Recap: Paul gets an apology from the authorities for the beating and imprisonment; encourages the believers there at Philippi, departs for Thessalonica. Passed through other areas. Why? Thessalonica was the capital of Macedonia Province, had over 200,000 people, AND a synagogue!!
Acts 17:1 - Jews and Gentile God fearers - worshiped at the synagogue. They have the Old Testament.
Acts 17:2-3 - Paul reasoned, explained, persuaded them over 3 Sabbaths.
Reasoned = dialogued, answered questions
Explained (opened) - Paul KNEW the scriptures, taught by Gamaliel, but Christ opened his eyes to the truth, and Jesus gave him the Gospel. - Galatians 1. What a Bible study!
Persuaded them that Christ MUST suffer and rise from the dead.
Question: did he walk them through Isa. 53 - that He was despised and rejected, pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities, stripes, wounds, cut off from the land of the living? Or, Psalm 22 to point them to the cross? Or Psalm 16:10 - resurrection, like Peter preached at Pentecost?
Perhaps he went to Genesis and explained that all things were created by, through, and for Christ. Genesis 3 - He was the seed that would crush Satan's head
John 5:39 - The searched the scriptures; they bore witness to him.
Matt. 16:15 - Jesus came. Not debated. He existed. NOW - what do you do with Him? Who IS Jesus? "Who do you say that I am?"
Everyone believes in Jesus.
Muslims - prophet/messenger but not God.
Sikhs - holy man or saint.
Jews - false messiah and blasphemer
Moderns - peaceful revolutionary, a communist, an environmentalist, a philosopher, whatever they want Him to be.
WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS?
The guys who recorded the Bible were willing to die for what Jesus said in this book.
The New Testament makes some wild claims about Jesus:
Born of a virgin
Angels announced and celebrated
Walked on water
Turned water into wine
Healed the lame, the sick, the blind
Raised the dead
Cast out demons
He died, resurrected, ascended and is reigning at God's right hand.
What did Jesus say?
He claimed the Old Testament testifies about him - Luke 24:44
He said He and the Father are one - John 10:30
That He is from above. - John 8:23
He is the way, the truth, the life. If you know Him you know the Father also. John 14:6-7
He has authority to forgive sins - Luke 5:20-23
Before Abraham was, I AM. John 8:58, Exodus 3
He flat out says He is the Messiah or the Christ in John 4:24-25 and is Christ/Son of God - Matt. 16:16-17 with Peter, and to the High Priest = Mark 14:61-63
We must believe in the real Jesus. We must teach the real Jesus.
C.S. Lewis - said only three choices: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord - there is no neutral ground on Jesus. Can't change who He is.
Acts 17:4 - only some of the Jews? This seems to be Paul's experience. Is not the case everywhere he went, but disheartening. He spent 3 Sabbaths expounding and explaining and trying to convince.
Don't be discouraged if you don't see the results you expect.
We can't change hearts, but we can be faithful. However, a large number of Greeks and not a few prominent women believed! Probably not what Paul expected, but was awesome!
God can and does change our vision and our course - Prov. 16:9
Acts 17:5 - Jews teamed up with the ruffians to riot and attack Paul and the believers. Jason was a Jewish believer.
Acts 17:6-9 The accusation wasn't wrong. He WAS upsetting the order taking power and influence. The message was used by God to turn the world upside down. The message changed Greece, Rome, European world, History forever. Another King? Yes! Jesus is the TRUE King of the world!
Early Puritans - no king but Jesus!!!
Polycarp was burned at the stake because he would not deny Christ.
Paul was beheaded in Rome.
Timothy was beaten and dragged thru the streets for preaching against the Ruler of the time.
Question:
Is Jesus your King? Are you telling the truth about the King.
Rom. 1:16 - the Gospel is powerful.
1 Thess. 2:3-4 - Trying not to please men, but God who tests our hearts.
No comments:
Post a Comment