Three Attitudes about Christ (Part 1)
Chuck Sligh
April 13, 2015
TEXT: Turn in your Bibles to Acts 5 [TEXT TO BE READ LATER]
INTRODUCTION
In Reader’s Digest, a young woman told of being employed as a dental receptionist. She was on duty when an extremely nervous patient came for root canal surgery. He was brought into the examining room and seated in the dental chair. The dentist then injected a numbing agent around the patient’s tooth, and left the room for a few minutes while the medication took hold. When he returned, the patient was standing next to a tray of dental equipment. “What are you doing by the surgical instruments?” asked the surprised dentist. The patient replied, “I’m taking out the ones I don’t like.”
As we’ll see, this perfectly illustrates what the religious leaders were trying to do with Peter and John and the other pesky disciples in Acts 5:17-42. Already, in chapter 4, Peter and John had been brought before the religious leaders and told not to preach in the name of Jesus anymore, to which they replied that they could not BUT speak the things they had seen and heard. Without any real charge against them, they released them, bringing joy to the church. Then, at the beginning of chapter 5, we saw how God struck Ananias and Sapphira dead for hypocrisy and lying to God, an act that purified the early church. But rather than lead to the church’s decline, verse 14 says, “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” Moreover, the apostles preached Jesus everywhere, despite being forbidden to do so.
Let’s pick the narrative up now at verse 17 – “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation.”
Enraged, they had Peter and John arrested and had them put into prison: verse 18 – “And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.” But look what happens in verses 19-21 – “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.”
They hauled Peter and John before the council again, with the intent of destroying this troublesome movement once and for all! But they couldn’t do it—because, as Jesus said, “…the gates of hell shall not prevail against [the church].” (Matthew 16:18)
Now in verses 22-42 we see three attitudes about Christ and His Church, and that’s what I want to spend the rest of our time on this morning, and next. One of these attitudes is clearly satanic; the second SEEMS to be wise and reasonable but is actually unbiblical; and only the third is the godly attitude. Interestingly, even today people look at Christ from one of these three perspectives.
With that background, let’s read a rather lengthy passage, Acts 5:22-42 – “But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
I. THE FIRST ATTITUDE ABOUT CHRISTIANITY IS THE SPIRIT OF OPPOSITION.
The high priest was clearly the voice of hatred for Christ and His church. Isn’t it ironic that some of the worst opposition and persecution of Jesus in His earthly ministry and His followers throughout history have come from RELIGIOUS leaders? The high priest and those allied with him exhibit two reactions that we can expect from those who oppose Christ, whether they are religious or secular.
1) First of all, they showed HOSTILITY.
This is obvious in verse 17 where it says that the high priest and the Sadducees were “filled with indignation.”
You see it also in verse 33 where we read, “When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.”
And again in verse 40 – “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
It comes as a shock to many how hostile the enemies of Christ can be to Christians. In many places in our world, simply professing faith in Jesus leads to rejection, persecution, and in some places imprisonment or even death. Even in the West, it’s okay to have a watered-down, stand-for-nothing, keep-your-mouth shut form of so-called Christianity; but to be open about Christ; to be willing to share Christ with others; to stand with Him as the only way of salvation; and to stand for righteousness against the moral depravity of our day won’t lead to imprisonment or death, but it will earn you a loss of popularity and sometimes rejection and subtle forms of persecution.
The truth is that standing with Christ has always aroused hostility and opposition. So, how should we respond to this hostility to God and His people?—Hold a rally?—Take up a petition?—Fret and bite our nails in fear?
No, in Matthew 5:11-12 Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
“Wait a minute,” you say, “Pastor Sligh, are you saying that if we’re persecuted and reviled because of our faith, we’re supposed to REJOICE? YEP—and that’s exactly what these believers did according to verse 41 – “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
Would you rejoice if you were persecuted for Christ? May God help you to take stand BOLDLY for Jesus—and REJOICE if you’re called on to suffer because of your faith in Christ.
2) The second reaction we see was the resort to FORCE. – Look at verse 18 – “And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”
To the religious leaders, MIGHT was their only argument. What they never anticipated was that their persecution by force only GUARANTEED that Christianity would grow and flourish. Look throughout history and you’ll see that whenever the church was persecuted, it was in its purest and most vibrant and most dynamic form.
Illus. – In the second century a Christian was brought before Pliny, the Roman Governor of Asia Minor. Pliny couldn’t find anything wrong in the man, other than the fact that he was a member of the forbidden, outlawed Christian religion. But he was baffled by these Christians who seemed not to be intimidated by threats or even death. He proceeded to threaten the Christian standing before him:
“I’ll banish you,” he threatened.
“You cannot,” was the reply, “for all the world is my Father’s house.”
“Then I’ll slay you.” Said Pliny.
“You cannot, for my life is hid with Christ in God.”
“I’ll take away all your possessions!”
“You cannot, for my treasure is in heaven.”
“Then I’ll drive you away from men and you’ll have no friend left.”
And the calm reply once more was, “You cannot, for I have an unseen Friend from Whom you are not able to separate me.”
What can persecution and force do against people like that? Persecution has ALWAYS served to purge and refine the church by screening out those not completely committed to Jesus. You see, no one would give his life or suffer beatings for Christ—UNLESS HE TRULY MEANT BUSINESS WITH GOD!
Now let’s get personal for a moment: If you were brought before an inquisition to answer for your faith (which could happen someday) would your faith be strong enough to stand true? If they sought to convict you on the basis of evidence, would there even be enough evidence to convict you of being a follower of Christ? And one more question: Could you suffer ostracism, opposition, prison, even martyrdom for Christ?
I guess what I’m really asking you is—How STRONG is your commitment to God? How REAL is your FAITH? How GENUINE is your dedication to following Christ?
We can never know for sure the answers to those questions until we have to face such persecution, but one thing I know is true: If you’re wishy-washy about God now; if you you’re holding hands with the world now; if you’re lackadaisical and lazy about your walk with God today when there is little cost for standing with Christ; you would never be able to stand in the day of persecution.
II. THE SECOND ATTITUDE WE SEE IN OUR TEXT IS THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE, AS SEEN IN GAMALIEL.
At first reading, it appears that Gamaliel was the voice of REASON, but in fact, Gamaliel typifies a very dangerous attitude about Christ and His church.
I’d like to point out two errors in Gamaliel’s argument:
1) First, his argument was based on HUMAN REASONING – verses 38-39 – “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
His argument seemed plausible didn’t it? “Let time test,” he was saying—“If it’s not of God, it won’t last.”
But is that really a valid assumption? Many false religions and erroneous beliefs have also lasted centuries, but are not thereby proved to be of God simply because they’ve passed the test of time. Gamaliel’s arguments seemed sensible, but they didn’t agree with scripture! The test of whether something is of God is NOT something subjective like “the test of time” but the test of scripture!—What does the BIBLE say about it?
It really amazes me how easily even Christians can be sucked into harmful movements and philosophies and ideas simply because they haven’t learned to test everything by the standard of the Word of God.
Illus. – A number of years ago, a friend of mine became enthralled with a certain a big movement called the “Toronto Blessing” raging around the world. He thought this was the greatest moving of God since Pentecost, but when I heard about people rolling in the aisles, crawling on all fours, and making animal noises, I knew this didn’t line up with scripture.
So I asked him, “Dave, how do you know it’s of God?”
He looked at me with a blank expression on his face. I honestly believe it hadn’t even crossed his mind to TEST what he was seeing and hearing against the standard of Scripture.
Finally Dave replied, “Chuck, the movement is GROWING LIKE WILDFIRE. It has MULTIPLIED in churches all over America. If it weren’t of God, I don’t think God would bless it like that.”
I responded, “Then I guess if size and growth are your standards, then you would agree with me that the Mormon Church is of God, and so is the New Age Movement and so is Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church?”
You see, human wisdom looks at outward, non-biblical criteria to determine the validity of religious experiences and teachings.
But let me show you a group of people who used GOD’S WORD as the standard to evaluate truth and were commended by God for it. In Acts 17, Paul came and taught in the synagogue in Berea, where verse 11 says, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
The Bereans didn’t automatically believe Paul, even though he was a persuasive preacher, and manifested miraculous “signs of an apostle.” Nor did they evaluate his message on the basis of something like “the test of time” or apparent success. They had ONE criterion by which to determine whether Paul was teaching the truth: That was how did his teachings line up with God’s Word?
2) The second reason Gamaliel’s attitude was dangerous is because it characterized NEUTRALITY.
He was neither for nor against Christ. He seemed to be such a REASONABLE man.
But in reality, Gamaliel typifies a most dangerous threat to the cause of Christ, because, you see, you CANNOT be neutral about Christ! You’re either for or against Him! You’re either on God’s side or the side of His enemies! Folks, we’re in a BATTLE—and you cannot be in two opposing armies at the same time!
Friend, are you a fence-straddler—trying to be on both sides at the same time? James 1:8 says “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
You can’t go bar-hopping on Friday and go to church on Sunday! You can’t worship God on the Lord’s Day and live for the world and the flesh on Monday through Saturday! You can’t pretend to be spiritual one day of the week and hold the world’s hand the rest of the time.
You CANNOT be neutral about God; You CANNOT sit on the fence; You’re either serving GOD or THE ENEMY.
CONCLUSION
These first two attitudes are worldly and satanic, though the second seems, oh, so reasonable. There’s one more attitude we’ll see next Sunday that the disciples exhibited that pleases God. Today, let’s draw in the net, and see how God wants us to respond to these truths. James said, “Be not hearers of the word only; but be DOERS of the Word.”
So this morning, what does God want you to DO with what we’ve talked about today?
• First, I think He would want you to ask yourself if you are truly saved.
These believers acted so courageously, not because they were just inherently brave people (Peter denied Jesus three times to save his skin, and all the disciples except John abandoned Jesus in fear). The change occurred because they had come to faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit had come to live inside of them to change and transform their lives.
The Gospel is not about reformation or just bucking up and being religious. It’s about realizing your condition of sin before a holy God and recognizing that there was a penalty of death and hell for that sin, and believing that Jesus died on the cross to pay that penalty in your place. If you’ll turn to Jesus and simply trust HIM as your only hope of salvation, He’ll save you and make you His child and His Spirit will come inside you and change you and give you a whole new perspective on life, and the power to please Him.
I invite you to come to Jesus by faith this morning.
• Second, for those of you who know with certainty that Christ is your Savior, have you been trying to hold hands with God on the one hand and the world on the other?
Are you trying to serve two opposing armies? Are you double minded? Are you serving two masters? If so, you have a decision to make this morning: You must choose one side or the other. “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
It’s time to confess your sins before God; and forsake the idols that have pulled you away from Christ; and rededicate your life to God wholeheartedly. He’s deserving of it; and it’s the only way to truly live…and you know it!
