Insurance Crazy

Have you heard the latest numbers?  Americans with no healthcare coverage grew in number by 2.2 million according to the census bureau!  Oh NO!!  What are we going to do to address this terrible plight facing millions in the richest nation on earth?  Is it time, are we ready for socialized medicine and mandated health insurance?  Ready or not, that’s the way Massachusetts is going and perhaps the rest of the nation.

But nowhere have I seen or heard where the question was asked “Why?  Why do you not have health insurance?”  I am among the ranks of those without health insurance; I do participate in a medical needs sharing program, but that doesn’t count at least for those who are counting.  I made the decision to opt out of company-paid health insurance (they paid mine, I had to pay the family portion) for two reasons, one very small but still a consideration and the other much larger.

First, in twenty years of paying Blue Cross premiums to cover three pregnancies and two major surgeries, the cost of the premiums exceeded the payback in benefits.  I would have been better off financially to put the amount of the premium in a simple passbook savings account and paid the bills myself.  There’s always a discount for paying cash and the savings would have earned interest, a double payback.

Second, and much more important, the good health of me and my family coupled with the premiums I paid helped to subsidize lifestyle choices made by others in the insurance pool that I would not make.  This isn’t speculation, it is actual experience – my premiums helped to cover medical expenses resulting from drunk driving, alcoholism, drug abuse, and prolonged use of tobacco.  Now maybe I’ll get in an accident and need medical treatment but it sure won’t be ’cause I’m driving drunk.  I may someday get cancer but it won’t be ’cause I smoked three packs a day for fifty years.

I decided I wasn’t going to spend my money in that way to help people cope with the consequences of bad choices.  There are other ways through the local church to do that much more effectively.  I also wasn’t going to spend my money to subsidize the medical costs of abortion.  Perhaps I’m strange and no one else on the planet thinks the way I do but now you know why I opted out of a top-of-the-line Blue Cross plan and into Samaritan Ministries.  I’m not even convinced that Samaritan’s is the best way to go but that’s where we are right now.

Part of my ambivalence stems from the question of how we should interact with the doctrine of God’s Providence.  I believe it’s irresponsible to have no insurance on anything and plow through life carelessly while depending on God to cover your act and keep you out of trouble.  But I’m not so sure it is irresponsible to have no insurance on anything and go through life making wise choices, being a wise steward of what God entrusts you, being generous in time and treasure support of the local church and God’s work, and trusting Him to care for you.   Isn’t that one of the reasons God put the local church on the earth, to be the context in which Christians bear one another’s burdens?

If we are faithful to our Lord, to the local church, and to one another in every aspect of our life, can we not expect Him to care for us?  And if that is true, does relying on insurance really say, “We can count on God for the little stuff but we need protection for the big stuff?”  Or is insurance of some sort and at some level of “protection” one of the ways God uses to provide for us?

Confessing Our Faith In the Culture – Chapter 11

Of Justification

A. Must we be just before God?

1. The day you eat you will die. Genesis 2:16-17

2. Everyone shall die for his own iniquity Jeremiah 31:30

3. The soul that sins shall die. Ezekiel 18:4, 20

4. The wages of sin is death Romans 6:23

5. Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

B. Can a man be just before God?

See Job 9:2 Job 9:14-15 Job 14:4 Job 25:4-6

The question here asked is, in itself, the most important ever propounded by man – “How shall sinful man be regarded and treated as righteous by his Maker?” This has been the great inquiry which has always been before the human mind. Man is conscious that he is a sinner. He feels that he must be regarded as such by God. Yet his happiness here and hereafter, his peace and all his hope, depend on his being treated as if he were righteous, or regarded as just before God. This inquiry has led to all forms of religion among people; to all the penances and sacrifices of different systems; to all the efforts which have been made to devise some system that shall make it proper for God to treat people as righteous. Albert Barnes

1. It is futile to justify myself. Job 9:20-21

2. Oh that I had a go-between!! Job 9:33

3. God must justify Job 42:7-9

4. on the basis of something else Genesis 15:6

5. done by someone else Leviticus 16:5-10 and Leviticus 16:15-22 and Isaiah 53:10-12 See also Romans 5:17-19 and Romans 4:16-25

C. Can we know we are justified?

Thirty Four Theses on Justification in Relation to Faith, Repentance and Good Works

By Rev. Norman Shepherd

Presented to the Presbytery of Philadelphia of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church November 18, 1978.

4. The term “justification” may be used with reference to the acquittal and acceptance of a believer at his effectual calling into union with Christ, or with reference to the state of forgiveness and acceptance with God into which the believer is ushered by his effectual calling, or with reference to God’s open acquittal and acceptance of the believer at the final judgment (Matt. 12:36, 37; Rom. 3:22,24; 5:1; 8:1; Gal. 5:5).

21. The exclusive ground of the justification of the believer in the state of justification is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, but his obedience, which is simply the perseverance of the saints in the way of truth and righteousness, is necessary to his continuing in a state of justification (Heb. 3:6, 14).

22. The righteousness of Jesus Christ ever remains the exclusive ground of the believer’s justification, but the personal godliness of the believer is also necessary for his justification in the judgment of the last day (Matt. 7:21-23; 25:31-46; Heb. 12:14).

26. The Roman Catholic doctrine that justification is a process in which the unjust man is transformed into a just man by the infusion of sacramental grace confuses justification with sanctification, and contradicts the teaching of Scripture that justification is a forensic verdict of God by which the ungodly are received and accepted as righteous on the ground of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.

http://www.hornes.org/theologia/norman-shepherd/the-34-theses

Norman Shepherd answers the question, can we know we are justified, with a half-hearted NO! He classifies justification as a “forensic verdict of God …on the ground of the imputed righteousness of Christ” while at the same time making “the personal godliness of the believer …necessary for his justification in the judgment”. In other words, it is possible for God to make a forensic verdict that is later countermanded at the final judgment and until the judgment the believer cannot know for certain how he will fare. In response to Rev. Shepherd, what saith the Scripture?

1. Pharisee and publican Luke 18:9-14

[He] went down to his house justified ( ???????? , dikaioo? ); “justified” is in the perfect tense.

The Greek perfect describes an action that was brought to completion and whose effects are felt in the present. Because it describes a completed action, by implication the action described by the perfect verb normally occurred in the past. William Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar

The force of the perfect tense is simply that it describes an event that, completed in the past (we are speaking of the perfect indicative here), has results existing in the present time (i.e., in relation to the time of the speaker). Or, as Zerwick (Zerwick, M. Biblical Greek Illustrated by Examples) puts it, the perfect tense is used for “indicating not the past action as such but the present ‘state of affairs’ resulting from the past action.” Daniel Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, p573

Zerwick notes that the true force of Jesus’ words here is that the tax-collector was “justified whereas the other was not.” Daniel Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, p297

The Perfect joins the past and the present, representing a fact as now past. …something past is represented as just now (at present) completed. George Benedict Winer, Grammar of the New Testament Diction

The perfect represents an action as already finished at the present time. The perfect, although it implies the performance of the action in past time, yet states only that it stands completed at the present time. William Goodwin, Syntax of the Moods and Tenses of the Greek Verb

In its most frequent use the Perfect Indicative represents an action as standing at the time of speaking complete. The reference of the tense is thus double; it implies a past action and affirms an existing result. Burton, Moods and Tenses of New Testament Greek

2. being justified we have peace Romans 5:1-11

3. now no condemnation Romans 8:1-4

4. that you may know 1 John 5:13

5. being confident 1 John 2:28; 3:21; 4:17; 5:14-15

The Church Grows

Acts 3:1 – 6:7

A. Healing and Homilies

1. The lame man 3:1-9

2. The puzzled crowd 3:10-11

3. The articulate preacher 3:12-26

• Remember his audience: “men of Israel” ( Act_3:12 ); same basic knowledge base and Messianic hope as 6 hours earlier: “men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem” ( Act_2:14 ), “men of Israel” ( Act_2:22 ), “men and brethren” ( Act_2:29 ). He is continuing to address the “house of Israel” ( Act_2:36 )
• the power of God vv.12-13
• the deity of Christ

1. Servant v. 13, 26

2. Holy One v. 14

3. Just v.14

4. Prince of life v.15

5. Messiah v.18

6. Prophet vv.22-23

• faith in Christ v.16

1. Elaborated: repentance, conversion, forgiveness v.19

B. Persecution and Prayer

1. Round 1 4:1-7

• priests, commander of the temple guard, Saducees
• strongly provoked ( διαπονέω , diaponeō) by Peter’s preaching v.2
• seized and confined v.3
  compare εις τηρησιν, eis teresin, ( Act_4:3 ) with εν τηρησει δημοσια, en teresei demosia, ( Act_5:18 )
  probably in the custody of temple guards, not in the prison or jail intended for common criminals
• Parenthesis – many believed v.4
• challenged – by what authority?? v.7

2. Response 4:8-22

• direct answer – that of the living resurrected Christ v.10

1. his authority

2. his power

3. you crucified him, yet he is your only hope – v.12

• executive session

1. miracle is undeniable and well-known v.14, 16

2. spread of influence must be stopped v.17a

3. intimidation might work v.17b

• open threat

1. no use of Jesus’ name in casual conversation v.18

2. no public teaching in Jesus’ name v.18

3. no hate speech!

4. presently reluctant to go against public opinion v.21

3. Reinforcement 4:23-31

• progress report v.23
• prayer and praise

1. sovereign creator and ruler v. 24-25

2. frustrating the plans of men, overruling for your purpose vv. 26-28

3. give us courage to speak vv.29-30

• Affirmation v.31

1. sensory stimulus – shaking

2. actual visitation – filled and spoke

4. Round 2 5:17-40

• strong word, indignation ζῆλος , zēlos , zeal v.17
• not easy confinement, like the first, but the common prison v.18
• released by the angel of the Lord, told to preach publicly “the words of life” vv.19-20
• finally found by authorities and brought to the Sanhedrin vv.21-26
• Q & A – Why did you use his name? We obey a higher authority vv.27-32
• Reaction: “to be sawn through mentally, i.e. to be rent with vexation” Thayer, followed by determination to kill
• Gamaliel’s wisdom vv.34-39
• Beat and repeat, the warning not to speak in the name of Jesus v.40

5. Response 5:41-42

• rejoiced – worthy to suffer v.41
• continued teaching and preaching v.42

1. publicly

2. privately

• message – Jesus is the Messiah

C. Humanitarianism and Hypocrisy

1. Caring for others 4:32-37

• great power
• great grace
• great consideration

2. Caring for self 5:1-4; 5:7-9

• it wasn’t just the keeping of the money, it was the deceit
• image over integrity

3. Caring for the church 5:5-6; 5:10-11, 13

• God guards his church from attack within

1. sin in the Garden – eat and you will die

2. sin in the tabernacle – Nadab and Abihu Lev_10:1-2

3. sin in the Promised Land – Achan Jos_7:18-26

• fear (healthy) of doing wrong v.11
• disincentive to casual Christians, those who only try it out v.13

4. Caring for the sick 5:12, 15-16

• physical – ἀσθενής , asthenēs ; strengthless, weak, infirm, feeble
• spiritual/emotional – ὀχλέω , ochleō ; harassed, vexed, molested, tormented
• all were healed – cured, restored

D. Disciples and Deacons 6:1 – 6:7

1. Exponential growth 6:1a

see Act_1:15 (120) Act_2:41 (+3000) Act_4:4 (5000 men); see also Act_5:14

• period of perhaps 6 years after Jesus’ ascension
• even with the help of the seventy (speculation), still a 100:1 or more ratio
• certainly would not have met corporately in any single building
• ref. Act_5:42, preaching the gospel in dwellings, οἶκος , oikos , in addition to the temple

2. Overwhelming need 6:1b

• obvious example of social responsibility neglected – widows
  see Isa_58:6-9 (pleasing fast)
• pure religion is to care for widows and orphans – Jas_1:27
• already neglected by society, believing widows would have been rejected by the official church
• viewed as non-negotiable responsibility to “be a family” to one another
• difference between “being the church” and “doing church”

3. Wise solution 6:2-7

• division of labor

1. ministry of word and prayer

2. ministry to physical needs

• spiritual ministry
• result: multiplying ( Act_6:1 ) —>> multiplying greatly (violently) ( Act_6:7 )

God both guards his church and grows his church.

• He guards it

1. from those influences and pressures without that would damage it – this guarding is not isolating, it is inoculating: giving the church resources to resist outside harm.

2. from influences and pressures (sinful behavior) within, establishing the mechanisms of plurality of elders coupled with church discipline, enabling her to resist harm from within the ranks.

3. from complacency – they were all scattered – Act_8:1

• He, God, is the one who grows the church. Nowhere in discussing the growth does Luke use language that would indicate the church added to itself. In fact, he explicitly states that “the Lord added to the church daily” Act_2:47 the new converts.
• We must pray that God guard it and grow it, we must do our part in bringing others in. All Jerusalem ( Act_4:16 ) and the cities surrounding Jerusalem ( Act_5:16 ) must have heard the news from someone!!

A Church Is Planted

Acts 2:22-47

A.  Address of Peter  vv. 22-36

1.  the man  vv. 22-24

a.  accredited (demonstrated) as sent from God

• miracles – δύναμις dunamis; power, especially miraculous power
• wonders – τέρας teras; vindication of divine power and authority; always used with σημεῖον when referring to God’s miraculous deeds
• signs – σημεῖον semeion; indicator of divine person and authority
• Jesus’ testimony of Himself: Isa_61:1-2 Luk_4:16-21 Mat_11:2-5

  Luke 4:16-21 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captivesAnd recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

  Matthew 11:2-5 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

b.  “surrounded” by Providence

“Every circumstance attending Jesus’ death on the cross forms a part of the strictly ordained counsel of God, and helps to fill the measured cup of his dying sufferings.”  Rudolf Stier, Words of the Apostles

God in his infinite wisdom and purpose had set the horizon ( ὁρίζω ), the boundary, within which events must take place, including all things concerning the treatment of his Son.  This was not a chance happening, a case of mistaken identity or an unfortunate setup.  It was the means by which God in his Providence  would effect redemption for his people.

c.  unjustly put to death

Those described as lawless could fit into two different categories: those destitute of the Mosaic law (Gentiles) or those who violated established law.  In Jesus’ case, it was both.

“The Sanhedrin also followed some important laws. Any false witness would pay the same penalty as the one he witnessed against. They could not prosecute the accused; they could only try him. No court could convene at night or in any other place except the Judgment Hall. No hearing could convene in the late afternoon, lest justice be hurried to a hasty and wrongful conclusion. No convicted criminal could be executed the same day he was tried. A one-day interval was required. No execution could be held on a feast day, or the day before. All the votes were carefully counted. And no one could incriminate himself by giving testimony against himself.

The Jewish leaders violated every single one of those safeguards. They never gave Jesus a public trial; they held it privately. They didn’t allow Him to make a defense–no witnesses spoke on His behalf. They couldn’t find two or more witnesses to convict Him of anything. They actually bribed some false witnesses, which was contrary to their efforts of discouraging false witnesses through severe punishment. They were not allowed to prosecute an individual, yet they did that. There was no prior prosecution because there was no crime. They met in the middle of the night. They sentenced and executed Him the same day. The trial took place on a feast day. They met outside the Hall of Judgment. And they never bothered to count the votes.”  John MacArthur, Jesus on Trial

http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg2390.htm

d.  unconquered by death

The God who delivered him to death raised him from death; that same God broke the clutches of death that tried to hold him.  Not only was it not possible for death to restrain Christ, it simply and absolutely lacked the power ( δυνατός ) to do so.  Death can have no more power over the one who is the life ( Joh_14:6 ) than darkness can smother light.

2.  the prophecies  vv. 25-28, 34-35

a.  David – Psa_16:8-11

b.  Exposition – vv. 29-33

Since David said that God had promised that his Holy One would not experience the corruption of death, and since David’s bones were in his tomb, David could not have been talking about himself.  Additionally, God had promised a descendant of David who would sit on an eternal throne ( Psa_89:35-36 ); there must be one in the line of David who would not remain captive to death, who would be raised from the dead.

Peter declared that they all were witnesses that God had kept his promise, he had in fact raised Jesus from the grave.  But wait, there’s more!  God has exalted him, raised him from the lowest depths to the highest heights to the right hand (place of honor and authority) of God.  Not only that, he followed through on the promise of the Holy Spirit which they were seeing the evidence of at that moment.

c.  David – Psa_110:1

see also Mat_22:42-45  Jesus’ question of the Pharisees regarding Psalm 110:1

d.  Conclusion – v. 36

Since all these things are true, here’s “the bottom line” – this Jesus you crucified God has so completely glorified as to make him King Messiah.  He is not a pretender to the throne, he is the one anointed for it.  He is the King-Savior; any savior who is less than the King of kings and Lord of lords is a mere caricature of the true Lord Jesus.

B.  Answer  of the People  vv. 37-40

1.  sorrow and mourning (foretold Zec_12:10 )

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

a.  for treatment of Messiah

Given eyes to see by the Holy Spirit they recognized not only the heinousness of their treatment of Jesus; they also saw and acknowledged the enormity of their sin.  As they looked on the crucified Christ, the one pierced for them, they were pierced in their hearts also.

b.  for the bleakness of their future

From their perspective there was no hope, no reason to expect they could ever be free of guilt and escape God’s just wrath.  Their good opinion of themselves had completely evaporated as they recognized their total lack of favorable standing before God.

2.  Now what?

By addressing themselves to the Twelve, the questioners in the crowd showed they had taken ownership of their great sinfulness – they didn’t seek to justify themselves, they didn’t appeal to the scribes and Pharisees, they identified themselves with the Apostles.

Those men, therefore, are profitably pricked alone who are willingly sorrowful, and do also seek some remedy at God’s hands.  John Calvin, in loco.

True conversion is always accompanied by a response, never by apathy.  The convicted sinner senses his guilt, recognizes his danger, and seeks after a remedy.

3.  Peter responds

a.  Repent

change your mind about your sin (it is not an accpetable choice), think of it as something abhorrent and distasteful (cosmic treason), turn away from it (sin) and to God (your hope).

“False repentance dreads the consequences of sin; true repentance dreads sin itself. These persons whom Peter addressed had been merely alarmed; they were afraid of wrath, and especially of the wrath of the Messiah. They had no true sense of sin as an evil, but were simply afraid of punishment. This alarm Peter did not regard as by any means genuine repentance. Such conviction for sin would soon wear off, unless their repentance became thorough and complete. Hence, he told them to repent, to turn from sin, to exercise sorrow for it as an evil and bitter thing, and to express their sorrow in the proper manner.”  Albert Barnes, in loco.

b.  be baptized …in the name of Jesus Christ

literally, upon the name, not in or into as other passages have; upon the foundation of Jesus, upon a confession of faith in him; demonstrate by deed as well as word a radical break with past life; public declaration of identification with Christ.  Peter’s goal was not: how easy can it be to be accept and submit to the claims of Christ.  His goal was to preach a true Gospel – the price for confession of Christ is high, it costs us ourselves.

c.  witnessing and calling near (testify and exhort)  v.40

Even for these who had participated in the greatest injustice of all time, Peter doesn’t abandon them but continues to reason with them.  He exhorts them to change their mind about their sinfulness – acknowledging that they have sinned against God and that He and not their own goodness represents their only hope.

Their only hope and comfort would be to throw themselves wholly on God’s mercy, trusting in his promises.  God had promised forgiveness to all who would call on him, even this crowd of people and their descendants.  Peter also throws in a “brain bender” here, testifying that God’s promise extends to the Gentiles (remember the ‘lawless hands’) as well.  Those who had carried out the actual execution would not be ignored by God if they sincerely turned to him.

C.  Actions of the Proselytes  vv. 41-47

1.  welcomed the message – understood and received favorably

2.  were baptized

true, sincere and genuine repentance (evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work, not a mere emotional response) is logically and immediately followed by action

3.  were added to the church (see v. 47)

4.  devoted themselves to life of the church

They held nothing back but gave their all to the cause of Christ

• doctrine
• fellowship
• breaking of bread
• prayers
• were together
• provided for one another’s needs

The Holy Spirit works in his mysterious way, the soul looks upon Christ crucified, mourning for Him and for sin follows, that is, true repentance.

Pray for

• a working of the Spirit,
• faithful proclamation and presentation of Christ crucified,
• souls to be converted and repent of their sin,
• them to follow Christ in baptism and addition to a local church.

Confessing Our Faith In the Culture – Chapter 10

Of Effectual Calling

General/universal/Gospel/external call

There is an external call of the gospel, whereby all who hear it are called to the fellowship of Christ, and to receive a full salvation in him, without money and without price. – Isa. 55. 1. This call is not confined to the elect, nor restricted to those who are sensible of their sins, and feel their need of a savior, or who possess some good qualifications to distinguish them from others, but it is addressed to mankind sinners as such, without distinction, and without exception. All who come under the general denomination of men, whatever be their character and state, have this call directed to them: “To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.”—Prov. 8. 4. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth”—sinners of every nation, of every rank, and condition.—Isa. 14. 22. …That the call of the gospel is indefinite and universal, that God is sincere in addressing this call to all to whom the gospel comes, and that none who comply with the call shall be disappointed; these are unquestionable truths. But the outward call by the Word is of itself ineffectual. Though all without exception are thus called, yet multitudes refuse to hearken, and in this respect “many are called, but few are chosen;” that is, few are determined effectually to embrace the call. Robert Shaw, Exposition on the Westminster Confession of Faith

Effectual/internal call

But there is also an internal call, in which the Holy Spirit accompanies the external call with power and efficacy upon the soul; and this call is always effectual.

The Word is usually the outward means employed, and the Holy Spirit is always the efficient agent, in calling men into the kingdom of grace. If, in any instance, the call of the gospel proves successful, it is not owing to the piety or persuasive eloquence of those who dispense the gospel (1 Cor. iii. 7); neither is it on account of one making a better use than another of his own free will (Rom. ix. 16); it is solely to be ascribed to the power of the Divine Spirit accompanying the outward call of the Word. – 1 Thess. i. 5. By means of the law, the Spirit convinces them of their sinfulness, shows them the danger to which they are exposed, and discovers to them the utter insufficiency of their own works of righteousness as the ground of their hope and trust for acceptance before God. By means of the gospel, he enlightens their minds in the knowledge of Christ—discovers to them the glory of his person, the perfection of his righteousness, the suitableness of his offices, and the fullness of his grace; shows them his ability to save to the uttermost, his suitableness to their condition, and his willingness to receive all that come to him. He also takes away their heart of stone, and gives unto them an heart of flesh—renews their wills, and effectually determines and enables them to embrace Christ as their own Saviour. Ibid

Distinction between Biblical Christians and hyper-Calvinists

God has certainly revealed no purpose to save any except those who, hearing the gospel, obey; and he requires that his people, as custodians of the gospel, should be diligent in disseminating it as the appointed means of saving souls. A. A. Hodge, Confession of Faith

 

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Those unable to rationally respond to revealed revelation

1. by virtue of inherent lack of ability

   1. mentally handicapped/special needs

   2. multi-sensory physical handicap

2. by virtue of age

   1. newly born

   2. pre-born

 

Resolution of the mystery

is not found:

1. in emotional response

   1. e.g. David – 2 Samuel 12:23

      1. a hopeful heart

      2. the grave/death, not the afterlife/heaven

   2. how could God….???

2. addressed directly in Scripture

3. ascribing attitudes/behavior to God we wish He had

is found in (revealed truth):

1. The individual’s true condition

   1. sinner by nature from “the beginning” – Psalm 51:5

2. God’s true character

   1. compassionate, gracious, …bringing consequences – Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 103:8-13

3. True understanding of God’s purpose

   1. our good as children conformed to the likeness of his dear Son – Romans 8:28-30

   2. His glory – Isaiah 42:8, 48:11; Exodus 20:3-5, 34:14

Witnesses Empowered

Acts 2:1-21

A.  The Spirit Comes

1.  a force  v. 2

• something moving that caused a sound ( ἦχος ēchos ) or noise
• not a violent wind but like it, from above (heaven) – supernatural origin
• filled the house – wasn’t limited to the Twelve, was for all 120
• see Eze_1:4 Eze_37:9-10 Joh_3:8 tangible evidences of the power of God

2.  a fire  v. 3

• visible representation of something happening
• none were excluded from this outpouring – sat on each
• described by John Baptist as aspect of Jesus’ ministry Mat_3:11
• tangible evidence of the purifying work of God: Isa_6:6-7 Mal_3:2-3

3.  a filling  v. 4

• intensified form of the verb, πίμπλημι pimplēmi , fill up, completely filled
• the “overflow”, external evidence of the filling – speaking in other languages

1.        ἑτέραις γλώσσαις, other tongues or languages, also used in Act_2:11, our own language;  Act_2.6 Act_2.8 uses διάλεκτος  dialektos, language of a particular region

2.        ἀποφθέγγομαι  apophtheggomai, from which we get our word ‘apophthegm’ or pithy saying (Knowledge is Power), translated ‘utterance’ in Act_2:4, ’said’ in Act_2:14  (also rendered: addressed, proclaimed, declared)

• speak out loudly and clearly, declare emphatically – used of the prophets LXX, philosophers in Greek culture, Paul in Act_26:25
• not heavenly or ecstatic languages, but ones that were known – they spoke in a γλῶσσα (v. 4), they heard in a γλῶσσα (v. 11)
• known language about a known subject – “our own dialect” & “the wonderful works of God” (v. 11)
• evidence of a new era in God’s dealing with mankind
• tangible evidence of the permanent presence of God

B.  The Crowd Responds

1.  convened  v. 5, 9-11

• Two words used to describe people who heard:

1.       κατοικέω  katoikeō, dwelling, settled resident or inhabitant  ( Act_2:5  Act_2:9  Act_2:14 )

2.      ἐπιδημέω  epidēmeō, visitor, temporary resident living away from home ( Act_2:10 )

• Very likely included travelers
• Barnes, Gill, Henry, Lightfoot, Poole refer to Messianic hopes

We may enquire what brought all those Jews and proselytes together to Jerusalem at this time: not to make a transient visit thither to the feast of pentecost, for they are said to dwell there. They took lodgings there, because there was at this time a general expectation of the appearing of the Messiah; for Daniel’s weeks had just now expired, the sceptre had departed from Judah, and it was then generally thought that the kingdom of God would immediately appear, Luk_19:11. This brought those who were most zealous and devout to Jerusalem, to sojourn there, that they might have an early share in the kingdom of the Messiah and the blessings of that kingdom.  Matthew Henry, in loco.

• Gathered from all parts by the peculiar providence of God. John Wesley, in loco.

  Much of the known 1st century world represented
  Modern-day: Iran, Iraq, Israel, Turkey, Eqypt, Libya, Italy, Crete, Saudia Arabia

• Previously prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive God’s message, the word about his mighty acts – the context would suggest what he had done in Christ, the Messiah.

NOTE:  If the majority of these gathered in the crowd which eventually included the 3000 converts were in Jerusalem for the above (Messianic) reasons, that would significantly help to explain the quickness of response after Peter’s sermon.  Also, it could have been partly a case of: “We came for the big event and we missed it; now what?” rather than “Boy, are we in deep weeds ’cause we killed our hero!”

2.  confused  vv. 6-8, 12

• συγχέω sugcheō confused, perplexed ( Act_2:6 )
• ἐξίστημι existēmi amazed, astonished ( Act_2:7 Act_2:12 )
• θαυμάζω thaumazō marveled ( Act_2:7 )
• διαπορέω diaporeō perplexed, thoroughly filled with bewilderment ( Act_2:12 )
  It is applied to those who are traveling, and are ignorant of the way, or who hesitate about the road. They were all astonished at this; they did not know how to understand it or explain it. Barnes
• at a complete loss to know what was going on or what it meant, even though they knew what they were expecting (why they were there in Jerusalem); it didn’t match their preconceived mental picture.
• not expecting to hear about the incarnation in their native language ( v. 8, 11 )

3.  criticized  v. 13

• others, not the real “seekers”
• treated the phenomenon as a joke
• The world begins with mocking, thence proceeds to cavilling (trivial objections), Act_4:7; to threats, Act_4:17; to imprisoning, Act_5:18; blows, Act_5:40; to slaughter, Act_7:58. Wesley, in loco.

C.  The Prophecy Confirmed  vv. 14-21

1.  rebuked  vv. 14-15

• Duh! It’s only 9 am, no one would be eating or drinking by this time of day (morning sacrifice) much less be intoxicated.
• Use your head/common sense; especially if it were the entire church (120 Christians), nothing in Jewish culture would have sanctioned such an orgy; besides on a “holiday” they would have eaten nothing before noon!
• Again we are reminded that Peter’s declaration here is an example of “utterance” ( ἀποφθέγγομαι ) given by the Spirit, addressed to native ethnic Jews and residents of Jerusalem.

2.  reminded  vv. 16-21

• This was foretold

1.       It is good to observe the model here – a prophetic passage is used to interpret a current event, not predict the timing of a future event.  It is understood “after the fact” – see also Dan_9:1-2

2.      Peter took the plain sense of Joel’s prophecy from Joe_2:28-32 and applied it to what was happening

3.      “Compare (Act_2:17) which gives a specific interpretation of “afterward” (Hebrew, “Acherith”, means “latter,” “last”). “Afterward” in Joel (Joe_2:28) means “in the last days” (Greek, “eschatos”, and has a partial and continuous fulfilment during the “last days” which began with the first advent of Christ (Heb_1:2) but the greater fulfilment awaits the “last days” as applied to Israel.”  Scofield, 1917, Notes on Joel 2:28

“Peter did not state that Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.  The details of Joel 2:30-32 were not realized at that time.  Peter quoted Joel’s prediction as an illustration of what was taking place in his day, and as a guarantee that God would yet completely fulfill all that Joel had prophesied.”  New Scofield, 1967, Notes on Joel 2:28

In these two examples, the author’s view of end-times superimposed itself on the text, adding a connection that is not explicitly there.

• God made promises and he’s in the business of keeping them (hint, hint, there’s more to come, especially in the body of the sermon!)
• There’s something important going on here – it has far greater significance than you can possibly imagine.

3.  redirected  vv. 19-21

• God will not be patient forever

  After this outpouring of the Spirit, God will visit in judgment

• There will be a brief warning – God is merciful – but don’t “press your luck”

1.       Those who trust in themselves will perish (implied)

2.      Those who call on the Lord will not perish

• Here the focus narrows from the crowd gathered to the individual: ‘whoever’, relative pronoun accompanying a singular adjective and 3rd person singular verb
• To ‘call on the name of the Lord’ means something specific

3.      to appeal to someone, to call on them to do something

4.      logically expects a basis/reason for them to act in response

5.      includes a specific object – the Lord

• a new significance post-cross, resurrection, and ascension
• access to God through Christ alone, not priests or others
• required fuller elaboration for understanding – see vv. 22-36

Ratings and the Culture

A new (I guess) “service” caught my attention on a couple blogs I visit regularly. It’s from Mingle² and if you provide the url of your blog or myspace profile or facebook or website, they will give you a rating. So, obviously, I gave it a road test just to satisfy my curiosity. Apparently it works on the basis of a naughty word list – the more times a word from the list appears on your site, the more restrictive a rating the site receives.

As you know, the large majority of posts here are sermon notes. Certainly nothing risque there, or crude or graphic; definitely no gratuitous violence or even excessive harsh language, at least not by today’s standards, or so I thought. Boy, was I in for a surprise. I put in the url, waited the few seconds while highly sophisticated scientific analysis took place, and watched in horror as a “This Blog is Rated R” graphic appeared on the screen. What could possibly incite the watchdogs of cultural propriety to think my writing was unfit for anyone under 17 without mom or dad present? How could sermon notes of all things cross over the line into impropriety for sensitive eyes and ears?

It’s so convenient!  They even tell you why your site received a particular rating.  If your site is friendly and welcoming and appropriate for all age, thus achieving a G-rating, you also receive the affirmation that “No bad words were found”.  In the case of Reformanda, though, that was not to be – three bad words, used a total of 13 times.  Shame, shame, shame, to use words like death, missionary and crack is just not acceptable for children.

So again, just to satisfy my curiosity, I checked out the Dove Foundation’s descriptions of some PG-13 movies.  Since I don’t wish to improperly raise the rating of this blog to a more family-friendly status, I won’t give specifics but rather summaries.  War scene with explosions and dead bodies along with 15 expletives (in one movie) plus some other naughty words, 12 killings in another movie with a couple dozen of those words, etc., etc.  You get the picture.  And that doesn’t even consider the various portrayals of substance abuse and sexual behavior on the big screen.

What’s wrong with us when a movie-rating service deems it ok for  13-year-olds and older to see and hear cursing, violence, abuse, and immorality and a blog-rating service deems the use of the word death 10 times, missionary twice, and crack once is inappropriate for anyone under 17?  I know, two different organizations, two different standards.  Maybe.  But maybe not.  Is it that modern man is so sophisticated that he can deal with the idea of death only in a sanitized way, on screen, where someone else cleans up the mess, and the light of day makes death itself only a dim memory?

Now, I could go in a number of different directions here with these thoughts: what’s wrong with movie ratings, gratuitous violence and the culture, Hollywood vs. Everyman, the fascination with violence and denial of death, the list is really endless.  Whether it is popular or comfortable for people to deal with it, death is a part of life and we all must face it at some point.  The ratings of various things are merely reflective of how the culture tries to deal with the uncomfortable – deny or ignore it, or spin it in such a way that it becomes meaningless.  I guess that just gives the Christian more opportunities to show friends and neighbors who are searching for meaning in all the wrong places under the sun where to find the true meaning of life.

Foundation Materials

Acts 1:1-26

Jesus declared to his disciples that he was going to build a church.  This church would be based on a rock ( Mat_16:18 ) with a foundation built by the apostles and prophets ( Eph_2:20 ) and a structure formed of living stones ( 1Pe_2:4-5 ) “capped off” by the living Stone ( 1Pe_2:4 ), Christ, who ties it all together (Act_4:11 &  1Pe_2:6-7;  Eph_2:20 ).

And on this rock. Hence it is evident how the name Peter comes to be applied both to Simon individually, and to other believers. It is because they are founded on the faith of Christ, and joined together, by a holy consent, into a spiritual building, that God may dwell in the midst of them, (Eze_43:7.) For Christ, by announcing that this would be the common foundation of the whole Church, intended to associate with Peter all the godly that would ever exist in the world. “You are now,” said he, “a very small number of men, and therefore the confession which you have now made is not at present supposed to have much weight; but ere long a time will arrive when that confession shall assume a lofty character, and shall be much more widely spread.” And this was eminently fitted to excite his disciples to perseverance, that though their faith was little known and little esteemed, yet they had been chosen by the Lord as the first-fruits, that out of this mean commencement there might arise a new Church, which would prove victorious against all the machinations of hell.  Calvin on Mat_16:18

We have seen in our study of Ephesians how God planned the church ( Eph_1:4  Eph_1:22-23 ), equipped the church ( Eph_4:11-12 ), and will defend the church ( Eph_6:10-11  see also 1Co_15:25 ) as he works out his purpose through Christ in the church to the praise of his glory.  But how was this new (wild olive Rom_11:24 a ) yet old organism (cultivated olive  Rom_11:24 b ) called the church established and how has it come to us here in Limerick in 2007?

The key is Christ.  He is the one in whom all the promises of the Old Covenant came to fruition and in whom all participants in the New Covenant find life.  But Jesus is not some sort of passive receptacle, the object of what takes place in the divine drama; he is the active one who is “working his plan” and making things happen.  Luke’s evaluation of his Gospel is telling – “all that Jesus began to do and teach”.  The emphasis is on the ‘began‘ by virtue of its placement as the first word in the phrase.  Strongly implied is the idea that not only does his work continue, it is he who is doing the work albeit through his Spirit given to his ambassadors.

Jesus’ work, the things he did and taught, began at his baptism, continued during his itinerant ministry with the Twelve, entered a new phase between his resurrection and ascension, continues today and will conclude when he presents the completed church to his Father ( 1Co_15:24 ff ).  We have been given some idea of the nature of his work between baptism and resurrection from the Gospel accounts.  Details of his post-resurrection work are provided by the Gospels and our text this evening.  The remainder of the New Testament indicates the nature of his ongoing work that he is performing even now.

In our text we see the work Jesus did in preparing the foundation materials he had gathered in anticipation of building, of birthing the church in Jerusalem.

Book One: The Birth of the Church in Jerusalem (1:1-2:47)

Book Two: The Expansion of the Church in Jerusalem (3:1-6:7)

Book Three: The Extension of the Church to Judea and Samaria (6:8-9:31)

Book Four: The Extension of the Church to Antioch (9:32-12:24)

Book Five: The Extension of the Church to Asia Minor (12:25-16:5)

Book Six: The Extension of the Church to the Aegean Area (16:6-19:20)

Book Seven: The Extension of the Church to Rome (19:21-28:31)

We will consider two aspects of this preparatory period -

1.       Christ’s 40-day ministry

2.      The Apostle’s 10-day wait

First, Christ’s ministry.

1.  Final instructions  vv. 3-5

• convincing proofs that removed doubt
• teaching about the kingdom
• reiterating the promise of another Helper

2.  Boundaries established  vv. 6-7

• it’s not for you to know – don’t try to pick the lock!
• it is for you to do

focus on (be faithful to) what you know

follow instructions

3.  Parting encouragement  vv.8-11

• angelic visitation

this isn’t the Transfiguration

nor was it a hallucination

• authoritative words

he’s real – this same Jesus

he’s gone to a real place – taken from you into heaven

he will really be back – will so come in like manner

Second, the Apostle’s wait.

1.  The nascent church  vv. 12-15

• identity

the Eleven

the ladies

the others  (adding up to approx. 120)

• practice

one passion

of action agreed on unanimously  Friberg, Analytical Lexicon

devoted to prayer

2.  Necessary business

• interpretation of Scripture vv. 15-20

Psa_41:9  perhaps

Psa_69:25

Psa_109:8

Jesus was the Messiah

these passages point to him and his treatment

• application of Scripture vv. 21-22

not only a prophecy but a mandate

one must be appointed

equivalent qualifications

• action

1.       proposal  v. 23

two from the seventy
outwardly no distinction detectable to the apostles

2.      prayer  vv. 24-25

for providential governing of events
true decision based on divinely determined qualifications

3.      proof  v. 26

God superintended the action of the lot

Even in the birthing process the church was characterized by several things:

• togetherness
• unity of mind and passion
• prayer
• use of Scripture
• orderly conduct
• reliance on Providence

Those traits must continue if the local church is to be healthy, prosper, and above all honoring to her head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Witnesses

Luke 24:36-53

We have seen in our study of Ephesians how God is working out his purpose through Christ in the church for his own glory. His purpose is to equip the church, to outfit individual believers for service within the church for the purpose of expanding the church to carry out his divine decrees.

• through Abraham – Gen_12:1-3 confirmed to Abraham Gen_22:15-18 reiterated to Isaac Gen_26:2-5
• by means of the church – Mat_16:13-18

The Great Commission ( Mat_28:18-20; Mar_16:15-16 ) is merely a subset of the Abrahamic Covenant, particularly when we consider Paul’s Holy Spirit inspired interpretation of the words of that covenant – Gal_3:16 “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.”

Do you see the picture here? The promise of blessing to “all the families of the earth” would come through Abraham and then Isaac’s descendant, singular, fingered as the Messiah. So when Jesus, the Messiah, charged his disciples with the task of discipling the nations, he indicated that the blessing for the nations would reach those nations through the ministry of the disciples in the context of the church. The program Jesus had in mind was that of 12 witnesses who would testify of him to the nations.

By 56 or 57 AD Paul would tell the church at Rome ” And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation,” Rom_15:20 and by the early ’60s to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ at Colosse, “Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.” Col_1:5-6

“the entire world” Wow! In a generation, thirty years, the Gospel message had spread from Jerusalem throughout the Greco-Roman world, was bearing fruit and growing. But how did that happen? What was Jesus’ secret? Jesus knew the inestimable value of rock-solid eyewitness testimony to a series of historical facts, something that is known widely among lawyers and judges even today.

Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ, Chapter 2, Testing the Eyewitness Evidence:

Court case, “[d]efense attorneys knew the only way [to] a reduced sentence was if they could succeed in undermining the testimony. …They did their best to cast doubt on the eyewitness accounts. They questioned the witnesses’ ability to view what happened. …They tried to exploit inconsistencies in the stories, but the accounts harmonized on the central points. They raised hints about character, but the …witnesses were law-abiding with no criminal record. They hoped to show bias …but they couldn’t find one. They questioned whether one witness …was old enough to understand what it meant to tell the truth under oath. …With defense attorneys unable to shake the credibility of the …witnesses, the two defendants were convicted.

Defense attorneys have a challenging job: to raise questions, to generate doubts… They do this by subjecting the testimony to a variety of tests. The idea is that honest and accurate testimony will withstand scrutiny, while false, exaggerated, or misleading testimony will be exposed.

In Michael’s case, justice prevailed because the jurors could tell that the witnesses …were sincerely and precisely recounting what they had experienced.”

Patrick Fitzgerald, prosecutor in Karl Rove/Scooter Libby trials, said “”Without the truth, our criminal justice system cannot serve our nation or its citizens.”

The truth, told by credible eyewitnesses, whose testimony had no inconsistencies was the vehicle that carried the truth of the Gospel to the ends of the civilized 1st century world. How did Jesus prepare those who would testify of him, his witnesses, for that world-changing task?

1. confirmed his living reality v.36-43 (40, 43)

• see my hands & feet
• touch

watch while I eat

Given what these men would be required to endure, absolute and unshakeable confidence in the living reality was a MUST. They were not zealots anticipating a heavenly harem as a reward for their great acts of heroism. They were humble and determined servants whose priority was others and the benefit preaching of the Gospel would bring to them.

Consider the effect more than 30 years later – “(1Jn_1:1-3 [HCSB]) “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed, and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life–that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify [bear witness, μαρτυρουμεν] and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us–what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

2. clarified the essence of his teaching v.44-45 (45)

• remember what I told you – see Luk_18:31-33, also Mat_20:17-19, Mar_10:32-34
• remember what the Scriptures sayAlthough he could have legitimately done so, Jesus did not require his witnesses to rely solely on oral tradition from him and the mystical movings of the Spirit. He pointed to the tangible testimony of Scripture.
• remember the significance of all this 1Co_15:14-20

3. commissioned his witnesses v.46-48 (48)

see Act_10:36-39 especially v. 39, “we are witnesses of all things which He did”

“But the fact that Luke applies the concept of the witness to the content of the Gospel is grounded in his marked concern to expound clearly the historical foundations of the evangelical message [see Eph_2:19-20]. At issue are, not doctrines, myths, or speculations, but facts which took place in the clear light of history at a specific time and place, facts which can be established and on which one can rely. Hence one must speak of witnesses. Nor are these witnesses in general. They are those who are qualified to be witnesses because they themselves lived through the events.

…They are fitted because from experience they can bear witness to the factuality of the suffering and resurrection of Jesus, and also because they have grasped in faith the significance of Jesus, and can thus attest it. They discharge the task by proclaiming both the facts and their significance as they have grasped this in faith.” Word Biblical Commentary

Jesus defined their:

• subject (47a)

1. repentance

” to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness ” Louw

Μετάνοια (repentance) is therefore, primarily, an after-thought, different from the former thought; …”Such a virtuous alteration of the mind and purpose as begets a like virtuous change in the life and practice.” Vincent Word Studies

see http://thirdmill.org/newfiles/joh_colquhoun/joh_colquhoun.diifferentrepentance.html pronounce Kahoon, 1748-1827, Scottish preacher for 50 years.

“It is a truth clearly revealed and often inculcated in Scripture that without repentance a man cannot attain eternal life in heaven. The most of men, therefore, who read and hear the Gospel admit that repentance is necessary to their future safety and felicity. But while they believe that it cannot be well with them except they repent, they resolve with a fatal precipitance to call something by this name which bears only a faint resemblance to it; and then they flatter themselves that this base counterfeit will not only be acceptable to God but will even recommend them to His favour. Persuading themselves that they have already repented, they compose themselves to sleep on the pillow of carnal security; and they will not believe that any of the dreadful threatenings denounced in Scripture against impenitent sinners belongs to them. Thus many ‘go down to the grave with a lie in their right hand.’ They obstinately refuse to be convinced of their fatal mistake till they begin to lift up their despairing eyes in torment.

Since true repentance is a hatred of, and a departure from all sin, it must surely be an abhorrence of, and a flight from unbelief and despair, the greatest of all sins. It is not, therefore, sufficient for the true penitent to believe that God is infinitely gracious and merciful, that the righteousness of Christ is infinitely meritorious, that there is forgiveness with God for the worst of sinners, and that Christ with His righteousness and fulness is freely offered in the Gospel to sinners in common. He must believe all this with application to himself. And in order to his approaching to God as a Father, in order to his being in love with the ways of God, and to his serving Him with cheerfulness and delight, he must likewise trust in the Lord Jesus for his whole salvation.”

2. forgiveness of sin

focus here is on the guilt from sin, not the act of sin itself

the guilt is sent away, blotted out

on the basis of his shed blood Mat_26:28

• field (47b)

1. begin at Jerusalem

2. encompass all nations

• mission (48)

1. be witnesses

• of Jesus’ suffering
• of Jesus’ resurrection
• of Jesus’ fulfillment of Scripture
• power (49)

1. given, not assumed

2. of heavenly (divine) origin

3. essential part of their commission

4. connected their power with his promise v.49-53 (49)

• the promise of another counselor/helper Joh_14:26
• necessary for him to go away before the other would come Joh_16:7
• the source of their empowerment for mission Joh_15:26-27
• essential precursor to their effectiveness as witnesses

1. cp. Peter’s conduct

• followed Jesus at a distance, then denied association Luk_22:54-62
• the one who rose to the occasion before the crowd at Pentecost Act_2:14 ff

We are witnesses to a different reality from those first followers of Christ; we didn’t experience what they did. Rather we are witnesses to what the risen and living Christ has done and is doing in our lives. Yet we are here today because of their witness. Remember what Jesus prayed that night in the Garden?

“I do not pray for these alone [the Eleven], but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” Joh_17:20 He calls us to gather around his Table to be reminded of the reality of his death and his certain return.

Every one of us has come to faith in Christ because someone told us the good news of the Gospel. In our fellowship around the Lord’s Table we testify to the reality of his death in our place and the profound change that has made in our lives. But this witness must not stop with us; it must continue on to the next generation of God’s family, Christ’s brothers and sisters. Who will come to faith through our witness? Who will hear the story of Christ and his love from our lips?