Repentance vs Retaliation (Part C)

His divine power has given you all things that pertain to life what you reject as a Christian and he's talking about behavior, talking about approaching life living through life.

I think those guys still mess you up anyway. I noticed stands out to me. I'm passionate about this because I live in a time with the stuff is crept into the church and taken hold of believers. I don't question your salvation on the question their belief in Jesus Christ. I question your judgment. All when it comes to this. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of acts.

Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick in acts chapter 5 with the conclusion of his message called repentance versus retaliation verse 37 and this man Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the senses and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. Well, Judas and Judas of Galilee, not Judas Iscariot of you know Sherry, but Judas of Galilee as this one. They both resisted Roman authority and yeah Rome had ruled in Jerusalem. They conquered the land so yeah they were all of the car either assassins are all these groups that work looking to break free. These guerrilla groups.

The senses that spoken here is not the one in Luke chapter 2 later when Judah was becoming when the Romans came in and they begin to divide up the land to put governors there they would conduct the senses to figure out how many people they wanted to tax the Roman government and this this would excite riots in these zealous Jews and you can understand they felt. This is God's money went to paying at the Romans. The whole thing when he said, is it lawful to pay taxes in Jesus's will, whose inscription is on that was image and those you give to Caesar what belongs to him. Give God what belongs to him. God is still saying that whose image is stamped on you take that give it to God or give it to Caesar. Figure it out.

Well anyway, this that's what Gamal it would be Molly. I was talking about, and they're all nodding their heads in listening to him because when he speaks, people listen they feuded his treason to pay taxes they submitted, many of them, but the rebels. These two mentioned the distant Judas of Galilee, they did not they rebelled against it and and Rome put them down. Well, the big difference between Christ and those men is that the apostles are serving someone who's already dead and risen again. Those guys died and that was it Christ is alive and his movement is continuing on, so with those other two, their followers abandon them and there were other such characters at that time. Ultimately, this rebellious attitude will cause the Roman armies to completely wipe out Jerusalem is the structure and killed countless people. Verse 38 now I said, you keep away from these men and let them alone for if this plan for this work is of men. It will come to nothing. Verse 39 but if it is of God. You cannot overthrow it less. You even be found to fight against God. So someone's not receive Jesus Christ continue can can can say the right things but it still is not foreign office like of you could be the grand greatest women in the world of all the foreman speed but if you fall overboard, and you don't make it to a safe place you die you and make it and that's the case with people like Amalia, they can have great insight they can borrow wisdom, but they can identify God and that's what it comes down to is the difference between someone like Lazarus who was a beggar and the angels took him to the bosom of Abraham. This is Bible language goals have a greater meaning to that of course versus the rich man who died and went to hell. So this is true is true enough, and God is found enough of what he needs on that counsel we knew was coming.

Of course, to use it to save the lives of his apostles was still one must confess Jesus was crucified, risen, and is Lord, to be saved in any fight against God is a fight against your own good. That is true of an unbeliever or or a believer. This is in their own Scripture Isaiah 45 verse nine woe to him who strives with his maker for that is true. We have to learn that we that's why we submit. That's why we say, not my will be done, but your will be done. If your final responses to Christ justice pragmatic of word of wisdom, but no confession. I mean, I have spoken with people who have agreed together by was a good booking you know I can't refute these things, but they wouldn't take the step into Christianity, they would not repent at least one last I checked with them ones I have in mind decades ago, but people still doing this.

Maybe you know folks like this.

If you die with just a pragmatic view of Christ and you die and unpardonable sin will be too late for you and Jesus made it clear that it is not possible to be neutral when it comes to him.

Matthew chapter 12 verse 30.

He who is not with me is against me and he who does not gather with me scatters abroad, I think is just perfect.

Very clear.

You cannot be moved. Well Janita for Jesus or against and within your against him. According to him. I remember the unbelievers. They don't know this and some once they do not the still going to rebel, but others may repent and be saved.

Verse 40 and they agree with him, and when they had called for the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go well again, useful successful in God's hands still spiritually shortsighted and when they had called for the 12 for the apostles, and beaten them.

There's the resentment just couldn't let them go. That wasn't enough, they were bitter because again, remember what Peter open them up with you guys crucified.

You murdered him. He will not want to treat you guys are foul because what Peter was saying to them, you are so messed up what I do what can I do is you who they were there. They beat them probably would leather whips 40 blows each that would be according to the law.

Deuteronomy 25, 340 blows.

He may give him, and no more. This he should exceed this, and beat him with many blows above these in your brother be humiliated in your site well have these apostles been conformist instead of profits they could dodge the speeding investor same for you and me if we just conform to the culture we just lose our identity and begin to identify with them and begin to go around the cultures and what else can I do for you. How else can I be like you instead of being distinct that we can avoid criticisms and markings and beatings, but that's not our assignment, the apostles, this is an interesting thought they did signs and wonders feelings great miracles. Yet here they are beaten and they don't heal themselves of their own wounds because it's not magic. That's why because they had not tapped into some mysterious power in the universe for their own use. They were God's subjects and there is no other way around being his subject, and they're good with this. In fact there boasting in a righteous way continues here in verse 40, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.

This is the third time that they've said this to them. Third times a charm.

Not for you at this time. The world is aggressive and frightened right now in our lifetime, aggressively reenacting this great sin today. This is a grand sin. We don't want to hear the name of Jesus to bet that's the apostles response forbidding the name of Jesus to be spoken at graduation ceremonies telling chaplains. You can't say this in Jesus name I mean China just sensor you can say Satan you can say Mohammed, you can say anybody else not Jesus will why is he distinct because he is. That's why there's no other name given under heaven. Among no other name, and though they may not realize it. Satan is the one this trembling behind the scenes. If someone is advocating the censorship of the name of Christ, a never ending curse awaits those who plotted who advocated for this or are neutral in his presence. I don't say that on my own authority.

That's why we read Scripture verses Romans chapter 1 verse 18 the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. You know that unborn child murdering center that says what you can you know preach the gospel around us.

This this suppressing the truth.

You can't tell the truth about them. Satan has no new moves role, but there are very effective. He doesn't need any new ones. People keep falling into the old ones work as a dish conch look as a ditch concrete just keeps keeps going. If by this man, Jesus the sins of sinners are forever removed what penalty awaits those who withhold his name, who withhold the solution.

This is what we have to tell the world what you have against Christ. By the way, what is it that irks you about Christ that he does not condone perversity of any kind I mean are various kinds of perversity stealing is a perversity something is twisted. It doesn't belong is not right. Lying is a perversity of holiness of purity and the list just goes on what what exactly about Jesus Christ.

Do you not like because of you know I can now you wait until you stand in judgment, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth that his sorrow and anger mixed together.

Acts chapter 13 verse 38 through this man is preached to you, the forgiveness of sins. What happens at this man is not breached and since can't get forgiven that were not getting first John two verse 12, your sins are forgiven you for his namesake or that's the name they don't want to hear. I love praying in Jesus name I don't want anybody to be unclear it's Jesus Christ that's how I get to God. Jesus is God the son, and there is no other name by which we are saved, and I don't want to be vague about the apostles will not conform to this again.

Ultimately, they will escape the scourge of the Jews and be scourged by the Gentiles.

In fact, as far as we can discern are they will be scourged by Rome to death of most of verse 41, so they departed from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name while they would need wound care on not being funny about that.

They were beaten and this wasn't in all smacks on the hand, then these guys hated them the with the Beatles and beat them, hated them and they were let go easy on this one.

There was none of that the apostles would now come to expect injustice from these antichrist that wasn't a surprise at this point is more coming. It gets juicier. I think this is what I mean by we come. You know when we when I prepare a message.

I'm looking for God what you want me to say I don't what to say have a nice day of the same thing undertook to when you come to sit. God what he have a saying I think there's a lot here where it says here in verse 41, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name that they're behaving as though they have just been decorated from our you would think someone or just put the Congressional medal of honor around their necks rejoicing. Thank you Lord had they viewed themselves as victims, which we are quick to do that would've been the end of their bright ministry. Had they gone you know all limping away. This was not fair is right. They were thinking about what was done to them. They were thinking about Christ the grace they received from him.

They had to be thinking as we do, how would I behave if I was faced with severe persecution. If someone told me I had to learn to do this or get fired if I if someone told me that I have to put a pinch of incense on the altar of Caesar or be killed.

What would I do will looking at it. This is a young man you little naïve you all.

I'll take my beating you hooks you don't know what is or is not in you and you don't have to which you have to know is what's in Christ and he is the one that gives the gift of martyrdom. First Peter chapter 4 member peters one that really got everybody the beating and none of the apostles St. Peter not now shut up restraint. If you hold back are you doing it again.

None of their like yeah this is us. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange things happen to you. First Peter chapter 4 verse 12. He's writing that first letter to Peter is to persecuted believers anything.

I've been there. I'll be there again in that whole section. First Peter 412 to 16 this is worth reading. God does not give this kind of courage until we needed and that's why when you read about others facing persecution today or in history. You save yourself but what I do all of you belong to Christ is what will he do what he will do is give you the courage.

Why isn't this book of acts mandatory reading for all Christians noticed that they did not need counseling or therapy to get through this. I'm serious. I reject every any connection I've you might as well mix the profits of bowel, with the with the temple of Jehovah. If you go I reject everything that has to do with behavioral psychology pop psychology, therapeutic psychology, my Bible gives it all to me on how I should behave. I just got a face, and if if the believers in Scripture die and are killed, believing God the why would I be surprised if I got a fight for courage to face life and because people are saying this because of saying the opposite. People are responding to that suggest Dino subliminal suggestion. I guess you know that his flesh it out yeah you should get therapy okay again were you having someone out is saying to you. You need that his divine power has given to you. All things that pertain to life now. What part of that you reject as a Christian and is talking about behavior is talking about approaching life living through life. I think those guys mess you up.

Anyway, I noticed stands out to me. I'm passionate about this because I live in a time of the stuff is crept into the church and taken hold of believers. I don't question your salvation on the question their belief in Jesus Christ. I question your judgment. All when it comes to this probably question my judgment as to hair products but that's fair. God's servants have a history of allowing God to let them suffer because God has a history of letting us suffer skull submission surrender to this, we accept this blessed or stress, blessed be the name of the Lord. That's what we say just may we be blameless in the process. Verse 42 and daily in the temple in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as Christ will have to go back to one of the point about the psychology don't take it up in school, I mean take up knitting horseshoe throwing anything else. But don't take that up this this school of thought was created by men that hated Jesus Christ. Freud mas live young. Those guys were in love with Jesus Christ. They resented that people would go to the church and say how shall I thus live just get that out every night and I have to say that because I don't want someone coming to the church, not understanding this is what is preached here and then find out. Five months later you want to try to be upfront, but not be a cruel and hard and in so if you know if you're struggling with my doors open and certainly talk to you about it to help you through it but I don't want to be miss leading on such a subject and I'm not going to give case studies either, though I have a ton of them. Verse 42 and daily in the temple, and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ 2000 years later the Jewish Sanhedrin is gone. But these men are not and were looking at what they did what they said as though the hand of God was on each one of them because it was scholars pour over their writings, but the Sanhedrin marginalized. There was a reformer who belonged to a school of Christian thought that not my school, but he still a believer and he said it is truly this is written in the days of John Calvin and the reformations and France, Switzerland, is truly the lot of the church of God, for which I speak to endure blows and not to strike them, but may it please you to remember that it is an envelope which has worn out many hammers on. That's what we're reading here hammers of the seller of this Sanhedrin is worn out on the envelope Christian testimony. They did not cease teaching and preaching. Amen.

Could shut them up. Otherwise, the serpent harnesses dollars. In some cases you have to move on. We covered this, but in this case they were not to stop preaching is the proclamation of God's provision for salvation. That is the Greek word used here for preaching. Look at the teaching in a minute preaching, therefore, is for the unconverted, essentially, those are the ones that get preached to converts no longer need preaching.

So if you go to church every Sunday morning is of message about the gospel you are being starved to death. You not being nerd and are nourished, and I think it's a mistake I don't agree with that, I should say we now others do it that's on them. But this is one reason why we don't do it here. We need teaching Hebrew.

Six therefore leaving the discussion of elementary principles of Christ that would include salvation. It doesn't reduce the gospel at all. Let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God of the doctrine of baptism laying on of hands resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment for sensitive to the Hebrew Christians today to mature in your knowledge of Christ, you need Bible teaching and so instead of teaching the church to maturity.

Too many are preaching the church to death, telling them what they already know over and over again witness of the church includes both teaching and preaching and it discerns when it has to do one or the other. This word that I mentioned translated preach gives us our English word evangelism or evangelists it means to announce the good news. How beautiful on the mountains of the feet of those who bring good news and that is the exact meaning to tell the gospel of Jesus Christ. A short walk to first Corinthians chapter 15 first aid versus lay it all out for us. Conversion comes through preaching of the gospel, but growth comes through the teaching of the word and when you have smarter Christians you have more effective Christians first him a second Timothy two, Paul writes to the past races and the things that you have heard from me, and among many witnesses commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

The emphasis is clear from the days of Christ on through the revelation and it is quite presumptuous to think as a Christian that you do not need to be taught regularly and re-taught, requalified, it is this process once you imagine if you had a pastor that just thought he knew it all and just you know didn't apply himself didn't care what other people had to say. You would not applaud that. I hope what why would the pastor upon the congregation fell down when only the word of God. We just Christians.

Now you say, what does that well this is a practice is not articulated what goes on. Nonetheless, it is also stifling to suppose that the saints must depend upon the pastor on Sunday mornings to save souls. That's why you're taught to go into the world and make disciples, and you make them by converting them and bringing them into this preaching and teaching process and the cycle continues.

Now Christians have done this without me often thinking it through, and just done it because they are led by the spirit of God.

So the last point that he makes is Jesus as Christ. They did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as Christ in the data from house to house the good it was no church building found out a vegan nutrition anti-gun plays we we got we better organize this more for lollapalooza this verse while writing to the Colossians he says him. We preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ.

Colossians 120 move you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry pastor Rick Astin of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

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