"Tensions of Our Faith & Life" - Gary Cass

TENSIONS OF OUR FAITH & LIFE
Infusion Church   04-02-2022
Acts 9:19-31

I Cor 1:20: Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

I THE TENSION OF PREACHING CHRIST

Vs 19; For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Luke 22:70-71: So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

Rom 1:4; [Jesus] was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead…

Jesus was seen alive for 40 days after the crucifixion by over 500

The answer to the question, “Who is Jesus” is the great theological divide and the essential matter of truth and error.

Matt 16:13-17; Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Belgic Confession: We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his divine nature, is the only Son of God — eternally begotten, not made or created, for then he would be a creature… Jesus is the true eternal God, the Almighty, whom we invoke, worship, and serve.

Vss.21-22: And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

I Pet 1:18; … you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ…

Acts 4:12: And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

The knowledge of the Christ’s Gospel ought to make you bold and dangerous like Saul!

II. THE TENSION OF LIVING FOR THE GOSPEL

Vss. 23-25; When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

NOTE: You are not called to let the evil one murder you.

Vss. 26-30; And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. ³⁰ And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Acts 4:36-37: Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

We need to cherish the gifts and callings of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Fear, even fear of persecution, is no reason to avoid taking risks.

Psalm 71 …³ Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.  ⁴ Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man…

III. THE TENSIONS OF GODLY LIVING

Vs.31; So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up.  And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Peacetime can be very dangerous if we allow ourselves to become spiritually slothful.

Phil 1:6: I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

Ps 51:10&13: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Bunyan: Let God’s love to you be a motive to fear him greatly.

Ps 86:11: Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

John 14:16: I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…

Rom 14:17: The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Note: Green text added by listener.