Grace is a Gift, Not a Loan

Grace is a Gift, Not a Loan

2013-11-24

Act 13:44-52

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

The initial response was positive (like a revival) but it eventually falls apart. 

·      Even with miracles, not everyone is convinced.  Act 13:42-45, 14:1-5

In the microcosm of Paul’s entire ministry: the Jews reject, the Gentiles accept, and then Jews become belligerent & sometimes physically violent against Christians.

·      Here they used politics & pressure in high places to drive Paul and Barnabas out.

·      Jewish leaders opposed Paul and Barnabas on "theological grounds," but jealousy was the real reason.

o   They couldn't stand anybody else (Gentiles) getting blessed.

·      In the early church, it was not anti-Semitism but anti-Gentile prejudice: which is equally as evil.

o   We must be careful our own jealous feelings do not cause us to try to stop God's work.

In response to abuse from Jews, Paul and Barnabas boldly spoke about the necessity of going to Jews 1^st then Greeks because of the great promises of Old Testament given to Abraham & his seed.

·      God’s plan: that through the Jews all the world would come to know God; but Israel forsook the task, so it was given to the church to carry out. Gen 12:3, Mt 10:5-6, Act 3:25-26

In rejecting their Messiah, the Jews judged themselves unworthy of eternal life. Acts 13:46-48, Rev 13:7-8, Rom 8:29-30

o   All are eternal, but here it means unworthy of eternity in heaven.

·      Greek “worthy” has 2 senses: deserving or qualified.  Qualified is what is intended here.

o   Nobody deserves eternal life/heaven but Christians are qualified to possess it.

·      A man who rejects Jesus, judges himself & in essence chooses hell.

o   It's your own fault if you die without Jesus Christ, yet you can only come to Jesus if Father draws.

Both doctrines are true & in here: human responsibility, divine election/sovereignty

·      The word "appointed" tetagmenoi: military word meaning to "arrange" or "assign."

o   Some people are "assigned" to eternal life by the unmentioned "Appointer".

o   We are not elected because we believe, but we believe because we are elected. 

·      Kirstin Powers quote

·      When lost, you get all blame/fault. When saved, God gets all credit.

o   Don't seem go together but Bible teaches both so I teach both.

§  One of many mysteries about God I can’t understand.

As receivers of the wonderful gift of grace we must guard against a “repayment ethic”.

·      We know we shouldn't try earn salvation, but it's easy to think of God's free gift as a loan to be repaid.

o   Jesus has done so much for me that I’ll devote my life to paying Him back my debt.

o   Puts us in position of a debtor not a son:  that’s slavery & is contrary to grace.

·      Genuine gratitude is not the feeling of having to pay back God. 

o   Christ paid all our debts on cross & got us out of debtors’ prison of guilt.

If we start with grace & go back to works (do's/don'ts as evidence of spirituality) to earn God’s favor or demonstrate a self-righteous suitability for heaven then you're off course.

·      The end result is distance from God not intimacy. Lk. 15:27-29, Rom 4:4-5, Gal 3:2-3

o   Gal 3:3 is not saying believers returning to law lost their salvation.

§  Motives that encourage legalism can be good. Like I want to be more holy or more spiritual.

o   But legalism strips joy & produces jealousy/pride (elder brother of prodigal) & brings division into the body.

§  Even more troubling…it diminishes glorious cross.

§  If salvation is free, it's free. If we add anything to grace, it isn't grace.

I spent the next few months doing my best to wrestle away from God. It was pointless. Everywhere I turned, there he was. Slowly there was less fear and more joy. The Hound of Heaven had pursued me and caught me—whether I liked it or not. Kirstin Powers ex-atheist.