunday.)  First, I want you to listen to it as a way to help you present a thoughtful and intentional argument for why Christianity is true.  Second, I want you to give it away to someone you are praying for…Someone who needs to hear a thoughtful and intentional argument about the truth of Jesus.

You and I cannot make someone else a Christian…And we certainly cannot debate someone into a relationship with God.  But, what we can do is present the truth of Christianity and clear up misunderstandings in order that God can change their lives.

A Confrontational Gospel

A Confrontational Gospel

Acts 4: 1 – 22.

Introduction

Last October, I stood in this pulpit and introduced you to One Focus.  I preached a series of four sermons on One Focus and invited you to pray about finding One Person in your life who is either not a Christian or not a member of any church in our community.  Then, I asked you to begin praying for that One Person and looking for opportunities to love them, serve them and to invest in them spiritually.  At the end of October, we held a commitment service and invited you to “sign a card” and commit to One Focus.  That Sunday (and the following Sunday), over 220 people committed to One Focus.

Can you imagine what would happen if we had 220 new Christians come into our church this year?  I know that none of you thinks you could reach 220 people by yourself.  But you can reach one person…And, if 219 other people reach one person each, there would be 220 new Christians at First Baptist Church!

How have you been doing in your One Focus commitment?  Are you praying for your One Focus?  Has God caused your paths to cross more often?  Are you investing in them spiritually?  (I wear this blue bracelet to remind me to pray for my One Focus.  We still have bracelets available if you want to pick one up and wear it as a reminder.)

If you are looking for a good opportunity to invite your One Focus to come to church with you, let me offer a suggestion.  I suggest that each of us invite our One Focus to come to church on Easter Sunday morning.  Easter is March 31 this year.  That gives you six weeks to invite your One Focus to church.

In the next six weeks, we are going to help you by equipping you with resources to share your faith and / or invite your One Focus to church.  1) We are asking all of our Sunday School classes to teach lessons on evangelism in the month of March, using Scotty Sanders’ book One Focus Living.  2) At the end of the service today, we will be distributing a CD to everyone in the Sanctuary this morning.  This CD is Lee Strobel’s testimony of how he moved from being an atheist to becoming a Christian by exploring the truth claims of Christianity.  (I want you to listen to this CD and give it away to someone you are praying for.  Once you have listened to it and given it away, come back for more…we have about a thousand copies to give away.)  3) I am going to preach about different ways evangelism is presented in the New Testament—there is more than one way to share your faith with others. 

The New Testament gives us several examples of people just like us who shared the Gospel to their friends and family members.  I think we find numerous examples, because God has created each of us different.  We do not have the same Spiritual Gifts; we do not have the same life experiences; and we do not have the same personalities.

Today, we begin by looking at Confrontational Evangelism.  Some of you might be turned off by a Confrontational approach.  You do not have a Confrontational personality.  You avoid Confrontation at all costs.  You would rather blend in and conform or at least do everything in your power to keep from offending other people.

In some respects, Confrontational Evangelism is something Confrontational people do.  But, in other respects, all evangelism is Confrontational, because the Gospel is Confrontational.  God has not called us to be offensive or to attack other people.  But, whenever we present the Gospel there is an inherent Confrontation—The Gospel confronts the status quo, the Gospel confronts the powers of this world, the Gospel confronts sin, and the Gospel confronts the culture.

Acts 4: 1 – 4…  1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

Today’s story began on the front steps of the Jerusalem Temple and moved to the Jerusalem City Jail and then to the courtroom of the Jewish Sanhedrin.  This story represents the first resistance the disciples faced since the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  It gives us a peek into the future of the Gospel.  Wherever the Gospel is preached, people will be divided.  Some people will hear the Gospel and respond with repentance and faith.  Other people will hear the Gospel and recognize the Gospel as a threat to their way of life and do everything in their power to stop other people from coming to faith.

This story also contains a portion of Peter’s second sermon.  Peter’s first sermon happened on the day of Pentecost.  The Holy Spirit was poured out on the first Christians, and all the people of Jerusalem heard the sound of a roaring wind.  The wind attracted the crowd, and Peter preached the Gospel to the gathered crowd.  Three thousand people were saved when they heard the Gospel in that first sermon. 

Peter’s second sermon happened after a 40 year old crippled man had been healed.  This man had been crippled from birth.  He sat on the front steps of the temple, begging for money from the Jewish people who came to the temple for their daily 3:00 prayer time.  When the man asked Peter and John for money, Peter reached out his hand to the crippled man and said, “Silver and gold have I none.  But what I do have, I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!”

When this man was healed, he could not keep it secret.  He stood, he walked, he jumped, he yelled, and he gave glory to God.  Again, this attracted a crowd, and Peter used this as an occasion to confront the Jewish people with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  After Peter’s second sermon, the number of Christians grew from 3,000 to 5,000.

At this point, the Jewish authorities stepped in and interrupted Peter’s preaching.  Verse 2 tells us exactly why they interrupted.  The Jewish leaders were “disturbed because the Apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.”  Notice that it does not say they were preaching about Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead.  They were preaching that the Resurrection of Jesus has changed everything. 

The Gospel Confronts the Status Quo…  The Gospel message is more than simply saying Jesus died on the cross and rose again.  The death and Resurrection of Jesus is historical fact.  The Gospel is how the historical fact of the Resurrection has changed the world.  Jesus has experienced the worst we could ever experience, and Jesus has overcome.  Therefore, those who have faith in Jesus cannot be defeated by death.

As long as we live, we will continue to face the status quo.  Humans will be fearful of things like death and disease.  But, the Resurrection changes that.  Through faith in Jesus, we have the promise of Resurrection and eternal life.  As a result, death and disease can no longer hold us as captives.

Peter demonstrated the power and the promise of the Resurrection by healing the crippled.  Neither death nor disease can threaten those who have faith in Jesus.  Of course, this does not mean Christians will never get sick or experience things like paralysis.  Most of us will not experience this kind of miraculous healing in our earthly life.  We wait for the final Resurrection, when all things will be made new…And we no longer fear death and disease.

Acts 4: 5 – 12…  5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is  “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’  12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

After healing the crippled man and preaching the Gospel to the crowds, Peter and John were arrested.  They spent the night in jail.  The next morning, they stood trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin—the highest Jewish court of the land.

The Gospel Confronts the Powers of this World…  Verse 5 does not actually use the word “Sanhedrin,” but it describes the members of the Sanhedrin—rulers, elders and teachers of the Law.  They represented the political and religious leaders of the Jews.  All of the Jewish secular and religious authority was concentrated in this group.

Perhaps the Sanhedrin thought Peter would be intimidated by their power and authority.  But, Peter was not intimidated.  Notice how Peter addresses them in verse 10, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom YOU crucified…”

Peter was addressing the Jewish leaders, but we need to be very careful not to read this as an anti-Semitic statement.  Peter is not blaming the Jews for Jesus’ death.  Peter is blaming THESE Jews.  Peter stood before the Jewish Sanhedrin less than two months after the crucifixion of Jesus.  Therefore, these were the same men who had tried Jesus and sent him to the Romans to be crucified.

In one sense, Peter is making a personal accusation against these men for rejecting Jesus as the Promised Messiah.  In another sense, Peter is making a general accusation against all forms of human power.

Human power structures are allowed by God and are given a limited and temporary authority.  Human power serves a purpose to protect human life, to provide justice and to meet temporal needs.  But, ultimate power and authority belongs to God alone.  God created and sustains all of creation.  Only God has a legitimate claim to ultimate authority.

The Gospel Confronts Sin…  Peter ends his address to the Jewish authorities with a subtle shift from statements about a physical “healing” to statements about theological “salvation.”  The shift is based on a Greek word, which can be translated either “heal” or “save.”  According to Peter, both “healing” and “salvation” are accomplished through the Resurrection of Jesus.

Since Peter is speaking to Jews, he proves his point by quoting from the Jewish Scriptures—Psalm 118.  Jesus is the stone rejected by the builders which ended up being the most important stone in the entire building—the chief cornerstone.  Because Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus is the only name (power / authority) which can overcome death and disease.  Because Jesus gave his life as a voluntary sacrifice for sin, Jesus is the only name (power / authority) which can offer forgiveness of sins and a restored relationship with God.

Acts 4: 13 – 22…  13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Gospel Confronts Culture…  The First Century culture placed a high value on education and social standing.  Perhaps the Sanhedrin would have been more willing to listen to Peter and John if they had the proper credentials. Perhaps, if they had been trained at the Hebrew Seminary of Jerusalem or had been born into well respected families…

I really like what verse 13 says.  Peter and John went against everything the Sanhedrin expected.  They did not back down, and they were not shy about sharing their faith.  They even interpreted the Jewish Scriptures in the presence of the most learned biblical scholars of their day!  All this from men who were “unschooled” and “ordinary.”  (Actually, the Greek words here could also be translated “illiterate idiots.”)

Peter and John might have been “illiterate idiots,” but there was no denying that they had been with Jesus.  They were eyewitnesses to the Resurrection.  They had experienced firsthand the power of the Holy Spirit!  They didn’t have theological training, but they had an experience with Jesus that no one could deny.  They confronted their culture with the one thing no one could deny…Jesus had changed their lives…And they knew Jesus continues to change lives.

Conclusion

Two miracles took place in this story. 

The first miracle was a healing miracle.  In the name (power / authority) of Jesus, a crippled man walked for the first time in his 40 year life. 

The second miracle was a preaching miracle.  The crowds gathered around, and Peter preached the Gospel—the Resurrection of Jesus has changed everything. 

That may not sound like a miracle to you…especially if you believe there is power in the Gospel.  When the Gospel is preached, lives can be changed.  But, have you ever stopped to consider who was preaching this powerful Gospel.  It was Peter.

This is the same Peter, who denied that he was one of Jesus’ disciples less than two months ago.

When Jesus was arrested, Peter stood around a fire to warm himself.  A young slave girl approached and asked if Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples.  Peter was so ashamed of his relationship with Jesus that he denied knowing Jesus three times. 

Peter could not bring himself to witness to a slave girl with no power or authority.  But, that was Peter before the Resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Now, Peter is not ashamed of the Gospel.  He has experienced the Resurrection.  He has received the Holy Spirit.  And, through the power of the Spirit, Peter preached a Confrontational Gospel…

Children of God

Children of God

John 1: 1 – 18.

Introduction

Whenever I preach a funeral / memorial service for someone who has died, I always make it a point to present the Good News about salvation.  As human beings, we all face a sin problem.  Sin separates us from God.  But, God has overcome our sin problem. 

Perhaps there are other world religions that admit we have a sin problem.  But, there is something different and unique about the Christian faith.  As Christians, we know that we cannot solve our sin problem.  Some religions teach that if a person can meet all of God’s requirements, they can achieve salvation.  Some religions teach that a person can be saved if they subscribe to a certain number of theological pillars.  This is not what we believe as Christians.  We don’t believe salvation is about what you can do for God.  It is what God has done for you by sending his Son, Jesus.

Jesus died as the final sacrifice to solve our sin problem.  And, Jesus rose again as the first One to experience Resurrection and eternal life.  God did this as a free gift to anyone who believes.  Anyone who believes can be forgiven.  Anyone who believes can experience Resurrection and eternal life.

Last weekend, as I was preparing for the funeral service, I had a conversation with myself.  (I’m not crazy, but I do talk to myself.)  I asked myself, “Do you really believe what you are about to stand up and tell the church?”  Then, I answered (not only do I talk to myself, but I even answer questions), “Yes.  I believe this, because this is the only thing that makes sense.  Without the Resurrection, there is no adequate explanation for the presence of evil and suffering in the world.”

The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus is the answer to all the problems we face as humans.  The Crucifixion is God’s answer for our sin problem.  The Resurrection is God’s answer for the problem of death, evil and suffering.

If Jesus’ Resurrection never happened, then we would have no hope of Resurrection and eternal life.  If Jesus’ Resurrection never happened, then death, evil, pain and suffering is the very best we could ever hope for.  But, if Jesus’ Resurrection is true, then there is more to life than death, evil, pain and suffering.  God has a plan for us that is better than anything we have ever experienced right here and now.  God has a plan for us to live with him in a New Heaven and New Earth—a perfect Paradise with no more death, evil, pain and suffering.

This Paradise is something all humans desire.  We naturally want to escape from this world filled with sin, evil, death, pain and suffering.  We cannot create this Paradise on earth, and we cannot earn entrance into God’s Paradise.  The only way to enter God’s Paradise is to become a Child of God.

The New Testament has a lot to say about the children of God.  Most notably, the New Testament teaches us that not every person is a child of God.  We become children of God through faith in Jesus…

John 1: 1 – 18.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood [fn1] it.

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. [fn2]

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent,[fn3] nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, [fn4] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, [fn5] [fn6] who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

New Testament scholars refer to this passage as the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It is more than an introduction to the rest of this book.  It is a theological “big picture” of the entire Gospel story.  It begins with the story of creation and ends with John the Baptist telling others how they can be saved.

Divinity of Jesus

John 1: 1 – 2,  “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.”

One important way to read these verses is to keep in mind the way John’s original audience would have heard them.  John uses an important Greek word in this passage.  He says, “In the beginning was the logos…”  “Logos” can be understood in several different ways.  It could be translated either “word” or “reason / logic.”

First Century Jews would have understood John’s theology as a reference to the way God created the universe.  God spoke, and the universe came into existence.  God created everything by his Word.  (Incidentally, this is why the Jews refused to worship an image of God.  God revealed himself to his people by his Word and not through an idol /image.)

First Century Greeks would have understood John’s theology as a reference to divine reason.  In Greek philosophical thought, every human was endowed with a spark of the divine within each of us.  They believe this is the source of human reason.  Reason was present with God when he created the universe, and God implanted a piece of himself within his creation.  Salvation is something to be achieved through education and knowledge—living by reason and not by either emotions or fleshly desires.

I believe John used the word “logos” as a way to appeal to both the Jews and the Greeks in his audience.  He got their attention and then redefined the nature of this “logos.”

John 1: 14…  “14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John redefined “logos” in distinctly Christian terms.  The “logos” is not simply the spoken word of God and is more than divine reason.  The “logos” is a Person, who lived in the flesh and revealed the glory of God on earth.

If we stop reading at the end of verse 18, we will be left with many unanswered questions about the identity of this “logos.”  But, if we keep on reading the Gospel of John, we will recognize that Jesus is the “logos.”

John is telling us some very important things about who Jesus is. 

Jesus is the “logos” who became a Person and lived among us in the flesh in order to reveal the character of God.  As Christians, we agree with the Jews in saying that we can know God by listening to his Word.  But, we go a step farther in saying that God has revealed himself in the flesh through the life of Jesus.  We can see the love and goodness of God by observing the life of Jesus.  We see this in Jesus’ miracles and his compassion to those in need.  We see this perfectly in the way he voluntarily gave himself up for us on the cross.

Jesus revealed the character of God, because Jesus is the “logos” who was both with God in creation and is God.  Jesus is more than a good person and a good teacher.  Jesus is not only godly…Jesus is God.

God’s Initiative in Salvation

John 1: 10 – 13…  “10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

The God who created the universe entered into his universe to redeem his fallen creation.  This is such Good News.  The God who created you loves you so much that he entered into your world to save you from yourself and from all of the evils of this world.  But, notice how this Good News was received.  The world Jesus created did not recognize him as either its creator or its redeemer.

It is entirely possible that John is speaking about the Jews here.  He tells us that Jesus came to “his own.”  And we can interpret this in a couple of different ways as a reference to the Jews.  First, the Jews were Jesus’ own people.  Jesus was a descendant of Adam, Abraham and David.  Jesus was Jewish through and through.  Second, if Jesus is God, and the Jews are God’s chosen people, then the Jews were Jesus “own people.”  Yet, they rejected him as their Promised Messiah.

Of course, not all people rejected Jesus.  Not all Jews rejected Jesus—the Twelve Disciples; James, the brother of Jesus; and the Apostle Paul were Jews who accepted Jesus.  Not all people have rejected Jesus—the New Testament tells us about a worldwide movement of Gentiles who accepted Jesus, and we are here today because we have accepted Jesus as the Son of God.

Even if John is referring to the Jews as Jesus “own people,” we still have no reason to boast about our salvation.  We did not earn salvation.  We do not deserve to be saved.  We did not do anything to accomplish salvation.  Salvation is God’s work in us and toward us.

Salvation is God’s work, because God initiated salvation.  When we were sinners and helpless to solve our sin problem, God condescended.  Jesus entered into the universe he created to be our redeemer.  Jesus offered salvation as a free gift to anyone who would receive this free gift.  But, receiving a free gift is nothing to brag about.  Receiving is not the same thing as working or earning.

Salvation is God’s work, because only God can make us children of God.  The New Testament never tells us that everyone is a child of God.  This is a status which can only be conferred to us by God himself.  In the same way, there is no process of evolution from being a child of human parents to a child of God.  The only way to become a child of God is for God to change our status.

God initiates salvation by offering it as a free gift.  God accomplishes salvation by changing our status from children of human parents to children of God.  Our only role in salvation is to receive it by faith.  Perhaps a better way to describe this is to say we receive God’s free gift when we stop resisting what God is doing.

It is important for us to recognize that salvation is God’s work in order to avoid any understanding that we have saved ourselves.  But, that raises a question for me about how other people receive salvation.  If salvation is God’s work, what am I supposed to do about other people?  Should I just sit back and let God do his work?  Or, is there something else I am supposed to do?  We find the answer by looking at John the Baptist as our example.

Sharing the Good News

John the Baptist shows up twice in these 18 verses…

John 1: 6 – 9…  6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 

John 1: 15…  “15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”

These references to John the Baptist set a good example for us.

First, it tells us that John knew there was a difference between himself and Jesus.  Jesus is God.  John is not.  Jesus is greater than John…And John knew it.

Second, John knew he had been sent by God to accomplish a certain purpose.  His purpose was not to be the Light of salvation.  His purpose was to point other people toward the Light.  Jesus is the only Light that can break through the darkness of life.  Jesus is the only One who can save people from their sins and give them eternal life.  All John could do was to tell others about Jesus and his salvation.  John told the story and left salvation in God’s hands.

Conclusion

This is why we are committing the rest of this year to One Focus.  We want to be like John the Baptist.  We know that God will continue to do his part.  God pursues all of us, and God is at work preparing people to hear the Good News and receive his free gift.  There’s no doubt that God is working.  The question is whether or not we will do our part to point others toward Jesus.

In the next few weeks, we are going to help you with training and provide you with resources for being a witness.  In the month of March, our Sunday School classes and small groups are going to focus on sharing the Good News with others.

One of the things I have discovered as a pastor is that there is only so much I can do.  For example, I can share the Good News in sermons, in funeral services and in personal conversations…But only God can save a person.  Only God can prepare a person to receive his free gift.