TEXT: Acts 13:13-52

SUBJECT: Acts 15

Today, with the Lord's blessing, we'll proceed in our study of Acts. The author of this book is Luke. In his Gospel, he tells us what "Jesus began to do and teach" before He was taken into heaven. In Acts, he picks up the story from there. It's still about the Lord Jesus and what He's doing in the world--from His Seat in Glory.

THE STORY

The story begins in Paphos, the capital city of Cyprus. Paul, Barnabas, and Mark had gone there preaching the Gospel, and won the Roman Governor to faith in Christ.

But they don't stay there long. They sail north into Asia Minor and come ashore in Perga Pamphylia. There Mark quits the mission and runs home to Mama. (Later this will be important--but not now).

Paul and Barnabas are disappointed in their young friend, of course, but they carry on the work God called them to do. They travel about fifty miles inland and stop at the city of Antioch, Pisidia.

On the first Sabbath they're there, they go to Synagogue, and join in the traditional worship of God. After the prayers and songs, and Bible readings are done, the Rabbi asks if anyone has an exhortation.

Needless to say, Paul has one!

He calls the people to attention,

"Men of Israel", of course, means the Jews. "You who fear God" stands for Gentiles, not yet converted to Judaism, but still interested in the Hebrew religion.

He then recites the story of Israel, emphasizing the great goodness of the Lord and the people's deep ingratitude.

Speaking of David--Paul says--God made him a promise,

And now the punchline: God has kept His Promise! David's Royal Son--the Messiah--has come at last! Who is He? He is Jesus Christ.

Paul has come with God's offer of mercy,

The keys words are, "to you". Salvation is offered--not to somebody else--but to you! Christ is for you. Forgiveness is for you. A new life is for you. Heaven is for you. The Gospel is personal. It's for you.

Having made the bold announcement, Paul goes back to fill in the details. Jesus Christ was:

These acts--though wicked--did not frustrate the plan of God. In fact, they fulfilled it. For the Old Testament Scriptures portray Messiah as God's "Suffering Servant" (see Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 for example).

Is a Dead Messiah the hope of Israel? Of course not. But Messiah isn't dead, for though He died, God raised Him from the dead!

This is a quite a story. Why should anyone believe it? Paul gives two reasons:

Where? In many places, of course. Paul cites three of them--Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3, and Psalm 16:10.

This is God's Promise to Messiah. He would allow "The nations to rage, the peoples to imagine vain things, the kings of the earth to set themselves and the rulers to take counsel together against Him". But not to worry. They'll all be smashed, for whatever they think or do or say, God will enthrone His Anointed over every enemy.

He did just that when He raised Christ from the dead and placed Him at His Right Hand in Glory. In that way, Christ was "Begotten" by God--or acknowledged to be His Son and the One to Rule in His Name.

The promise is kept.

God promised many mercies to David, the chief being his Son would occupy the Throne of Israel forever. For about 400 years, the promise was kept in the expected way. Solomon succeeded David, Rehoboam followed Solomon, Abijam followed Rehoboam, and so on.

But then something terrible happened. Judah was taken into captivity and the royal house was broken up. And never to be restored.

In the expected way. But it was restored. In God's Way. By crowning Jesus Christ, God made good on the "sure mercies" of David. Now, just as God had promised him, David's Son sits on the throne forever.

The promise is kept.

"Corruption" means the decay that follows death. Reading Psalm 16, you'd think the promise was to David. Yet, the fact is, he died and decayed. His tomb was known to the Jews of that time. Had they gone into it, they would have seen the king's skeleton. Or, maybe just his dust.

Was the promise broken? Of course not! "God cannot lie". The promise was kept, but not with David personally, but with his Son and Heir, the Lord Jesus Christ. His body didn't decay, but is alive and glorified in heaven.

The promise is kept.

The case is air-tight. If you don't believe 500 reliable men, believe the Bible. If you don't believe the Bible, believe 500 reliable men. Something for everyone!

The sermon ends with an appeal and a warning.

There is salvation in Christ. And nowhere else. Not even in the glorious Law of God.

With the great blessing comes a great responsibility. Quoting Habakkuk 1:5,

You're on notice! If you've heard the Gospel, you're responsible to act on it in faith and repentance! Not to listen to it; agree with it; say nice things about it--but to believe it and surrender to its claims.

With these solemn words, the meeting breaks up and the people are divided. Some believe; others don't.

Over the next week, the Devout Gentiles tell their friends about Christ and on the following Sabbath, nearly the whole town turns out to hear the Gospel.

The huge turnout offends the Rabbis and they contradict Paul and speak out against the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas "Shake the dust of their feet off against" them and turn to the Gentiles.

Some believers; others don't. The difference is explained--not by psychology or sociology or the other "soft sciences" we so prize today, but by something much higher than they,

"Who made you to differ one from another?" God.

Paul and Barnabas leave Antioch and move on to Iconium.

That's the story.

THE MESSAGE

The message is an obvious one. The events that took place in Antioch show the Sovereignty of Jesus Christ.

"Sovereignty" means power, of course. But it means more than that: It also means the freedom to use that power however He wants to. In the Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan the lion represents Christ. And, although this lion is supremely good and kind and generous, one of the points that comes up time and again is--"He's not a tame lion!" Tame lions do what their masters want. Real lions do what they want! Christ is not a Tame Lion!

Jesus Christ "Came into the world to save sinners". He came to Antioch to save sinners. Yet He didn't save them all! And He won't save them all.

All are lost, but only some are saved. Could the Lord Jesus save every sinner--including the devil and his angels? Yes, He could. But He hasn't and won't.

Why not? We don't know; it's none of our business.

But we do know this: Jesus Christ exercises His sovereignty in unexpected ways.

The Jews in Antioch had been waiting for Messiah. But when He came, they didn't want Him! The Gentiles in Antioch couldn't care less about Messiah. But when He came, they found Him.

How do you explain it? Second causes are factored in, but they don't explain. Only this does: The Sovereignty of Christ.

How does this affect our daily lives?

It keeps us from presuming upon Christ. There is no formula that guarantees the salvation of anyone, including your children. Thus, we pray for sinners and depend on Christ to work in their hearts and bring them to faith.

It keeps us hopeful for sinners. For, if Christ passes by the "good Jews" to save the "bad Gentiles", then there's hope for every sinner. Including the stubborn husband who mocks his wife's God; including the out-of-control girl who breaks her parents' heart; including the hardened self-righteous parent who thinks good works will get him to heaven. Hope for everyone. Because Jesus Christ is Sovereign and likes doing things His Way.

It encourages us to preach the Gospel to everyone. Not just the people "likely" to be saved. But to the unlikeliest sinners too. Why not? Salvation is not up to the preacher or the sinner. It's up to Christ. And there's no telling what He might do!

God bless you all. For Christ's sake. Amen.