NT Framework - Reason to Speak

While there is a new Heaven in our future, there is also a place of eternal separation from God and of suffering; with this in mind, does it motivate you to reach out to those you interact with?

More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com 

This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).

Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner. 

Transcript

Framing The Urgency

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament framework. Today, a smaller, bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.

Resurrection As Evangelism’s Engine

Mars Hill And A Call To Repent

SPEAKER_02 0:10

As if we needed to say this, but this should be probably majored on. The resurrection is an incentive to evangelize others. It's an incentive to evangelism. Why is it an incentive to evangelism? Because the first point here, if the first piece of the new heavens and new earth is already in place, that is the resurrected Christ, then guess what? There really is no time left. I mean, he's already complete. People need to get right with God now. Acts 17, let's look at this one when Paul was at Athens, invited to speak on Mars Hill before the philosophers of the day, to explain what he was talking about in the marketplace, about Jesus and the resurrection. They said, We want to know about these things. As he gave this address, he gets close to the end of it when they kind of cut him off. And in verse 30, therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now this is the time previous to the cross. This is when God was basically working with Israel. Israel was to be a light to the world. But as far as the Gentiles were concerned, they were just in ignorance. God is now, that is post-cross, right, declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent. Now, does that include everybody? All men everywhere?

SPEAKER_01 1:25

Yeah, it includes people in every continent, every nation, every tribe, every tongue. They should all do what? Repent. Have a change of mind. Well, about what?

A Fixed Day Of Judgment

SPEAKER_02 1:39

Well, uh, about the ultimate order of things and who's at the center of it all. They need to get right with God. They need a change of mind about God, about Christ, and what's going on. Therefore, verse 31. Because, here's the reason. Why do they need to get right with God now? Because he has fixed a day in which he will judge the world.

SPEAKER_01 2:03

Remember this diagram? Do you see right where he's going to judge the world depicted on this diagram? At that point, there's no turning back. There's no switching sides. I mean, that is a scary point to think about.

SPEAKER_02 2:21

And Paul is very clear that, hey, this day when he's going to judge is fixed. And he's going to judge it in righteousness through a man whom he's appointed, having furnished proof to all men by doing what? Raising him from the dead. In other words, he's a perfect human. So there's not going to be any funny business going on in the courts. You're going to have to stand before him. It's going to be a perfectly a perfect justice will be implemented at that moment. And if you haven't repented and gotten right with God through the finished work of Christ, then you're in big trouble.

SPEAKER_01 3:03

Like forever. Trouble. The biggest kind of trouble you could ever be in. And that's why Paul is so what I call busy.

SPEAKER_02 3:15

I mean, have you traced his life? Have you just kind of studied his life? Turn to 2 Corinthians 11.

SPEAKER_01 3:20

If you just follow this guy, you're exhausted following him. You're like, I I gotta quit, man. Stop. Slow down.

SPEAKER_02 3:31

2 Corinthians, look at this guy. Why is this guy so busy? 2 Corinthians 11, I believe it's verse 22.

Paul’s Relentless Ministry Cost

SPEAKER_01 3:39

I got the wrong verse here. 1122. Did I say 2 Corinthians? 2 Corinthians 11, 22. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites?

SPEAKER_02 3:57

So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I speak as if insane. I'm more so. Okay. More so a servant of Christ, he says. In far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number.

SPEAKER_01 4:11

Now, how many times have you been beaten? I haven't either. We're on the same boat here. Often in danger of death.

SPEAKER_02 4:20

How many times have you often been in danger of death for the gospel? Five times I received from the Jews 39 lashes.

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Five times. Three times I was beaten with rods. That would be about the Romans, Fassies, right?

SPEAKER_02 4:37

From ancient fascism. Once I was stoned, remember that occasion in Lystraits and Acts? Guess what he did after he got stoned? They said they thought he was dead.

SPEAKER_01 4:46

He got up and he went back in the city. Okay. Is that what you would do? Three times I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I spent in the deep. How many nights did you spend in the deep?

SPEAKER_02 5:04

I've been on frequent journeys in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, the Jews, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea. You're like, where are you gonna go? There's no danger, Paul. It's like the guy was looking for trouble everywhere he went, right? Why? Because he wouldn't stop. He would not stop preaching the gospel to people.

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Why? Why was he like this? This is why. He realized this.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

Every person is either going to spend everlasting punishment in evil or everlasting life in heaven. And he loved people that much. He realized, you know, the rest of it really doesn't matter. I mean, you're basically here for one decision in your life. And you basically get three score and ten to make it, right?

SPEAKER_01 5:56

And that decision is do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or not? If not, everlasting separation from God. If yes, everlasting life with God.

Why Paul Wouldn’t Stop

Eternal Stakes, Present Decision

SPEAKER_02 6:07

I mean, it's Paul realized that. And that's why, you know, you can keep going there, right there in verse 26. Dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren. I've been in labor and hardships through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food and cold and exposure, apart from such external things. In other words, he's saying that's all just the bodily stuff. That might affect your physical body. He says, on top of that, he says, there's the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. This is the psychological side of it, the emotional side of it. Who is weak without my being weak? In other words, I empathize with people. And that is, is that heavy? Does that weigh on you? Oh, yeah. And we all know it when somebody dies in the family or something like that. All of a sudden we're just wrecked. Physically, we're exhausted because we're emotionally and psychologically disasters, right? We're exhausted. He says, Who is led into sin without my intense concern? Not just concern, but intense concern. You think Paul knew of people's sin problems? Sure, he did. And was he concerned about it? Yeah, he wasn't like, well, that's just their problem. They can deal with that. No, he had his own intense concern, was wrapped up in their lives. If I have to boast, he says, I'll boast what pertains to my weakness, and he goes on. But the point is that this man was so urgent in his gospel proclamation. And the reason is because he realized what the resurrection of Christ meant. It meant that it's over, okay? It's over. Time, there's no more time. People have to get right with God now. And so he went to reach as many people as he possibly could.

SPEAKER_00 7:51

Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas. If you would like to see the visuals that went along with today's sermon, you can find those on Rumble and on YouTube under Spokane Bible Church. That is where Jeremy is the pastor and teacher. We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in growing closer to God and walking more obediently with Him. If you found this podcast to be useful and helpful, then please consider rating us in your favorite podcast app. And until next time, we hope you have a blessed and wonderful day.