Acts 28:28-31

"Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him."

Look at Verse 28 again. Think about what Paul is saying here. He is saying that the salvation of God, which is a uniquely Old Testament expression, again "the salvation of "Jehovah" God is sent unto the Gentiles and they will hear it!! Talk about a 180 degree turn from 3000 years of history, talk about a "new covenant"; this idea that the salvation of Jehovah god is sent to the Gentiles is revolutionary. And so the question is "Who are the Gentiles?" To whom is this gospel being sent? Simply put, it is being sent to the whole entire rest of the world! That means everyone outside of the Nation of Israel is included (and Israel as well) – gentiles in Asia, Europe, Africa, North & South America. In other words, in 32 short years, from Acts 1 to Acts 28, Luke has taken us and the gospel message from Jerusalem in Judea to Rome, Italy; and from a predominantly Jewish church to a predominantly Gentile church. So that from that moment or from Verse 28 and onward, the still untold multitude of Gentiles in the world is going to be the "target" audience of the gospel of Christ.

Look at Verses 30 & 31 again. As you read these final two verses, in the book of Acts, you’ll notice that it doesn’t sound like an ending and it’s not. It sounds more like the end of the first or second chapter. It is, if you would, the end of the beginning. The last chapter of Acts is essentially the passing of the baton. And so the 1^st century church has passed onto the 2^nd century church, the baton of preaching the gospel to every creature and on and on it’s gone until today. It has been handed down to us and it will continue to carry on until Jesus comes again.

And the one thing that Jesus said would happen way back in Acts chapter one, is happening exactly as He said it would in Verse 8, when he said, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Those were words that Jesus spoke to Jewish apostles and apostles who were being persecuted by a man named Saul, who wasn’t even saved yet. And so we see the gospel in a short span of 32 years, has taken a giant step out of Jerusalem, out of Judea, out of Israel and right into the middle of Gentile territory and the whole world. And what a story it has been from 30 messages ago to now.

• From Peter preaching at Pentecost 3,000 Jews being saved.
• From Stephen preaching and being stoned by an angry mob.
• From Saul being saved while on his way to persecute more Christians
• From the great missionary church at Antioch in Syria
• From Peter and Caesarea
• From Paul and Barnabus and their first missionary journey
• From Paul and Silas and Timothy and Titus and James and Lydia and Apollos and Aquila and Priscilla and Cornelius and other names that we would never have known.
• From new cities of church planting and evangelism like Corinth, Ephesus and Troas and Milletus.

And for us tonight, it has been a story of vital truths for Christians and New Testament churches.

What did we learn from this series?

1. We learned what the purpose of the church really is. We learned why God established the church and what we are really supposed to be doing as God’s church today. The overall, primary purpose is found right in the first chapter of the book of Acts and in Verse 8, where the Lord Jesus said, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me!" And everything that we do ought to be to that end; namely to win the lost to Jesus Christ!

• "Singing" is a wonderful thing and properly done, it can be used to prepare the heart for the preaching of God’s word. But as wonderful as it is, singing can never be an end unto itself. Nobody ought to ever stand behind this pulpit just to sing. Nobody should sing just to be heard to because they have a nice voice or gifted abilities. All music in a preaching service should be geared to souls being saved.
• "Giving" is vital in the church and there is a purpose for giving, but the ultimate purpose for giving is that lost people will come to Christ; that’s why we have a faith promise missions program.
• "Teaching" the Bible is part of a New Testament church; but you’re not supposed to teach and be taught just for the sake of teaching and to be taught. All teaching must have a purpose or a goal.

• In Matthew 28:19 & 20, Jesus is giving the Great Commission. And a lot of times we forget two little words that come after "teaching" in Verse 20. Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

• They were to "observe" all things that he commanded them. What did he command them? "Go ye, into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" – Mk, 16:5. Back in Acts 28:23 – Paul witnessing to Jews again – What did Paul do from morning until evening? He "preached" Christ to them. You can’t get away from the fact that from Acts chapter one to Acts chapter 28, the one central and main them in the local assembly or body of believer’s "main business" is the preaching of the gospel of Christ to lost sinners. Everything else should be a means to that end. Everything! From the music, the teaching, the missions program, VBS, teen activities, Sunday school – all of it!
• So if you sing in front of the congregation, the main purpose of that song is...

• To the saved members à to edify, exhort and to encourage them to go out those doors to be a better Christian witness to the lost.
• To the lost à person that might be present, it’s to help prepare the soil of their heart to be receptive to the gospel

• In summary, the first lesson learned from the book of Acts is "the purpose of the Church."

2. We learned that it will always "cost" something to be a good Christian. It will cost us to be a faithful witness for Christ. From the beginning to the end of Acts we see beatings, stonings, mob violence, jailings, etc.

• Read Acts 28:30, why did Paul receive them into his house in Rome? Why didn’t he go out to them as he did in times past? Because he was under house arrest. Paul’s last words in Acts are as a prisoner. As it did then and always will, the preaching of the gospel to the lost always carries with it a stigma and it will always face opposition. And that’s why it is "Folly" and ridiculous as some Christians and some churches today are trying to take the gospel and make it more popular and palatable and easier to swallow ("seeker friendly").
• Look at what these Jews said to Paul in Acts 28:22, "Everywhere, Christianity is spoken against." And right here in the last chapter of Acts is a stark reminder that the preaching of the gospel will never be popular and not only that, it will cost you if you are a good Christian and are a faithful witness. Like these first century Christians were! "Yea and all who live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
• It may cost you your friends and popularity; it may cost you your family; it may cost you your lucrative position if God calls you into the ministry.
• Jesus said in John 16:33, "In the world ye shall have tribulation." Why? Because you are in the world, a world that opposes the gospel Paul said in Acts 14:22 – "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." It is simply part and parcel of true Christianity in this life.
• We also know that any cost in this life will seem petty to the rewards up in heaven.

Story

The family preacher D.L. Moody told about a Christian woman who was always bright, cheerful, and optimistic even though she was confined to her room because of illness. She lived in an attic apartment on the fifth floor of an old, rundown building. A friend decided to visit her one day and brought along another woman – a person of great wealth. Since there was no elevator, the two ladies began the long climb upward. When they reached the second floor, the well-to-do woman commented, "What a dark and filthy place!" Her friend replied, "It’s better higher up." When they arrived at the third landing, the remark was made, "Things look even worse here." Again the reply, "It’s better higher up." The two women finally reached the attic level, where they found the bedridden saint of God. A smile on her face radiated the joy that filled her heart. Although the room was clean and flowers were on the window sill, the wealthy visitor could not get over the stark surroundings in which this woman lived. She blurted out, "It must be very difficult for you to be here like this!" Without a moment’s hesitation the shut-in responded, "It’s better higher up." She was not looking at temporal things. With the eye of faith fixed on the eternal, she had found the secret of true satisfaction and contentment.

Even though we might not suffer as Stephen, or Peter or Paul, being a faithful Christian witness will cost something! It might mean scorn, loss of popularity, being picked on, mocked, being made fun of and losing friend. But it will cost something!

But whatever the cost, it is not sacrifice. Jesus did all the sacrificing 2000 years ago. In fact thee 1^st century Christians in the book of Acts, looked at persecution not as sacrifice, but rather as a reason to rejoice, that they were counted worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ! Wow. And we complain if it’s too hot or too cold in church.

Another mark of a good Christian was that they never retaliated and they didn’t despair, they didn’t quit. Even when people refused to believe; look at Acts 28:24, "some believed and some believed not." Can you accept that? Can you accept that it’s the way it will always be? Paul even tells us why some won’t believe in Verse 27. This is the reality of preaching the gospel.

Once again, what have we learned form the Book of Acts:

1. The primary purpose of the church is to preach the gospel
2. It will cost you something and
3. The absolute necessity of the presence and ministry of the "Holy Spirit of God!"

• We said at the beginning of this study that the Acts of the Apostles could be renamed "The Acts of the Holy Spirit" or the continuing work of Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I’ve been in a lot of churches over the years and it’s sad to say but a lot of churches have a form of Godliness but deny the power thereof!
• The Christians in the book of Acts were filled with the Holy Spirit, empowered by the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit. They operated exclusively under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit of God and that is sadly lacking in churches today (where he is often grieved and quenched).
• The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to bring people to Christ, fill them upon salvation and then to guide and comfort us through the Christian life.

4. We’ve also learned from the book of Acts, "The Divine Providence of God"

• We saw that time after time, no matter what the circumstance or situation, God was in control! How many times did we see Peter, Stephen, Paul & Silas and others in terrible situations, but God was always there and His will was accomplished.
• Stephen was toned, but God was working in the like of a man named Saul.
• Paul & Silas were beaten and jailed, but the Philippian jailer and his family were saved.
• Peter was imprisoned and about to be killed, but God broke him out and the churches faith was increased.
• Phillip was sensitive to the Holy Spirit and left where God was using Him to go to Gaza and witness to the Ethiopian Eunich.
• Paul was imprisoned but was able to lead many in Christ and was able to give his testimony to governors and councils.
• We’ve learned, no matter what the circumstance, God is on the throne and is still in control.

5. We’ve learned that God’s people are Human. And because they are human, they make mistakes.

• We read about John-Mark who went home midway on the fist missionary journey (he was human).
• We read about Paul & Barnabus splitting up and going separate ways (they were human).
• We read about Peter & Paul and the problem Peter had with the Gentiles (they were human).
• But in spite of themselves, God used them. And God wants to use us as well, with our frailties, our imperfections, our fears and out faults. He uses human, He uses imperfect people to accomplish his work in this world.
• Think about this as well, How did God use and continues to use ordinary people? How did these frail human beings take the gospel to the whole known world at that time? They expected and depended upon God for the decisions that they made. And they did everything through prayer: They prayed and fasted; they prayed early in the morning and prayed late into the night; they prayed in jail when things looked bleak; they prayed when things were going well and when things were not going well. It was their lifeline.
• And that’s why the last verse in the book of Acts says, Paul was preaching and teaching in jail under house arrest; no man forbidding him and with all confidence.

What a great book. Let’s on continue on until Jesus comes.

Let’s pray.

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