The Unstoppable Gospel

Acts 28:11-31 The Unstoppable Gospel Introduction: Acts is the history of the earliest Christians. It’s the original document of the first Jesus followers - it’s the place we go to discover what authentic Christianity really looks like. And now we have finally come to the last section of the final chapter. 1. An Unfinished Story? 1. We have finally come to the last chapter of Acts. Paul has finally reached Rome awaiting to stand trial before Caesar. We see him doing what he always does, meeting first with the Jews of the city to share the good news of what God has done through Jesus Christ. After most reject Paul’s message we’re simply told - “He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” 2. Is it just me or does the book of Acts seems to end with a sort of cliff hanger, or an unfinished story?… no release to the tension that has been building since Paul was arrested in Jerusalem. If Acts is a biography, it would seem clearly to be an unfinished one - the audience is left suspended - what happens to Paul, is he acquitted, is he put to death?? - We’re waiting to hear about the fate of the hero of the last half of this book. 3. Ben Witherington says, “The book's ending makes much better sense if Acts is some sort of historical work, meant to chronicle not the life and death of Paul but the rise and spread of the gospel and the social and religious movement to which that gospel gave birth.” 4. In other words -this is not a story primarily about Paul - this is the story of Jesus, the True King of the World, and the advancement of his kingdom on earth. Luke meant to chronicle the spread of the good news from Jerusalem to Rome, from the edge of the empire to it’s very heart… Luke does not record for us how the story of Paul ends but he gives us something so much more hopeful - which is a picture of the unstoppable gospel - going forward to all who would hear, unhindered and with all boldness! 5. If you follow Luke’s narrative through both volumes (Luke and Acts) this is the obvious message - Jesus is declared the king of the world in opposition to King Herod, Rome’s ruling presence.. and by the end of Acts Jesus Kingdom and Lordship are being declared with all boldness and totally unhindered right in Rome under the very nose of Caesar! Luke is very optimistic about the future and the kingdom of God.. are you? 6. Jesus is Lord of all - for Jew and greek, for male and female, for slave and free, for rich and poor, for strong and weak, for religious and irreligious, for insiders and outsiders - This is the universal message that was proclaimed all throughout the story of Acts, the message about the coming of the kingdom of God, that was accomplished through the life, death and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ. A kingdom that is surely coming, bringing justice, equity, reconciliation and most of all peace/ shalom. It was a message that asserted that God, in the end, was sovereign, and was faithful to both his word and his people. 1. Why is it important for us to be reminded again and again of the sovereignty of God? - Biblical narratives like the book of Acts are such great reminders in a world with an ever changing atmosphere of the culture around us, the uncertainty of life, the breakdown of our own bodies, relationships and friendships, the inevitability of death, the losing of all that we’ve stewarded over, the seeming triumph of evil and chaos… The story of Acts is a reminder that nothing can truly stop the message and work of God’s love through Jesus Christ getting out into the world he so dearly loves Paul may be chained, but the God’s Gospel is going forward with all freedom!!. It reminds us to cling to God as our refuge and to be a people who seek first the kingdom of God, the lasting city that cannot be shaken in the midst of an ever changing world. 7. I said, this isn’t primarily a story about Paul - Paul was caught up in the Jesus story and the scripture invites us to be as well -The closing chapter of Acts is open ended on purpose.The Implication is we have got to get this message out to people near and far... now it is our turn (The present Church) to take up this co-mission and get this message out to the Nations.. Starting in our own city, with our neighbors.. from our Jerusalem ..to the ends of the earth.. believing no external obstacle is too great for the God who raised Jesus the dead, to overcome in saving the world…In the end, as we’ve seen, every attempt to snuff out God's church will fail. Every attempt to thwart God's kingdom will ultimately be crushed nothing can stop the promises of God getting out to the world that he so dearly loves! Not the unbelief and rejection of Jesus by the Jews, not the persecution of the church, not the lynching of the mob, not the killing of the Apostles, not the political powers of the empire, not famine, not death, not sickness, not shipwreck, or poisonous snakes, not conflict within the church or without… nothing, no nothing, can stop God’s message of salvation -his love, acceptance, forgiveness, reconciliation and justice displayed in Jesus from getting out into the world.. 2. The Spread of the Good news 1. The story of early Christianity is amazing - the early Christians were a small band of mostly Jewish fisherman and a few women - who, in only a short number of years turned the world upside down - they had no political power, they had no money or influence - so how did they do it; and how can we? First the practical then the spiritual answer. 1. The Gospel was spread across the Roman empire not by formalized campaigns but by informal missionaries - ordinary, everyday people took the good news of Jesus Christ into their work place, into the local market places, it changed the way that they did business and treated their employees, it changed the way that they thought about success and riches, the poor and marginalized, it changed the way they thought about sex and power, singleness and marriage.. it changed everything. They now saw everything through the lens of Jesus’ sacrificial death for their sakes.. 2. Listen to the way John Stott describes living out the kingdom of God: “The kingdom of God is his rule set up in lives of his people by the Holy Spirit. It is spread by witnesses, not by soldiers, through a gospel of peace, not a declaration of war, and by the work of the Spirit, not by the force of arms, political intrigue, or revolutionary violence. At the same time, in rejecting the politicizing of the kingdom, we must beware of the opposite extreme of super-spiritualizing it, as if God’s rule operates only in heaven and not on earth. The fact is that, although it must not be identified with any political ideology or program, it has radical political and social implications. Kingdom values come into collision with secular values. And the citizens of God’s kingdom steadfastly deny to Caesar (Or whoever is in power) the supreme loyalty for which he hungers, but which they insist on giving to Jesus alone.” - John Stott - The Message of Acts 1. The early church radically shook and disrupted a world that was dedicated to the Roman state, the power and politics of Rome and the worship of Caesar and the greco-roman pantheon and it can do the same in our culture..The Gospel can shake the world again..Especially as we the church Pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ and his Kingdom alone. 3. The Work of Jesus 1. As we have said many times through our studies in Acts - the only way the early church was able to do what it did was because they were so moved, so captured, so enthralled with the person and work of Jesus..we must never forget this - Jesus and his work of redemption and salvation were the heart, life and power of the early church… (Acts 2:42-47 -The Jesus story; the Jesus way of living; the Jesus sacrifice, taking advantage of Jesus’ mediatory work through prayer) 2. “Now, indeed, they could go out and "do something” about the problem of sin and suffering. They had seen the strong hands of God twist the crown of thorns into a crown of glory, and in hands as strong as that they knew themselves safe. They had misunderstood practically everything Christ had ever said to them, But no matter: the thing made sense at last, and the meaning was far beyond anything they had dreamed. They had expected a walkover, and they beheld a victory; they had expected an earthly messiah, and they beheld the Soul of eternity. It had been said of old time, “No man shall look upon my face and live”; but for them a means had been found. They had seen the face of the living God turned upon them; and it was the face of a suffering and rejoicing Man.” -Dorothy Sayers 3. Through the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ the early church - received the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit - the true presence of Jesus with them wherever they went. 4. Presence and outpouring of Love- Jesus Promised the Disciples that when he went away he would send another comforter - the Holy Spirit who would be with us always and would guide us into all truth. Jesus actually says that if he doesn’t go away (The Ascension) he cannot send the Spirit. 1. By sending the Holy Spirit it means that no matter what happens, if we are at the ends of the earth, the deepest jungle, even if we are locked in the deepest darkest dungeon, Jesus is still with us, even through death. 2. Those who have placed their trust in Jesus have the absolute presence of Jesus with them wherever they go, even through death. As Jesus said, “behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 3. Lest we think otherwise this presence is a presence of comfort and assurance - The Holy Spirit is the one who causes us to know existentially and experientially the love of God - The assurance that we are dearly loved children of God . 5. Power -Through the resurrection and ascension the early Christians knew that Jesus had ascended to the Father - to the right hand of the majesty on high - Jesus now sits in the place of absolute authority over the universe - As he said to the Apostles - “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me - go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” 1. God’s control over all things is a huge biblical theme seen in stories like Joseph, Job, Paul and ultimately seen in Jesus -how God uses everything in our lives, good and bad, for his ultimate glory and our good. Which means that we don’t have to fear anything because God is in control of all things. A theme we’ve seen time and again in the book of Acts - the Kingdom of God is an unstoppable force, nothing can stop it, not the wicked political schemes of Herod or the Jewish leaders, not the beheading of the Apostles, not the prejudice and racism of the Judaizers, not the lynching mobs, not imprisonment, not shipwreck or vipers, or stoning.. nothing can stop the promises of God, in Jesus, from getting out to the world he so dearly loves! 2. When you know that your savior, your friend, the lover of your soul, the one who for your sake left the comfort of heaven, suffered, died, was buried and rose again - sits in the seat of absolute power over the universe - who is there to be afraid of.. what can thwart Jesus’ purpose for your life, what can stop his good kingdom’s advancement? - you and I are absolutely safe and secure we have nothing to fear, therefore we can boldly share the gospel without fear of the consequences - “God is the ultimate source of all power. All human power is therefore derived, limited, unstable and transient.” 6. Persuasion - When Jesus ascended to the Father not only did he go to the place of absolute power he also went to the seat of judgment - the cosmic court room if you will. In ancient times the seat of power was also the seat of judgment - the division of powers is a unique and relatively new form of government. 1. The scripture tell us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God and that he ever lives to make intercession for us. 2. Listen to Hebrews 7, “He is able to save to the uttermost[b] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” - Hebrews 7:25-26 3. And 1 John 2 tells us, “if anyone (christian) does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” 4. The ascension means that Jesus is 24/7 in the presence of God, the righteous judge, (The cosmic court room) pleading our case that we are guiltless of sin, and that we are clothed in Christ righteousness. Jesus’ work on the cross, means, that those who believe in him, their debt of sin has been paid in full, and the righteous life that Jesus lived has been credited to their account. God now sees you as absolutely spotless and beautiful in Jesus. 5. You see justification by faith in Jesus’ work means that the only one in the universe that matters (God) thinks you are amazing, spotless, and beautiful.. What does it matter what other people think about you? Only once this truth has sunk into your heart (by the working of the Holy Spirit) and freed you from the opinions and judgments of others, or even your opinion of yourself, will you be free and truly living under the rule of Jesus as King. 6. It was through the individual and communal knowledge, experience, and cultivation of the work and presence of the truth concerning Jesus that the early church was able to take the good news to the ends of the earth. Conclusion: When we learn to read the story of Jesus and see it as the story of the love of God, doing for us what we could not do for ourselves-that insight produces, again and again, a sense of astonished gratitude… when you realize the full extent of what Jesus went through to save you and what he offers you will you begin to surrender your life and sacrifice for his glory and his kingdom. Because he died for you, You will live to proclaim his name. There is a world out there is that is hungering and thirsting for the good news of Jesus Christ - they just don’t realize it We can’t leave people in their suffering and hopelessness, to leave people subject to the futility of the kingdoms and governments of this world. No politician, no president, no king, no system or form of government, no religion or philosophy of life - can save like king Jesus! Only Jesus offers us a new life of hope and peace, the forgiveness of sin, a new and solid identity, a kingdom that can never be shaken in which righteousness dwells…we have got to get that message of true hope out to the world, starting here in our own neighborhoods and city. - May God strengthen us to that end