Costly Gospel Opportunities

1. Speaking the Gospel of Christ (Acts 7:1-53)

2. Suffering for the Gospel of Christ (Acts 7:54-8:3)

3. Spreading the Gospel of Christ (Acts 8:4-25)

Definitions:
Justification = Beginning of Christian life; once for all
Santification = On-going process through Christian life

1. From God’s viewpoint: SAINTS ALIVE!
(Romans 6:1-14 1 Cor 1:2,6:11 1 Peter 1:2)

2. From the Christian’s Experience: SAINTS BECOMING!
(Romans 6:11,14,18)

* The work of the Holy Spirit
* Perfectionism? (Matt 5:48)
* Our part (Phil 2:12-13)
* Taking off / Putting on (Romans 8:12f, 12:1-21 Galatians 5:13-26)
* Spiritual Breathing (1 John 1:9)
* The corporate dimension

“Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11)

Adoption into God�s family means:

1) A new Father

a. the Holy Spirit reminds us we are no longer slaves, but sons (Romans 8:14-15)

b. the Holy Spirit enables us to pray �Abba� Father (Romans 8:15)

2) A new Family

a. our new family name (1 John 3:1)

b. our family likeness (1 John 2: 29; 3:10)

c. our elder Brother � Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29; Heb. 2:10ff.)

d. our willingness to be disciplined (Heb. 12:5ff.)

e. our future hope as heirs (Romans 8:17; 1 John 2:28)

�Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.�
Isaiah 49:15-16

CRISIS� = danger and opportunity (see Chinese characters for Crisis)

From outside the church = persecution

From inside the church = corruption

In Chapter 6 the crisis = distraction

(John Stott)

A very positive problem: �the number of disciples was increasing� (Acts 6:1)

THE DANGERS:

1) Strained energies � �overlooked� (Acts 6:1)

2) Strained relationships � �Grecian Jews� and �Hebraic Jews� (Acts 6:1)

3) Strained priorities � �ministry of the Word� vs. practical needs (Acts 6:2)

THE OPPORTUNITIES:

1) For reorganization – how flexible are we?

2) For delegation � choosing the right people

3) For prepared people � �full of the Spirit and of wisdom� (Acts 6:3)

4) For priorities � �the ministry of the word� (Acts 6:4)

5) For prayer � �attention to prayer� (Acts 6:4)

The wisdom of God vs. The wisdom of the world
(1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5)

1. The Fight for Truth

2. The Human Referee: Gamaliel

� Precedent (Acts 5: 36-37)

� Time (Acts 5: 38-39)

� Caution

3. The Christian Disciples Respond:

�Rejoicing because they had been counted worthy
of suffering disgrace for the Name.� (Acts 5: 41)

1. The background (Romans 1:1-3:20)
a) Nobody keeps God�s law completely
b) God is right to be angry with people
c) Nobody can make themselves right with God by keeping the law

2. The source of righteousness (Romans 3: 21-23)

3. Redemption (Romans 3: 24-26)

4. Boasting or faith? (Romans 3: 27-30)

5. So, what about the law? (Romans 3: 31)

1) Money then and now (Acts 5: 1-11)

2) Healing then and now (Acts 5: 12-16)

Key Question: Why did Christ die?

1) Our desperate need for atonement
2) Atonement in the Old Testament
3) Atonement in the New Testament

* The Temple Courts �
– propitiation (1 John 2:1-2; 4:10)
– sacrifice (Jn. 1:29; Eph. 5:2; 1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:19)

* The Market Place �
– redemption (Mark 10:45; 1 Pet. 1:18-20)
– substitution (Is. 53:5f; Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:21-26; Gal. 3:13)

* The Law Courts � justification � next week!

1. Right understanding of prayer

2. Prayer in Acts 4:23-37

3. Praying now

“But what about you?” Jesus asked.
“Who do you say I am?”
(Mark 8:29; Matt 16:16; Luke 9:20)

The Person of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1) Fully Man: the humanity of Christ

– The virgin birth (Matt 1:18; Luke 1:1-2:20)

2) Fully Divine: the Deity of Christ

– His pre-existence (John 1:1, 18)

– His claims (eg. John 8:57-58)

– His fullness of the Deity (Col 2:9)

1) BIG opposition to the name of Jesus (Acts 4:1-7)

2) BIG courage from Peter and John:

* They had been with Jesus (Acts 4: 13)

* Power in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12,14)

* Unstoppable evidence (Acts 4: 16-22)

1. The Problem of Sin (Rom 5:12f)

2. The Promise of Salvation (Gen 3:15)

3. The Possibility (and Necessity) of Spiritual Rebirth (John 3:3)

1) Past (Acts 3: 11-16)

2) Present (Acts 3: 17-19)

3) Future (Acts 3: 20-21)

4) Conclusion (Acts 3: 22-26)

The need for analogies eg. the Sun, in four phases

1. The riches of God’s glory (1 Tim. 1:17)

2. The radiance of God’s glory – every action is an expression of His glory and for His glory (eg. Psalm 19:1; John 12:27, 28)

3. The reception of God’s glory (eg. 2 Cor. 4:4-7)

4. The response to God’s glory (eg. Rev. 5:12,13)

– Sin means the lack of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23)
– God’s glory and man’s happiness go together.

Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

The wonder of wonder! (Acts 2:43-3:10)

1. The Close Proximity to Suffering

* Eyes
* Voice
* Hands

2. The Proof of Praise

“The power was Christ’s
But the hand was Peter’s”
Thomas Walker

1. The doctrine introduced

2. The doctrine in Scripture (e.g. Ephesians 1:3-14)

3. The doctrine in 21st Century Christian Life