Acts 13:42-52
September 15, 2002
Keeping One’s Perspective with People
As my time in college came to a close and I looked toward marrying Janet, it was my plan to take some time off from schooling and settle in my new role as husband. An important task was to find a job. Bear in mind most employers don’t go seeking those with a BA in Theology to fill their executive ranks, so I soon found myself managing a clothing store. The hours were long and often entailed weekends and nights, but that wasn’t the worst part. Being on my feet was tiresome, but I managed. My supervisor was a bit tightly wound, but I could deal with that. What drove me wild were the people: lazy employees and crazy customers. I soon muttering to myself as I retreated to my office: “I hate the human race!”
So it should come as no surprise that I soon left that job to go to seminary so I could be a pastor!
Circumstances may bother us, time tables may annoy us, but it is people who will drive us to distraction. The swing and the miss of the hammer producing a sore thumb may result in the hammer tossed aside in frustration, but what can we do when we feel pummeled by people? The computer crashes and our friends sympathize as we express the need to hurl the infernal machine from the roof, but when the co-worker crashes, leaving us with additional work, there are few who would lend a hand tossing him or her from the fifth floor.
Working with people is the most difficult aspect of our labors. Our common fallen nature means that their sins so often conflict with our need to be right, resulting in huge frustrations every day. No matter what your vocation in life, it is often dealing with people that provides the deepest sense of frustration. But the frustration is not confined to just our jobs, but also our callings as husband or wife, parent or child, neighbor and friend. In these areas as well need a divine perspective in order to know how to deal with difficult people. Acts 13:42-52 gives us some insight. READ
The past two weeks we’ve examined Paul’s sermon in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, located on the southern underbelly of modern day Turkey. In this sermon Paul reviewed for the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles gathered on that Sabbath how God took the initiative in providing his chosen people with a Savior, who was Jesus of Nazareth, the son of David according to God’s promise to the patriarchs. He told them how Jesus was rejected as the Messiah and condemned to die as a criminal. His death was not outside God’s plan, for he died as a substitute, taking on the punishment for his people’s sins. God’s acceptance of his sacrifice is verified in that he was raised from the dead. Now for all who believe in his Son Jesus the holy and everlasting blessings promised to David--the blessing of grace, the blessing of forgiveness of sin, and the blessing of justification, meaning the blessing of having the gift of the perfect righteousness of Christ imputed to them.
Paul’s explanation of the gospel, that sins are forgiven was meet with enthusiasm, as one might expect. As we read we know that enthusiasm soon turned to animosity as God’s covenant people rejected God’s gracious offer of sins forgiven. What we see in this passage focuses mainly on people’s acceptance or rejection of the gospel. But the lessons have a secondary application to whatever endeavors we face and the difficulties we encounter with others on a daily basis.
Rejoice when people are receptive v42-43
The response to Paul’s sermon was tremendous. The congregation wanted to hear more, they wanted Paul to come back. They were not fidgeting during his third point wondering if they’ll miss the Packer’s kickoff. They did not make the fast break for their chariots following the benediction.
Rather – they begged, appealed, implored these two to come again and tell them more. They followed them out of the synagogue, not content with what they heard, hanging on every word.
That’s a heady response. For as wonderfully receptive and support as this congregation has been over the past ten years, for as much as people may have a question or two following worship, I don’t think I’ve ever had people trail me home, camping out in my living room, peppering me questions, soaking up the doctrines of grace was a sponge.
Paul and Barnabas’ response in v43 points to a mindset in dealing with people’s positive responses.
They were not cynical or doubtful. Sometimes we think it is a mark of spiritual reality to hold at abeyance those who seem responsive to the gospel. We are slow to accept change, thinking people change, but not very much. If you’ve been burned a few times by well intended people who’ve let you down … you quickly become callused to change.
But Paul and Barnabas do not develop a guarded approach, but rejoice when people are receptive. They do not think it a mark of spirituality to doubt that real change can come. Just because we believe in original sin, that is, that we are all born sinners, and what is more, that our sin affects every aspect of our being so that we can do nothing on our own to please God – that any positive sign must be viewed as suspect. Don’t use the doctrine of depravity to rain on anyone’s parade, saying like Eore, “Oh, it won’t last. A bright flame quickly burns to ash.”
When you see people showing genuine interest in the gospel, desiring to leave behind destructive lifestyles, grasping to change – get excited about it. Don’t use being Presbyterian as an excuse for your dour attitude, like you’ve been baptized in lemon juice.
The reason for their optimism is seen in what is said next: “continue in the grace of God.”
Paul understands that if there is a real change, the power for that change is greater than the sin which has so long held that person back. The power for that change is God’s grace. If that change is going to last, it will be God’s grace. We rejoice because God is at work.
As a child my swimming instruction, Johnny Dianastasios, had the constant refrain as our quaking eight year old knees faced the diving board over the deep end of the pool, “I know you can do it if you try!” What is fine encouragement to overcome simple fears is insufficient for deep spiritual change. Real change is not about you doing it, but looking to God’s grace to empower you to do that which he has commanded you to do.
When we see people receptive to the gospel, keep pointing them back to the gospel. Their positive response is worth getting excited about because it is God at work in them. As our kids begin to show signs of grasping how biblical change comes, applying the truths of God’s Word to their daily life – remind them, rejoice with them that their receptivity is not due to their superior intelligence (which they received from your side of the gene pool) but is due to God’s grace.
Anticipate when people are rejecting v44-47, 50-51
In order to deal with people, especially in dealing with their receptivity or rejection of the gospel, it is important to not only rejoice when they are receptive, but to anticipate rejection. Our response should be neither the Pollyanna optimist nor the grouchy pessimist. We must be prepared for people’s sin, not surprised that in others, as in us, the remnants of the old man in a believer can be powerful.
The next Sabbath arrives and the enthusiasm has spread like a Colorado wildfire. The whole town has come out to hear how God the Father poured out his wrath on God the Son, so that we might be accepted as sons of God, having our sins forgiven, being declared right before God. But those who showed up were not just those already good Jews and the seeking Gentiles.
Perhaps you’ve been in those churches that up front, on either side of the pulpit will post the attendance and offering figures: Attendance One Year Ago = 40 Attendance Last Sabbath = 39 (old Jebodiah died) Attendance This Sabbath = 8,968
We anticipate by understanding the reason for rejection
But when the regulars saw the new-comers in their synagogue, they were angry. What changed their opinion? How could they go from enthusiastic one week to antagonistic the next?
Luke tells us that the turning point was precipitated not by the message itself, but by those who were responding to the message. The Jews saw the crowds and were filled with jealousy. Their minds finally put together the pieces of the puzzle. That concluding statement of Paul’s sermon the week before now became clear:
Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38-39)
Their entire lives, their way of life was called on the carpet. Meticulous morality benefited nothing. What is more, Paul now said God would accept the lowest dregs of society on equal footing as the most virtuous member. No wonder they began to contradict Paul, revile him (v45), literally, they blasphemed him. What he said was not seen just as wrong, but cut to the very core of what they perceived to be God’s just character. Morality matters and grace undoes one’s personal record of right. Grace is good for me, but not for thee!
There is a moral outrage with the gospel. If forgiveness is forgiveness, if our sins are declared no longer on our record, why then spend my entire life trying to live up to the moral code?
What about my effort I’ve put in to keeping the law, the temptations I resisted while others didn’t just give in to, but run after with abandon? It was hard to admit that those who had their backs turned on God till now get the same treatment as those who served God till now so fervently.
The reason some people find the gospel of free grace so hard to swallow is not that they think they are unworthy of forgiveness, they just can stomach that God would forgive some of the scum they know. Will Rogers once quipped: “I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” But far too often, people are leery of a church that would have a hard boiled sinner as a member. Rather they wish their churches to be more like a country club, where sins mix nicely.
Paul summarizes their rejection simply as “judging yourselves unworthy of eternal life (v46)
This is not a blind decision, but they are fully accountable for what they have done. They have examined the evidence and determined that they do not desire what God has to offer.
The gospel message of justification by God’s grace through saving faith in Jesus Christ cut through that pride of exclusivity and assurance of merit through religious observance – justification earned by man’s best efforts – and exposed the loveless self-centeredness of the shriveled pseudo-faith.
Paul spoke on salvation as the work of God from start to finish. His inevitable conclusion was the forgiveness of sins based on Jesus Christ. But, the matter of asking "What does a person do?" or "What do I do?" is more important to them than asking "What has God done?" or "What is God doing?" Their eyes were not on God, but were only directed humanward. The result of that was that they rejected the gospel which is the message of grace. The result of that was they were not able to obtain righteousness, peace, or joy, which is the grace of God.
We anticipate by our response to rejection
We must not take rejection personal. Their rejection of the gospel is not about you, but about God. Paul and Barnabas were disheartened, I’m sure, but they knew what to do next. In v46 they were clear that it was necessary to come to God’s covenant people first, but if people don’t want God’s grace, then it is time to move on. They will concentrate on the Gentiles.
Remember, though, Paul’s turning to the Gentiles is not complete, as he goes to the Jews first in each subsequent city. But again and again he is rejected. He never gave up on his fellow Jews. It was very much the problem he wrestled with in Romans 9-11. In spite of the overwhelming rejection of the gospel by his own people, Paul could not bring himself to believe that the rejection was final and that God had deserted them.
Paul then quotes from Isaiah 49:6, a passage Luke 2:32 quotes as from Simeon’s mouth as he speaks of the infant Jesus. What is true of Christ own ministry is true of his body, the Church.
What this passage tells us is that we must invest ourselves in those people and places where there is fruit. There is nothing spiritual about banging your head against the wall. There may well come a point in a person’s life where their constant rejection of the gospel means you continue to love them, but pour yourself in those in whom the grace of God appears to be at work.
When working with people who consistently reject truth, who cry for help but refuse to be helped, who themselves make it clear they don’t want to change … move on. How do you know when? You don’t. But ask yourself, “Is this a response of reception or rejection?”
We should be clear what their rejection means. Paul and Barnabas did not mince words or actions. Notice in v50-51 what this response looks like. Luke, with a bit of sarcasm, describes the situation as the Jews inciting prominent Gentile women to nag their powerful husbands to do something.
In the ancient world there often were upper class women who worshipped at the synagogue, and their influence with their husbands was obviously used by the Jews to instigate some kind of action against the missionaries.
What is shaking off dust all about? This was a Jewish sign of cleansing themselves from the impurity of sinners who did not worship God and not wanting to take pagan dirt back to the temple and defile it. So for Jews to do this to their fellow Jews was tantamount to regarding the latter as pagan Gentiles.
We, too, must be clear when we meet with resistance to the gospel, when people refuse to change. Far too often we only offer an aspirin to one who needs surgery. We kill people with kindness when we remain unclear as to the reality of our standing before God the Judge, clothed in our own righteousness instead of that perfect covering given us freely by Christ.
Remember who is reigning v48-49, 52
How do we keep sane when we feel rejected? What is worse, when they are rejecting eternal life? When people do latch on to God’s Word we can rejoice, but when they reject if we must anticipate that such is the effect of sin in our own lives were it not for God’s grace. But at the end of the day we need to have the right perspective when faced with people who need to change.
As Paul reminded his audience, their rejection of the gospel betrayed their own sin, their own twisted nature, bent on self effort and rejecting God’s sovereign rule. But when people do respond positively, when people do change, when they stop annoying us and do what they should, is it because they innately possess some quality better than those who reject? No, but that is God’s grace.
Luke is clear on this in v48: “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”
This powerful statement is what keeps us sane when sharing with loved ones how they can be right with God and they constantly rebuff our efforts. Understanding this verse will empower us to evangelize, to pray, to support missions, for in this phrase we know we can rejoice with those who are receptive and anticipate those who reject, for we can remember who reigns over all.
The word “appoint” here means to inscribe a name, to enroll, to be under another’s authority. The Gentile community was receptive not because they appointed themselves to be receptive to God’s life changing power. Rather they believed because God gave even the faith to believe.
John 6:44 reminds us that “No one can come to the me, unless the Father who sent me draws him. And in Acts 16:14 Lydia responded in faith only after the Lord opened her heart.
Faith in the gospel proves God’s prior action of ordaining us unto salvation. When we know that a receptivity to the gospel, an openness to the truth that our sins have alienated us from God and that it is only God his grace that we can be accepted by him, such a trust is so foreign to our make-up that to hold to that truth demonstrates that God is at work. People are culpable if they reject God’s grace, they do so out of their own desire for self effort. But when people do desire God’s grace, that desire is in fact, an evidence of God.
This may be offensive to some, but it can’t be softened. The sense of assignment is applied only to those who believe, the others who rejected the gospel are regarded as having done so deliberately, because they did not consider themselves worthy of eternal life. Man is a free moral agent and as such does as he chooses, but his choices are full of sin and self. His will however is not free. As a part of his fallen nature, it is enslaved to sin.
The people that reject the gospel are free to choose, but they will only choose that which the bent of their nature will choose, sin. To do so otherwise necessitates God’s grace to retool their will, to free it, to be gracious to them.
When we finally allow the truth that God is the ultimate instrument of change in people’s lives, that while their sin is their own, but that to do that which pleases God takes God to work, then we can cease that erroneous conception that we are change agents of the world. The result of this is simple, we cease to revel in glory that belongs to God alone and we cease to wallow in the guilt which, even it were ours, Christ took care of 2000 years ago.
What is to be our response for change? Do what Paul and Barnabas did. Be faithful to proclaim, but leave the results up to God. Speak his Word and trust him to work.
