WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.160 Turn to the book of Acts, chapter 24. 00:00:06.339 --> 00:00:09.400 Our text for today is Acts 24. 00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:13.140 And you read that right on the bulletin and you're hearing me correctly now. 00:00:13.200 --> 00:00:15.480 ! It's the entire chapter 24. 00:00:17.179 --> 00:00:20.000 The narrative has picked up pace at this point. 00:00:20.100 --> 00:00:25.580 And we're actually kind of hastening to the end of our study of Acts in about a month. 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:32.379 I think probably the first, maybe second Sunday of September will conclude our study. 00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:40.920 As we've been looking at these events leading up to Paul's arrest and now his subsequent trial as he's headed to Rome. 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:43.599 So the action has picked up pace. 00:00:44.099 --> 00:00:51.099 I will admit that this type of preaching is some of the hardest preaching to prepare for. 00:00:51.980 --> 00:00:54.899 Large sections of historical narrative. 00:00:55.579 --> 00:01:00.060 Sometimes for me, upon the first reading, I just go, well, and that happened. 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:03.379 And want to skip on to the next thing. 00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:06.719 And it takes a great deal of time to kind of wring it out. 00:01:06.819 --> 00:01:14.799 And really consider what is it, right, under the inspiration of the Spirit that Luke intended for us to pick up from such a text. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:21.799 And so I will tell you that I have spent the mass majority of this week doing so. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:30.159 And just maybe even early this morning, totally settled on what God would have us learn from this text today. 00:01:31.459 --> 00:01:39.700 Acts 24 is Luke's telling of Paul's trial before Felix, who is the Roman governor of Judea. 00:01:39.700 --> 00:01:43.799 So he's the highest ruling power of the region of Judea. 00:01:44.740 --> 00:02:01.159 Recall that in Acts 21, Paul has visited the temple in Jerusalem, where some Jews from Asia wrongly assume and then wrongly accuse Paul of defiling the temple by taking Gentiles with him into the inner part of the temple. 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:16.240 In order to quell the commotion, Paul is arrested by a Roman tribune named Lysias, who wrongly assumes that he's an Egyptian that had previously led a rebellion of Jews that was brutally crushed by this Felix. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:21.519 And the Egyptian, we don't know who this man was, but the Egyptian, as he's referred to, disappears. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:24.900 So Lysias assumes that's who he is. 00:02:25.099 --> 00:02:28.079 And in order to hush the crowd, arrest him. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:41.660 Paul denies that he is this assumed Egyptian and then addresses the Jewish crowd in chapter 22, which is so rich, but angers them even further. 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:43.580 And they call out for his death. 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:50.580 Lysias determined to discover what it is that's causing all of this commotion. 00:02:50.580 --> 00:03:00.420 And why it is that the Jews are so furious by taking Paul into the barracks to have him tortured and questioned by torture. 00:03:01.140 --> 00:03:07.700 But Paul makes him aware through a centurion that he is a Roman citizen, which makes this kind of questioning unlawful. 00:03:07.699 --> 00:03:13.339 So in chapter 23, Lysias takes Paul to meet with the Jewish high council. 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:28.839 So he goes, takes him back to the Sanhedrin with Roman protection, where Paul addresses them and causes another commotion, a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees by saying, 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:35.360 it is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial. 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:43.920 Now, if you don't know, I want to catch up real quick, the difference between Sadducees and Pharisees, just in brief, because I think it'll help you understand that a bit more. 00:03:44.740 --> 00:03:51.759 The Sadducees were were a division of Judaism that were much, much more liberal. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:54.319 Take took very little of the Old Testament. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:04:01.319 Literally, it was largely Judaism was largely about their cultural heritage, political power. 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:08.620 Quite a few Sadducees sat on the Sanhedrin, but they were not the dominant group there. 00:04:09.139 --> 00:04:17.159 The Pharisees, which we read so much about in the gospel accounts, Jesus's life, were the more conservative. 00:04:17.459 --> 00:04:20.159 They were the more scripturally faithful. 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:25.760 They believed in the Messiah, a coming Messiah that would deliver them, although they misunderstood what that meant. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:30.120 They believed in the resurrection from the dead. 00:04:30.320 --> 00:04:38.940 So we read in Acts chapter 23 that Paul sees the two of them sitting there, and he knows he can cause a ruckus by calling this out. 00:04:39.020 --> 00:04:41.000 And that's exactly what happens. 00:04:41.300 --> 00:04:45.340 They get furious at each other because they believe different things about the resurrection. 00:04:45.339 --> 00:05:01.739 When this dissension becomes violent, Lysias had Paul return to the barracks, and upon the discovery of a plot to kill Paul, he determines to take Paul to Caesarea, which is the Roman capital of Judea, to stand trial before Felix. 00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:05.679 So he says, man, this is causing some serious issue here in Jerusalem. 00:05:06.159 --> 00:05:07.839 His charge is to keep the peace there. 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:12.379 So he takes Paul to Caesarea to train trial before Felix. 00:05:12.659 --> 00:05:14.439 So that's where we are in the text. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:19.979 Now, because this morning's text is such a long one, I'm going to read it in three sections. 00:05:20.299 --> 00:05:26.459 We're going to read it, make some comments at the end of each of these sections to be sure that we all understand what's happening. 00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:31.699 And then I will loop back to draw out some doctrines and applications from the text. 00:05:31.739 --> 00:05:32.419 So that's the plan. 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:34.799 And the three sections will be organized as follows. 00:05:34.919 --> 00:05:36.959 Number one, the prosecutors. 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:40.000 Number two, the defendant. 00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:43.779 And number three, the judge. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:49.639 Before we start reading in verse one, beloved, let me remind you that this is God's word to us. 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:52.899 It was written for his glory and our good. 00:05:53.319 --> 00:05:59.279 And we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:05:59.719 --> 00:06:01.459 Chapter 24, verse one. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:10.379 And after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:13.839 They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:19.279 And when he, being Paul, had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:33.259 Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation in every way and everywhere, we accept this with all gratitude. 00:06:33.899 --> 00:06:37.879 But to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 00:06:38.819 --> 00:06:47.519 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:51.399 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 00:06:52.159 --> 00:06:57.639 By examining him yourself, you'll be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him. 00:06:58.419 --> 00:07:04.159 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:15.620 So we see, right, that the transport has happened, and after five days, the high priest Ananias, who's one of the most corrupt high priests in Israel's history, 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:18.160 comes down from Jerusalem. 00:07:18.960 --> 00:07:24.240 And any time you're reading New Testament narrative, Jerusalem was on a hill, so everything's coming down. 00:07:24.340 --> 00:07:25.540 We're not thinking north to south. 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:27.540 We're thinking in elevation. 00:07:27.540 --> 00:07:33.920 So they come down from Jerusalem to Caesarea with these elders. 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:44.439 So these elders would have been members of the Sanhedrin, this council that Paul has already stood trial before and caused such a commotion amongst. 00:07:45.520 --> 00:07:54.300 Perhaps some of these men were part of those 40 who plotted to kill Paul and took an oath not to eat or drink until he was dead. 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:56.680 We kind of wonder what happened to those guys. 00:07:56.780 --> 00:08:02.000 They devised this plot, second part of chapter 23, took this oath. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:06.819 Clay did a great job of mocking them a bit for not being able to kill Paul. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:08.080 What happened to him? 00:08:08.100 --> 00:08:10.280 Did they all starve to death? 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:11.439 Likely not. 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:16.840 But some of them may have come on this journey, right, seeking to fulfill that oath and find Paul martyred. 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:20.879 And they bring with them a spokesman. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:26.259 Some of your translations may actually say a lawyer, one Tertullus. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:30.480 Now, I think most likely he was a Roman lawyer. 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:33.279 Tertullus is a Roman name. 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:39.179 We see at the end of the passage I just read, verse 9, the Jews also joined in the charge. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:45.960 So I think Luke is pointing out the non-Jewish person made the argument and the Jews joined in. 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:54.879 But we don't know for sure because he could have been a Hellenistic Jew with a Roman name who was familiar with Roman law. 00:08:55.060 --> 00:09:03.840 So they see this need to bring along someone with them that can more accurately state their case and navigate the challenges of Felix's court. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:09.560 Now, this cohort of men are wicked men. 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:17.860 They come to see Paul falsely condemned for the sake of the preservation of their own status. 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:24.980 To be part of the Sanhedrin, to be part of Judaism in this day was extremely profitable for them. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:28.000 They were revered in their society. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:32.919 And they want to see Paul put to death because he's messing that up. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:42.659 And as corrupt men will employ any means for gain, they began their accusation with false flattery of Felix. 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:46.580 And you don't get this on the surface when you're reading it. 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:50.379 You may even assume some great things about Felix as a governor. 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:53.320 But Felix was not a good governor. 00:09:53.320 --> 00:10:00.800 In fact, he'll be removed, as we'll see in our text, from his post because he is such a poor governor. 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:11.440 Perhaps the only thing he has done to maintain peace and promote any prosperity in the region was the crushing of the uprising that I mentioned earlier by the Egyptian. 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:15.220 But he did so with such brutality. 00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:19.460 I mean, he killed everyone that came for that revolt. 00:10:20.060 --> 00:10:27.620 That rebellion and the quelling of it seems to have led to more unrest and not peace in the region. 00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:33.340 So he was a poor governor being falsely flattered for their gain. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:37.019 And they make three charges against Paul. 00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:44.759 The first charge is the charge of sedition, violation of Roman law. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:54.579 They say, verse five, the first part of it, for we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world. 00:10:54.980 --> 00:11:01.100 This was, as I've mentioned now twice, not tolerated by the Roman government. 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:03.159 Somebody stirred up a revolt. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:06.399 They brought the full force of their army against them. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:12.939 They crushed any type of groundswell of dissension against the Roman Empire. 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:15.980 So this is a major charge they were bringing against him. 00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:19.059 He is leading riots all over, right? 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:21.559 All over throughout the world. 00:11:22.319 --> 00:11:29.179 The second charge they bring is the charge of sectarianism, which was a violation of Jewish law. 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:36.019 And this would be significant to Felix because the Roman government allowed Jews to govern by their own rules. 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:37.319 It was part of the way they kept peace. 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:46.220 They didn't come in as long as they paid tribute to, as long as they respected the rules of Rome, they could still function underneath and within their reign. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:52.980 So if it was going to cause dissension amongst the Jews, this could have been a very serious charge. 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:59.039 And they say in verse five, he's a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:02.360 Now, this appears to be a term of derision. 00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:05.279 It also appears to be well known. 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:13.539 We don't see any account in the scripture of a Christian calling himself a Nazarene and here saying they're followers of Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth. 00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:19.019 And it must have been widespread and accepted because there's no explanation of what they mean by that, right? 00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:22.539 He's of the sect of the Nazarenes. 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:25.740 And this would have been a violation of Jewish law. 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:36.440 And thirdly, they charge him with sacrilege, which would have been a violation of God's law, not in Felix's eyes, but in theirs would have been a violation of God's law. 00:12:36.539 --> 00:12:42.519 Verse six, he even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:51.340 Now, we find in this passage an opportunity to inject a brief aside about textual criticism. 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:53.220 Don't let me lose you at this point. 00:12:53.220 --> 00:13:04.639 Some of you may have noticed in the reading, you may even have a translation that included more text than I read that jumped over verse seven. 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:05.700 Anybody notice that? 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:09.160 There's no verse seven in the text. 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:20.259 Some early manuscripts have a second part of verse six and a first part of verse eight and in between verse seven. 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:22.139 And here's and here's what that says. 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:25.919 And we would have judged him according to our law. 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:34.840 But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come before you. 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:40.139 So some of these early manuscripts contain this falsehood as well. 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:40.379 Right. 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:42.740 This addition to the things they've already said. 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:44.059 They've lied already. 00:13:44.059 --> 00:13:49.079 We know in verse six, right, halfway through, if we're considering this second part of verse six. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.779 But we seized him. 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:51.079 Right. 00:13:51.219 --> 00:13:51.899 Was that true? 00:13:51.939 --> 00:13:52.579 In my summary. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:52.919 Right. 00:13:52.959 --> 00:13:53.639 It wasn't true. 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:57.179 They were seeking by mob violence to kill him at the temple. 00:13:57.179 --> 00:13:59.399 And who came and seized him instead? 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:01.239 It was Lysias for the sake of his own life. 00:14:01.239 --> 00:14:04.799 He came and seized him and took him to the safety of the barracks. 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:10.759 And ever since he's been trying to sort out what's going on, like, why are the Jews so upset with him? 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:18.319 So they take the credit for arresting him, going through the proper channels rather than killing him on the street. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:30.720 And then if we include this part of the text, verse seven, that the captain Lysias came in with violence, right, violence against the Jews, took him out of our hands. 00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:31.820 It just wasn't the case. 00:14:31.920 --> 00:14:32.700 They surrounded him. 00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:39.360 They picked him up and carried him into the barracks against the violence of the Jews. 00:14:39.760 --> 00:14:44.580 So it doesn't really change the meaning of the text, if you're with me. 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:54.600 So the work of textual criticism is the science of determining the original words of the Bible. 00:14:54.600 --> 00:15:07.960 And we are indebted to faithful men who spend hours and hours pouring over all of the original manuscripts that exist in order for us to have copies of the word like we have today. 00:15:08.900 --> 00:15:12.780 Wonderful labors they've put into this across the centuries. 00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:17.259 John Piper said this of the way in which textual critics work. 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:19.059 It's a really nice, quick summary. 00:15:19.699 --> 00:15:25.199 There are 5,800 Greek manuscripts, either whole New Testament books or fragments. 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:28.220 This is incredible if you know your manuscript history. 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:29.659 Even if you don't, it's incredible. 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:36.939 In other words, when the text critics sit down to do their work, they're not comparing three or four or 50 manuscripts, 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:40.279 which might leave us wondering what the original wording was. 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:49.459 They have thousands of texts from different places in different types that function as confirmations of what the original wording was. 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:54.459 There's a great deal of work and a great evidence for that work to be done. 00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:56.879 So then what of inconsistencies? 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.120 Right. 00:15:57.159 --> 00:16:01.199 So there's these places like this that for some people is really unsettling. 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:02.860 And you may feel that way this morning. 00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:03.720 Oh, wait a minute. 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.139 Right. 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:05.779 Some manuscripts include it. 00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:06.980 Some manuscripts don't include it. 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:09.120 Can any of it be trusted at all? 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:18.340 And I want to show you that it can and that by the process of textual criticism, my faith is increased in the Bible as God's word. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:26.580 Paul Wegner, author of A Student's Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible, which if you are interested in this, I commend to you, said this. 00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:31.600 It is important to keep in perspective the fact that only very small parts of the text is in question. 00:16:32.280 --> 00:16:35.639 Approximately 10% of the Old Testament, 7% of the New Testament. 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:39.560 And that's not saying 7% of the verses that could get excluded or included. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:47.200 He's just saying there's only 7% of the New Testament that anyone even has to do any hard work to determine if it's the original text or not. 00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:48.160 Yes, you're with me? 00:16:48.400 --> 00:16:49.940 They're going, wait a second. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:50.400 Right. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:54.899 We've got to really look at the evidences here in these places. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:01.679 He says, and of these, most variance makes little to no difference to the meaning of any passage. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:04.559 Don Carson says essentially the same thing. 00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:16.619 He says, what is at stake is a purity of text of such a substantial nature that nothing we believe to be doctrinally true and nothing we are commanded to do is in any way jeopardized by the variance. 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:23.239 And this is an evidence of that where I showed you it doesn't really change the meaning whether it's included or not. 00:17:23.939 --> 00:17:32.559 But the fact that the textual critics take such care in passages like ours to exclude the text, right? 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:35.339 That's not in the majority of the transcripts, so they exclude it. 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:46.199 But to also carefully footnote that some of the early manuscripts do have this addition at this point is bolstering to faith. 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:50.039 Look at what care they took in doing this work, right? 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:54.759 Had they just excluded it, would we have known any different? 00:17:54.939 --> 00:17:59.659 Had I not pointed out to you that there was no verse 7, you may not have even noticed it this morning, right? 00:17:59.660 --> 00:18:08.640 But they did this very careful work to be sure that we can have a confidence in the work that they've done and in the original manuscripting. 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:11.940 So it's a wonderful thing, and that's an aside to what we're saying. 00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:14.300 Someone loves my argument right now. 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:16.200 William, I love you, buddy. 00:18:17.300 --> 00:18:20.860 All right, so there's this charge being made by Tertullus. 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:25.200 The Jews join in this charge, and those are the prosecutors. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.340 Okay, verse 10. 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.700 The defendant. 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:33.580 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied, 00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:39.220 Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:44.120 You can verify that it is not more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:51.800 And they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:55.380 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 00:18:55.380 --> 00:19:06.800 But this I confess to you, that according to the way which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law and written in the prophets. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:14.480 Having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:20.220 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God, both God and man. 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:24.799 Now, after several years, I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:30.259 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple without any crowd or tumult. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:36.819 But some Jews from Asia, they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation should they have anything against me. 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:42.299 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council. 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:51.180 Other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them, it is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day. 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:57.539 So, Paul, in his defense, he refutes these charges. 00:19:57.539 --> 00:20:08.700 He refutes the charge of sedition in verses 12 and 13 by denying it and stating the truth that they cannot prove a thing that did not happen. 00:20:08.879 --> 00:20:14.779 He simply says they have no proof of anything that they've said because it did not happen. 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:20.659 Paul had certainly been involved in many riots across Roman provinces. 00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:22.639 We've seen that to be true, haven't we? 00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:27.319 But he was always the victim of these riots and never their leader. 00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:40.940 Paul refutes the second charge of sectarianism in verses 14 through 17 by clarifying that to follow Jesus, which was popularly known as the way. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:43.659 So you see here he doesn't call himself a Nazarene. 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:46.399 He says he's a follower of the way. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:52.220 Was to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:55.140 He's saying this is not a sect. 00:20:55.380 --> 00:21:00.720 I'm not guilty of sectarianism because to follow Jesus is to follow the God of our fathers. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:03.000 This is the full expression. 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:07.380 This is the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament taught us about the Messiah. 00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:16.520 And Paul refutes the third charge of sacrilege in verse 18 by stating that he was found purified in the temple. 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:19.200 He had done all that was required of him. 00:21:19.280 --> 00:21:28.080 He had been very careful not to offend the Jewish audience there and that there was no crowd and that there was no tumult. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:31.460 So this is his defense against these three charges that are made. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.399 Okay. 00:21:32.919 --> 00:21:33.919 Verse 22. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:35.799 The judge. 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:43.359 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the way, put them off, saying, 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:47.619 When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case. 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:51.919 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:55.460 and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:59.759 After some days, Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish, 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:03.399 and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:08.140 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:10.519 Felix was alarmed and said, 00:22:11.080 --> 00:22:12.240 Go away for the present. 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:14.820 When I get an opportunity, I will summon you. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:18.780 At the same time, he hoped that money would be given to him by Paul. 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:21.640 So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 00:22:22.280 --> 00:22:26.960 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:33.180 and desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. 00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:41.380 But Felix, as governor of Judea, was charged with judging matters that disrupted the peace. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:45.460 He seems to understand that the accusation of sectarianism is false. 00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:50.120 As Luke records, he has a rather accurate knowledge of the way. 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:52.460 He seems to understand that it wasn't a sect. 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:56.360 He simply puts off deciding the rest of Paul's case 00:22:56.359 --> 00:23:00.240 until he can hear directly from Lysias. 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:08.179 What happened in this conflict where Lysias arrests him there in Jerusalem? 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:13.340 There's an opposition between Paul and his accusers, right? 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:17.480 They can't get their facts straight, would be Felix's perspective. 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:20.880 So he waits until he can speak to Lysias. 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:26.380 Felix gives Paul a great deal of latitude to take visitors and to have his needs met 00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:29.860 as they await for Lysias, which is just a fun note. 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:33.520 It would appear that governments were no more efficient in Paul's day 00:23:33.520 --> 00:23:37.960 as two years pass under Felix's custody. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:42.600 You have to imagine, I would think, that the call went out to Lysias to come 00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:47.020 and to speak to Felix, and it actually never happens. 00:23:47.020 --> 00:23:50.320 But they're waiting two years to see it happen. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:54.720 During this time, Felix sins for Paul often. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:59.519 The text suggests he did so both to learn, and we'll talk about this a bit more, 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:02.099 to learn more about faith in Christ Jesus, 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:06.139 but also in the hopes of extorting Paul. 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:09.839 So let's look a bit at the doctrine of the text. 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:15.519 This text gives us a great opportunity to consider what true worship is 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:20.339 and to consider what false worship may look like. 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:25.700 What true worship is and what false worship may look like. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:32.960 First, let's just take a little, a brief look at the true worship of the defendant, of Paul. 00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:37.240 Largely in verses 14 through 17. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:42.980 And I want to draw out three points of true worship from these verses. 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:49.839 First, true worship must have the proper object of that worship. 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:54.640 True worship must have the proper object of worship. 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:57.900 The reality, beloved, is that we are all worshipers, right? 00:24:57.940 --> 00:25:02.640 We all serve something other than ourselves. 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:06.500 So you are a worshiper by very design. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:12.019 But we must worship the right thing, I hesitate to say. 00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:15.960 The right person in the case of God. 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:18.259 Paul says in verse 14, 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:24.000 I worship the God of our fathers. 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:29.319 And the one true God has revealed himself by his Son. 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:33.759 There is no other true worship in this world. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:42.099 There is no other worship of God other than to worship God as he has revealed himself in Christ. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.940 Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1 and 2. 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.220 The writer of Hebrews says, 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:51.940 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:56.879 But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, 00:25:57.500 --> 00:26:02.059 whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:07.059 He goes on to talk about Jesus being an exact imprint of God's nature. 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:11.819 So it's through Christ that we worship God the Father. 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:17.119 True worship must have the proper object of worship. 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.220 Paul says, 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:24.240 Having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:29.159 that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:33.120 So these men, I think it's safe to presume we're all Pharisees. 00:26:33.580 --> 00:26:35.800 He's saying that we're in agreeance on this. 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:40.940 And I am simply worshiping Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of those promises. 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:43.120 I have a hope in God. 00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:46.640 I worship God through Christ, who is our hope. 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:51.680 Secondly, true worship is defined by God. 00:26:52.040 --> 00:26:53.900 If he is the object of our worship, 00:26:53.900 --> 00:27:00.680 then he has the latitude, he has the authority by which to tell us how we are to worship. 00:27:02.040 --> 00:27:02.800 Paul says, 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:07.920 Believing everything laid down by the law and written in the prophets. 00:27:08.560 --> 00:27:10.420 This is not sectarianism. 00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:14.960 I am simply believing the truth of the scripture. 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:19.060 Now remember that the early church had a Bible. 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:22.980 It's not the same as our Bible, but it is the same as our Old Testament. 00:27:23.159 --> 00:27:28.419 They had the scripture in their day, the scripture that Jesus used, that Jesus affirmed. 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:32.720 So when Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 3, 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:35.859 this is what he's referring to, verses 16 and 17. 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:41.519 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:49.500 and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:52.220 It is the source of instruction for us. 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:55.559 It is sufficient for that. 00:27:56.220 --> 00:28:02.460 The Christian church needs to regain the reformer's principle that was called the regulative principle. 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:06.279 And if we don't find something in the scripture, we don't do it. 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:09.460 And if it's in the scripture, then we do do it. 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:14.720 It tells us everything that we are supposed to do in order to please God. 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.380 And beloved, hear me. 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:23.460 It is very possible to worship the right God, but to worship him wrongly. 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:27.779 And it's not a drive us to the Bible to worship him rightly. 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:34.640 Third, true worship is a lifestyle and it is active. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:38.720 It's a lifestyle and it is active. 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:45.279 If you've been here long, you know how much calling music worships grieves me. 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:48.279 Because it's not just that. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:52.860 I heard the other day, I don't remember who it was that was telling me this, 00:28:53.200 --> 00:29:01.779 got into a loving, heated argument with a member of their church about what worship is. 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:06.599 And this man could not accept that anything besides music was worship. 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:09.279 And we were musing about why. 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:13.019 And the only thing we could think is because the language has communicated that to him. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.339 Words have meaning. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.700 They carry ideas. 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:18.940 So we should use words very carefully. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:22.200 Our lives are meant to be given in worship. 00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:23.779 All that we do is worship. 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.779 Worship, right? 00:29:24.899 --> 00:29:28.879 This service, every part of what we do together is worship. 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.879 Which means what you're doing is meaningful. 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:37.759 Even now in listening is intended to be, is meant to be worshipful, right? 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:39.160 Aimed at God. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.039 Heavenward. 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.519 In its intention. 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.339 So it's a lifestyle. 00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:44.759 And look at Paul. 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.599 Paul expresses that. 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:49.079 Verse 16, he says, so I always take pains, right? 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:55.799 I put effort to have a clear conscience for both God and man. 00:29:56.099 --> 00:30:03.959 To be obedient vertically and to be obedient horizontally that I may worship rightly. 00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:06.240 And then he gives some expression of that. 00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.959 A way in which he did that. 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:12.659 This is not an all-inclusive list, but in verse 17, he says, now after several years, 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:18.740 this is after his missionary journey, I came to Jerusalem to bring alms to my nation. 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:19.640 Gifts. 00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:21.040 He's giving gifts. 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:23.400 And to present offerings. 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:38.700 We see further that Paul's life, lifestyle, active lifestyle of worship is expressed in the proclamation of the gospel. 00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:49.980 Verse 25, when Felix comes to him, he says that Paul reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment. 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:58.400 So he expressed in his preaching the truth of the way in which God is to be worshipped. 00:30:58.480 --> 00:31:00.500 And this is through Christ, right? 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:06.500 We must be found righteous before God and we find our righteousness in Jesus, his perfect life. 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:11.819 We are meant in this world to live self-controlled lives by the power of the spirit. 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:19.980 And we are saved from the coming judgment because this reality of who God is to us in Christ. 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:24.279 And so true worship is a lifestyle and it's active. 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:32.559 James wrote in James 2.26, for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:41.200 And so, beloved, if we are in Christ because of who we are, because we are accepted in him, we will be obedient. 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:43.279 We will labor. 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:48.179 We'll take great pains to have a clear conscience before God and man. 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:56.179 Recognizing fully that there's nothing we could do to be accepted, but having been accepted, we work. 00:31:56.539 --> 00:32:00.419 So worship is a lifestyle and it is active. 00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:05.539 So there's this true worship of Paul, the defender. 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:11.180 And there's the false worship of the prosecutors and the judge. 00:32:11.820 --> 00:32:14.380 It seems to me, this is the wrestling of this week. 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:16.600 What do we do with a text like this? 00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:18.800 How do we give it application for today? 00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:27.320 That Luke means to juxtapose Paul's true worship against the false worship of the other characters in the episode. 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:31.639 All of these men have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ preached. 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:40.819 My mind is drawn to the parable that Jesus taught concerning the sowing of seed and the various types of soil that seed falls on. 00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:45.419 Here we see Paul as the good soil. 00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:47.680 The seed has fallen on it. 00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.759 It has taken root. 00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:50.900 And he is bearing fruit. 00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.620 Going forth. 00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:56.120 And he is worshiping truly his God. 00:32:57.180 --> 00:33:00.740 These men have had the seeds sown, but they are not good soil. 00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:03.600 At least not for this part of their lives. 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:09.700 We can certainly hope that there's some later change, but the Bible gives us no evidence of that. 00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:13.320 And so let me draw your mind with mine to the parable of the sower. 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:15.359 Or I'll use the one from Mark chapter 4. 00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:16.500 You can turn there if you'd like. 00:33:16.599 --> 00:33:18.399 You certainly don't have to. 00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:22.039 I'm just going to read a portion of it beginning in verse 3. 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:23.759 Mark 4 verse 3. 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:33.339 Jesus said this. 00:33:33.339 --> 00:33:33.740 Listen. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:37.259 Behold, a sower went out to sow. 00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:43.199 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:50.539 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:55.480 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 00:33:56.419 --> 00:34:01.659 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:11.639 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:17.099 So the gospel of Jesus Christ is the seed. 00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:20.599 And it falls on all these various soils. 00:34:20.779 --> 00:34:23.519 Fields are prepared for planting. 00:34:23.779 --> 00:34:27.779 They're plowed up and made soft, and the soil is amended for that. 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:37.099 But then around the edges, there are thistles growing, and there's rocky sections that don't get plowed up and prepared, intended to grow things. 00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:42.019 And there's the path, which is heavy-trodden and packed down. 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:45.659 And the sower goes out and indiscriminately casts seed. 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:50.340 He's just trying to get as much of it as he possibly can into good soil. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:56.780 God, through the work of the Spirit, is preparing soil. 00:34:57.360 --> 00:35:08.179 He's working the soil to be good soil to receive, and not working other things around the edge where they cannot receive. 00:35:08.179 --> 00:35:17.899 So we see in this text this great work of God, having saved some and not others. 00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:32.839 The prosecutors were so blinded by ambition and deceitful gain and prominence that they could not and they would not receive the truth and become true worshipers. 00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:42.039 Verse 4, and as he sowed, this is of Mark chapter 4, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 00:35:42.700 --> 00:35:47.579 Jesus, in his explanation of this parable, says, verse 15, and these are the ones along the path. 00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:54.660 Where the word is sown, when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 00:35:54.659 --> 00:36:05.179 I think that these Jewish leaders were much like path soil, unable to receive the truth of the gospel. 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.519 And then we see Felix. 00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:10.639 Felix reminds me of the Athenians. 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:18.359 Luke tells us in Acts chapter 17, verse 21, that they were interested in hearing what Paul was teaching because, this is verse 21, 00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:27.200 all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:35.039 They wanted to hear this new gospel message, not because they wanted to know the truth, but they just wanted to muse about some new teaching. 00:36:35.180 --> 00:36:37.920 Show us some new philosophy. 00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:47.460 Felix has a rather accurate knowledge of the way, Luke records for us, and is interested in knowing more. 00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:53.059 And we read that he sent for Paul and he heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:58.519 We see that Paul is given the opportunity to reason with him, which means that they were talking, they were discussing. 00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:02.860 There were questions and answers going between them. 00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:11.260 But note his response to Paul's preaching about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment. 00:37:11.260 --> 00:37:15.980 Luke records for us that Felix was alarmed. 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:18.000 He was alarmed. 00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:22.139 And we can wrongly read this and think that Felix was alarmed in a good way. 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.619 There's coming judgment. 00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:25.119 I am alarmed. 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:27.480 But I don't think that's the case. 00:37:27.780 --> 00:37:29.780 I think it means he didn't like the teaching. 00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:37.679 He didn't like the idea that there was a coming judgment and that there was going to be some standard by which he was judged. 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:41.539 I think we can see that, his intention, right? 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:44.179 Because he sends him away. 00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:46.899 He sends him away at being alarmed. 00:37:47.139 --> 00:37:49.480 I think the person rightly alarmed would want to hear more. 00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:50.279 Tell me more. 00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:56.259 How must I be saved as those who heard Peter's preaching in Acts 2 cried out? 00:37:56.260 --> 00:38:05.860 We can also see part of his ill-directed intention in meeting with Paul because of the want for financial gain. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:10.620 He had hoped that Paul was going to pay him off at some point and let him go. 00:38:11.560 --> 00:38:13.880 So what kind of soil was Felix? 00:38:13.880 --> 00:38:19.880 Felix, I think that he's the soil of Mark 4 verse 7. 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:26.920 Out of their seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no grain. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:34.539 Jesus explains that this soil is thorny and others are the ones sown among thorns. 00:38:34.660 --> 00:38:36.200 They are those who hear the word. 00:38:36.199 --> 00:38:46.079 But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word and it proves unfruitful. 00:38:46.819 --> 00:38:55.419 So maybe Felix's desire to know more, to understand the way, to have a better understanding of it, 00:38:55.480 --> 00:38:59.899 to have some new philosophy in his belt to entertain people at parties. 00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:06.559 We certainly can see that he desires the deceitfulness of riches in this world. 00:39:06.680 --> 00:39:11.820 And so as far as we can tell from the text, he's not a true worshiper. 00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:14.559 He's a false worshiper instead. 00:39:15.720 --> 00:39:17.260 So what's the application for us? 00:39:18.220 --> 00:39:18.680 So great. 00:39:19.660 --> 00:39:21.440 What's the application for us? 00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:22.780 I think it's simple. 00:39:23.780 --> 00:39:24.860 And it's simply this. 00:39:25.720 --> 00:39:26.280 Believe. 00:39:26.280 --> 00:39:26.340 Believe. 00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:29.280 Be a true worshiper. 00:39:29.900 --> 00:39:31.720 Of the almighty God. 00:39:32.280 --> 00:39:35.840 And we do so through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:41.380 Having accepted by faith his righteousness. 00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:47.119 Recognizing that if we believe in him, he took our sin in himself. 00:39:47.240 --> 00:39:50.680 The wrath of God that was due us was poured out on him. 00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:53.579 That he is in fact raised from the dead. 00:39:53.579 --> 00:40:01.599 God put his seal of approval on Jesus' life and his death by raising him from the dead. 00:40:02.039 --> 00:40:06.619 Notice that will be a continued point of contention in the book of Acts. 00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:09.980 We believe because he is risen. 00:40:10.119 --> 00:40:13.099 We are most to be pitied if he was not. 00:40:13.099 --> 00:40:18.440 But recognize that there is a coming judgment. 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:25.579 God's loving kindness and forbearance will only last so long. 00:40:25.579 --> 00:40:29.779 And you need to make your calling and election sure. 00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:38.420 You can be worshipping the right God but wrongly because you're not found in Christ this morning. 00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:46.319 It is very possible that you think that simply attending a church fellowship on a Sunday morning makes you saved. 00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:51.360 That laboring to live a moral life finds you accepted before God. 00:40:51.900 --> 00:40:54.420 None of these things will earn your salvation. 00:40:54.620 --> 00:40:56.260 You have an infinite debt to pay. 00:40:56.600 --> 00:40:58.400 Only by faith in Christ is it paid. 00:40:58.740 --> 00:41:03.320 You have an infinite righteousness that you must have before God. 00:41:04.320 --> 00:41:08.700 Only by faith in Christ is this righteousness given to you. 00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:10.300 So believe. 00:41:11.300 --> 00:41:13.840 Believe that Jesus is the Christ. 00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:17.320 That he is raised and he is seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:41:17.840 --> 00:41:22.240 Believe that you have a confidence before God because of him. 00:41:24.160 --> 00:41:26.000 Spurgeon wrote this and this is on your bulletin. 00:41:26.200 --> 00:41:29.340 You may have read that on your bulletin and gone, gosh, that seems harsh this morning. 00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:29.900 Here's why. 00:41:31.240 --> 00:41:32.039 And finally. 00:41:32.039 --> 00:41:50.559 He said we often talk of unbelief as if it were an affliction to be pitied instead of a crime to be condemned. 00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:54.539 And it will one day be condemned. 00:41:54.539 --> 00:42:01.380 If we don't place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are fully responsible for our rejection of the truth. 00:42:02.159 --> 00:42:05.239 So don't be like these false worshipers. 00:42:05.779 --> 00:42:08.279 Be in this sense like Paul. 00:42:08.559 --> 00:42:10.199 Place your faith in Jesus. 00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:11.400 Let's pray together. 00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:41.380 Let's pray together.