Jesus Confronts a Religious Man
Prairie Baptist Church – 12/13/09
A.M. Service
Text: Acts 9:1-9
Key verse: Acts 9:5 - And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
Premise: Paul had all the passion and righteous anger for God, and it was all wrong. Jesus had to correct Paul’s path and destiny to make him the man he was supposed to be. Paul’s religion got in the way of what was more important; a relationship with Jesus.
The Introduction
A woman testified to the transformation in her life that had resulted through her experience in conversion. She declared, "I’m so glad I got religion. I have an uncle I used to hate so much I vowed I’d never go to his funeral. But now, why, I’d be happy to go to it any time."
Paul, here is on a mission, to eradicate a very dangerous cult.
He desires to see all of these believers in Jesus shut up or killed
He believes that should take care of the problem.
Jesus had the awesome task of cracking a religious nut.
Today, we have a similar problem in the work in regard to religion.
Christianity is not about religion, but relationship
Religion is man doing his best to make himself acceptable to God (It won’t happen)
Christianity is God sending His best (Jesus) so man can have a relationship with Him (by grace through faith in Jesus Christ).
Proper and true religion comes only after a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior.
Paul runs full force into the path of Jesus and is forever changed.
Body
1. The Poison of False Religion
A. Leads to wrong thinking and action – 9:1-2
i. There was hatefulness and murderous intent in Paul’s heart
ii. Much harm has been done in the name of religion
iii. Sometimes, we can even do harm to each other over what we think is proper religious intent.
B. It may be sincere, but sincerely wrong
i. Paul, no doubt was sincere, but had a misplaced sincerity
ii. He had a zeal for God, but did not see God’s plan fulfilled in Christ
iii. He saw “the way” as a dangerous cult that needed to be eradicated.
iv. Years later, Paul would preach to some with this same message - Acts 17:22 - Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;
C. It is void of grace
i. At a comparative religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about what is unique about Christianity. Someone suggested what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God took human form in Jesus. But someone quickly said, “Well, actually, other faiths believe that God appears in human form.” Another suggestion was offered: what about resurrection? The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb was found empty. Someone slowly shook his head. Other religions have accounts of people returning from the dead. Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked into the room, tweed jacket, pipe, arm full of papers, a little early for his presentation. He sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke saying, “what’s all this rumpus about?” Everyone turned in his direction. Trying to explain themselves they said, “We’re debating what’s unique about Christianity.” “Oh, that’s easy,” answered Lewis. “It’s grace.”
ii. Gal. 1:13-15 - 13For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,
iii. Human religion is a divinely graceless belief system
iv. Where anyone believes that God is pleased with works for salvation has not grasped the concept of grace for “by grace are you saved.”
D. It’s worship is for show, not genuine
i. Is. 1:11-15 - 11“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. 12“When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? 13Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. 15When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
ii. Sometimes, people embrace religion for a number of different reasons:
a. They want to appear good to those around them
b. They feel it may give them status in some way
c. It makes them feel good
iii. All of that type of worship is just a put-on; it is not real
a. Is. 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
b. The only real worship is done in a changed relationship to God through Jesus Christ (Jn. 4:24)
E. It leads people astray from the truth
i. Some of us may be able to sympathize with the fellow who received a call from his wife just as she was about to fly home from Europe. "How’s my cat?" she asked. "Dead." "Oh, honey, don’t be so honest. Why didn’t you break the news to me slowly? You’ve ruined my trip." "What do you mean?" "You could have told me he was on the roof. And when I called you from Paris, you could have told me he was acting sluggish. Then when I called from London, you could have said he was sick, and when I called you from New York, you could have said he was at the vet. Then, when I arrived home, you could have said he was dead." The husband had never been exposed to such protocol but was willing to learn. "OK," he said. "I’ll do better next time." "By the way," she asked, "how’s Mom?" There was a long silence, then he replied, "Uh, she’s on the roof." SOURCE: Just like Jesus, by Max Lucado, p. 108
ii. 2nd Pet. 2:1-3 - But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
iii. Religion makes people feel good but it does not make them good
iv. It blinds them to their soul’s need by providing a temporary feel-good substitute.
2. The Purity of True Religion
A. Pure religion is the response of pure righteousness which comes from a pure relationship
i. Relationship – John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (also Gal. 3:26 - For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.)
ii. Righteousness - Rom. 8:9-10 - 9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
iii. Religion - James 1:27 - Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
a. The outward actions do not save, but are the result of being saved
b. This is caring for others who have need
c. This is keeping oneself morally and spiritually clean
B. It treats others as we would treat Christ
i. Matthew 25:34-36 - 34Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
ii. Especially those in the body of Christ, our brothers and sisters
iii. It also includes others around us, because you just never know – Heb. 13:2 - Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
C. It generates positive, noticeable results
i. Matt. 13:23 - But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
ii. It is an ongoing, spiritual work - Gal. 5:22-23 - 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
iii. Add to that righteousness and truth - Eph. 5:8-9 – 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
Conclusion:
(Non-Christian) Are you trusting in religion to make you right with God? Do you think that somehow doing and saying the right things will score points with God. You may be sincere but God has another way that is right and better and perfect. Your way will lead to a tragic end.
(Christian) What kind of relationship do you have with God right now?
Is it producing fruit in your life?
Is it drawing you closer to God?
It is glorifying Him?
Is it changing you day by day?
