WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.799 Welcome to DeSoto Hills Baptist Church. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:07.200 Our Sunday morning services are weekly at 9 and 10 30 a.m. 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.359 You're listening to an audio recast of this past week's service. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:12.960 We hope you enjoy. 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:14.240 God bless. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:20.960 Acts chapter 24, verses 1 through 21 is where we will be today. 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:29.280 Today, as we look at this passage, we're going to look at the words we say, words that we say all the time. 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:31.199 Now, I said this a few weeks ago. 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:37.359 I'm not a huge proponent of the old saying, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:39.920 You know, I think words can hurt us. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:01:03.200 Now, they may not hurt us physically, like sticks and stones do, but words can definitely sting emotionally, they can sting spiritually, yet at the same time, we we must recognize that words without validity mean nothing, and so often our actions, our life brings validity to our words. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:04.640 Let me give you an example. 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:10.879 So my senior year in high school, our baseball team was supposed to be pretty good. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:13.840 Like we were we were ready, we were ready all year. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:18.159 We suffered through football season because most of the guys played both. 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:22.159 We suffered through football season looking forward to baseball season. 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:23.280 We were ready. 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:29.840 Now the general public might not know, might not have known that we were going to be good, but we did. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:32.000 We were really excited about it. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:38.079 And to add to that, they reach redrew the division lines and things like that. 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:42.239 And now North South Pontiop, South Pontiop. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:45.439 Say it with me, South Pontiac. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:49.120 All right, North Pontop is the rival. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:53.200 And while they had always had pretty good teams, they had never really played us. 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:54.400 They wouldn't play us. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:02:00.000 But this year, they redrew the division lines, and they were going to have to play us this year. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:03.519 So we were, it just added bonus, and it was on. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:23.039 And I remember that year before baseball started, I went to the Christmas parade in Pontiac and ran into some guys from North Pontiac, and they began to talk, especially one, he began to talk about how badly they were going to beat us and how how bad it was going to be. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:25.919 And I just smiled and said, We'll see. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:27.599 We'll see. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:29.919 And then we played. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:31.520 Twice. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:34.159 We beat them. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:36.080 Twice. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:46.000 See, the words that he said really didn't mean anything, didn't have anything until the actions, to what happened on the field. 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:48.319 It had to be lived out. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:03:03.759 Today, as we turn to our passage, what we're going to see is Paul is brought before the governor Felix, and the Jews begin to accuse him of things, and he's going to make a defense against those accusations. 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:05.759 It's pretty simple passage. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:09.120 They're going to talk, he's going to talk, and we're going to see that. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:27.599 And while we, what I hope that we see in this is while the words that we use are important, we must be careful of what we say and how we say, but at the same time, our lives and our actions provide validity to the words. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:31.759 They back up the words that we use. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:38.879 And so as we go through and and we listen, we've got to walk the walk and talk the talk. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:40.960 It requires both. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:44.159 And both of those things need to work together. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:54.319 And so the challenge for us is this: to believe in Jesus and to live in the resurrection of Jesus. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:04:00.719 To live in the fact that he is resurrected and gives life to us. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:10.400 And so today we're going to look at what was said, what Paul was accused of, and his defense as we study our passage today. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:16.319 So if you're able, I invite you to stand with me as we read God's word together in Acts chapter 24. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:18.800 We're going to start reading in verse 1. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:30.319 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and spokesmen, one Tertullus. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:48.240 They laid before the governor their case against Paul, and when he had been summoned, Tertullus gave began to accuse him, saying, Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:52.800 In every way and everywhere we accept this with gratitude. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:58.319 But to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:07.839 We have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazaren. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:11.839 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:19.680 By examining him yourself, you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:25.040 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:35.600 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied, Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defence. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:49.600 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:56.240 Neither can they prove to you that they now bring bring that what they now bring up against me. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:16.000 But this I confess to you, that according to the way which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law and written in the prophets, having a hope in God which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:21.680 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:27.040 Now for several years I came to bring alms to my nation to present offerings. 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:32.079 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple without any crowd or tumult. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:38.879 But some Jews from Asia, they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, should they have any against me. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:49.680 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:57.839 It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:59.199 Let's pray together. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:00.879 God, thank you. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:02.639 Thank you for your word. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:05.759 Thank you for the opportunity to open your word. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:10.240 God, thank you that you have revealed yourself to us through your word. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.600 Now help us today to see you. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:15.839 Jesus, it's in your name we pray. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:16.720 Amen. 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:24.240 So quickly, let's kind of remember kind of where we are and what's happening here in this passage. 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:27.920 What we've seen going back is Paul came to Jerusalem. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:31.759 When he came to Jerusalem, he met with the elders of the church there. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:37.680 They wanted him to go through a purification ceremony with some other guys who were going through. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:38.720 So he did. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:51.040 When it came close to the end of the week of purification, some Jews from Asia came to Paul and they accused him of taking Greeks into the temple, taking Romans into the temple. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:55.920 And so what they did is they came out and there was a riot caused, and they began to beat Paul. 00:07:56.079 --> 00:08:03.439 And the tribune from Jerusalem, Lysias is his name, came and he saved Paul out of that, took Paul for questioning. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:05.199 And there was this huge riot. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:07.600 Paul addressed the crowd, another riot. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:11.519 The next day he took him before the Sanhedrin, a riot there. 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:13.600 They're going after Paul. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:17.279 And then Lysias finds out that there is an attempt there. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:20.720 There are some people conspiring to murder Paul. 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:22.240 So he sends Paul. 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:27.839 He sent Paul to Caesarea to the governor of the province. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:29.439 His name is Felix. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:37.039 What we come to today is we find Paul and his accusers before this governor, Felix. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:42.159 And so we're going to see, we're going to look at what the Jews said, and then we're going to look at what Paul said. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:44.000 Let's start with the Jews, okay? 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.879 The Jews began with flattery. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.080 You know the old saying, flattery will get you nowhere. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:52.320 Well, Tertullus did not believe that. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:09:01.759 Tertullus was the spokesperson for the Jews, and he believed flattery would get him somewhere because he started in very quickly there with Felix. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:03.120 Look back at what he said. 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:07.440 He said, Since through you we enjoy much peace. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.320 Lie. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.559 The Jews had not enjoyed much peace through Felix. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:13.919 Not at all. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:30.080 During Felix's reign, there was more tumult and more tumultuous actions against the Jews and by the Jews during his service as governor than any other governor until the Jewish revolt at the end of the century. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:31.120 No other time. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:38.159 Jewish nationalism was on the rise, and he brutally, brutally put down any insurrection. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:41.039 There was not peace under Felix. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:46.000 Yet, let's use a little flattery, you've brought peace to us. 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:58.240 Then he goes on and says, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation in every way and everywhere. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:00.559 We accept this with gratitude. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:01.840 Wrong. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:06.960 Felix hadn't made any reforms for the Jews because basically he didn't care. 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:11.440 It wasn't that he disliked Jews, he just didn't care. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:15.200 He didn't care if he was totally apathetic to them. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:20.240 He hadn't done anything to hurt them, but he sure hadn't done anything to help them. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:22.240 He hadn't had no reforms. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:30.399 And very few Jews would you actually meet on the street that would say, most excellent Felix. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:39.919 But they began just, I guess, trying to puff Felix up so he would rule in their favor, but they started with this flattery. 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:47.120 And then moving on from there, they move into three accusations that are made against Paul. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:51.120 The first accusation is they call him a plague. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.159 Or your translation might say a pest. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:11:02.240 Well, for Paul, what they are trying to do, what they're not just insinuating, but what they are calling him is seditious. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:10.399 They are accusing him of sedition against Rome, saying that everywhere he has stirred up riots. 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:24.320 Well, if you go back to Acts chapter 21, when Paul was in the temple and this began, some men from some Jews from Asia cried out in Acts 21, 28, saying, Men of Israel help. 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:32.799 This is the man who is teaching, hear this, everyone, everywhere, against the people and the law and this place. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:37.840 Moreover, he even brings Greeks into the temple and has defiled this place. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:39.200 Again, hear that. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:42.159 Everyone, everywhere. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:44.240 He's in Jerusalem. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:51.519 But the accusation is that he is going around and he is causing riots all over the place. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:54.159 He is bringing up heaval all over the place. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:12:02.159 And hear me, while the Romans may not have cared about the Jews, let me tell you something they did care about. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.320 Pax Romana. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.559 Roman peace. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:09.600 They cared about Roman peace. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:24.799 And so if these accusers, if they can put it on Paul that he is disrupting Roman peace, what it's going to do is it's going to cause now the Roman government to keep eyes on Paul, and they're going to bring it all upon Paul, and they're going to bring this down. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:31.440 So they are accusing him of sedition against Rome, that he is trying to upset Roman peace. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:36.080 The second accusation is that he is a sect leader. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:40.080 He is leader of the sect known as the Nazarenes. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:44.000 Now, this is true. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:47.679 He is a leader of the Christians. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:51.360 He is a leader of the Christian church. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:13:00.559 Where they are failing is their attempt to define what this sect believes and what this sect is actually doing. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:03.120 Paul's going to address that in just a minute. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:07.600 But understand the craftiness behind this accusation. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:19.919 If they can get Felix to believe that Paul is a seditious person, in the first accusation. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:32.159 The second accusation that he is a leader of the Christians now would insinuate that not only is Paul seditious, so are Christians. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:54.960 And so now what he's trying to do, what they are trying to do is get Felix, get the Roman government not only to look at Paul, but to look at Christians and cause grief for Christians or more grief for Christians, more persecution for Christians, more upheaval for Christians all over not just Jerusalem, but the Roman Empire. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:05.120 So this accusation, while there's really nothing behind it, other than he is a leader, is very crafty. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:07.919 They know what they're trying to do. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:13.039 Third accusation is that he violated the temple. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:19.440 You heard it when we read in Acts chapter 21 that he had brought Greeks into the temple. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:21.759 Listen to what it says in verse 29. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.159 How they got to the place that he had brought Greeks into the temple. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:40.960 Acts 21, 29 says, For they had previously seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:44.799 Now understand the accusation. 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:51.840 Jerusalem is big. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:59.279 They were walking around Jerusalem, they saw Paul, not in the temple, around the city. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:09.759 They saw Paul with this Ephesian, with this Roman, and they assumed that he brought him into the temple. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:12.320 Or at least they made the accusation. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:16.559 Because they had seen him out in the city, he probably brought him into the temple. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:18.480 Isn't that crazy? 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.879 A crazy accusation? 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.879 And nothing behind it. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:25.679 Here's how we know there's nothing behind it. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:32.559 These Asian Jews who made the accusation back in chapter 21, they're not there. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:38.879 Now that the accusation is being brought before Felix the governor, they're nowhere to be found. 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:41.120 They're nowhere to be seen. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:53.600 If this were true, and if I were Ananias or Totollus, and I was bringing this accusation in order for anything to stand up in court, you would need an eyewitness there to see it. 00:15:53.840 --> 00:16:00.159 These guys don't even show up to make the accusation because it didn't happen. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:11.279 Yet here they are, and they had worked and they had moved and they had brought these false accusations before Felix the governor against Paul. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:14.000 So now we see what the Jews have said. 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:16.080 Let's turn to Paul. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:19.440 Let's see what Paul does. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:27.840 When you go down to verse 10, you see Paul begin to respond. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:38.320 And as we turn there, as we see, Paul begins with an opening statement pointing to Felix, the governor, but there's really no flattery. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:47.759 All he says is, You have judged this area for many years, so now you have the right to judge this. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:50.639 And Paul really does believe that. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:17:00.559 In Romans chapter 13, Paul takes a moment in Romans chapter 13 telling believers to submit to civil authorities. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:08.799 He tells them to submit to civil authorities because what he his argument is that God has put those authorities in place. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:14.319 God put them there to serve and to help. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:19.519 If you look at Romans chapter 13, verse 5 specifically, here's what Paul writes. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:22.960 He says, Therefore, one must be in subjection. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:32.799 He's talking about the civil authorities, not only to avoid God's wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.160 Now hear that. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:37.759 Not only to avoid whose wrath? 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.039 God's. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:43.119 Not the civil authorities, God's wrath. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:50.960 Paul's argument is that God has put them in place to be judges and to work and protect and to do what they do. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:18:00.559 Now, as he stands before Felix, he is believing that same thing and says, listen, you've judged, you're the judge, hear the case. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.160 Here it goes. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:09.440 So Paul then he begins to make his case of his time in Jerusalem. 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:16.640 What he says is he says, if you go and you look it up, I hadn't been there more than 12 days. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:21.039 If you go back and you count up the days, it's true. 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:26.640 The first time we see Paul coming into Jerusalem is chapter 21, verse 17. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:29.599 It says, when he had come to Jerusalem. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.759 So he's in Jerusalem that day. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:35.279 He meets with the elders, he does all these things. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:41.359 And then in verse 26, that the elders, they wanted him to go through this ceremony. 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:47.359 Verse 26, Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself. 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:49.200 So he's there two days there. 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:52.960 This purification ceremony is about seven days long. 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:55.440 So here we're looking at nine days. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.720 It's at the end of that. 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:58.799 It might not have gone the full seven days. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:02.880 It could have been six days because he says, coming towards the end. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:06.640 But right there at the end, what they do is they see Paul. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:08.240 At that point, they pull him out. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.880 They begin to beat him, take him. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:14.799 Felix arrests him, basically. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:16.559 It's taking him to the barracks. 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:18.400 He addresses the crowd. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.920 They're about to kill him. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:22.880 He takes him into the barracks the next day. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:25.839 So here we're at about day nine or ten. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:29.440 At nine or ten, and the whole time, where has he been? 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:32.160 He's been going through this purification ceremony. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:36.079 He's been meeting with the elders and spending the night in the barracks. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.000 He meets with them there. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:39.359 They try to kill him again. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:41.359 They take him back to the barracks. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:45.359 They try to kill him on the next day he is sent to Jerusalem. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:48.480 So we're at about day 10 or 11. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:52.640 So less than 12 days, he's actually in Jerusalem. 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:59.759 Listen, that is not enough time for him to build people up and build this huge riot that's going to overthrow the government. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.440 Makes no sense. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.160 It's just not enough time that he's been there. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:09.440 And in that time that he's been there, several of those days, he was under Roman arrest. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:14.480 When he wasn't under Roman arrest, he was going through this purification ceremony in the temple. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:18.799 There's not enough time for him to do any of the things that they are accusing him of. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.400 So we see him. 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:24.720 They have no proof that he has caused this riot. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:30.319 But then Paul does something super incredible. 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:37.440 It's really what Paul does anytime he is brought to make a case for himself. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:44.880 He doesn't really focus on his time that he was in Jerusalem. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:50.720 He begins to focus on his time when he walked in the way. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:54.960 When he walked in the way. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:21:05.279 If you go down and read in verse 14, but this I confess to you, that according to the way. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:13.519 So Paul is turning the attention off of himself and off of these false accusations. 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:18.240 And he begins to point to Jesus. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:24.079 He begins to point to Christ and the gospel message. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:31.839 He says in verse 14 again, but this I confess to you that according to the way which they call a sect. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.839 That they call a sect. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:38.240 Now, now a sect is like it is a split off. 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:44.400 They're calling the Christians that Paul that Paul is leading, this is a split off from Judaism. 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:48.799 They're trying to separate themselves from the Christians, the Jews are. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:52.160 They're trying to make them totally something else. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:55.839 Yet, Paul, he is adamant that it's not something else. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:59.759 John Pole Hill, one of the commentators that I read, here's what he said. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.839 About Paul's understanding. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:08.720 Said Paul would not deny his affiliation with the group, but he preferred another term. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:23.920 He preferred to be seen as a follower of the way, not a party, not a Jewish denomination, but the true, the only way of the Lord for his people. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:34.319 He was no offshoot transgender faith, but right at the center of Jewish religion. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:40.240 Paul said, listen, we are not an offshoot of Judaism. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:51.279 We are the true religion as followers of Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.960 We are not a sect. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:01.359 Because we worship the one, the true, the living God. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:14.319 He goes on in verse, and at the end of that, I worship the God of our forefathers, believing everything laid down by the law and written in the prophets. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:20.640 What Paul believed, this is the separation from Christians to Judaism. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:27.839 As Christians, we believe what the Jews believe in the Old Testament. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:33.599 What separates us is we believe that Jesus was the fulfillment. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:38.880 He says so much in Romans chapter 3, verses 21 and 22. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:51.440 Paul writes to that church, but now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it. 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:59.920 The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:07.440 The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets pointed to it. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:12.160 What Paul is saying, Jesus was the fulfillment of the law. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.839 He fulfilled it. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:15.920 He kept it perfectly. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:20.559 He was the Israelite who kept the law perfectly. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.519 It was Jesus. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.599 He fulfilled the law. 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:37.440 And what all the prophets wrote, all the words that the prophets wrote talking about one who was going to come, who was going to save Israel, all of those prophecies, you look to Jesus and they point to Jesus. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:39.119 He is the fulfillment. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:41.680 All of that pointed to Jesus. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:45.519 So they're not worshiping some off-far out God. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:53.519 They are worshiping the God of the Old Testament who sent his only begotten Son to save the world. 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.400 Amen. 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:58.319 That's who Paul is worshiping. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:01.279 That's who he is pointing to. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:06.960 Then he goes on and begins to talk about the resurrection. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:13.759 A couple of weeks ago we talked about this when he cried out as he ended his speech here. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:20.160 It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial here today. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:23.119 It is respect to the resurrection. 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:28.960 Do you know how Paul knew that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament law? 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:35.440 Do you know how Paul knew that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the prophecies? 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:38.240 Because he arose. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:41.359 He is not dead any longer. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:48.160 He arose, and in the resurrection, he showed exactly who he was. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:55.359 And now, Paul, he points to the resurrection when he says, when he says, I myself was standing by a proof. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.720 I'm in the wrong chapter. 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.119 Sorry. 00:25:57.279 --> 00:26:09.920 Here he says in verse 15, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:15.920 He is talking about the resurrection, which we know that the Pharisees believed. 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:18.720 They believed in the hope of the resurrection. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:27.759 They believed that Messiah was going to come and he was going to re was going to raise all those who were dead and was going to stand in judgment over them. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:35.440 That's why he says the just and the unjust are going to be arrays because he is pointing to judgment that even the Jews believed was going to happen. 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:44.319 Paul is pointing to that, and he is saying that because Jesus arose, he is the one. 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:51.359 Because Jesus arose, now they are going to arise, and he is going to stand in judgment over them. 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:55.839 He said, and it is because of the resurrection. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:27:06.799 It is called because of the resurrection that now I strive to live my life in good conscience towards God and man. 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:11.359 He is not trying to earn his salvation. 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:24.880 It is because of his salvation that now he is, as he talks about, taking alms, collecting alms as he travels the world and taking it back to a church in need in Jerusalem. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:35.039 It is because of the resurrection that he went through that purification ceremony in the temple. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:41.839 It is because of what Jesus has done that he was living his life for God. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:52.160 So listen, now we have to deal with the question what are we doing with the resurrection? 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:56.720 Listen, they're in a courtroom setting. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.839 They're in a courtroom setting. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:02.799 So imagine that we are in a courtroom setting. 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:08.079 And imagine that he talks about resurrection and bringing witnesses to that. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:28.480 But Paul, according to the resurrection, now they are not at this trial, but in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 6, Paul writes to us this to the church at Corinth. 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:32.400 Then he is talking about Jesus. 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:35.759 Actually, go back up to verse 3. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.079 1 Corinthians 15, 3. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:46.079 For I delivered to you as a first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.759 He is the fulfillment. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:50.559 He is the fulfillment of the law and prophets. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:53.200 According to the scriptures, Christ died. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:29:03.119 That he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance to scripture, in fulfillment of the law and prophets. 00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:20.480 And he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:24.000 You know why Paul would write that, most of whom are still alive? 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:26.559 Because you can go talk to them. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.920 You can go find them. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:40.000 That is amazing. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:47.359 It is not just 12 men, although Chuck Colson wrote about the resurrection and those 12 men. 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:54.720 Chuck Colson was one of the guys who was arrested for the Watergate scandal back under Richard Nixon. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:30:00.640 Here's what he says: I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:02.799 How? 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:13.920 Because 12 men testified that they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:20.160 Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned, and put in prison. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:25.680 They would not have endured that if it weren't true. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:37.119 Watergate embroiled twelve of the most powerful men in the world, and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:45.920 You're telling me twelve apostles could keep a lie for forty years. 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:49.440 Absolutely impossible. 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.000 Hear me. 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:54.880 Church, hear me today. 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:59.440 Jesus is alive. 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:06.000 And if you have never trusted in him, understand what that means. 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:11.279 Jesus came to this earth fulfilling the law and the prophets. 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:19.279 What that means, when I say he fulfilled the law and the prophets, what I'm telling you is he kept the law perfectly. 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.960 No one else has done it. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:22.319 You haven't done it. 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.599 I haven't done it. 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:25.519 No one else has done it. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:28.319 He kept the law perfectly. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:43.359 And then he went to the cross and died on the cross in my place, in your place, he died on the cross, taking the punishment of God, the wrath of God that we deserve for our sin. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:46.559 He took that upon himself on the cross. 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:51.519 Then he was buried, and three days later he arose. 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.119 It was good enough. 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:06.960 And there's no more debt that needs to be paid. 00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:09.279 Now he gives victory. 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:25.759 And when we believe in him, he gives us life. 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:30.720 And if you've never trusted in him, let me tell you where you are. 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:36.079 Paul tells us in Ephesians, you are dead in your trespasses and sins. 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:42.960 But God has made you alive when you believe in Jesus Christ. 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:48.640 If you've never trusted in him, I pray that today, in just a moment, we're going to have an invitation. 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:50.960 We're going to stand up and we're going to sing. 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:54.640 And if you've never trusted in Christ, we invite you to come. 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:58.000 We would love to share with you how you can do that. 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:07.359 But if you have, if you've trusted in him for your salvation, I need you to hear this. 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:13.039 Now you need to live what you're saying. 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:18.000 You need to live what you're saying. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:26.240 Jesus has given you life, not death. 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:31.920 Jesus has given you victory, not defeat. 00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:38.079 Jesus has given you hope, not despair. 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:49.680 We need to live hopeful lives looking to our Savior. 00:33:50.880 --> 00:34:00.400 Listen, I know that life can be crazy and chaotic, and it can come down on top of us, and it feels like it's weighing us down. 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:06.640 It is so easy to get discouraged and find ourselves in the pits of despair. 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:13.199 But Jesus came so you can to pull you out of that so that you can live. 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:21.280 Maybe this morning, as we sing our invitation, what you need to do is you need to come and you need to cry out to God. 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:26.000 Maybe there's a sin you need to repent of. 00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:30.960 Maybe there's just life is is falling down and you haven't turned to Him. 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:32.719 Maybe this morning you need to come. 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.000 We would love to pray with you. 00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:47.679 You can kneel at this altar and do business with God, but maybe this morning, as you maybe you are in the pits of despair and you need his life, not just for salvation, but for day-to-day living. 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:49.840 He came to give you life. 00:34:56.320 --> 00:35:04.239 If you need to trust him for the first time, if you need to cry at him, if you're looking for a church home, however God's leading you, we invite you to come. 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.840 Let's pray together. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:09.199 God, I thank you for today. 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:20.079 I thank you for the opportunity that we have in this sacred moment to respond to your word. 00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:27.039 God, for those who have never trusted you, I pray that today they will find life. 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:33.519 God, I pray for those who have trusted you but aren't living. 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:37.760 That today they will cry out to you and live. 00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:43.920 God, I pray for those who are searching for a church home. 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:49.039 So we can live together. 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:55.920 God, I pray for those whom you are calling to something special in their lives. 00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:59.039 God, help them to respond. 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:03.039 Give us the faith that we need today to respond to you. 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:06.239 Jesus is in your name we pray. 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.199 Amen. 00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:10.559 Thanks for listening to this week's sermon. 00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:16.559 If you have any questions for our pastor, feel free to reach out at DeSotoHills.com.