Text: Acts 28:1-6, Title: Biblical Misconceptions, Date/Place: NRBC, 9/27/09, AM
A. Opening illustration: Stanford Research Institute was studying the differences in vocational perceptions. They devised a short but succinct test. The first to be tested was an engineer. The researchers asked him: “ What does two plus two make?” The engineer simply said, “In absolute terms: four.” After making their notes and dismissing him, they called an architect. To the same question, he responded, “Well, there are several possibilities: two and two make four, but so does three and one -- or two point five and one point five -- they also make four. So, it is all a matter of choosing the right option.” The researchers thanked him and made their notes. Finally, they called an attorney. When he heard the question, he looked around slyly, asked if he could close the door for privacy, and then came over close, leaned toward them and said, “Well, tell me, what would you like it to be?”
B. Background to passage: Recount the travel from Caesarea to Malta with the shipwreck. And now they are cold, wet, tired, and hungry, but alive, just as Paul had predicted. And their first few hours on Malta provide for some interested reading, and for some clearing up of misconceptions about the faith.
C. Main thought: in this mornings text, we will clear up four common misconceptions of biblical teaching
A. Regarding Unbelievers (v. 1-2)
1. Luke uses a term here to describe the inhabitants of Malta, “barbarians.” It is translated a bunch of different ways, but it means those who didn’t know Greek or Latin. They were uncultured in the eyes of the world (the Roman world). Explain origin of the word. But these barbarians showed unusual kindness. Usually captured or killed or sold shipwreck victims. The common misconception about unbelievers is two-fold, and covers both extremes. First, sometimes it is thought that unbelievers are miserable without Jesus. These foreigners may not speak Greek, but they show extreme kindness and hospitality, not normal for miserable people. Secondly, unbelievers are sometimes thought to be completely happy.
2. Argumentation
3. Illustration: Augustine said this, “You made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless, until it rest in Thee.”
4. Sometimes we just forget what it is like to be lost. Our lives and culture for a long time revolves around the church, Christians, prayer, the bible, and so hopefully our worldview, thought processes, values, and priorities come from these sources. And constantly at funerals I wonder, “how do people do this that don’t know Jesus.” And we think they must be miserable, but most of the time they are not. Remember contentedness nor lack thereof is a good indication of genuine belief. Our churches are full of people who think they are OK. Their hearts deceive them and they breathe God-ignoring air, and most are content to be that way. They are blind, but they think they see, deaf, but they think they hear. And one who is about to drive off a cliff in the fog is just jamming to the radio until the end comes. But somewhere in their thoughts at night, when they’re alone, in crisis, questions, convictions, doubts, and worries bother them at some level because of general revelation. This is why we must be consistent with our lives, but not obnoxious with biblical truth, and be ready for the opportunities that present themselves in the lives of others.
B. Regarding Snakes (v. 3)
1. I’ve always wanted to preach on snake handling. Very early in the bible snakes are curse as always being at enmity with man, although this probably has more to do with Satan and Man more so than the snake. I know not everyone loves snakes as much as I do, so I didn’t bring my box of serpents for the worship service today. But you know as well as I do, there are churches around here that have this practice. Turn to Mark 16, and make the case for its inclusion. These are simply signs. This doesn’t mean that everyone who takes up serpents is a believer, nor that every believer must take up serpents. They don’t even do that in these churches. So now, the interpretation. We should all take up serpents! JK! Acts 28 is the interpretation. Notice that Paul didn’t play with it, or have a worship service, he just shook it off into the fire. Symbolic of Satan’s end into the lake of fire?
2. Illustration: Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes. Hudson Taylor said that a man is immortal until God is done with him. Tell about Chris having the snake in my seminary room for a few days…picture of me,
3. If you are serving the Lord, and you happen to get bitten by a snake, God may preserve your life so that you can be a witness to His power. Remember the bible doesn’t say that the serpent must be poisonous. In fact, the Greek work used for snake here is not the one for venomous snake (could mean that, but there is a better word, found in Acts 28. Bible also doesn’t say that they won’t bite. Many of these handlers concede this. It also doesn’t say that you won’t die if you take up a snake that bites you. The general principle is that God can and does protect His servants, not that we should handle snakes.
C. Regarding Cosmic Justice (v. 4-5)
1. These foreigners saw the snake and made the remark that the sea spared Paul but “Justice” personified would not, via the snake. They felt like bad things would happen to bad people, and good things would happen to good people. They just knew that Paul was a murder like Job’s friends new that he was a sinner, and needed to repent of some sin. And granted that in general terms, if you live like the bible says, life will be better for you (statistics bear this out), and in general that God blesses those that walk with him, and payment will be ultimately exacted from those who thumb their nose at God, there are times when this truth does not apply. In our scenario, Paul had been the only reason that they were all alive. And many times suffering comes into the lives of the most faithful believers because God knows that they will endure suffering well, and bring Him much glory and honor through it, and that they will profit by it. And many times it seems that the wicked prosper. Rest assured that God has good reasons for that too.
2. John 9:2-3, Deut 32:4, Job 35:14, Ps 97:2, 37:1-2, Rom 2:2, 5
3. Illustration: The story I posted after I read it from the Voice of the Martyrs website about the husband of a woman named Deborah in Vietnam who was visciously beaten, kidnapped, moved around, left for dead… My Name is Earl, “With him we deal not with the imperfections of human justice but with the perfections of divine justice. We deal with the one to whom not only actions but also thoughts and intentions are visible. Who can escape such justice? Who can stand before such an unwielding judge? No one.” –Boice,
4. This is one of those areas of practical theology that needs balance. The Pharisees were out of balance, the natives here were out of balance. We don’t want to have a theology that resembles karma more than Jesus. Know that sometimes God can and does reward or chasten because of deeds done here on earth. But on the other hand, God’s justice is not always meted out in a way that we would describe as fairly on earth. It will be one day, all accounts will be settled, every wrong paid for, and every right rewarded. Be thankful that abs justice is not carried out immediately. We serve the One True God whose justice never fails. And we must trust in that even when it seems like it is failing. God’s purposes doing things or refraining from doing certain things are wiser than our pidly understanding of how we might settle scores. Remember that He is bringing all things to His desired end within the counsel of His will. Therefore…
D. Regarding Our Discernment (v. 6)
1. This is kinda two sides to the same coin, related truths. But just as the truth is not cut and dry that bad things don’t happen to bad people and vise versa, but we also cannot assume that our judgment is correct either. This is a good testimony that a sense of justice is shared by all cultures. We all think that some things are right and some things are wrong. The natives after watching Paul not die, they realized that their first estimation was really wrong. And then they decided that Paul must be a divine being (this was a common idea back in those days and culture). So now they have been wrong twice. And we could chalk it up to their errant theology, but there are deeper issues. Their (and our) ability to judge is not always accurate.
2. Pro 14:12, John 7:24,
3. Illustration: tell about the church secretary who spread the rumor about the pastor because of his continued visits to a single woman’s home as she died of brain cancer, "Discernment is Gods call to intercession, never to fault finding."
4. We are broken, sinful people. We must realize that our hearts are deceitful, and desperately wicked. That our judgment is usually clouded, if not completely cut off by our remnant sin. Our redeemed nature does not fix all our issues. This is an area in which most of us struggle. We are constantly judging other people, their motives, their intentions, their character, etc. And this is not to say that we never judge, just that we be slow and discerning in doing so. We may not have all the information. We may be too close to the situation. Personal feelings might get in the way. In fact, if we have been disobedient, God may even cloud our judgment. Another reason to stay close to Jesus—clearer discernment. This is why it is always good to include lots of counselors before passing judgment or making determinations.
A. Closing illustration: Perhaps the greatest biblical misconception is: Gospel is spelled "d-o-n-e," not "d-o". The word "Gospel" implies an event that has already been done, not something we must go and do. The Gospel is not, then, primarily about what we are to go and do for God, but about what God has done for us. The Gospel is good news, not good advice.
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
• Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
