True Cleansing of the Heart

Romans 2:17-29

The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles

17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.

Circumcision of No Avail

25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Paul addressed the Jews who relied on their ethnic heritage with their religious beliefs and upbringing to boast in God, not in knowing and following Him according to His word and intent.  He told them how their boasting of reliance on these things was not enough.  They approved a list of acceptable actions and relied on their teachers (rabbis) when interpreting the scriptures.  They claimed to be guides to the spiritually blind and a light to those in darkness with a superior position over the babes needing their form of knowledge and truth of that law contained in God’s word.  The apostle directed his words to question their understanding and application of that same word to themselves asking if they did what they told (Matthew 23:3-4) others to do.  We are to listen to such as Jesus said but not imitate their misapplied or ignored actions that contradict the word of God.  We like they are to teach ourselves to keep in step with the Spirit in alignment with the scriptures and not with teachers and teachings that tickle our ears or lay weighty burdens of legalistic commands out of context and teaching of the scriptures.  If we boast in keeping God’s word then we also should not be antinomians in doing what we like instead of willingly observing the intent and not the mere letter of the law.  We are still held to keeping the Ten Commandments which are now written in our hearts as a living Law and not as cold checklists to be outwardly seen to be in compliance with the law though our hearts and minds remain disconnected with God and the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:10-11, 13, 16).  Our behavior should be in response to the holiness of the Lord (1 Peter 1:16, John 17:17) as God knows our hearts and who are His (2 Timothy 2:19) by their lives walked out open the direction God intends and not according to our desires to have or hold inappropriately (1 John 2:15-16) in pride but to live as God-pleasers (1 John 2:17) in response with a changed heart and mind giving guidance and humility in teaching others, not as these being corrected here had done.  We are not to blaspheme the Lord by living otherwise and we should immediately repent and ask forgiveness when we fail (1 John 1:9) to remain humble and effective in leading others in the same direction (Philippians 3:12-14).  We are spiritually circumcised by the evil of our hearts being cut away and new hearts implanted by God’s Spirit and it is this regenerate life that identifies true Jews as God’s chosen people and His children of grace in good standing because we stand in Christ and His righteousness.  Rules and rituals are not proof or praise of God in us, but a new creation set in the footsteps of those who follow Christ such as Paul who calls us to imitate Christ as he did as we follow the way he did (1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1) and run this race to Christ in spirit and in truth of the Law infused in our souls and not according to the mere outward letter of the Law.  These verses are a warning to us as well as the original audience.  May we follow Jesus Christ accordingly with a true cleansing of our hearts.  This leads us to pursue a True Cleansing of the Heart in place of rule alignment. 

The Goodness of God's Righteous Judgment

Romans 2:1-16

1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 

5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 

11 For there is no partiality with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Here no excuses are acceptable.  We cannot judge others without condemning ourselves.  No matter how much we would like to think we are better then another or could never do what heinous thing we observe in those we would judge, our hearts and minds conceal the same degraded patterns of sin inherited from Adam (Romans 5:12, 18) and we are without excuse (Romans 3:10-12).  God’s judgment is true and just to hold everyone accountable to Him for those sins inward as well as outward, which is why Jesus spoke of the heart as the source in the beatitudes and elsewhere (Matthew 5:27-28, 15:18).  Continuing to sin without turning from sin to Him leads to death.  Repentance from sin and faith in receiving Christ who stepped in between sin and judgment to take the penalty on Himself for us is the only hope we have to escape the eternal consequences of unending punishment.  It is His goodness and patience in drawing us to Himself that we should understand as we part with the passing pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25) and count it best to be with Him now and not wait until death.  It is foolish to despise His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9) that bring us to repent and believe (Mark 1:15) the good news we call the gospel.  If we do as many in the world who reject Jesus as the Son of God and Christ, we only lay up earthly treasures that fade and rust away and turn into the wrath of God’s righteous judgment and cosmic justice of an eternal sentence in the torment to come.  If, however, we lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), we will find lasting peace with God and joy inexpressible instead.  Our deeds define our eternal destiny in that the works we do contrary to God’s law earn the same as Adam did (which we also have inherited being born in sin), while the work of God in Christ’s work on our behalf (John 6:29) if believed is our salvation from sin’s power and penalty forevermore.  Those who continue to pursue the works of darkness (John 3:19-20) and do not turn to God when they hear the gospel (John 3:21) but reject and mock it only prove that they have sealed their sentence.  God shows no favors; we are all equally accountable to Him for inherited and committed sin.  Being a member of a church or doing penance do not earn salvation.  Only Jesus Christ earns our deliverance from God’s wrath on our sin.  Do you know Him, dear reader?  Nothing else will do to save you and I but the work of Christ in His life, sacrificial death on a tree of our curse for sin, and resurrection as proof of eternal life beyond the grave!  Accept no cheap substitute or you risk the peril of eternal consequences.  There is no other way to the kingdom of heaven but Jesus Christ the divine Son of God (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5-6) who died and rose again as we celebrate Easter each year as a reminder for all His sheep to listen and heed His call (John 10:27-28).  This is not revocable (John 10:29) because Jesus is God (John 10:30).  This is also why no other religion or philosophy can deliver us as only the divine Christ is able to do for us through the self-sacrifice on the cross to take our curse (Colossians 2:14) and give us unending life in God’s presence (Jude 1:24, Revelation 21:3, 22:4-5) in the kingdom life to come.  No cult or half full gospel can do this.  He writes His law on our hearts with the finger of His Spirit when we are reborn as proof and power to endure to the end when we are judged for who we truly know in our new hearts and not according to outward appearance and good works to convince our and others contrary to the truth.  God knows those who are His and we who are conform to Christ in Hos righteousness by righteous obedience in response.  This is the true God and eternal life (John 17:3, 1 John 5:20) in Christ in the goodness of God’s righteous judgment and grace. 

Rightful Worship and Living before God

Romans 1:18-32

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

God is not only a God of love, but of wrath also.  His wrath is aimed squarely at sin which corrupts all of His creation made to be good that was infused with rebellion and its consequences of death and judgment.  Here the word makes it plain to see how ungodliness and unrighteousness is hated from on high and how we have no excuse to question why.  He has made Himself known in the works of His hands and shown these things to us to see and understand how we should worship Him in doing what reflects His character of goodness and a right heart and actions in life in response.  Anything otherwise is rejection of Him and His will for us and this corrupts everything (Romans 8:21-22) around us made to be good (Genesis 1:31) in the beginning.  The goodness and righteous attributes of God are still visible in His creation by its very intricate design and self-sustaining nature but mankind instead worships the creation instead of the Creator even though we see Him in every piece of His handiwork!  His eternal power and godhead are on display for us to see and appreciate in response and this understanding is what holds us accountable and without excuse for our sin of worshipping anything other than Him.  This is why idolatry and immorality are so abhorrent to our Lord God in our disregard and lack of worshipful appreciation of Him and willing obedience to the One who gives us life and being.  Our lack of thanksgiving to Him and giving God the glory for all of creation leads us to foolishness eclipsing our hearts from His light and our thinking and reasoning are corrupted into utter futility as we substitute other reasons for existence and the creation we rename as mother nature and purposeless evolution as if God does not exist!  This blindness led to us all being born in sin as sons and daughters of Adam and God had given us up to the consequences of serving our own imagination over Him as we dishonor our bodies with immorality in rejecting His pattern of life and worship.  We have exchanged His truth for a lie in idol fantasies and miss the mark of serving our Maker in truth and love.  He has therefore taken our rejection of Him and turned it back upon us in a debased mind “to do those things which are not fitting” as it is written here.  Homosexuality is defined even if the word in Hebrew and Greek is not the same as we use now; the meaning and description is exactly what God means by vile passion, the natural use of the body twisted out of the way into misuse against His design of one woman to one man, and men committing shameful acts with each other where the parts do not fit as designed with the implication of sodomy laid out for us to flee or face the consequences for.  These acts and thinking leave God out of our minds no matter how we attempt to force Him into accepting or even condoning our sinful misuse of His creation.  This debased mind pushes our God from their hearts and minds which leads to further confusion and corruption.  A litany of ungodly and unrighteous qualities are listed here that have become acceptable to many and even worshipped as human rights to others.  They all are in opposition to God and His character as designed for us to imitate.  Furthermore, those who do these things ignore the righteous justice and judgment of God and deny the spiritual death penalty they earn as a result.  They go further to glorify and encourage such rebellion that others may join them on the wide way to destruction!  That is the world we see now as it was then and is only getting worse as people magnify sin and refuse to glorify and honor Him in righteous obedience to please their Maker.  Only Jesus Christ can take this just punishment on Himself to spare us, and if we are known by Him we will flee these sinful things (2 Timothy 2:19).  These verses then are a wake up call to those being called as a warning of accountability and consequences.  They are not a weapon to attack sinners (which we all are), but a direct warning for all who read and hear to flee sin and turn to Him who made us in rightful worship and living.  Though God is wrath, He also is love.  That is why He gave His only Son in our place on the cross to take on the wrath and punishment on our sin and die for us that we may live forever with Him.  On the day of His resurrection Jesus proved this hope that springs eternal in us and for us to follow after our own deaths if we are found in Him before then.  Turn from sin to Him in repentance and faith and live (Ezekiel 18:23, 33:11, Acts 3:19)! 

The Just Live by Faith in Christ’s Righteousness

Romans 1:1-17

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Desire to Visit Rome

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

The Just Live by Faith

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Paul opens this magnificent letter to the Christian community in the capital of the Roman Empire to describe all the wonder and details of their calling in Christ as saints made holy in the righteousness of Jesus alone.  Paul has the authority and insight into these doctrines of life because he was called and chosen to be an apostle who was an eyewitness of the risen Christ.  He was given understanding of the scriptures from the beginning to the words just then being finalized through him such as in this epistle to be able to define and explain the gospel that he was called and entrusted to broadcast wherever he went by God’s leading for as long as his life here endured.  Paul was careful to make his calling clear and indisputable so that the readers of the letter took them as the words of God and not his own, with the authority given (Matthew 28:18) to proclaim the good news of eternal life and the kingdom of heaven entrusted to all the apostles (Matthew 28:19-20).  He explained how the gospel of the Christ (Messiah) was as it was written already as promised through the words given the prophets before him and given through the physical lineage of King David as the promised branch of righteousness to bring deliverance from sin and death to all who He calls.  This Jesus he proclaimed as God’s Son and our Lord while also being of the divine lineage of God His Father as testified by God’s Holy Spirit and proven by resurrecting Himself from death to life which no mere mortal has the ability to do.  Jesus was then able to give certain grace and hope because He was more than just a man as only God Himself is able and who was able to call Paul as His apostle to be a messenger of grace and faith which He calls us to in trusting reception of the Son (John 1:12) as we trust His Father by the eye-opening to this gospel work of His Spirit in our minds and spirits.  We who are given ears to hear are the holy called of Christ, each and every one saints and children of God in that holy calling.  There are no saints made or identified by man’s volition, but only of God’s calling and promise as Jesus gives us enter life and holiness as we are then found in His righteousness and not our feeble efforts to earn enough good to be voted by man into sainthood.  We then are like the Roman believers in Christ in Rome to whom this letter was written and which therefore applies equally to each of us who have been reborn (John 3:3, 1 Peter 1:23) into the regeneration (Titus 3:5) to life.  We all fall under His grace and know the peace with God (Romans 5:1) which passes beyond any of our understanding (Philippians 4:7).  This introduction and standing of Paul and his readers allowed him to thank God for their faith and witness of God’s transforming work in them through the gospel applied to their lives and moved him to pray constantly for them all in response that they might increase in understanding and obedience to the truth as unto the Lord.  He expressed desire to see them in person to establish them in their faith (Romans 16:25, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Peter 5:10) and encourage their sanctification as fellow heirs of life (Ephesians 3:6) through the calling as saints through the gospel.  He made it clear that he had no shame or shirking away from the gospel but he assured them by reminder that it is God’s power to save through faith alone in God’s work alone (John 6:29) to people called out of every nation to Himself.  This call is in the righteousness of Christ and not any we can work up in our feeble attempts because Jesus is both just and the justifier (Romans 3:26) of us all.  Only His righteousness makes us righteous.  May we truly appreciate the saying of truth, “The just shall live by faith” as it is written in Habakkuk 2:4 for us to stand firm in Christ and His work of sacrifice on the cross as proven by His resurrection.  The just live forever in Christ’s righteousness as we are called holy saints by and in Him.  Amen! 

Preaching and Teaching the Kingdom of God in Christ

Acts 28:17-31

Paul's Ministry at Rome

17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: "Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."

21 Then they said to him, "We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere."

23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying,

'Go to this people and say:
"Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;

27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them."'

28 "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!" 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Paul was called to be a witness of the grace of God and His kingdom in Christ to his own people, the Jews, but mostly to the nations of non-Jews because his own people had turned deaf ears and covered eyes to God’s word long ago as especially seen in their downward spiral in the book of the Judges.  Though he was trained as a Pharisee in the religion of his people, his hometown was among the Gentiles of the Roman Empire and its culture, so he knew the customs and ways of both.  He understood the depths of the Old Testament scriptures and could relate to the pagan ways of the world through the lens of God’s word to reach them with the truth of the Christ whom the Jews had rejected as a people.  Paul had started his ministry by preaching and teaching these truths to demonstrate Jesus as the Christ to the sons of Abraham through Jacob known as Israel, but then moved to focus more on the other promised children of Abraham of like faith (Genesis 17:5, 22:18, Romans 4:16-17, Galatians 3:6-7) in hearing and believing God’s word (Galatians 3:8-9) instead of fighting and disputing against the truth revealed by the acts of the Spirit in and through Paul and the other apostles and instructed disciples record in this book.  In Rome Paul reasoned with the fellow Jews there about how he lived for and taught of Christ which confession is the hope of Israel that led Paul bound with chains through the opposition he faced until he appealed to Caesar for a hearing according to God’s plan that guided his steps and circumstances to arrive and speak before them in the capital of the Roman Empire.  The hearers had not heard the gospel yet, only rumors of opposition by other Jews against the Way (Acts 9:2, 19:9, 24:14) which he himself had also previously opposed vigorously and zealously.  He explained further and they listened to a point to understand this Way described by Paul as the promise of the fathers by God from the beginning, likely all the way back to Genesis 3:15 where the promise of the Messiah who is the Christ was given.  Paul persuaded them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets as Jesus Himself had done to the first disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection (Luke 24:26-27).  The listeners did not really hear and receive Christ through the gospel preached and taught and argued over words and religion instead until Paul realized the truth of the prophecies from Isaiah 6:9-10, Jeremiah 5:21, and Ezekiel 12:2 that predicted their hard hearts and inert senses unable and unwilling to face the truth of God’s word and their need for repentance and faith to receive Jesus Christ as the Lord who alone is their Savior.  Because they turned away from God’s word, the apostle turned from them to those of the world with this message of transformative hope of the good news of forgiveness of sin and a new creation in Him.  God honored that and kept Paul in a Roman house free to preach and teach the kingdom of God in Christ without opposition.  He who honors Him (1 Samuel 2:30) is honored by God.  May we likewise honor our Lord in teaching and preaching these words of life by the enabling acts of the Spirit of God as well.  Grace and peace. 

Thank God and Take Courage! Acts 28:1-16

Acts 28:1-16

Paul's Ministry on Malta

1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live." 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

Arrival at Rome

11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

Escaping the storm and battering of the boat into ruins, Paul and the prisoners made their way to shore on Malta.  The inhabitants there displayed great kindness of hospitality as they fed and warmed them by a fire.  Paul was bitten by a poisonous viper when gathering more wood and the natives immediately imagined that he was getting his due for a crime Paul must have committed.  They thought this sort of island karma had allow him to crawl out of the sea and have a crawling serpent finish the job as justice for his crime of murder.  Paul shook it off and went on about his business.  They then thought he was a god because the poisonous reptile should have killed him.  Then Paul prayed for a leading citizen who was very ill and who recovered, so they attributed the power to him instead of the God whom Paul served and who enabled him.  He then was used to heal many more until they at last left on an Alexandrian ship that was wintering somewhere else on Malta.  They made their way to Rome at last to be met by fellow believers at Appii Forum, just 39 miles (60 km) from Rome on the Appian Way.  Paul was so glad to fellowship with them and they encouraged him on his journey and purpose for the gospel’s sake.  When in Rome, Paul was still a prisoner, but with great liberty and a room to himself which was uncommon.  The lesson we can learn above all others from this journey is to thank God and take courage in all the adventures and adversities of life’s journey in pursuing knowing Christ and making Him known (Philippians 1:21, 3:10, Romans 1:16) as we make our way to the Celestial City (Revelation 21:2, 21:10) in God’s heavenly kingdom come to earth! 

Tempest Tossed but Not Lost

Acts 27:13-44

In the Tempest

13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island."

27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved." 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you." 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. 36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. 38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.

Shipwrecked on Malta

39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

42 And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

A strong northeastern blew up across the Mediterranean while Paul sailed towards Rome on the hired vessel as they almost ran aground on the Syrtis Sands, those deadly shallow shoals extending out from the Libyan coast that cost many a deep drafting grain ship the lives of her crew.  They tied ropes (possibly chains) under the hull of the ship to keep it from breaking apart if they skirted the sand bars beneath them as they passed uncontrollably in the storm.  They were able to deploy sails and escaped there but then had to throw everything they could to keep the ship higher in the water and out of the crashing waves to survive and reach port.  When they had run out of food and all looked dismal, Paul addressed the captain and crew.  He told them that they had been warned by God through him not to take this journey and this risk to their lives was the result of that disbelief.  He assured them, however, that this God he served had sent a divine messenger to assure them that not one life would be lost if they listened to him with the instructions he had been given.  The purpose was the same; God purposed to bring Paul to Rome to stand before Caesar with the words of life and those on the ship were also granted safe passage along with him as fellow recipients of grace.  Paul then told them they would run aground first before arriving at their destination.  As the ship was heading to crash and some wanted to escape he told them they had to stick together to survive and so they did against all odds.  All two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship made it to shore when they were broken up in the battering waves in the rocks.  They let the prisoners live and all made it safely to shore and out of the danger of the storm.  This is a parallel to how God saves us from spiritual destruction in the storms of life, both those called out already in Christ and those who are protected alongside them until they have an opportunity to see God work and trust in His work in Christ which is the gospel of deliverance from the destruction we all are sailing towards through the tumultuous storms of sin and its consequences.  The grace of God in Christ alone can promise deliverance from the tempest so that we are not lost but delivered safely to the heavenly shore to live with Him forevermore.  We then may be tempest tossed but not lost if we are found delivered safely in Christ by His promises (2 Peter 3:13).  He alone can calm the seas (Mark 4:39-41) and bring us safely home.  Yes, we can be assured that though we be Tempest Tossed we are not Lost in the destruction we are bound for as we set sail from birth if we are secure in Christ.

Ignoring God’s Warnings

Acts 27:1-12

The Voyage to Rome Begins

1 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. 2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. 3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. 4 When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.

7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. 8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

Paul's Warning Ignored

9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

Paul finally set sail for Rome where he had been heading but stopping many other places along the way for years.  He went as a prisoner by God’s design while proven innocent to the magistrate because that was where the Lord was leading him to deliver the good news of repentance to salvation for people of all nations to include Rome where paganism reigned and the center of the Roman Empire could have the seeds of God’s word planted.  Paul was therefore kept from being lynched by the jealous Jews of his own people and transported with other prisoners of the realm under the watchcare of a centurion named Julius.  It is worthy to note how the scriptures record actual names of all involved in the accounts of the work of God’s Spirit in and through the lives and work of the apostles and disciples.  We even see Aristarchus of Thessalonica mentioned here (Acts 19:29, 20:4) who would be imprisoned with Paul later as we read in Colossians 4:10.  Paul was given exceptional freedom to visit other disciples he knew in the port of Sidon by the grace of God and they changed ships in Myra and fought the weather on the sea past Crete as the stormy winds picked up to slow their progress.  Paul was given insight by the Lord’s Spirit that they were heading into danger and disaster.  Many would die unless they changed course.  The owner and captain of the ship dismissed the warning and sailed on into the storm to try reaching a safe port to shelter in as they disbelieved and charted their own course in opposition to God’s good direction.  How often people do this when they hear the good news of deliverance from the danger of the final judgment for their sin and the eternal consequences instead of hearing and heeding the warnings given bynHis word through His servants and messengers to deliver them!  People think that they know better than God and forge their way into disaster and destruction instead of heeding the warnings and hope of the gospel for deliverance.  The crew of the ship then kept pushing and fighting against the wind while ignoring the wind of God to turn to a better course and aimed for the western side of Crete to harbor for the winter until the stormy season passed.  We find that our tendency is to find safety of our own devices and sail past the safe harbor in Jesus Christ who alone can protect and shelter us under the shadow of His wings.  What we really need to do is heed the warnings before we lose our lives not just in a sea journey but in eternity.  We dare not ignore the warnings of God delivered to Jesus and entrusted to His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).  Be reconciled with God to harbor in Him in Him and stop seeking to find your own safety through life’s troubled waters!  Ignoring God’s warnings only leads to disaster. 

Almost Persuaded to Believe?

Almost Pursuaded to Believe? 

Acts 26:19-32

Paul's Post-Conversion Life

19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— 23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

Agrippa Parries Paul's Challenge

24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!"

25 But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe."

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

29 And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains."

30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, "This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains."

32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."

Paul continued his testimony of God’s work of grace according to faith through repentance by recollecting his obedience in response to his regeneration.  He went and prea this good news as he was called to do along with the other disciples and us (Matthew 28:19-20) in the final words of Jesus before he ascended back into heaven from the lower parts of the earth He had come down to be incarnated as a man.  His mess was the same which we tell others today, that people must repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.  That is, we and they are to turn from sin to Him and in joyful obedience demonstrate our thanksgiving in this new life we are given, not going back to our former idolatrous and immoral desires (1 Peter 1:14) but seeking righteous conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16) as we are being slowly transformed into the holy likeness of our Savior.  Our works are not and cannot earn our salvation or grace of God, but are a response that tests our hearts in return for all the good God has provided for us forever in the heavens before His face.  Paul explained this to the king and all there with him as an apologetic explanation of the gospel as seen in his own calling and life lived since that conversion.  He was preaching and teaching exactly what his antagonists claimed they believed which was the writings of all the prophets and their spiritual father Moses had written (Luke 24:26-27) that pointed to the Christ whom he testified of and proclaimed in good faith and desire for their own deliverance from sin.  He went on to further explain that these writings from God’s mouth through those men (2 Timothy 3:16-17) was proof of this gospel which was proven by the resurrection of Jesus from death to life (Galatians 2:20, John 5:24) for our own new life from death now in the spirit and after physical death into eternity in heaven with Him.  This message of hope was for both Jew and Gentile as the hope of all who God calls to Himself through His Son and the reason the Jews wanted Paul dead because they wanted to keep the Messiah for themselves only.  They missed the mark of understanding what it meant for Israel be the chosen people of God.  It was the calling before their existence as a nation through Abraham to reach all nations as the channel of redemption to the world.  Even Festus the governor thought Paul was insane with too much book learning when he told of the resurrection to life!  Paul calmly and imploringly begged him to consider that he wanted him to be in the same position before God as reconciled and unchained by sin as he was.  His truth and reason was also given to the ears of Agrippa who believed Old Testament prophets and answered, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”  The king and governor admitted Paul had not done any crime worthy to be put to death as the Jews demanded but also realized the legal appeal to Caesar kept him in custody until he could get a chance to be heard in the highest court in the Roman empire.  Paul as not destined by God to be freed because he was chosen to go and spread the gospel to the heart of the empire instead according to God’s will and Paul’s calling.  May we be likewise focused on the message and not the circumstances as we bear witness to the same.  Many may hear and be almost persuaded as we plant the seeds (1 Corinthians 3:6) and trust God’s leading to put us where the gospel needs to be heard that as many as are appointed to eternal life will believe and receive (Acts 13:48) Jesus Christ. 

God Opens Eyes and Raises the Dead!

Acts 26:1-18

Paul's Early Life

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself."

So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 "I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

4 "My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

9 "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Recounts His Conversion

12 "While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15 So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'

Here Paul was permitted to tell his side of the story to king Agrippa as promised by Felix the governor.  The apostle was thankful to be allowed to tell him his side, beginning with his apologetic response to the accusations of his fellow Jews.  Paul called out the king’s knowledge of Jewish customs and laws to set the stage for further understanding and perspective of Paul’s defense of the gospel.  He took time for a brief recap of his life as testimony and how his search for knowledge of the scriptures and the Law provided the impetus for him to become and live as a devout and dedicated Pharisee to keep all he learned in practice.  He moved quickly into the promise of God to His people which the devout Jews and he both pursued and hoped to arrive at and lay hold of those promises.  This promise of Genesis 3:15 offered the victory over original sin and Genesis 22:17-18 promised this blessing to all nations through Abraham’s Seed who is Jesus the awaited Messiah and God’s only Son (Genesis 22:16) given through faith as Abraham had (Galatians 3:9) to trust God in offering to sacrifice his only son.  He relayed the promise of God’s giving His Son instead (John 3:16) as a sacrifice instead of Abraham’s as the promise they all waited for since that time which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom Paul preached to them that they Lao might obtain that same promise which they served God day and night for that they might attain it.  Paul then added the question of the credibility and necessity of the resurrection as the centrality of the gospel’s proof and power to give life to dead men (John 5:24, Ephesians 2:1, 5, Colossians 2:13) as always part of the promise from the beginning (Job 19:25-26, Matthew 22:31-32) of their faith and calling to trust God’s work (John 6:29) of belief in His work in His only Son as their father Abraham had done.  Paul continued to recall how his zeal apart from this truth had led him to persecute those of this faith as he did “many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”  He summed up his testimony with his conversion on the road to Damascus where he was to further his well-meaning but errant efforts to please God.  He was met by this divine Jesus who stopped him in his tracks as the Law stops many a self-righteous mouth (Romans 3:19-20) with the question of why Paul was persecuting Him through his destruction of His people.  He then told how this Jesus the Messiah and hope of the world long promised gave him this purpose and mission to serve God and be a witness of this salvation seen and further explained by God to him to tell others, both to his own people and the nations as promised to Abraham long ago before there was an Israel or a Jew.  This mission of the gospel was summed up as turning the blind Jew and Gentile alike to light out of the darkness of sin and hopelessness of death with the promise of eternal life in Christ as they were released from the grip of Satan the adversary since the beginning as promise in Genesis 3:15 and brought to know God in Christ according to His forgiveness of sins and gaining of an inheritance that does not fade away (James 1:3-5), eternal in heaven!  It is by the cleansing of Christ which is the spiritual circumcising of the guilty sin-filled heart (Romans 2:28-29, Philippians 3:3, Colossians 2:11) which makes the believer holy and right with God, just as promised (Deuteronomy 30:6) long ago.  This is a proper testimony and witnessing pattern for us as well, recounting our conversion based on the scriptures which define and explain it that others may join us in receiving Christ (John 1:12) as the good news in light of the bad news of our hopeless condition we are all born into as inherited from Adam who passed sin to us in our spiritual DNA and eliminated by the new person (Galatians 2:20) in Christ by whose perfect DNA we now are being transformed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).  God opens our eyes and raise dead men to both life now in the inner man and after our death!  This is the gospel we bear witness to of God’s work in and for us; the experiences of our lives are the proof of His work and salvation which cannot ever be taken away from us.