Acts 1:12-26: Who Have You Chosen?

Presented to Swift Current 19 May 2013 and Corps 614 Regent Park on 20 Sept 2015 by Captain Michael Ramsay

To read the earlier Swift Current version click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/05/acts-112-26-show-us-which-you-have.html  

 

To read a 2024 TSA AVM BC Version click here: https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2024/04/acts-112-26-show-us-which-you-have.html

Today we are going to start a sermon series and Wednesday a Bible study series on the book of Acts. If you have time on Wednesday evenings, I would invite you to join us at the corps at 7pm. This will be an exciting opportunity to dig deeper into the book of Acts.

Did you know that the book of Acts is the only 'history' book in the NT? The book of Acts was written by Luke? Can anyone tell me what other book in our NT Luke wrote? (Luke). It is neat: these two books read sort of like a two volume set. Acts really does pick up right where Luke leaves off. It is interesting: did you know that Luke-Acts comprises more than 30% of the NT. Almost 1/3rd of the whole NT is recorded in these pages, thus Susan and I thought this might be a good book to look at for a little while.

Now in Canada we are in the middle of another election campaign where people seem to want us to choose this person over that person or this philosophy over that philosophy or this party over that party; so I thought that we would look a little bit also at how we actually make choices for different things in our society.

1) How do we choose an important employee, manager, CEO, etc.? (Resume, ability)

2) How do we choose the Head of State? (Heredity: intense job-training program from the moment they are born)

3) How do we choose Canadian Idol talent show winners and the politicians who run this country? (Popularity contest, election)

4) What is the traditional way that one decides whether the one they fancy truly loves them or not: ‘she loves me, she loves me not’? (Removing leaves from a flower)

5) How does one decide which team is going to start with the ball in Canadian football or in a soccer game? (Coin toss)

6) How does one decide where to transfer Salvation Army Officers? (Prayer and fasting?)

Near the conclusion of Acts Chapter 1, believers gathered in Jerusalem – about 120 of them – and they are faced with a choice to make: they need to choose a successor to one of the 12 disciples. This passage raises a number of questions for us to consider such as:

·        Who are these disciples - particularly Judas Iscariot?

·        Why do they need a successor to Judas?

·        And did they choose the correct successor? What about the Apostle Paul?

Once we have resolved these issues, it will bring us to the most important question inherent to the text: how should we resolve difficult questions in our lives? How should we as Christians make important decisions we have to make in our life on a daily basis?

In answering these questions, let's review the context of our pericope here. We said that this book, Acts, is the second book Luke wrote to his friend Theophilus. What is the first book Luke wrote to Theophilus? (Luke.)  Acts 1:1-2, Luke writes, ‘In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.’Acts is a sequel to Luke's gospel.

Luke then tells Theophilus how Jesus told the believers to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to give their post-resurrection ministry a kick-start. Once Gods sends the Holy Spirit like a starter pistol, Luke tells us, the believers are to run to the ends of the earth sharing this Gospel of Salvation with everyone they meet (Acts 1:1-11). This review of his earlier book is how Luke sets the stage for this book of Acts.

Now let's look at some of the questions that we asked ourselves off earlier. Who are the 12 disciples?  Acts 1:13 mentions them by name. Peter, James and John were Jesus’ inner circle of disciples. They were fishermen in their previous career, as was Andrew. Peter is the one who is going to take a leadership role among the disciples. Philip we will learn more about in the next few chapters of Acts. We know the story of doubting Thomas. We also recognize the name of Matthew in the list. What book of the Bible did Matthew write? (Matthew). Luke also mentions, Verse 13, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, James son of Alphaeus, and Bartholomew. These were the 11.

Who was the 12th disciple? (Judas Iscariot). For what is Judas infamous? Judas Iscariot, Judas is remembered as Jesus’ betrayer. He led the Romans and the priests to Jesus and betrayed him with a kiss, then Jesus was led off to be killed. Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ 12 chosen disciples and he was the one trusted to be in charge of the disciples’ money. He was their treasurer. Luke tells us a few more things about Judas Iscariot here. Acts 1:15-20 records that Judas, with the money he was paid for helping arrest Jesus, he bought and field and he killed himself. Judas was one of Jesus’ closest twelve followers, he betrayed Jesus for whatever reason, and then he took his own life (Acts 1:18-20; cf. Matthew 27:3-10).

This is sad and this raises more questions: Why do the disciples need a successor to Judas? And did they choose the right successor?

Why do the disciples even need a successor to Judas? As Jesus is already crucified, resurrected, and glorified; why do they need someone to replace Judas? We don't have any record in the Bible of them replacing any of the other disciples when they die; so, why do they need to replace Judas when Judas dies? Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30: Jesus tells us that “at the renewal of all things,” his twelve disciples will “sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” OT Scriptures, in particular the psalms, also speak to this need: Psalm 69:25, 109:8.[1] John, in the book of Revelation writes that at “the consummation of God’s redemption as a ‘Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God’, having twelve gates with ‘the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’ written on them and twelve foundations with ‘the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb’ written on them (Revelation 21:10, 12, 14).”[2] Israelite tradition, Jesus’ teaching and subsequent Christian thought and belief record that the apostles have a role still to play after they die, at the resurrection of the dead. Jesus says that it is their job to judge the tribes of Israel at the eschaton.

So then, it is not because Judas died that he needs to be replaced because he will be raised on the last day with all the rest of us. It is because Judas abrogated his responsibility, he forfeited his position as one of the twelve judges of Israel when he betrayed Jesus.[3] This is why they need a replacement; this is why they need a twelfth disciple. They need a twelfth person who will help judge the twelve tribes of Israel on the last day. As a side note, this is probably where originates the idea originates that we should have twelve people sitting on juries in court today.

The next natural question is then did they choose the correct successor? What about the Apostle Paul? Some people say that Paul was supposed to be the successor to Judas Iscariot, not Matthias. According to Luke, did the disciples make a mistake in selecting Matthias? No. The short answer is no. Scholar Howard Marshall writes,

 “Some commentators have argued ... that the church acted wrongly in choosing Matthias: it should have waited for the ‘twelfth man’ of God’s own choice, Paul, instead of giving God his choice between two others who are never heard of again. But we never hear any more of [any of] the other members of the Twelve (apart from Peter, James, and John) in Acts, and Paul did not [even] possess the essential qualifications to be one of the Twelve.”[4]

The list of the qualifications for the job of disciple here include:

·        Acts 1:21, that, “… it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us” (The expression “was living among us” is a Semitic idiom for familiar and unhindered association; cf. Deuteronomy 31:2; 2 Samuel 3:25; Psalm 121:8; Acts 9:28).

·        Acts 1:22: “For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” He must have seen Christ in person both before and after the resurrection.

·        And, Acts 1:14, Judas’ successor must also be appointed by the same Lord who appointed the Eleven.

The Apostle Paul does not meet all these criteria.[5] God used the Apostle Paul greatly -as Paul himself acknowledges- as an apostle to the gentiles not necessarily as one to judge the tribes of Israel at the resurrection (cf. Galatians 1:18, 2:1-10).[6]

In our text then the disciples have before them then two viable candidates to replace Judas, Acts 1:23-26, “Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Luke records that these people who are gathered together in Jesus’ name when it comes time to make a decision pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.”

This is important and this brings us to our most important question today. How do we make decisions in our lives? I know that Susan, the kids and I have had to discern God’s leading in a few significant matters in our lives. How do we discern which paths to take in our own lives?

When we were called by God into full-time ministry with The Salvation Army, it was a tough decision. We were first called as urban missionaries in Vancouver’s infamous downtown eastside. We had two small children. I had businesses both on the Island (Victoria, Saanich, Sidney) and in and around Greater Vancouver; but my home, my wife with my children and our immediate families were all on the Island. I loved my businesses. I would have to give up my businesses that I founded and raised almost like a first child in order to enter the ministry and we would have to leave our long-time friends and extended family.

We had to make a decision. We could make an economic decision and stay on the Island with our house and our businesses or we could say, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two [options] You have chosen.” We could make a family decision and stay near the children’s grandparents and at that time great-grandparents or we could pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.” We could make a sentimental decision and stay by all that we have ever known and loved on the Island or we could pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.” As we are here today we thankfully took the latter option as our way forward. Praise the Lord; we followed Him into the mission field.

But our reliance on God is not a one-time thing. There are still many more decisions that each and every one of us are faced with everyday in our lives. And every time we are faced with a decision we have to decide whether we are going to try to decide on our own or whether we are going to trust God to show us the way and then follow Him.

I must admit that I have been a little nervouse here lately because our first month or so after arriving in our previous appointment, I think every staff member of our Thrift Store quit including the manager. We were forced to trust God. Every year the Army also has to decide whether we Officers are going to stay in our communities or whether we are going to be transferred as Susan, the kids and I were this year. In any of these situations any of us can just try to make up our own minds; we can dig our heels in and say to the Lord that, no, we are not going to do what you or anyone else says but really we will always gain much better results if instead of any making up our own minds about what to do, we would pray like the disciples in Acts 1, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have [already] chosen.” And then we need to wait to see how He actually responds.

When we don’t do this we can be tricked into making the wrong choice. I remember once when I was living in a different part of the country, there was an election. I prayed. I looked at the various candidates in my riding. I checked out their resumes and past experiences and there were two of the myriad people running who seemed to have the prerequisite qualifications for the position, so I picked one and voted for him. He was elected but no sooner was he elected then he immediately betrayed those of us who voted for him by joining an opposing political party. He ran as if he belonged to one party so everyone who voted for him thought they were voting for a member of political party 'A' but as soon as he was elected, before he was ever even sworn it, he defected to political party 'B'; so in essence political party 'B' had two candidates in that riding in that election. No matter how much effort I put into casting my ballot, like everyone else who voted for this candidate, I was betrayed.

The disciples, in our passage today, have before them then two viable candidates to replace the one who betrayed Jesus, Acts 1:23-26, “Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Luke records that these people who are gathered together in Jesus’ name when it comes time to make a decision pray, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.”

This is important. How do we make decisions that need to be made in our lives? Do we attempt to make up our own minds or do we -like the disciples here- correctly attempt to discern the will of the Lord.

The disciples, they don’t pray, “Lord please bless our decision making process” and then do whatever they see fit; they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.” They don’t pray, “Lord, please help us to make the right decision” and then do whatever they see fit; they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.” They don’t pray, “Lord, show us what we should do” and then do whatever they see fit; they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.”

Do you see the difference? The disciples, they don’t call a big meeting and pray for God to bless the proceedings and then make up their own minds anyway after pouring over all of the resumes, conducting interviews, checking references; they don't make the decision all on their own and then ask God to bless it. Quite the opposite, they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.”

So what about us? When we are faced with life’s choices how do we decide what to do? Do we pray and then make up our own minds or do we ask for God to show us what he has already decided and keep our eyes and ears open to see what he is showing us? This is the end to which I would encourage us today. Whenever we are faced with a critical decision let us each seek the will of God in our lives and let us each pray as the disciples prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have already chosen.” And then let us actually wait for His answer. I know that as we do, He will show us what He has already chosen for our lives.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] Cf. Robert W. Wall, ‘Acts’ The New Interpreter’s Bible 10, (Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 2002), 49-50.

[2] Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Acts/Exposition of Acts/Introduction: The Constitutive Events of the Christian Mission (1:1-2:41)/D. The Full Complement of Apostles (1:12-26)/2. Matthias chosen to replace Judas Iscariot (1:15-26), Book Version: 4.0.2

[3] Cf. William H. William, ‘Acts’, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1988), 23.

[4] I. Howard Marshall: Acts: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 5), S.71

[5] Cf. Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Acts/Exposition of Acts/Introduction: The Constitutive Events of the Christian Mission (1:1-2:41)/D. The Full Complement of Apostles (1:12-26)/2. Matthias chosen to replace Judas Iscariot (1:15-26), Book Version: 4.0.2

[6] Cf. Simon J. Kistemaker, ‘Acts’, New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 68.

Acts 1:12-26: Show Us Which You Have Chosen

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 19 May 2013

By Captain Michael Ramsay

To read a version of this sermon presented to Toronto's Corps 614, 20 Sept 2015, click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2015/09/acts-112-26-who-have-you-chosen.html 

To read a 2024 TSA AVM BC version click here: https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2024/04/acts-112-26-show-us-which-you-have.html 

1) How do we choose an important employee, manager, CEO, etc.? (Resume, ability)

2) How do we choose the Head of State? (Heredity: intense job-training programme from the moment they are born)

3) How do we choose the Canadian Idol, talent show winners and politicians in this country? (Popularity contest AKA an election)

4) What is the traditional way that one decides whether the one they fancy truly loves them or not: ‘she loves me, she loves me not’? (Removing leaves from a flower)

5) How does one decide which team is going to start with the ball in Canadian football or in a soccer game? (Coin toss)

6) How does one decide where to transfer Salvation Army Officers? (Prayer and fasting?)

Near the conclusion of Acts Chapter 1, the believers who have gathered in Jerusalem – about 120 of them – are faced with a choice that needs to be made: they need to choose a successor to one of the 12 disciples. This whole episode that we are examining today raises three layers of questions.

1) The first layer is composed of questions to which the solutions are not all that difficult to find, such as:

Ø      Who are these disciples here - particularly Judas Iscariot?

Ø      What did Judas do?

2) A little more challenging are the questions of the second layer:

Ø      Why do they need a successor to Judas? Outside of the RC tradition, I believe, we don’t believe that they even need successors to any of the apostles anymore; so why do they need a successor in Acts here?

Ø      And did they choose the correct successor? What about the apostle Paul? Some people say Paul was supposed to be the successor to Judas Iscariot, not Matthias. According to Luke, did the disciples make a mistake in selecting Matthias?

3) Once we have resolved the issues in these two layers of questioning, we should look at the third layer and ask ourselves the most important question inherent to the text: how should we resolve the difficult questions in our lives? How should we make the important decisions that we have to make in our life and in our world on a daily basis?

In answering these questions, let's look a little bit at the context of our pericope here. This book, Acts, is the second book written by the author Luke to his friend Theophilus. Can anyone tell me what is the name of the first book Luke wrote to his friend Theophilus? (Luke.) The book of Acts is a sequel to the book of Luke. It is a continuation of the story: The book of Luke tells about Jesus and his followers prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Acts picks up the story from where Luke finishes off.

We read Acts 1:1-11 earlier in the meeting today. This recaps what Luke had written to Theophilus in his previous book. As recorded in Acts 1:1-2, Luke writes, ‘In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.’ Luke then lists some of those things:

Ø      Jesus’ suffering,

Ø      His presenting himself alive after he was killed,

Ø      And showing many other convincing proofs (Acts 1:3-4).

Luke then tells Theophilus that Jesus also reminded the believers to stay in Jerusalem while they await the Holy Spirit to give their post-resurrection ministry a kick-start. Once Gods sends the Holy Spirit like a starter pistol, Luke tells us, the believers are to run to the ends of the earth sharing this Gospel of Salvation with everyone they meet (Acts 1:1-11). This review of his earlier book is how Luke sets the stage for this book of Acts.

Now let's look at one or two of the questions that we asked ourselves off the top today. Who are the disciples here?  Acts 1:13 mentions them by name. We’ll highlight a few of them. Peter, James and John were Jesus’ inner circle of disciples. They were all fishermen in their previous career, as was Andrew. Peter is the one who is going to take a leadership role among the disciples. Philip we will learn more about in the next few chapters of the book of Acts. We know the story of doubting Thomas. We also recognize the name of Matthew in the list. Someone can tell me what book did Matthew write? (Matthew). Luke also mentions, Verse 13, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, James son of Aphaeus, and Bartholomew. These were the 11.

Who was the 12th disciple? (Judas Iscariot). For what is Judas infamous? Judas Iscariot, Judas is remembered as Jesus’ betrayer. He led the Romans and the priests to Jesus and betrayed him with a kiss. Then Jesus was led off to be killed, to be crucified. Now this Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ 12 chosen disciples and he was the one trusted enough to be placed in charge of the disciples’ money. He was their treasurer. Luke, through Peter, tells us a few more things about Judas Iscariot in our text today. Acts 1:15-20 records that Judas:

Ø      Was a guide to those arresting Jesus, Verse 16 (like we said);

Ø      Was allotted a full share in Jesus ministry, Verse 17 (like we said);

Ø      And then, with the money he was paid for helping arrest Jesus –Verse 18 – he bought and field;

Ø      And he killed himself.

Judas was one of Jesus’ closest twelve followers, he betrayed Jesus for whatever reason, and then he took his own life (Acts 1:18-20 contrasts Matthew 27:3-10).

This is sad and this brings us to our second level of questions: Why do the disciples need a successor to Judas? And did they choose the right successor?

Why do the disciples even need a successor to Judas? As Jesus is already crucified, resurrected, and glorified; why do they need someone to replace Judas? They don’t replace any of the other disciples when they die; so, why do they need to replace Judas when Judas dies? Jesus gives us the answer to this question, as recorded in Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30. Jesus tells us that “at the renewal of all things,” his twelve disciples will “sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28, Luke 22:30). OT Scriptures, in particular the psalmist, also speak to this need: Psalm 69:25, 109:8.[1] John, in the book of Revelation writes that at “the consummation of God’s redemption as a ‘Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God’, having twelve gates with ‘the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’ written on them and twelve foundations with ‘the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb’ written on them (Revelation 21:10, 12, 14).”[2] Israelite tradition, Jesus’ teaching and subsequent Christian thought and belief record that the apostles have a role still to play at the resurrection of the dead. Jesus says that it is their job to judge the tribes of Israel after the resurrection of the dead.

So then, it is not because Judas died that he needs to be replaced because he will be raised on the last day with all the rest of us and none of the other disciples were replaced when they died. It is because Judas abrogated his responsibility, he forfeited his position as one of the twelve judges of Israel when he betrayed Jesus - who is Israel and the world’s Messiah - and then took his own life.[3] This is why they need a replacement; this is why they need a twelfth disciple. They need a twelfth person who will help judge the twelve tribes of Israel on the last day. As a side note, this is probably where originates the idea that continues even to this time and place that we should have 12 people sitting on juries to determine innocence or guilt in court.

The next question in this second layer of questions is, did they choose the correct successor? What about the Apostle Paul? Some people say that Paul was supposed to be the successor to Judas Iscariot, not Matthias. According to Luke, did the disciples make a mistake in selecting Matthias? No. The short answer is no. The reasons that some offer for Paul being the correct replacement for Judas rather than Matthias do not hold up to scrutiny.  Howard Marshall writes,

 “Some commentators have argued ... that the church acted wrongly in choosing Matthias: it should have waited for the ‘twelfth man’ of God’s own choice, Paul, instead of giving God his choice between two others who are never heard of again. But we never hear any more of [any of]the other members of the Twelve (apart from Peter, James, and John) in Acts, and Paul did not [even] possess the essential qualifications to be one of the Twelve.”[4]

The list of the qualifications for the job of disciple here include:

1. Acts 1:21, that, ^“… it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us” (The expression “was living among us” is a Semitic idiom for familiar and unhindered association; cf. Deuteronomy 31:2; 2 Samuel 3:25; Psalm 121:8; Acts 9:28).
2. Acts 1:22: “For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” He must have seen Christ in person both before and after the resurrection.
3. And, Acts 1:14, Judas’ successor must also be appointed by the same Lord who appointed the Eleven.

The Apostle Paul does not meet all these criteria.[5] God used the Apostle Paul greatly -as Paul himself acknowledges- as an apostle to the gentiles not necessarily as the one to judge the tribes of Israel at the resurrection (cf. Galatians 1:18, 2:1-10).[6]

So, to review: the disciples referred to in this pericope were the 12 chosen ones who were with Jesus during his ministry. These apostles, at the eschaton, on the last day will judge the tribes of Israel. Therefore the successful applicant for Judas’ old job will have been a witness to the resurrection, will have met Jesus in person both before and after His death and resurrection and he will need to be appointed by Jesus Christ himself.

In our text then the disciples have before them then two viable candidates, Acts 1:23-26, “Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Luke records that these people who are gathered together in Jesus’ name when it comes time to make a decision pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.”

This is important and this brings us to our third and most important layer of questioning today. How do we make decisions that need to be made in our lives? I know that Susan, the kids and I have had to discern God’s leading in a few significant matters in our lives. How do we discern which paths to take in our own lives?

When we were called by God into full-time ministry with The Salvation Army, it was a tough decision. We were first called as urban missionaries in Vancouver’s infamous downtown eastside. We had two small children. I had businesses both on the Island (Victoria, Saanich, Sidney) and in and around Greater Vancouver; but my home, my wife with my children and our immediate families were all on the Island. I loved my businesses. I would have to give up my businesses that I founded and raised almost like a first child in order to enter the ministry and we would have to leave our long-time friends and extended family.

We had to make a decision. We could make an economic decision and stay on the Island with our house and our businesses or we could say, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two [options] You have chosen.” We could make a family decision and stay near the children’s grandparents and at that time great-grandparents or we could pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.” We could make a sentimental decision and stay by all that we have ever known and loved on the Island or we could pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.” As we are here today we thankfully took the latter option as our way forward. Praise the Lord; we followed Him into the mission field.

But our reliance on God is not a one-time thing. There are still many more decisions that each and every one of us are faced with everyday in our lives. And every time that we are faced with a decision we have to decide whether we are going to try to decide on our own or whether we are going to trust God to show us the way and then follow Him.

Our first month or so here in Swift Current, I think every staff member of our Thrift Store quit including the manager. Two Christmases ago our CFS director needed to be let go right as we were heading into our busiest time of year. Every year the Army has to declare whether we as Officers are going to stay in our communities or whether we are going to be transferred. In any of these situations any of us can just try to make up our own minds; we can dig our heels in and say to the Lord that we are not going to do what you or anyone else says; we can be bullied by those around us who have an agenda or who are just not very skilled at discerning the will of God; we can just rely on own devices to make the decisions ourselves; we can tell the Lord to please bless the decision that we are about to make. But really - no matter how skilled we are at making decisions - it would gain much better results if instead of any of these ways of deciding what to do, we would pray like the disciples in Acts 1, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.” And then we need to wait to see how He actually responds.

When we don’t do this we can be tricked into making the wrong choice. I remember once when I was living in a different part of the country, there was an election. I prayed. I looked at the various candidates in my riding. I checked out their resumes and past experiences and there were two of the myriad people running who seemed to have the prerequisite qualifications for the position, so I picked one and voted for him. He was elected but no sooner was he elected then he immediately betrayed those of us who voted for him by joining an opposing political party. He ran as if he belonged to one party so everyone who voted for him thought they were voting for a member of political party 'A' but as soon as he was elected, before he was ever even sworn it, he defected to political party 'B'; so in essence political party 'B' had two candidates in that riding in that election. No matter how much effort I put into casting my ballot, like everyone else who voted for this candidate, I was betrayed.

The disciples, in our passage today, have before them then two viable candidates to replace the one who betrayed Jesus, Acts 1:23-26, “Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Luke records that these people who are gathered together in Jesus’ name when it comes time to make a decision pray, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.”

This is important. How do we make decisions that need to be made in our lives? Do we attempt to make up our own minds or do we -like the disciples here- correctly attempt to discern the will of the Lord.

The disciples, they don’t pray, “Lord please bless our decision making process” and then do whatever they see fit; they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.” They don’t pray, “Lord, please help us to make the right decision” and then do whatever they see fit; they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.” They don’t pray, “Lord, show us what we should do” and then do whatever they see fit; they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.”

Do you see the difference? The disciples, they don’t call a big meeting and pray for God to bless the proceedings and then make up their own minds anyway after pouring over all of the resumes, conducting interviews, checking references; they don't make the decision all on their own and then ask God to bless it. Quite the opposite, they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.”

So what about us? When we are faced with life’s choices how do we decide what to do? Do we pray and then make up our own minds or do we ask for God to show us what he has already decided and keep our eyes and ears open to see what he is showing us? This is the end to which I would encourage us today. Whenever we are faced with a critical decision let us each seek the will of God in our lives and let us each pray as the disciples prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have already chosen.” And then let us actually wait for His answer. I know that as we do, He will show us what He has already chosen for our lives.

 

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] Cf. Robert W. Wall, ‘Acts’ The New Interpreter’s Bible 10, (Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 2002), 49-50.

[2] Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Acts/Exposition of Acts/Introduction: The Constitutive Events of the Christian Mission (1:1-2:41)/D. The Full Complement of Apostles (1:12-26)/2. Matthias chosen to replace Judas Iscariot (1:15-26), Book Version: 4.0.2

[3] Cf. William H. William, ‘Acts’, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1988), 23.

[4] I. Howard Marshall: Acts: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 5), S.71

[5] Cf. Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Acts/Exposition of Acts/Introduction: The Constitutive Events of the Christian Mission (1:1-2:41)/D. The Full Complement of Apostles (1:12-26)/2. Matthias chosen to replace Judas Iscariot (1:15-26), Book Version: 4.0.2

[6] Cf. Simon J. Kistemaker, ‘Acts’, New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 68.

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord Always.

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 05 May 2013
by Captain Michael Ramsay

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice

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Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice

A good question to ask here –of course- would be what does Paul mean when he says to rejoice always? In the ancient Roman world “joy is rarely mentioned, except as an illusion. This is true for the philosopher and the elites. It is much more so for the vast populace that had no opportunity for philosophical or scientific reflection.”[1] For the vast majority of the people in the world of the Roman Empire the old adage would apply that ‘life’s hard and then you die’ and on top of that people didn’t live very long to begin with then and there. And some of the pagan religions of that region stated that in some circumstances that your suffering in this life didn’t even end with your life; it continued on after death.

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice

There is not a lot of joy, as we would represent it today on commercials for early retirement, travel, entertainment, etc. in the ancient Roman world. Remember that even the Roman Emperor, the most powerful man in his world; he didn’t have any indoor plumbing; he didn’t have any central heating; he didn’t have any air conditioning. Neither he nor the other rich and powerful people of this time and place flossed or even brushed their teeth – toothpaste was not even conceived of - and no one ever took a shower. People didn’t live that long and there wasn’t much joy, as we would portray joy today in our contemporary advertising.[2]

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice

Even if there were a lot of things that we would consider joyful, it certainly would not be in and around the situation in which Paul found himself. Remember that Paul was in a 1^st Century Roman prison when he wrote this letter. As such, Professor Gregory Bloomquist writes:

Joy was, however, something that Paul appears to have thought that he could offer to those willing to accept his message. What makes his assertion so implausible is that his was a message written from a context of extraordinary suffering. We may not realize this today. First of all, most of us have no experience of prison. But, even if we did, imprisonment would have been profoundly different from almost any North American experience of prison today [except maybe Guantanamo Bay]. Prison in antiquity was not a ‘holding cell,’ but a place to impose greater suffering on the wrongdoer than the wrongdoing itself had caused. We would be shocked by the length of imprisonment for crimes that today would be considered matters either for fines or for a short jail sentence. And we would be shocked by the conditions of the prisons—overcrowding, hunger, chains, filth, inadequate clothing, illness and death, all of which could be worse in some regions or during times of social unrest, while improvement was episodic but never permanent. Moreover, we would be shocked that torture was common and consistently used to extract confessions and information, and prison was an opportunity to enable torturers to hurt those accused of hurting others and to do so with increasing savagery and ferocity.  But knowing this, we would not be shocked that the logical end for prisoners was death, not release, and a death that would almost certainly be followed by yet more prison in the underworld of the life to come. The afterlife was simply a kind of eternal prison in which gods and their agents tortured men and women.[3]

Philippians 4:4, Paul writes: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.

So why does Paul write ‘rejoice in the Lord always’; what does Paul mean by ‘rejoice in the Lord always?’ It is important enough that he says it twice: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice’, he writes. Elsewhere, in his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes, ‘rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Paul is writing this letter to his friends in Philippi who aren’t in jail and who could in all likelihood wind up in jail or dead for their faith and instead of telling them to pray for him so that his suffering will be eased, instead of complaining to them about his treatment, instead of complaining about his condition and instead of asking for relief, instead of warning all of his friends to head for the hills so that they don’t suffer the same way as he is in this Roman imprisonment, Paul says that he has all this joy in his imprisonment and he wishes the same for them.

Can you imagine? Picture this with me. Someone you know has just been sent to prison – to a real bad prison. Maybe Guantanamo Bay, itself where there is water-boarding and other 21^st century versions of torture going on and they write you a postcard, maybe there is a picture of it on the front, and you flip it over and it says, “wish you were here.” Maybe you wouldn’t feel quite the same.

Philippians 4:4:Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.

Paul in this letter is writing to people who have about as good of a life as people in his day and age do; Paul is in as bad a situation as probably a Roman citizen would find themselves. And Paul is encouraging them – earlier in this letter – to be bold for the gospel when he and they both know full-well that if they are they run the risk of winding up in the same condition as Paul. And here Paul, who is suffering much more than they in Philippi would appear to be, Paul writes, “rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.”

Now Paul is writing this letter and there are a couple of church ladies who have had some row about something. It was bad enough that someone has even told Paul about it while he is in prison. Paul writes, Philippians 4:2,3: “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Revelation 3:5; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19; cf. Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23). These are women whose names have been written in the book of life and they are fighting, arguing, talking about each other behind each other’s back, gossiping, or just being nasty about each other. They are not building each other up and as a result someone has brought this to the attention of Paul who is in jail and Paul himself has written back from his experience. He says that they should ‘be of the same mind as the Lord’ and each other.[4] They should both focus on the things God focuses on – the proclamation of the Gospel, instead of their petty differences and they should, Philippians 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.

What about us? Do we have this joy of the Lord that Paul has? Do we have the joy of the lord that those whose names are written in the book of life have? Do we have the joy of the Lord that Christians are to have? You and I do we? If we wound up in a prison tomorrow would our first concern be how will we tell people about Jesus and would we rejoice in our new opportunities to do so?

How much more in our lives today? As we find ourselves in jobs we’ve held for a long time or a short time, do we rejoice -instead of complaining- do we rejoice in the Lord and the opportunities that He provides us in that job to share the gospel?

How about us in our lives today? As we find ourselves in care homes, retirement villas, or hospitals for the long haul, do we rejoice -instead of complaining- do we rejoice in the Lord and the opportunities that He provides in that place to share the gospel?

How much more in our lives today? As we find ourselves in relationships and in families that we’ve known for a long time or a short time, do we rejoice -instead of complaining- do we rejoice in the Lord and the opportunities that he provides us with our family to share the gospel?

How much more in our lives today? As we find ourselves in congregations that we’ve been apart of for a long time or a short time, do we rejoice -instead of complaining- do we rejoice in the Lord and the opportunities that He provides through that church to share the gospel or do we whine about the person sitting next to us?[5] Do we rejoice in the Lord and share the gospel or do we complain about how so and so leaves the kitchen? Do we rejoice in the Lord and share the gospel or do we gossip about others behind their backs? Do we rejoice in the Lord and share the gospel or do we complain about the music or the preaching? Do we rejoice in the Lord and share the gospel or do we tear down our fellow congregation members with negative words? Do we rejoice in the Lord and share in the work of the gospel or do we refuse to work with others who we see as antagonistic, inferior, or infuriating? Do we, like Paul tells us from prison 1 ocean and 2 millennia ago, do we rejoice in the Lord always in the opportunity to share the gospel with others or do we work against Christ and against the gospel by not being of like mind with Him and with each other. This is very important. This is so important that Paul says it twice. Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.

This week the Stanley Cup play-offs began. It is the first time in about 40 years that all of the original six teams have been in the play-offs and it is the first time in a long time that the majority of the Canadian teams (though none from the prairies here) are in the play-offs. Athletes, on their teams, have one goal: to win the cup. Christians, through our churches are supposed to have one goal: to win the world for Christ, to point everyone to the salvation that God has already provided for the world.

Can you imagine that if when the members of your favourite hockey team got together that instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, the coach started talking to the goalie about what a nag the centre’s wife is?

Can you imagine that if instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, the defence started complaining about how inappropriately dressed Number 8 was all the time?

Can you imagine that if instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, the manager gossips with the left wing about how messy the right wing’s car is?

Can you imagine that instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, the goalie is worried about what player number 9 may have said to player number 12 about player number 13?

Can you imagine that if instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, one of the players was so self-focused that he was always whining and always complaining and always sharing about all of his perceived problems and how miserable his life is?  Can you imagine if he was always complaining about himself or someone else or some real or some perceived problem in his life? Can you imagine if he refused to rejoice always in his sport?

What would happen to that hockey team and their goal of winning the Stanley Cup, if instead of being of one mind in rejoicing in the opportunity provided to play, they instead gossiped, tore each other down, cried about their own state of affairs and complained about those who were on their own team? What would happen if they weren’t of the same mind? What would happen? Would they achieve their goal of winning the cup? Would they achieve their goal? No.

What will happen to the Church, what will happen to this congregation and our God-given goal of salvation and winning the world for Christ, if instead of being of one mind in rejoicing in the opportunity provided us to serve, we instead gossip, tear each other down, cry about our own state of affairs and complain about those who are on our own team? What will happen if we aren’t of the same mind? What will happen? Will we achieve our goal of salvation and winning the world for Christ? Will we achieve our goal?

Friends, as Paul exhorts us from one ocean and two millennia ago, as we are bold for the gospel, as we remain of one mind, no matter what our circumstances – and I know that there are some very real, trying circumstances represented here today - no matter what our circumstances, I encourage us to, Philippians 4:4-7:[6]

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything [cf. Matthew 6:25-34], but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Even and especially when things are at their most challenging, Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] L. Gregory Bloomquist, ‘Subverted by Joy: Suffering and Joy in Paul's Letter to the Philippians’. Interpretation 61 (2007): 274. cf. also A. A. Long, Stoic Studies (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), ch. 8, "Stoic eudaimonism." For Stoics, human life was never an achieved happiness but alwavs remains a battle between cleaving to the flesh and cleaving to the divine logos; see William O. Stephens, review of A. A. Long, Stoic Studies, n.p. Online: http://ccat.sas. upenn.edu/bmcr/1997/97.ll.20.html.

[2] Cf. Morna D. Hooker, The Letter to the Philippians, NIB XI, 548.

[3]L. Gregory Bloomquist, ‘Subverted by Joy: Suffering and Joy in Paul's Letter to the Philippians’. Interpretation 61 (2007): 274.

[4] Cf. Homer A. Kent, Jr., The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Philippians/Exposition of Philippians/V. Second Series of Exhortations (4:1-9)/B. Exhortation to Maintain Various Christian Virtues (4:4-9), Book Version: 4.0.2

[5] Martin, Ralph P.: Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1987 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 11), S. 172. The attitude of gentleness should not JUST be represented in our relationships in the Church but it should ALSO be represented in our relationship in the Church.

[6] Fred B. Craddock, Philippians, Interpretation Series, 1985,72. Not being anxious, not worrying is very different from not caring.

Acts 15:1-19 - The Chihuahua Barks Again

Presented to each the Nipawin and Tisdale Corps 09 September 2007
Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army 26 May 2013
by Captain Michael Ramsay

Calvin and Hobbes: this image from http://calvinandhobbes.awardspace.com/#ch900321

I have a friend of mine, Cory, back on the Island where I used to live, who is a hunter. Every once and a while, he would get a deer or a moose and would give us some great venison sausages or steaks or something – it was nice.

Well, one day Cory meets me for coffee and he is really excited; he tells me that he has won the goat lottery.

Great …you won a goat?’ I ask.

‘No.’ He then explains what he means to me. You see there are only so many mountain goats so hunters buy raffle tickets and the winners are allowed to hunt for goats and this year Cory won so he invites me to go with him.

Now back then Cory and I were both a little bit out of shape and the thing about mountain goats is that mountain goats tend to like to live at the top of… mountains; so away we go up to the top of the mountain and we are really starting to feel it. It is tough work. It is a bit of a hike. We are tired.

We are exhausted actually but I tell you that the view from the summit is just beautiful. One of the most beautiful things in the world. It is our reward for struggling and making it all the way to the top. You can see all the summits and valleys around, and the untouched land. You can see the majesty of God reflected in His creation. As we are sitting there absolutely exhausted from our hike and enjoying the beauty of the scene, Cory turns to me and says, “You know, Mike, we are probably among the first people to ever climb this mountain.” And at that moment bounding in front of us comes …a Chihuahua – a Chihuahua, and a five year-old, and a four year-old, and a 3 year-old… who, by the way, didn’t seem to be near as tired as we were from climbing the mountain. Next came the parents and a parade of tourist - So much for being the first ever people at the top of the mountain.

Now Cory is feeling a little embarrassed for saying that we were the first to ever reach this spot and then at that exact moment having the Chihuahua appear. So we quietly pick up our stuff and walk a few steps away from the crowd and I, in my most comforting voice, say, ‘Cory, you know, I bet we’re the first people to ever step here, on this spot.’ I laugh – and then I duck as Cory’s mood from switches quickly from awe and wonder to wanting to throttle me. And that is not entirely unlike our text today. If you’ll turn with me to Acts 15.

You see just like with Cory and I viewing God’s untouched creation and Calvin seeing the first Robin of Spring, the church here is excited to see God’s wonder as the gospel is spreading among Jews and Gentiles alike - but now comes our Chihuahua (Acts 15:1) in the form of some men from Judea and, it says in verse 2, that there is no small dissention and debate.

This then is a pivotal moment in a pivotal chapter in the book of Acts. Now, remember a couple of weeks ago when we began studying Acts. Remember the momentum and the success. It was truly amazing. When Peter first stood up to address the crowd in Acts I, there were one hundred and twenty of them. Then on one day, the day of Pentecost, 3000 more were added to their number. By the end of the second chapter of Acts, everyday the Lord was adding to their number the people being saved. It was like a wave of salvation sweeping over the land [or an undefeated football season for… your favourite team.]

I remember before I began work for The Salvation Army, I worked for the association of international schools. It was a great job. I got to be like Santa Claus. You see we gave our schools all kinds of gifts: resources, conferences, passes to restaurants, recreational and sporting activities [Lion’s games] all for free. Because of all this, you know that whenever I show up at the door with my gifts, I never have to wait to see anyone. All the staff are eager to see what is in my bag of goodies. Good news spreads fast.

Of course it takes us a little while to be accepted like that. At first we are on the phone all the time trying to drum up business but then -fairly quickly - schools do recognise the good news. They see that these are really FREE gifts and they are saved - time and money - and many that we had never targeted for membership are NOW calling us to ask if they can join? They hear our good news and are coming to us to be saved - time and money.

And this is exactly what is happening in Acts up until this point in the text: as you have been reading along you will have noticed that even though Peter and the evangelists are only approaching fellow Jews and proselytes,[1] about the good news of repentance and salvation, an interesting thing is happening,[2] uncircumcised gentiles are also hearing this good news are wanting to be saved.

You may have noticed from our homework this week that in chapter 10 (verse 44) it says that the Holy Spirit comes to the Gentiles, just like it came upon the Jews in Acts 2, and in 11:18 it records that God gives the Gentiles repentance. The evangelists are only intentionally telling their fellow Jews the good news (see 11:19-10) but all of a sudden other people, different people, start to hear this good news and repent; they change their whole way of thinking (cf. Gen 12).

Now, when people in Jerusalem hear all this (11:20), they send Barnabus and Paul to see what was going on and before the end of chapter 13 a shift in the mission is recorded (cf. Acts 2).

In Acts 13: 43-55 it says…many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas…AND…almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. [But] When the [non –believing] Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly [This is the important part, they said:]

(Vs 46:) “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. [IT IS FROM THIS POINT ON THAT THEY INTENTIONALLY SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH THE GENTILES] (Vs 47:) For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” - When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad…and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

So everyone is accepted and now it is understood that even the Gentiles are accepted into fellowship.[3] This is exciting. This is the background for Acts 15.

The fact that everyone can be saved is as breath taking as rarely seen mountains and the first Robins in spring. But with this vision comes the Chihuahua barking and friends laughing, ‘what should we do with these Gentiles? (Acts 15:1,5)’

This is the question to which the council in Jerusalem is trying to discern God’s answer here and the people in our text have different opinions. In verse one, it says that some believe that “unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” They must become Jews. Paul and Barnabus disagree (verse 2) so they go to Jerusalem to ask the apostles and elders which view is right.

Aside: Now this is interesting because when they got to Jerusalem they right ran into (verse 5) some of the believers who said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the Law of Moses.” Now part of what makes this interesting is that these are believers and these believers are Pharisees – did you notice that? Some Pharisees here [who were often Jesus opponents in life] are saved.” They are believers and they are still Pharisees.[4]

You see the Pharisees are not bad guys. A Pharisee is, among other things, a Jewish person who believes in the resurrection of the dead – and Jesus was resurrected from the dead[5] - but here we have Pharisees disagreeing about ‘what to do with these Gentiles’[6] and this is very important – they want to see the gospel spread.

We have read in our readings to this point that the Lord has blessed the evangelistic efforts of the apostles beyond what would possibly be anticipated. Everyone at this council is pleased by that. They are pleased that more people are joining their congregation. Everyone wants to see these Gentiles saved and everyone is glad that they are being saved. So what’s the problem with these Pharisees?

Well, it is this. Remember that Jesus was a Jew. Remember that the only people (prior to chapter 13) that the evangelists were approaching were Jews. These Pharisees understand that Jesus is the Messiah and that salvation comes through the Jews (cf. Ro 1:16-17). So now that these Gentiles are saved, the Pharisees, expect that they will also become Jews.[7]

After all if you are saved, they reason, you will want to become a Jewish proselyte,[8] be circumcised, follow the Torah and God’s law and there are many Gentiles who already do – like for instance the Ethiopian that you would have read about in Chapter 8,[9] or the Gentiles worshipping in the Temple in Acts 1 and 2.

So the Pharisees’ viewpoint is not unusual by any stretch - [it reaches here from Jerusalem to Antioch and back] – and though it is well intentioned, it rings in Paul and Barnabus’ ears like sarcastic remarks about a barking Chihuahua.

Paul and Barnabus see the view from the mountain. They see that people – like Cornelius[10] – have received the gifts of repentance (11:18; cf. also15:12) and of the Holy Spirit (10:45).

As Peter says himself of the Gentiles, in our text today, in 15:8-11:

God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

This is neat too because Peter recognises what the Spirit of God is doing. He recognises that the promise made to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him and the later expectations of a Messiah, whose rule would last forever, are now fulfilled (cf. 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 72; Isaiah 9:6).

Remember Peter is there when the Holy Spirit descends upon the Jews at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit brings Phillip to baptize the proselyte Ethiopian and the Holy Spirit descends upon the Gentiles with Cornelius. The Holy Spirit comes to the Jews, the proselytes, and the Gentiles.

Peter knows that it is not by our effort that people are saved anymore than the first Robin of Spring comes from our efforts. He sees that we don’t need to DO anything for people to be saved. Jesus already DID it. –‘it is by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved.’ ALL ARE ALLOWED TO REPENT, ACCEPT JESUS AND BE SAVED.

So do you see what the difference in the two points of view is and what Peter is getting at here? The believing Pharisees here know that the world will be saved through the Jews. They just think that only the Jews will be saved[11] (cf. Acts 10, 11) - the Pharisees think that in order to receive this salvation one must actually BE a Jew.

They believe that the only way to be saved by a Jewish Messiah is to become a Jew. And it is this assumption that is the barking in Paul and Barnabus’ ears here. Because, like Peter, they see with their own eyes (15:3-4) that this is not true. We know that people ARE saved without adherence to the Torah. We know that the same Spirit is descended on uncircumcised Gentiles as descended upon Law abiding Jews and we know - as Paul’s letters in the NT speak about plainly and frequently (cf. Ro 3) - that the adherence to the Law doesn’t save anyone. Only Jesus does that.

So at the conclusion of this conference they decide NOT to burden the gentiles with all the rules and regulations of the Jewish law. Halleluiah. They DON’T have to act like Jews to be saved. They can still be Gentiles.

This is Great! But what does it mean for us today, two Centuries and a continent away?

Well, what I think it means for us in Nipawin is…I think this text is begging us to ask ourselves who are these Gentiles in our community? Who are the one’s to whom the Spirit may be speaking and some in the churches might not be accepting.

I saw something that really troubled me this week. I saw this sign downtown, behind the Army Centre. It made me sad; It said ‘out brown skins’ - I wondered are these ‘brown skins’ any more popular in our churches in this town than the Gentiles were in the temple? Judging by the statistics, it doesn’t appear that way. When I was at court supporting a friend this week, I saw many poor people sitting outside the courthouse smoking– have we shared the gospel with them.

In reading this text, I’ve been asking myself this week, who is the ‘gentile’ equivalent in our society that we should be standing up for?[12] I think it is these people (the ‘brown skins’ and smokers in front of the court house on Wednesdays) some of who are already saved and – none of who, sadly, are in our congregation today.

My question for us is this: The Holy Spirit is available to everyone – are we?

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[1] People who were not born Jews but who have been circumcised converted to Judaism. The congregations who were the original audiences for this sermon had a glossary of terms provided for them. We have also been studying the Word together and have established some prerequisite knowledge but not everyone does his/her homework.
[2] Christianity is a fulfillment of Judaism. The 12 disciples were all Jews and now the evangelists were telling their fellow Jews and proselytises that they no longer needed to wait for the Messiah, the law has been fulfilled.
[3] Gentiles were to share in the promises to Israel is a recurring theme of the OT (cf. Gen 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Isa 49:6; 55:5-7; Zeph 3:9-10; Zech 8:22).
[4] Also of interest about this passage is that Paul, the one in conflict with them, is a Pharisee himself.
[5] As opposed to the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.
[6] Some of the viewpoints represented here are reminiscent of the so-called, ‘Jewish-Christians texts (The Gospel according to the Hebrews, The Gospel of the Nazoraens, The Gospel pf the Ebionites).’ Cf. also Andrew Gregory, ‘Jewish-Christian Gospels’ in the EXT Vol 118, No. 11, Aug. 2007. pp: 521-529.
[7] Cf. Richard N. Longenecker. The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Acts. Book Version: 4.0.2: It is the “conviction of Judaism was that Israel was God's appointed agent for the administration of these blessings—that only through the nation and its institutions could Gentiles have a part in God's redemption and share in his favor. And there seems to have been no expectation on the part of Christians at Jerusalem that this program would be materially altered, though they did insist that in these "last days" God was at work in and through Jewish Christians as the faithful remnant within the nation. In the experience of the church, all Gentiles—with but one exception—who had come to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah had been either full proselytes or near proselytes (God-fearers).”
[8] A person of non-Jewish ethnicity who converted to Judaism is referred to as a proselyte (God-fearer).
[9] The role of the Spirit in this event should not be mineralized; it is important that the Spirit is involved with the repentance and baptism of the Jews (Acts 2), the proselytes (Acts 8), and the Gentiles (Acts 10).
[10] It, of course, was Peter rather than Paul who was present when Cornelius actually received the gift of the Spirit.
[11] Circumcision is a key outward expression of this as well as a symbol of adherence to Judaism and Islam. It originates from the divine covenant with Abraham.
[12] In the evening, after having heard this sermon, my wife brought Titus 1:13-14 to my attention: Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.