Great is the Mystery of Godliness Part 9
Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the World Part 3
The Message of the Preachers
I. The Witness to the Witnesses–Dr. Luke
A. Luke 1:1-4 While there were many “narratives” of the “things which are most surely believed among us”, the Holy Spirit chose to preserve the inspired account of Luke. He was involved “from the very first”. Vs 4 He also accompanied Paul unto the very end. (Acts 28:10-11, 14, 16)
“Most surely”–#4135 “which have been fully believed” among us–“full measure, and is applied to a ship fully laden, to a tree in full fruit bearing, etc. Hence it implies that fullness of evidence by which any fact is supported, and also that confidence, or feeling of assent, by which facts, so supported, are believed.” Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1. Vs 2 The Apostolic Ministry is that of “eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word delivered them to us.” Recall I John 1:1-4 in which the Apostle John equates this Word, Jesus, with Eternal Life! He saw Him, Who was with the Father and was manifested to us.” The Apostles were the chosen eyewitnesses, and their testimony is the foundation of the city/people of God! (Revelation 21:9-14)
2. Vs 4 Why this emphasis? “That you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed–things surely to be believed.” “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Whom He has sent.” John 6:29
B. Acts 1:1-3 Whereas the narrative of Luke is “all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up”, Luke’s account in Acts is but a continuation of Jesus’ doing and teaching through His Holy Spirit filled chosen Witnesses.
1. Vs 3 It was to His chosen apostles (vs 2) “to whom He also PRESENTED HIMSELF ALIVE AFTER HIS SUFFERING by many infallible proofs, and that for forty days!
Note: The forty days of wilderness wanderings, His forty days of fasting, are swallowed up in the Display, the Presentation, of the Prince of Life, the Victorious King, Who spends forty incredible days of “speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” (Note that Peter’s first sermon at Pentecost is all about the King ascending to His Throne, the Throne of David!!!)
2. Vs 2 “He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the Apostles whom He had chosen.” What commandments?
II. The “obedient” Ministry of the Apostles. Perhaps there were many, but we will focus on the two most “familiar” commandments.
A. The Apostolic commission (commandment). Remember, God has His Plan and He is working His Plan. Jesus chose specific men, actually men given to Him by the Father (John 17:6), to be “witnesses unto Me”. (Acts 1:8 KJV) Without their Witness, we have no savior, we have no salvation! All that we hold dear hinges on their witness and testimony!!!
1. The Commission: Matt. 28:18-20 (Vs 20 note what they are to teach); Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:44-49; ( “commission” not in John); Acts1:4-8 (emphasis on the Holy Spirit)
2. The out working of The Plan–what the chosen Witnesses say. Rom. 1:5&8– Paul received “grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.” Vs 8–the faith of the Roman Christians “is spoken of throughout the whole world.” Rom. 16:26 Paul’s gospel “has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of ...God.”
I Cor. 4:9 Speaking of the Apostles, “for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men,”
Gal. 1:11-17 Paul’s specific commission and obedience. (See also Eph. 3:1-11)
Col. 1:6 The Gospel “which has come to you, as it has also in the world.” Vs 23 “do not be moved from the hope of the gospel which was preached to every creature under heaven.”
II Tim. 4:17 “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.”
II Pet. 1:16-18 Peter speaks to the absolute uniqueness of the Apostolic witness. We “were eyewitness of His Majesty”, they heard the Father’s voice “from the Excellent Glory.”
The Impact of the Gospel preached: Acts 8:1-3 (persecution-God’s method of spreading the gospel.) I Thess. 1:1-10–inner transformation led to “in every place” testimonies. (Romans 1:8)
II Tim. 4:7-8 Paul at least, felt he had fulfilled his calling, his “commission”. Note that there is no exhortation in any epistle to conduct evangelistic campaigns nor any repeating of the “commission”. “Preach the Word” (II Tim 4:2-5), but even this context shows the passionate concern for the transforming power of the gospel in the Church. After the Acts, the concern of scripture is the purity of the Body of Christ, vividly expressed in Revelation 2-3. Guarding their first Love is apparently paramount, the Light that displays the Glories of Jesus to the world!!! (Rev. 2:3-4)
B. John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples—If you have love one for another.”
This became the initial struggle as God called out His people from the nations. A good portion of the book of Acts deals with Peter and the Jerusalem brethren’s conflict with the “international will” of God. But this commandment and it’s living evidence in those who believed, became the testimony to the validity of the Apostolic Gospel.
I Timothy 1:5 “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.”
“The great duty of love, which is the end (goal) of the law and the principle fruit of sanctification, must flow from faith unfeigned.” Walter Martin 1692
Romans 13:8-10 “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for the commandments..........”are all summed up in this saying, namely ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’......therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”
I Cor. 13 This “as I have loved you” Love is the “more excellent way”, the “bottom line” of faith.
I Thess. 4:9 “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”
I John 2:3-11, 3:10-15, 4:7-16 This “as I have Loved you” love is John’s litmus test of true faith!!! (3:14)
This love producing faith is the evidence that the Apostles looked for in professing believers. This grand evidence brings prayer and thanksgiving from Pauls heart.
This love/faith testament to true believing is found in the following: Eph. 1:15-16; Phil. 1:3-11, 2:1-4; Col. 1:3-4, 8; I Thess. 1:1-4; II Thess. 1:3, II Tim. 1:7; Philemon 4-6.
Galatians 5:13-15 At this point in their history, Paul couldn’t offer prayers of thanksgiving for the Galatian church. Legalism, the human lust of “doing” to gain merit before God, had almost swallowed up Paul’s gospel of Grace that leads to inside out transformation. Liberty had turned into licence. His answer, his exhortation is “through love serve one another.”
Hebrews 6:9-12 One of the most debated, and to some, confusing passage (6:1-8), leads to one of the clearest statements of this truth and testifies to the assuring nature of this “as I have loved you” love. (6:11) This "love for the saints is what accompanies salvation.
James 2:8 and context. It seems to me that James’ “Royal Law” of love is the “works” that abide with true faith. He describes this “love behavior” in very practical terms. But don’t miss his point! “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (2:17) He is in complete agreement with John and layis the groundwork for Paul’s prayer and thanksgiving.
I Cor. 13 This “Love Testimony” is that which is to be evidenced to the world. (John 13:35). Without this faith that brings forth the fruit of love, (Gal. 5:22), I AM NOTHING (13:3b), I AM WITHOUT PROFIT(13:3), WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE BEFORE GOD. “And now abide faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love.” (13:13) Pursue Love, beloved! (14:1)
Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the World Part 3
The Message of the Preachers
I. The Witness to the Witnesses–Dr. Luke
A. Luke 1:1-4 While there were many “narratives” of the “things which are most surely believed among us”, the Holy Spirit chose to preserve the inspired account of Luke. He was involved “from the very first”. Vs 4 He also accompanied Paul unto the very end. (Acts 28:10-11, 14, 16)
“Most surely”–#4135 “which have been fully believed” among us–“full measure, and is applied to a ship fully laden, to a tree in full fruit bearing, etc. Hence it implies that fullness of evidence by which any fact is supported, and also that confidence, or feeling of assent, by which facts, so supported, are believed.” Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1. Vs 2 The Apostolic Ministry is that of “eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word delivered them to us.” Recall I John 1:1-4 in which the Apostle John equates this Word, Jesus, with Eternal Life! He saw Him, Who was with the Father and was manifested to us.” The Apostles were the chosen eyewitnesses, and their testimony is the foundation of the city/people of God! (Revelation 21:9-14)
2. Vs 4 Why this emphasis? “That you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed–things surely to be believed.” “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Whom He has sent.” John 6:29
B. Acts 1:1-3 Whereas the narrative of Luke is “all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up”, Luke’s account in Acts is but a continuation of Jesus’ doing and teaching through His Holy Spirit filled chosen Witnesses.
1. Vs 3 It was to His chosen apostles (vs 2) “to whom He also PRESENTED HIMSELF ALIVE AFTER HIS SUFFERING by many infallible proofs, and that for forty days!
Note: The forty days of wilderness wanderings, His forty days of fasting, are swallowed up in the Display, the Presentation, of the Prince of Life, the Victorious King, Who spends forty incredible days of “speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” (Note that Peter’s first sermon at Pentecost is all about the King ascending to His Throne, the Throne of David!!!)
2. Vs 2 “He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the Apostles whom He had chosen.” What commandments?
II. The “obedient” Ministry of the Apostles. Perhaps there were many, but we will focus on the two most “familiar” commandments.
A. The Apostolic commission (commandment). Remember, God has His Plan and He is working His Plan. Jesus chose specific men, actually men given to Him by the Father (John 17:6), to be “witnesses unto Me”. (Acts 1:8 KJV) Without their Witness, we have no savior, we have no salvation! All that we hold dear hinges on their witness and testimony!!!
1. The Commission: Matt. 28:18-20 (Vs 20 note what they are to teach); Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:44-49; ( “commission” not in John); Acts1:4-8 (emphasis on the Holy Spirit)
2. The out working of The Plan–what the chosen Witnesses say. Rom. 1:5&8– Paul received “grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.” Vs 8–the faith of the Roman Christians “is spoken of throughout the whole world.” Rom. 16:26 Paul’s gospel “has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of ...God.”
I Cor. 4:9 Speaking of the Apostles, “for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men,”
Gal. 1:11-17 Paul’s specific commission and obedience. (See also Eph. 3:1-11)
Col. 1:6 The Gospel “which has come to you, as it has also in the world.” Vs 23 “do not be moved from the hope of the gospel which was preached to every creature under heaven.”
II Tim. 4:17 “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.”
II Pet. 1:16-18 Peter speaks to the absolute uniqueness of the Apostolic witness. We “were eyewitness of His Majesty”, they heard the Father’s voice “from the Excellent Glory.”
The Impact of the Gospel preached: Acts 8:1-3 (persecution-God’s method of spreading the gospel.) I Thess. 1:1-10–inner transformation led to “in every place” testimonies. (Romans 1:8)
II Tim. 4:7-8 Paul at least, felt he had fulfilled his calling, his “commission”. Note that there is no exhortation in any epistle to conduct evangelistic campaigns nor any repeating of the “commission”. “Preach the Word” (II Tim 4:2-5), but even this context shows the passionate concern for the transforming power of the gospel in the Church. After the Acts, the concern of scripture is the purity of the Body of Christ, vividly expressed in Revelation 2-3. Guarding their first Love is apparently paramount, the Light that displays the Glories of Jesus to the world!!! (Rev. 2:3-4)
B. John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples—If you have love one for another.”
This became the initial struggle as God called out His people from the nations. A good portion of the book of Acts deals with Peter and the Jerusalem brethren’s conflict with the “international will” of God. But this commandment and it’s living evidence in those who believed, became the testimony to the validity of the Apostolic Gospel.
I Timothy 1:5 “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.”
“The great duty of love, which is the end (goal) of the law and the principle fruit of sanctification, must flow from faith unfeigned.” Walter Martin 1692
Romans 13:8-10 “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for the commandments..........”are all summed up in this saying, namely ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’......therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”
I Cor. 13 This “as I have loved you” Love is the “more excellent way”, the “bottom line” of faith.
I Thess. 4:9 “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”
I John 2:3-11, 3:10-15, 4:7-16 This “as I have Loved you” love is John’s litmus test of true faith!!! (3:14)
This love producing faith is the evidence that the Apostles looked for in professing believers. This grand evidence brings prayer and thanksgiving from Pauls heart.
This love/faith testament to true believing is found in the following: Eph. 1:15-16; Phil. 1:3-11, 2:1-4; Col. 1:3-4, 8; I Thess. 1:1-4; II Thess. 1:3, II Tim. 1:7; Philemon 4-6.
Galatians 5:13-15 At this point in their history, Paul couldn’t offer prayers of thanksgiving for the Galatian church. Legalism, the human lust of “doing” to gain merit before God, had almost swallowed up Paul’s gospel of Grace that leads to inside out transformation. Liberty had turned into licence. His answer, his exhortation is “through love serve one another.”
Hebrews 6:9-12 One of the most debated, and to some, confusing passage (6:1-8), leads to one of the clearest statements of this truth and testifies to the assuring nature of this “as I have loved you” love. (6:11) This "love for the saints is what accompanies salvation.
James 2:8 and context. It seems to me that James’ “Royal Law” of love is the “works” that abide with true faith. He describes this “love behavior” in very practical terms. But don’t miss his point! “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (2:17) He is in complete agreement with John and layis the groundwork for Paul’s prayer and thanksgiving.
I Cor. 13 This “Love Testimony” is that which is to be evidenced to the world. (John 13:35). Without this faith that brings forth the fruit of love, (Gal. 5:22), I AM NOTHING (13:3b), I AM WITHOUT PROFIT(13:3), WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE BEFORE GOD. “And now abide faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love.” (13:13) Pursue Love, beloved! (14:1)