Boasting

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. – Romans 3.27-31

When I read this passage I am always reminded of the story of the publican and the sinner from Luke 18.

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

A religion of works naturally lends itself to bragging. ‘Look how good I am. I am doing it all right. God must be happy with me.’

It was that kind of attitude that had the Jewish leaders where they were and why they as a rule rejected Christ. Paul had to dispel that teaching. Since salvation comes only by grace though faith there is no room to anyone to boast.

When we forget this, even today, we set ourselves up for a fall. Our free gift ought to humble us when we realise what Christ has done. Our prayer must always be ‘be merciful to me a sinner.’

Freely

being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. – Romans 3.24-26

Paul is determined to drive home the point that man is hopeless and helpless in attaining salvation. We can’t earn, it must be a gift. We can no more bring our lives into line with God’s standard that if we tried to lasso the moon. Even violating God’s Law in one point makes us guilty of the whole law.

The Law can’t do it. We all fall short. We can’t be good enough. So how do we bring ourselves to where we line up with God’s guidelines?

We don’t and we can’t because we are justified freely by His grace through being redeemed by the blood of Christ.

Wow! That is a power packed statement with buckets of theology. There is far too much to tackle on one little devotional. Basically we have been redeemed, or bought back from the penalty of sin, only through the blood of Christ – we could do nothing about it.

So the grace of God intervenes. By His grace all of, no matter how far short we fall of His standards, can be justified to those standards freely. The fact that we are justified freely means that everyone, no matter how bad, can claim justification because of what Christ has done – no one is too bad for Him.

It is a free gift – and we have a whole world that needs to hear about the gift!

Fall short

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, - Romans 3.21-23

It was the 21st of March 2009. The setting was the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. It was classic game of 6 Nations rugby. Ireland had not won a Grand Slam since 1948, but here they were on the cusp of victory as they led 17-15 as the clock ticked on to and passed the 80th minute. Welsh outside-half Stephen Jones lined up for a penalty kick from the halfway line. The stadium was hushed and Irish and Welsh fans held their breaths as the ball took off to the post. It tumbled end over and end and it looked like it was going to make it…but it fell short. Almost – but not enough.

So what does such a glorious day for Irish rugby have to do with a devotional thought?

Its just this – that kick. It soared high, good and true. It was a great effort, but it fell short of the target. That kick is a great example of what we see in Romans 3.23. No matter how well fought, no matter how close, no matter how on line a man’s life is, no matter how close it is always going to fall short of God’s target. God’s target is perfection and no one is every going to achieve it. Jones would have been just as successful at winning the game if he had flubbed the kick off the side of his foot.

We can’t make it. So what is our hope? Our only hope is in Christ for He is the only One that can reach that goal of perfection.

All have sin had fallen short of God’s glory…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. 

Knowledge of sin

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. – Romans 3.19-20

What is sin? We can come up with all kinds of answers to that question. How do we know if and when we are sinning? In our so called ‘post modern world’ there are some who would say that there is no such thing as sin or that sin is fluid and depends on situations or times or cultural mores. Maybe nothing is sin and we can just go about doing whatever we want.

What is the Law? To the Jews the Law was the be all and end all. It was guide and their target and it was supposed to be the determiner of how they should live their lives.

It didn’t take long though for them to realise that no one could keep it completely. No one was that good.

So what was the purpose? The two question above go hand in hand. The Law came to give us the knowledge of what sin is. It is by the Law that we realise that there is a standard and that none of us can reach it. When we realise that we realise that we all far short and none of us is therefore righteous.

And that is how we come to see our need of something more. The fact that we have the knowledge of sin and the knowledge that God requires perfection and that we know that we can’t be perfect helps us to realise that we need some other way to make our way to God.

Thank God that He provides that way through Christ.

Circumcision of the heart

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. – Romans 2.28-29

Circumcision can be a difficult thing to talk about. It is not the politest of subjects. It is however a cutting away of flesh that is a picture of all of the keeping of the Law. It was the beginning of the process for Law keeping Jews so it is of relevant.

Paul points out that the physical cutting away of flesh is not what really makes a person a Jew. A Jew outwardly is not what counts. A true Jew is one who is one inwardly.

This is along the same lines as God judging the secrets of men. It is easy for us to act religious and go to church and say amen and be involved in everything the church does and be a good neighbour and all that, and all those are good things. We can ‘cut off’ our old sins and reform our lives and clean up our act and become from all appearance be really good people. It is good to cut off those things. It is profitable in a lot of ways.

But it profits nothing when it comes to eternity. What matters at the end of the day is cutting of the flesh at the root – in our hearts. We can’t do anything about that. Only Christ can do that work.

And that is all that really matters.

Judging the secrets

For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. – Romans 2,12-16

It is not hard to see why the Jews were so critical of the Gentiles and what they perceived as their behaviour. The world has always been outwardly a wicked place. Sin is obvious and everything we see here in Romans is going on here around us today as well. We, like those Jews, can easily get distracted by all that wickedness out there.

Paul tells his Jewish readers that their sanctimonious boasting is useless. They may not do all of those other things, but they may do worse because they keep their sins private and hidden and in their hearts. Those sins are easy to keep because no one can see them.

Or so they think…

So God makes it clear – God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. God judges Jews and Gentile alike but what is in their hearts, where no one else can see. What is in the heart will come out in the life. Being circumcised, keeping the Law, going to church, being baptised, giving, and all those works will do nothing on their.

God knows our hearts and therefore our innermost secrets. Man will judge our actions, God will judge our hearts. That’s why we are challenged to guard our hearts.

Anybody who is holding on to their secret sins thinking they will get away with it need to remember that God judges the secret things that nobody know about.

Consider yourselves

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? – Romans 2.1-4

I’d say the Jews who read the previous section to this were feeling pretty good about themselves. Most of them, like us, I am sure could say ‘Oh those are awful sins. I am so glad that I don’t do those kinds of things!’ It was easy for them to judge those Paul described.

But context is key, as always. Paul shatters their smugness when he says ‘consider yourselves when you are so quick to judge others.’

Of course it reminds me of what Jesus said when we said ‘don’t judge each other until you have sorted out your own issues.

Here’s the point. The Jews condemned to world for their ignoring the Law and their heinous sins. That was obvious and they were easy targets. All the while though the Jews had their own sins. As the passage goes on Paul going to talk about the secrets of men and  circumcised hearts. The Jews judged the world but went about with their own sins that might no be so obvious. They wanted the world punished, and in so doing ironed God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering.

We need to be careful about being too judgemental of this wicked old world. We need to trust God to take care of it and rejoice that He is as patient with us as He is with the world.

Sure, we need to expose sin – but we’d better not forget about considering ourselves first.

Approving of evil

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. – Romans 1.28-32

These verse carry on with the consequences of man being given over to do whatever he wants. This is quite a tragic list, but as we look around today we see this being lived out all around us. Evil runs rampant.

The problem addressed here is that even those who know the judgement of God can do the same and approve of them. Those who should know better don’t take a stand for what is right and wrong. Some even go so far as to, under the pressure of acceptance, give evil a ‘wink and a nod.’ Approval doesn’t always have to be clear and open – sometimes tacit approval is our way of adapting.

We must love – but love does not excuse evil. In fact, love demands that we take a stand and point out the danger of sin and the destruction of the lifestyle.

Lets be sure that we are not among those who approve, in any way, the sin that is so prevalent in our world.

Doing what they want

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonour their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. – Romans 1.24-27

Paul’s scathing attack on a God rejected world continues. Uncleanness, lust of the heart, dishonouring bodies are the way exchange to truth of God for a lie and then man begin to worship the creation more that the Creator.

So eventually God gives man what he wants. He gives man over to carry out all the sins in their hearts. God very plan for the continuance of the human race is thrown out the window through ‘men leaving the natural use of the woman burning in their lust for one another.’ God’s plan is also ignored when the ending of a child’s life through abortion is made legal and freely available.

Men say they want to do what they want. They say they want to have their way and they don’t want God or ‘religion’ to interfere. So the time comes when God lets them do what they want. He lets them have their way. He lets them suffer the consequences of their own decisions. A lot of what happens in these situations is not because of God’s direct justice but because it is the natural result of making a choose to do whatever they want.

No wonder our world is where it is today.

They became fools

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, - Romans 1.20-22

There can be no doubt that we live in a day of marvels we could never have imagines. Man is capable of amazing things. Who would have guessed we would be carrying computers in our pockets or that our cars would drive themselves or that we could use a printer to print food?

Man thinks he is pretty smart. Man thinks he has outgrown God.

There is this, for example:

God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?
— Nietzsche, The Gay Science, Section 125, tr. Walter Kaufmann[1]

Though written from a secular viewpoint even Nietzsche seem to recognise what the result of ‘killing God’ is. The result is that without God man must play God.

And in so doing those who think themselves wise have become fools. Who could truly want men as gods? All we have to do is watch how man acts to know that that is pure foolishness.

Man might get rid of God in his mind, but all man has to replace Him is a world of foolishness and despair.

From faith to faith

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” – Romans 1.16-17

The just shall live by faith is a regular them me in scripture going all the way back to the book of Genesis and the story of Abraham. Back before the Law we read that Abraham believed God and it was that which brought His righteousness. ‘The just shall live by faith’ is a common phrase.’

And that is why we need to not be ashamed of the gospel. It is only the gospel of faith in Christ that can save. There are no works good enough. There is no religion right enough. There is no philosophy strong enough. We have the message of hope for he world – ‘the just shall live by faith.’

But it goes deeper than that even. The life of the just ought to be a life of faith. That phrase ‘from faith to faith’ is a bit of an enigma. The commentaries have a lot of views and I don’t know enough Greek to dig it out myself.

I think the notion is this. The righteousness of Christ in us as we live by faith and the way to grow in faith is to exercise faith. Faith brings faith and that faith reveals God’s righteousness in our lives.

It all goes back to verse 16 – the gospel is the power of God to bring salvation. That produces the righteousness of Christ in my life as faith grows into deeper faith.

Ashamed of the gospel?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” – Romans 1.16-17

I don’t think there can be any doubt of the first part of this passage. Paul lived out “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ’ all of his life from the time he first got saved in the road to Damascus. Everything about him proved the veracity of his claim. He proclaimed the gospel before kings and governors and jailers. When in Athens he proclaimed the gospel in the streets and the markets and with the thinkers and philosophers. He preached in the synagogues. He felt like he hd to go to Rome and was working on getting there. He would preach the gospel any time in any place to anybody.


I have to ask myself the question – ‘am I ashamed of the gospel?’ Am I reticent about sharing because I don’t really feel like the gospel is relevant or important or that it might just sound unbelievable?

Paul was not ashamed because he knew that the gospel was the power of God that leads to salvation. He had seen the power at work, and I think that the key is that he had seen the power of God work in his own life. He knew what God had done in him and he knew that if the power of God could work in his life it would work in anyone’s life.

I may not know a lot about theology or how soteriology works or fully grasp all the aspects of what happens at salvation. I do know though what the power of God did and does in my life. How can I be ashamed when I know what the gospel did for me. How can I not be willing and eager to share it with others?

I am ready

So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
– Romans 1.15

Paul is a real challenge to me. This little phrase ‘I am ready’ really nails the kind of person Paul was. He seems to be always ready to do what God wants him to do. He has the same kind of fervour to preach the gospel and he used to have in going after The Way.

So as he wrote to the Romans he told them that he was ready to come to them to preach the gospel. We know from Acts that he eventually got there.

I guess it is just a simple question for me from this message. How ready am I do to what God wants me to do? Am I ready to to where He wants me to go, to do what He wants me to do, to say what He wants me to see, and to be what He wants me to be?

Our mutual faith

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.- Romans 1.8-12

What precious words Paul writes to people he has never met. He thanks God for them. He brags on their faith. He never ceased to pray for them. He prayed that he would be able to get to them. He wanted to have the chance to teach them and establish them in the faith. He was grateful for their mutual faith.

Paul was a man of amazing love and tenderness. He can sometimes seem like a very hard preacher as he deals with sin and people doing wrong and getting things sorted. He uses some pretty blunt language at times. When you think about it though everything he says he says out of love because he knows the God’s way is best for us all.

But here it is nothing but love. It is the kind of love we all could apply to each of. We need to gives thanks for each other because sometimes we are all we have. We ought to build each other up. We ought to consistently pray for each other. We ought to enjoy fellowship and look forward to times to be together.

Lastly though we ought to encouraged by the mutual faith we share. We need to be grateful that we do not stand alone in this dark old world. There are others who also stand for the gospel. It is very easy to feel alone in a land where the vast majority of people are not true born again Christians and where our thoughts and ideas are foreign. Let’s be encouraged, like Paul, when we meet those of mutual faith and not be so quick to divide over petty issues.

Holiness and the resurection

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. – Romans 1.1-4

Paul’s letter to the Romans is an amazing letter. It is something like a Bible College by letter. There were believers in Rome that needed some direction. We are not sure how the gospel there, but Paul knew he was not going to get there anytime soon and that they needed direction. He took on the task of writing to the church and giving them basic doctrinal and practical teaching.

Paul gets right to the point. The first thing he does is make clear that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God, full of power. That fact is evidenced by a couple of things – the Spirit of holiness and His resurrection.

Those are two interesting things. They are both thing that God calls us to emulate. Peter tells us to be holy just as Jesus is holy. Paul tells us to live our lives in newness of life as we walk in the light of the resurrection.

If we are striving for holiness in our personal walk and walking in newness of life it is going to evidence the reality of our faith. Do people see Christ’s holiness in you and me. Do they see our lives and wonder at the newness in our lives since salvation?

Preaching and teaching

Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. – Acts 28.30-31

Obviously when you appeal to appear before Caesar you are in for a wait since every Roman citizen had the right to appeal to him. Paul went to Rome to preach. For two years while waiting he was under house arrest in Rome in his own rented house. But, because he was in Rome to preach, that is what he did. He spent those two years preaching and teaching and there was no restriction on his visitors.

It can be amazing to see how God works. The Christians at Rome needed teaching and the people of Rome needed the gospel. Paul had the courage to go there not knowing what was going to happen. The result? Paul spent two years, with police protection, in his own rented home preaching and teaching to whoever would come to his home.

Who knows how God will work? He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we ask or think. God can do the same kind of thing for us that he did for Paul if we will trust Him.

For this reason

For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” – Acts 28.20

Paul finally got to Rome. He was bound in chains. He was under arrest, but he had the chance to speak to the elders there.

Everyone must have thought that Paul was in Rome for his trial. They saw his guards and his chains and surely had heard the stories. There was no question why Paul was there.

But he told the elders why he was there. There was no doubt in his mind. He was there and he called for the leaders to him so he could talk to them about the ‘hope of Israel.’

We might wonder about the wisdom about being to upfront and honest – but he had a purpose he had had in mind for a long time. He had to witness to the Jewish elders. After all he had made the trip knowing he was putting his life at risk. Who knew when there might be a chance to witness to the Jews there. Nothing could happen to him yet, because he had an appointment with the Roman authorities after all.

The point is though that Paul had done all he could do to get to Rome with the goal in mind of preaching Jesus. I think sometimes that our desire to preach Jesus is not among the great priorities about why we go places and why we do things. When we are making major life decisions we ought to always consider how it will impact our chance to serve the Lord.

We found brethren there

And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. – Acts 28.12-15

The trip to Rome was rough to say the list. The suffered calm seas where they could not move, storm, illness, lack of food, a shipwreck, and even a snake bite for Paul. They finally landed on the Italian peninsula and began their journey and passed through several towns. One day they cam to the town of Puteoli. There they found a wonderful blessing and surprise – ‘there we found brethren’ Paul writes.

Those words really touch my heart. I love the feeling when you are somewhere, anywhere, and you come across ‘the brethren.’ It may be a group of believers or maybe only one or two but it is always a joy in the dark world we live in.

We have not travelled a lot, but when we do the greatest joy is to find believers where we go. Have you ever been somewhere and meet someone and just ‘know’ that they were ‘brethren? I love it when that happens, I love it when there is just something about the family of God that we can often recognise each other. We we at one of the magnificent viewing points in the Wicklow Mountains one day when we saw a family coming up the hill. There was something about them, we chatted for a moment, and asked are you all Christians? They were and said they were going to ask the same. I was passing by a bus stop in Naas one day and a couple asked a question about the bus service. As we chatted that wife said ‘you’re a Christian, aren’t you?’ Mary was looking for cupcake papers in the supermarket one day and asked a worker from Poland where they were. His English was broken and he tried to help but suddenly said to Mary ‘you Christian?’ He eventually became a part of our church and we still have contact though they have moved way.

There is something about the family God. I can’t explain it – but one of the great joy of the family life is recognising another. I can’t imagine the joy Paul  and and other felt when they found these Christians after all they had been through. They stayed and fellowshipped for a whole week before they resumed their journey.

There is nothing quite like ‘finding brethren there.’

Almost persuaded

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Almost thou 
persuades me to be a Christian.”

And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” – Acts 26.28-32

Agrippa was amazed at Paul’s challenge. He was even convicted. He said the terribly sad words ‘almost you persuade me to become a Christian.’ That little world ‘almost’ in that context must be one of the saddest words I have ever read. Almost is where so many people live today that I have shared the gospel with. I have seen far too many get to the ‘almost’ but not go any further and is break my heart.

I could try to wax eloquent but waxing eloquent is not my strong point. Instead let me just share the words that P.P. Bliss wrote some 150 years ago:

“Almost persuaded,” now to believe;

“Almost persuaded,” Christ to receive;

Seems now some soul to say,

“Go, Spirit, go Thy way,

Some more convenient day

On Thee I’ll call.”

 “Almost persuaded,” come, come today;

“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;

Jesus invites you here,

Angels are ling’ring near,

Prayers rise from hearts so dear,

O wand’rer, come.

 “Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!

“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!

“Almost” cannot avail;

“Almost” is but to fail!

Sad, sad, that bitter wail,

“Almost,” but lost.

Are there any sadder words than ‘almost, but lost?’

From darkness to light

So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ – Acts 26.15-18

Paul had no problem sharing his testimony before anyone. Here he is before Agrippa and he simply launches into testimony of how he was saved. He tells about how Jesus appeared to him and commissions him. We get a little more detail that what Luke told us earlier.

There is a lot there, but there is a phrase that sticks out to me. He says that part of his commission was to turn people from darkness into light.

There is not much of a greater contrast than darkness and light. John tells us about the darkness of the world. I think it is obvious to us today that we still live in a world of terrible heavy darkness.

And here we are. We are to carry the Light of the world into the darkness. We are to shine as lights in the darkness. Just as Jesus sent Paul into the world to turn the world from darkness to light so He send us to do the same in our world of darkness.

What are we doing to make this dark world light? One thing is true – the darker the dark the more we can shine. How do we walk as lights in this world? We just keep loving God and loving others with all of our being. We share our faith and we love and we meet needs. We point others to light by our words and our works.

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

To Caesar

So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!” – Acts 25.12

Paul was really compelled to go to Rome. He would do anything to get there. After a series of trials and interviews with Felix and Festus and Agrippa they could find nothing to convict him. The charges were still out there, but they had no proof, so they were all ready to let him go.

But Paul was a Roman citizen. He wanted to have his record completely cleared. He could have walked free, but he also had the right to appeal his case to Caesar.

And is he went to Caesar he could carry the gospel to Rome. Not long before this Paul had said ‘I must go to Rome’ and here was his chance. What amazes me is the depth of his desire to carry out God’s work. He could have stayed where he was, free to walk the streets and to travel and preach.

He had to go to Rome though. He had to open Europe to the gospel so instead of walking free he demanded to go to Rome for certain imprisonment and uncertain results in the long run.

I am not sure I would have the courage to do that. I think I might take the relatively safe and expedient option and maybe try to get to Rome later.

How willing are we to just follow God’s leadership and trust Him with the results.

A more convenient time

Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.
But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favour, left Paul bound. – Acts 24.25-27

Paul faithfully shared the gospel with Governor Felix. We reasoned with Felix about righteousness and self-control and of God’s judgement.When he did that Felix became afraid sent Paul away – ‘I will call you back at some more convenient time.’

Those are sad words to hear from someone who needs to be saved. They are the words we probably hear most often as we share our faith. People get afraid when the Holy Spirit works on their hearts and they realise the enormity of the truth of the gospel.

‘Come talk to me again Paul.’

Now, we find out that there was an ulterior motive here. Felix was hoping for a bribe from Paul. He was hoping for money for his own pockets.

The thing is though, no matter what Felix’s motives, for two more years Paul had the chance to share with Felix. Paul knew he wasn’t he wasn’t going to pay the bribe. He did know that every time they spoke Felix was going to hear the gospel.

Did Felix get saved? We don’t know. We know he left him bound because he feared the Jews. For two years years though Paul had an ongoing witness. Felix knew that a prophet had been with him. He knew the gospel. Paul did his job no matter what Felix’s motivation.

Without offence

This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offence toward God and men. – Acts 24.16

What a  simple phrase that is – without offence toward God and man. Paul said of himself that he strove always to have a conscience that he was free from any offence. He did not want to offend God or man in word or action or attitude. He had an important task to achieve. If the gospel caused offence, as it surely would, so be it. But he could not cause offence.

We live in an age where an offence almost seems like something to strive for. I think social media has a lot of positives, but in things like things its anonymity seems to bring out the worst in people. There is a ‘gotcha’ attitude where people who are possibly very kind and polite and non-offensive in person are rough and tough and vitriolic on Facebook. People, even some Christians, seem determined to cause an offence in order to get a response and then claim persecution.

There is no place for God’s people to ever be an offence. To be an offence toward men is by nature to offend God. We can’t show love for God and hatred toward others.

Sometimes our message may indeed cause an offence. No one wants to hear that they are sinners and they need to repent.

The problem is when we are the problem and we cause an offence just by being a jerk

My brethren, this things ought not so to be.

I have hope

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. – Acts 24.14-15


Paul could not help but share the gospel – no matter who he talked to. Called to testify and defend himself before Felix the first thing he did was to share his testimony and talk about Jesus. He admitted straight away ‘I worship the God of my fathers according to the people called ‘The Way.’ These were believers who followed Christ. He said that Jesus was the Messiah foretold by the prophets. He boldly proclaimed his faith even when he was on trial for blasphemy. The main charge was that he preached about the resurrection. If there is a resurrection and Jesus was truly raised from the dead than Jesus claims of being Messiah would be true and the religious leaders would lose their power and influence.

He applied that when he said ‘I have hope in God that one day there will be a resurrection of the dead. Paul knew that his life consisted of more than just the here and the now. Because there is a resurrection there is an eternity.

Hope is a wonderful word. In this troubled world no matter what we face today we still have hope for the future. We have hope because death has lost its victory and the grave has lost its sting. Our hope should give us the same confidence Paul had to share his faith no matter what.

Paul's nephew

So when Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.” – Acts 23.16-18

I love this little story. It shows the importance of ‘nobodies’ doing ‘little things’ that impact the world in mighty ways. The ‘nobody’ here is Paul’s nephew who who have plan by a Jewish mob to ambush the officials and carry out their own form of justice on him. It was something like a modern day lynch mob. They hated that Paul had legal protection so they wanted to take things into their own hands.

But Paul’s unnamed nephew heard about the mob. He went to Paul and told him and then Paul sent him on to the captain of the guard so they would be able to protect Paul from the mob.

That doesn’t seem like much, does it? This wasn’t a huge thing done by a well known hero. It was a simple task by an unknown young man.

The important thing though is that this young man got involved and did the right thing. Because he did Paul would eventually make it to Rome and preach the gospel at the the population centre of the western would and from there it would be spread to the rest of the world.

It’s the little things that sometimes have the greatest impact. Paul’s nephew had the courage to do right, and God used that as part of His plan to carry the gospel to Rome.

Don't speak evil

Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God's high priest?”
Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ” – Acts 23.1-5

Paul was called before the Jewish council to answer the charges against him. As he began his defence claiming innocence the high priest struck him on the mouth.

Paul responded in anger – ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You claim to judge me by the Law and break the Law yourself!’

The response was immediate – ‘you can’t talk that way to a high priest!’

And how did Paul respond? Did he get angry and try to defend himself? Did he insist on his rights? Did he put it on Facebook that he was being treated unfairly?

‘I did not know he was a high priest. It is written down that you should not speak evil of your human rulers.’ In essence Paul apologised for his words.

How different is that from what we see Christians doing today? It seems like it is a must that God’s people join the trend of speaking evil of leaders they don’t like or disagree with. All this despite injunctions that we ‘speak evil of no man’ and ‘honour the king’ and ‘submit yourselves to authorities.’ We can speak evil of our human leaders with what borders on pride and arrogance and without apology. Some seem to revel in their evil speaking.

My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Support the weak

I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” – Acts 20.35

Paul’s last words in his last address to the Ephesians are interesting. There are all kinds of things he might have said like ‘fight the good fight’ or ‘stay faithful’ or ‘don’t quit.’ Any of those would have been great advice.

Instead though Paul said ‘Support the weak’ and ‘it is more blessed to give than receive.’ His last words stressed the importance of caring for others.

That is something I hardly ever heard about for most of my Christian life. It seems like some folks confused is with the ‘social gospel’ which de-emphasised the gospel of salvation only through Christ and replaced it with social good works. Than confusion meant a lot of times we just forgot about caring for the poor and weak and giving to the needy.

The thing is that the two go hand in hand. We care for the weak by sharing the gospel and by meeting their needs and supporting them and giving to meet their needs. We don’t pick one or the other – we do both. That’s why Paul included it in his challenge.

I am still learning and trying to apply the lessons of giving today. May God give me more wisdom in this new year.

Take heed

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. – Acts 20.28-31

Take heed. Beware. Don’t let down your guard. Be sober. Be vigilant. Walk circumspectly. Don’t be deceived. Search the scriptures.

These warnings and others are notice of how important it is to be careful in our daily walk.

Paul is in the middle of his farewell address to the Ephesians. He loves these people and simply cannot leave without warning them of the future. But his warnings are not just for them. We still face what he calls ravenous wolves and the bad thing is that the ones he warns about are wolves that come from among us.

It is clear that Paul is warning about false teachers who creep into the church. Paul warns about them. Peter warns about them. Jude warns about them. They creep into the church under the guise of caring. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

What to we do? We watch. We examine. We don’t take what teachers say for granted. We are to be good Bereans who search the scriptures to make sure teachers are teaching the truth.

None of these things moved me

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. – Acts 20.22-24

Paul didn’t have it easy in his ministry. He never did and he knew it never would. He knew that as he prepared to go to Jerusalem chains and trials and tribulations awaited him. He would not, however be put off by those dangers.

None of these move me. I will not be dissuaded. What happens to me is not important. I want to finish life’s race with joy and complete the ministry God gave me – to testify of the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul had already decided that he was going to do what God wanted him to do. He didn’t have to wait to decide he was going to do. He was not going to be deterred from sharing the gospel. That was his purpose in life. That was the race that was set before him. It was the ministry he had to pursue.

I have to ask myself what moves me from sharing my faith. I’m afraid that there are times that the only thing is takes to move me is a fear of being rejected.

Sharing the gospel is why Paul lived. What about Roger?

I kept nothing back

And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, - Acts 20.18-20

Paul’s closing address to the church at Ephesus is one of the most moving and powerful messages in all of scripture. It still almost moves me to tears as I read about Paul leaving a group of people he loves. He knew he might never see them again. I remember leaving a couple of ministries and how hard it was to say goodbye.

Paul challenges me here as he does so often. In all the time he spent with the Ephesians he could boldly say ‘I held nothing back from you.’

It challenges me to read these words. It can be challenging sometimes to preach the ‘whole counsel of God’ because of fear of men. We can be tempted to temper our words so we don’t offend our friends or antagonise our enemies. It is not always easy just to preach and let the chips fall where they may.

I think I preacher I heard recently nails it when he says ‘I can no longer try to apologise for the word of God.’

Nobody could ever accuse Paul of not warning them or talking about their sin or things they needed to do because he held nothing back when he preached. He did not make excuses for the word of God – he just preached it.

We can’t decide what parts of the Bible to preach and where to hold back. We must preach the full counsel of God and trust Him with the results. Its His words, after all, not ours. We should never seek to offend with our words or attitudes or actions – we simply preach God’s word and let it do its own work in the hearts of people.

I need to go to Rome

When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time. – Acts 19.21-22

Paul never ceases to amaze me. You could not hold Him down. No matter what happened Paul had to go on, had to keep sharing, and had to spears out with is preaching. He had preached to his Jerusalem and his Judea and his Samaria but now he had to reach out to the uttermost parts of the world. Here he had just come back from Macedonia and Jerusalem. But he had another goal in mind – ‘I must also see Rome.’

It made sense. Rome was THE city. Roughly one million people lived there. It was the centre of culture and society. If there was going to be a real impact on the Roman Empire it had to begin in the heartland – in Rome itself. If the gospel was going to impact the masses it had to go to Rome. God reaches out to ‘the one’ but He also reaches out to the multitude.

So it was to Rome that Paul must go. He had to the take the gospel there. At this stage Paul didn’t know how it was going to happen but he knew he had to go. If he could have an impact in Rome people would be saved and then they could carry the gospel as they traveled to the rest of the Empire.

Paul had a view of world missions that few, if any, have ever had. We are entering a new year today. May God allow us to have our eyes opened to the need of the gospel to the ‘ones’ we encounter every day but also to the masses. We may not be called to go to ‘Rome’ but we need to be driven to go where God leads us.