Nov 30, 2014
Acts 13:13-43
Download Audio:
Outline:
Art Silverman was tasked with an impossible job… How do you get people to stop eating delicious movie popcorn? The nonprofit group he worked for (a group that educates the public about nutrition) had recently discovered that the typical bag of popcorn contained a serving of 37 grams of saturated fat (most of which came directly from coconut oil). This was alarming as only 20 grams a day was the recommended standard for a normal diet.
Silverman struggled with how to raise public awareness when even the phrase “37 grams of saturated fat” was enough to cause most people’s eyes to glaze over. “Saturated fat has zero appeal,” Silverman says. “It’s dry, it’s academic, who cares?” He needed a creative way to shape the message for people to understand how unhealthy a bag of popcorn really was.
Here’s the message he presented during a press conference on September 27, 1992: “A medium-sized ‘butter’ popcorn at a typical neighborhood movie theater contains more artery-clogging fat than a bacon-and-eggs breakfast, a Big Mac and fries for lunch, and a steak dinner with all the trimmings combined!”
To drive home his point Silverman even provided visuals by laying out the full buffet of greasy food for the television cameras. An entire day’s worth of unhealthy eating, displayed on a table equalled the saturated fat totals contained in a single bag of movie popcorn.
The story became an immediate sensation… CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN featured stories, articles ran on the front pages of USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, even Leno and Letterman cracked jokes about fat-soaked popcorn. The idea stuck. Moviegoers immediately avoided popcorn in droves. Sales plunged. Soon after, most of the nation’s biggest theater chains announced they would stop using coconut oil.
Last Sunday I closed our study by explaining that for any idea to tip and spread among society the core message behind that idea must be so memorable and catchy that “it can create change and spur someone to immediate action.” Silverman’s campaign did just that!
“The Stickiness Factor” states that for a messages to spread it must have a certain component which causes it to remain active in a recipients' minds and be deemed worthy of passing on. This morning we’re going to see why the Gospel message was so sticky!
Acts 13:13-14, “Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia…”
Motion of the Text: Leaving Paphos they sail to Perga (port city located in the region of Pamphylia - country of Turkey). When they arrive Luke tells us John Mark departs and heads back to Jerusalem while Paul and Barnabas trudge 120 miles north to the city of Antioch (located in the region of Pisidia). Note: All of these cities are in the area known as Galatia.
Q: Why would Mark suddenly leave so early into this first missionary journey?
A: The clue may be found in this phrase, “Paul and his party…” Understand, up until this point this dynamic duo has always been referred to as “Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:30, Acts 12:25, and Acts 13:7) which is significant for in Greek the order of a list indicates preeminence. It’s clear following Paul’s actions in Paphos a switch in leadership takes place.
It may be that Mark (who had joined the crew because of his cousin Barnabas) didn’t feel comfortable with Paul in a position of leadership even though Barnabas was ok with it (it may have been unresolved prejudice concerning Paul’s past persecution of the church).
Note: There may be more behind this dramatic shift from Perga to Antioch than what’s included in our text. In his only letter to the Galatians 4:13-15 Paul writes, “You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.”
Some scholars believe Paul may have quickly moved from the low lying coastal area of Perga to the higher elevations of Antioch (3600 ft) in order to escape a malaria pandemic that was ravaging the region. Based upon his own words to the Galatians it would seem likely this “physical infirmity” effecting Paul’s eyes may have been a form of malaria fever.
Acts 13:14-16, “And went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen…”
In Antioch Paul and Barnabas enter “the synagogue on the Sabbath day” and as was the “Custom of the Curtesy of the Synagogue” Paul is given an opportunity to speak to the people who’d gathered (“Men of Israel, and you who fear God” indicates Paul would be speaking to two different groups of people: Jews and Gentiles seekers).
Note: This passage is the first recorded sermon given by Paul, and just like Peter and later Stephen he will begin his message by setting up the context for his main point by laying out a brief history of Jewish people. These sermons are condensed versions.
Acts 13:17-23, “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment. After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior - Jesus…”
Notice two important points Paul brings to their attention:
1. Everything they had experienced had been the result of God’s direct involvement. “God chose our fathers… With an uplifted arm God brought them out… God put up with their ways in the wilderness… God destroyed the seven nations of Canaan… God distributed their land… God gave them judges… God gave them Saul… God removed Saul… God raised up for them David… God raised up for Israel a Savior - Jesus.”
2. God had been involved throughout their history in order to prepare the way for Jesus! To this point David Guzik remarked that “Jesus is the goal of history.”
Acts 13:24-25, “After John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’
As Paul transitions from the telling of Jewish history to presenting Jesus as this promised Savior, he begins with John the Baptist. It’s interesting, but it would appear the ministry of John the Baptist was well know in that day even among the Jewish communities of Antioch. Paul’s point… Jesus was even the point of John’s ministry.
Acts 13:26-29, “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.”
Paul continues by explaining to his audience that while John had accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah the religious leaders of Israel rejected Him by having Him “put to death…” In recounting these events Paul is laying the framework for how God responded to Jesus’ death, why this response is significant, and the two reactions people have to Jesus…
Acts 13:30-33, “But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. And we declare to you glad tidings - that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus.”
“But God…” Paul is clear that man’s rejection of Jesus did nothing to diminish the reality that Jesus had been sent by God. Though Israel had rejected Him, who Jesus really was was only further validated when “God raised Him from the dead…”
Paul then explains that this incredible miracle of resurrection was not only verified by the many eyewitnesses who saw Him alive, but was also consistent with the OT Scriptures…
Acts 13:33-37, “As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus (Isaiah 55:3): ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ Therefore He also says in another Psalm (Psalms 16:10): ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.”
All the Jews understood that the Messiah would descend from the lineage of King David (2 Samuel 7:12-17), but now Paul builds off this understanding by explaining that the future resurrection of One of his descendants was to be proof of that Man’s Messiahship.
Acts 13:38-39, “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
As Paul closes his sermon he begins with the Good News: “Through this Man…” (Jesus the promised Savior sent by God) two incredible things are now available:
“Forgiveness of sins…” “Forgiveness” is the Greek word “aphesis” meaning to “release from bondage or imprisonment, to pardon, or provide the remission of a penalty.” And while many may struggle with the “why” of God’s forgiveness, for me the far more pressing question is the “how!” How is it that a just God can forgive me of my sins?
All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
The wages for these sin is separation from God and death (Romans 6:23).
This means in order for God to forgive my sin the punishment for these sins (the wages or the righteous requirements) must be first satisfied for God to remain just and holy. Note: Injustice exists when a crime is not duly prosecuted according to the law.
Scripture is clear that there are only two ways my debt (the consequences for my sinful decisions) can be satisfied: (1) I can seek to satisfy my own debt (which will take me an eternity to pay off for an imperfect payment is never able to satisfy the crime of falling to live up to perfection), or (2) My debt can be satisfied though the death of a sinless, willing substitute (since this is a perfect payment it can satisfy the crime of falling to live up to perfection with the payment therefore being permanent and lasting).
The only reason my sin can be forgiven by God is because Jesus willingly satisfied the righteous requirements of my sin through His death on the cross. Because the debt I own has been satisfied by Him God can forgive my sin and still remain just.
Colossians 2:13-14, “You, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
Hebrews 9:26, “Jesus appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
Now we should consider… Why would God want to forgive me?
Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Ephesians 5:1-2, “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God.”
John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.”
Justification before God… “By Him everyone who believes is justified from all things.” Understand… Justification is more than forgiveness. While forgiveness through Jesus may pave the way for a debt to be forgiven, justification by Jesus places His right standing before God (righteousness) onto my account!
This word “justified” is “dikaioô” meaning “to render one righteous.” In a very real sense to be justified by God is to be seen by God “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned. This means you will never be more prepared for heaven than you are right in this very moment. Nothing you do will add to your standing with God and nothing you do can take that standing away!
Romans 5:18-19, “Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.”
Why was receiving forgiveness of sins and justification through Jesus so pressing? Paul answers this hypothetical question by dropping a theological bomb in this synagogue full of religious Jews and seeking gentiles… “You could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
This would be like walking into a mosque and telling the congregation, “The five pillars of faith will not make you right with Allah.” Or like attending a Green Peace rally saying, “Despite all your conservational efforts God is still going to allow the earth to burn.”
Paul is explaining why Jesus as Savior is so significant… The entire system they trusted to provide forgiveness and justification was ill-equipped to do so! The law of Moses was only designed to revealed a man’s sin. It had no power to cleanse a man of his sin!
Galatians 3:25, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
Romans 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Galatians 2:21, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Now Paul transitions to the Bad News… Acts 13:40-41, “Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you (Habakkuk 1:5): ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’”
“Beware therefore…” It’s simply a truth that when God offers such a precious gift (forgiveness and justification) the rejection of such a gift will be met with consequences. Paul is clear that “despisers” who reject Jesus and the gift His death provides would “perish.”
In quoting from Habakkuk (a contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah who prophesied about the coming judgment of Judah by the hands of the Babylonians) Paul reminds his audience that in the face of a rebellious people the judgment of God is unavoidable.
Paul continues by stating this blunt reality… While God would “work in your days” there would still be a contingency of people who would “by no means believe.” Though salvation through Jesus is available to all men, it’s a simple truth that some men will still reject it!
Response of Paul’s message… Acts 13:42-43, “So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.”
While Luke tells us “many of the Jews… followed Paul and Barnabas” it’s clear from the text the greater response existed among the Gentiles who “begged that these words might be preach to them the next Sabbath.” Next Sunday we’ll see the ultimate effects of this sermon when the entire town comes to the synagogue to hear Paul preach!
So… What was it that made this message so sticky? I believe the answer is found in the last nine words we read… Paul and Barnabas “persuaded them to continue in the grace of God!” The core message… The revolutionary idea… Was the grace of God! This phrase “the grace of God” means “the unmerited favor of God provided independent of our involvement.”
You know it’s a beautiful reality that not only is your salvation (forgiveness and justification) a gift given by God “by grace through faith,” but your present relationship with God and eternal standing before God are also based in God’s grace and not your performance.
The idea of God’s grace was so revolutionary because it was completely foreign to both the Jew and Greek. Tullian Tchividjian tweeted a few weeks ago that “Justification by works is not just a bad theological idea it’s a terribly heavy way to live.” And yet, while this is undoubtedly so justification by works is still the only model religion affords!
It’s sad, but many prefer legalism over grace because of the one thing grace requires… Robert Farrar Capon explains it well, “Grace doesn’t sell; you can hardly even give it away, because it works only for losers and no one wants to stand in their line.”
Sadly, in many Christian circles we’ve forgotten that grace is more than just the initiator of our Christian experience, but is also the motivator by which we “continue” our journey with God! I pray you realize this morning that your entire spiritual existence is birthed in grace, grown through grace, and reaches a maturity by grace…
And this is what’s so contagious! Please understand what will happen if the grace of God is ruling your life… You will naturally ooze that same grace to those you come in contact with!