READING: Acts 23-24 – Before Sanhedrin & Felix

The Roman tribune brought Paul before the council to find why the Jews accused him. (22:30) 

Paul looked at them and said, “I have lived my life before God in all good conscience to this day.” This got him into a spat with the high priest, whom Paul did not realize was the high priest. (23:1-5) 

Next, he saw there were Pharisees and Sadducees in the council, and said, “I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 23:6). Discussion between the two sects began. The discussion became physical, and the tribune ordered soldiers to remove Paul forcibly. That night God told Paul, “You have testified to me in Jerusalem; you must testify also in Rome.” (23:6-11). 

The next day, forty+ Jews plotted to kill Paul. They asked the council to bring Paul again, and they would kill him enroute. The plot became known to Paul’s nephew, who came and told Paul who sent him to the tribune to let him know of the plot. 

The tribune told him not to tell he had told this. He then ordered a large body of soldiers, Paul also having a mount, to leave in the night to take Paul safely to Caesarea. He would command the council to state charges against Paul before Felix, the governor. He wrote to Felix of what he had done.  

The Jews came with a lawyer to do their speaking. He said Paul stirred up riots among the Jews throughout the world, was a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, and tried to profane the temple. Examine him; you will find every accusation true. The Jews agreed these things were so (24:1-6). 

Paul said, “You can verify it is twelve days since I came to Jerusalem. They did not find me stirring up crowds in temple, synagogues, or city. They cannot prove what they say. I do worship God according to the Way they call a sect, believing all the Law and Prophets. I hope, as they do, for a resurrection of the just and unjust. I keep a clear conscience toward God and man. I came to bring alms and present offerings. While doing this, they found me purified, without crowd or tumult. But Jews from Asia, they ought to be here, to make accusation of anything against me. Or let these say what I did wrong, except I cried out, ‘I am on trial for the resurrection of the dead.’” (24:10-21) 

Felix, knowing the Way rather accurately, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes I will decide your case.” (24:22)  

Felix with his Jewish wife came to Paul, who spoke of faith, righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment. This alarmed him, and he said, “When I get an opportunity, I will summon you.” He wanted money from Paul, so they. After two years, Festus succeeded Felix.  

Felix never made an opportunity to believe Paul’s message.  

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PRAY FOR YOURSELF 

“Father, I pray no one ever falsely accuses me as Paul was. If someone accuses me falsely, let me know how to respond in a way that glorifies You and Your name.  Amen.” (See Acts 24:5-6.) 

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (AND FOR ME) 

“Father, may each of us seek wisdom to know how to respond to slanderous attacks from vile men that may come from within the church or from the world outside. Let us find the humility to admit we could be in the wrong and confess to the points that have a basis in truth, as Paul confessed, he worshiped God in the Way they called a sect. Amen.” (See Acts 24:14.) 

READ: Acts 17-18 – Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth

Four new cities, each different. In Thessalonica Paul reasoned in the synagogue three Sabbaths with considerable success, before the leading Jews became jealous and said, “These men who turn the world upside down have come here; Jason has received them, and they are acting against Caesar’s decree, saying there is another king, Jesus.” The brothers sent Paul away by night. 

They came to Berea where they were well-received in the synagogue, where the Jews were nob; they received the word eagerly, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. But, as had happened in other places, Jews from Thessalonica followed Paul to Berea where they stirred up riots. Again, the brothers sent Paul away. 

Silas and Timothy stayed behind, while Paul went by sea to Athens. Paul reasoned in the synagogue on the Sabbaths with the Jews and devout persons of the Greeks. On other days he spoke with people in the marketplace, and Epicurean and Stoic philosophers conversed with him. 

He spoke formally at the Areopagus. He commended them for their religious zeal, making note of an altar he had seen “to the unknown god.” He said, “I want to introduce you to Him, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He commands all to repent because He has fixed a day to judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, and of this, he has given assurance by raising Him from the dead.” 

When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; others said, “We will hear you again about this.” Paul left them, and some people joined him and believed. After this, Paul left Athens to go to Corinth. 

Again, Paul went to the synagogue. “He found a Jew and his wife, Aquilla, and Pricilla, who came from Rome because Claudius commanded all Jews to leave Rome. He worked with them, for they were tentmakers. When other Jews opposed and reviled him, he shook the dust from his feet and turned to the Gentiles – teaching in a  house next door to the synagogue. “Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord. Many Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.” (18:8). He remained in Corinth eighteen months. 

Paul returned to Antioch by way of Ephesus, Caesarea, and Jerusalem where he went up and saluted the church. Aquilla and Priscilla went with him to Ephesus where the Jews asked him to stay longer. He said, “I will return if God wills.” Aquilla and Priscilla stayed in Ephesus.  

While Paul was away, Apollos came from Alexandria to Ephesus. He, an eloquent man competent in the Scriptures, he knew only John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquilla heard him, they taught him the way of the Lord more perfectly. When he wanted to go to Corinth, the brothers wrote him a letter of introduction, something that may have created some problems for Paul in the church at Corinth. 

Sometimes our good intentions create problems for others down the road. 

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PRAY FOR YOURSELF 

“Father, I pray I may never meddle in affairs for which I am not qualified, that I may not by my inadequacies create problems for others. Even good intentions sometimes go astray! Keep me from such good intentions. Amen.” (See Acts 18:27-28 and 2 Corinthians 3:1-3.) 

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (AND FOR ME) 

“May each of us be more like the people of Berea than those of Thessalonica. Help us to diligently search the Scriptures to see if they confirm what we are hearing taught.” (See Acts 17:11.) 

30 DAY STORY OF THE BIBLE #7

GENESIS 22:1-19 – ABRAHAM TESTED

At last! Abraham had a son, born to his own wife, Sarah. This birth was miraculous; Sarah’s womb was dead, for “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” (i.e., she was post-menopausal). Because of this, she had laughed when she overheard angels telling Abraham she would bear a child (Gen. 18:10-12). But when she bore a son, she laughed again – this time in joy. She named him Isaac, which means laughter.

Security of the Believer

Here is a question I received among the comments on an earlier post in answer to another question: What Sin Does Not Lead to Death? At the end, I have also appended the response from the questioner.

Do you believe that a born again believer can once again fall into sin and not make it to heaven?

I replied as follows:

It is not so much a matter of what I believe – but of what the Scriptures teach.

There are many warnings to believers in the Scriptures that would be nonsensical if it were not possible for people who once believed to, as you said, “Once again fall into sin and not make it to heaven.”

That is not the same thing as saying that a believer’s position before God is insecure, which it is. As Peter wrote, our inheritance is “kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4b-5, ESV).

God’s power to save believers is the gospel (Romans 1:16). That same power (the gospel) guards us through faith for the salvation that is yet to be revealed. Paul encouraged Timothy:

…wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. – 1 Timothy 1:18b-20, ESV

When a believer’s faith is shipwrecked because he does not “hold faith and a good conscience” his connection with God and His grace that saves us through faith is severed.

In Galatians 5:4 Paul states categorically that some, who were seeking to be justified by law (circumcision + Christ), rather than by the hearing of faith, had fallen away from grace and are severed from Christ.

Paul’s warnings are very serious. In his discussion of the Gentiles coming to the gospel after the Jews had rejected it, he said, in comparing the Gentiles to a wild olive tree grafted onto the Jewish root:

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the braches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. – Romans 11:17-23, ESV

These warnings mean something. We need to take them seriously. Failure to take God’s warnings at face value has contributed much to the indifference of many nominal Christians, many of whom have at one time had an experience with God.

Jerry

Response:

That is the most complete and thorough answer I have ever received concerning receiving/retaining/losing salvation, especially in your following two paragraphs.

| There are many warnings to believers in the Scriptures that would be nonsensical if it were not possible for people who once believed to, as you said, “Once again fall into sin and not make it to heaven.”

That is not the same thing as saying that a believer’s position before God is insecure, which it is. As Peter wrote, our inheritance is “kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4b-5, ESV). |

Thank you very much. I now have a basis to move forward in my doctrine of sin study.

MATTHEW 25 – Parables About the Judgment

While the main part of the “little apocalypse” in Matthew 24 has to do with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, the later part of that chapter transitions into discussion of the Lord’s return and of His judgment of the world.

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:44-51, ESV)

The Son of Man will return at a time you do not expect. He said this at the end of chapter 24 and expanded on it in three parables in chapter 25.

A THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATION

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor— and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer

QUESTION: Can You Help Me Know How To Pray?

I received the following question recently though the Question Box on our church web site, www.Plymouth-church.com, where I have answered questions for a little over 4 years now.

Can you help me know how to pray? Are there biblical procedures for us to use when we pray to GOD?

I know of few churches that actively try to teach people how to pray. Nearly all teach that we ought to pray, but few actually try to help people learn how to pray. Yet, we read this in the gospel:

Matthew 17:14 – 18:9 – Greatest in the Kingdom

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 18:1-4

This took place in Capernaum shortly after Jesus was transfigured. Jesus and the disciples had come again into the populated areas of Galilee, but Jesus was still staying secluded, “because He was teaching His disciples” (Mark 9:30f). Mark’s account says the disciples were arguing, while on the road, about who would be the greatest. Jesus asked them what their argument was about.

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION (11): If You Love Me

If you love me, you will obey my commandments. – John 14:15

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. – John 14:21

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. – John 14:23

QUESTION: Why Did God Wait?

I received the following question via The Question Box on our church webpage, where I have answered questions for the past four years. This is a question that could easily be sloughed off with a quick answer – but I believe it comes from an honest heart seeking to understand.

Why did God wait 25 years before giving Abraham a son?

The only honest answer I can give you is that I just do not know why God waited to bless Abraham and Sarah with the birth of Isaac. I do not know because God has not revealed it – at least not to my knowledge.

I can think of some plausible reasons why He waited, but I warn you going in that