Okay, let's turn again in our
Bible to Acts chapter 28. Acts chapter 28, and unless my mind
is changed, this will be the last message that we'll bring
from our study through the book of Acts. We started in this study
in the August, I believe it was, in 2006. 2006. of August, and we've been studying
every Lord's Day through the book of Acts. And it has been
a most profitable, profitable time for me, and I pray it has
for you as well. Acts chapter 28, Acts chapter
28. We find the Apostle Paul, after
he had spent three months in this island being shipwrecked,
and how God gave him liberty to preach the gospel of God's
grace in Christ Jesus, and God gave him a hearing. God gave
him a hearing. This chief man of this island,
his name was Publis. Some think that this man was
raised up of God to be the first pastor to these people. Now,
maybe, but certainly this man had confidence in Paul's message
and in Paul's God, because when his father lay dying with a fever
and bleeding to death, probably with colon cancer, he sent for
Paul, and Paul walked in and healed him, prayed for him, and
healed him, and God gave him liberty and an open door to preach
the gospel, and some of the folks there heard him and believed
the gospel. And having spent three months
there, we find him in verse 11 of Acts 28 leaving this place,
leaving this place, and then landing at Syracuse and buried
there three days. Even as he makes his way to Rome,
verse 13, from thence we fetched a compass and came to Regium.
After one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day
to Putili, where we found brethren, and we desired to tarry with
them seven days. So we went toward Rome. Even as he makes his way, toward
Rome, being bound with a chain, being chained to the captain
of the guard. He meets brethren as he makes
his way to Rome and Regium and these other places, Apiphorum
and three taverns. Believers in Christ Jesus are
one family. They enjoyed sweet fellowship
together. They were encouraged to see Paul,
and Paul was encouraged to see them. Notice in verse 15. They came as far as Appiah Forum,
and three taverns, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and
he took curvy. He was encouraged by their interest
in his condition and what was going on in his life, and I'm
sure that it was likewise Paul toward them. Believers in Christ
Jesus have a sweet, blessed fellowship. How good and how pleasant it
is for the brethren to dwell together in unity. Their hearts are rallied together
around the gospel. You see, believers have much
in common. Even though they may come from
different backgrounds, different experiences, and different parts
of the country, believers have much in common. They're all sinners
saved by God's glorious grace. Is that so? They're sinners saved
by the grace of God. As Paul said, I am what I am
by the grace of God. That's the testimony of every
believer, a sinner. Saved by God's grace, we have
much in common. Not only are we saved, sinners,
but we're bought and redeemed with his blood. We are no more
our own, we're bought with a price, his precious blood. You see,
we have that in common. There's one Lord, one faith,
one baptism, there's one fellowship, there's one church, his body
of which he is the head. Believers have much in common.
They have been born again by the Spirit of God. They've been
made new creatures in Christ Jesus. They've had that work
of grace done for them at Calvary's Cross, whereby His blood justifies
us, but they've had that work of grace in the heart. God who
hath begun a good work in you, He will. Finish. He never starts a project and
leaves it unfinished. Now I do that often times. I'll
start two or three projects and not finish any of them. But the
Lord Jesus Christ, when He makes you His project, He'll finish
the work. He'll complete the work in the
day of His power. Now notice verse 17. Paul requested
a meeting. When they delivered all the prisoners
to the normal prison house, Paul was given special allowance.
You see the last part of verse 16, Paul was suffered to dwell
by himself with a soldier that kept him. Now, how was this special
arrangement made? The only answer is this, but
God. It's God who made the difference. And it came to pass, verse 17,
three days later, Paul called for the Jews, the chief Jews,
and brought them together. Now, you think about this. He
requested this meeting. One might think after all the
abuse, after all the abuse he suffered at their hand. Oh, he
has suffered so much at the hand of these most religious men.
His own kinsmen, according to the flesh. You'd think that he
had disowned them and had nothing to do with them. But the first
order of business when he comes to Rome is to call for those
Jewish people to come and to meet with him. They certainly
wanted no part of him before, you remember? Turn back to chapter
25 in the book of Acts. Chapter 25, verse 24. The last
part of verse 24. They said that he ought not live
any longer. They wanted him dead. And then
turn back to chapter 23, verse 12 and 13. You remember there
were 40 men who took a vow, who would not eat or drink? Acts
23, verse 12. When it was day, certain of the
Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying
that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. Now
you think. After all the abuse he suffered
at their hand, being beaten, whipped, jailed, and carted off,
he'd want nothing to do with them. But the first thing he
does, he says, bring them here. I want to preach the gospel to
them. He desires their salvation. I
tell you, I covet that compassionate spirit. Turn to Romans 9. Yet
he desires their salvation. May God do please to give us
that same tender heart and compassion for the salvation of our own
kinsmen, our own family, not indifference, but compassion.
Look what he says here in Romans 9. I say the truth in Christ,
verse 1. I lie not, my conscience also
bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great heaviness
and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself
were accursed from Christ, separated from Christ, for my brethren,
my kinsmen, according to the flesh." That's compassion, isn't
it? Look right across the page in
Romans 10, verse 1, "...brethren, my heart's desire and prayer
to God for Israel." Talking about that national people, those Jewish
people, that they might be saved. He desired their salvation. He
sought them out to preach the gospel to them again, after he
suffered all this abuse of them. Yet he still has a heart for
their salvation. Brethren, my heart's desire and
prayer to God for Israel that they might be saved, for I bear
them record. Boy, they'll have a zeal of God.
Boy, they're most religious. but not according to knowledge.
They don't have right understanding. For they being ignorant of God's
character, God's righteousness, God's holiness, therefore they're
going about to establish their own righteousness, and have not
submitted themselves unto the righteousness," now watch this,
"...the righteousness that's of God." What is that righteousness
that's of God? It's Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ
is the believer's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the
law, verse 4. For righteousness to everyone that believes the
gospel. He was a compassionate man. He
had a compassion and hunger for the lost to see their salvation. Now look at verse 20 in our text,
Acts 28, verse 20. Now Paul desires or declares
there has been one reason he's bound with this chain. You see,
verse 20, for this cause therefore have I called you to see you,
to speak with you. Because, here's the reason, that
for the hope of Israel, for the hope of God's spiritual children,
His church, am I bound with this chain. I'm bound with this chain
for the hope I have in Christ Jesus. That's what he's saying.
This hope, this hope of salvation. Because he plainly declared the
only real hope for guilty sinners, what's the only real hope this
sinner would have? or that you might have. Is it
a good hope by my works? A good hope by my membership?
A good hope through my baptism? No, it's a good hope through
grace and Christ alone. God's true Israel has but one
hope. And he tells you about the spiritual
Israel of God. All the elect from all ages given
to the Lord Jesus Christ. All of God's spiritual Israel
has but one hope. What is this sinner's one hope?
What is your one hope? Or do you have many hopes? I
pray that you have one hope. And I tell you what it is, it's
Christ in you, the hope of glory. All my salvation is wrapped up
in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is all my hope. He's my hope of pardon. He's
my hope of forgiveness. He's my hope of eternal life.
He's all my hope of salvation. He's everything. In Him grows
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Christ we stand. Complete in Him. You see in salvation,
Christ is all and in all. Seeing we have such a hope, the
Apostle said, we use great plainness of speech. He's given us an everlasting
consolation and a good hope through grace and grace alone. God's Israel. Talking here about
the true believer in Christ Jesus. We have no hope of salvation
in the law, do we? By the deeds of the law shall
no flesh be justified. We have no hope of forgiveness
by our merit. My good efforts will not atone
for my sin. If righteousness comes by the
law, then Christ is dead in vain. We have no hope of righteousness
by works. We just read, Christ is the end
of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. All
my righteousness before God that I produce are nothing but rags,
filthy rags before God. Now here's our hope. Turn to
Acts 13, 38. Here's Paul's first message on
his first journey. Acts 13, verse 38. Now look at this carefully. Here's
our hope. Here's our real hope of forgiveness,
salvation and righteousness. Acts 13, 38. Be it known unto
you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man, is preached
unto you the forgiveness of sin." Now, who is this man? Well, he's
the one who died for our sins according to the scripture, who
was raised again by the power of God because he justified us
by his blood. It's through this man, this God-man,
this mediator, is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.
Now, do you need the forgiveness of sins? Are you a guilty, vile,
wretched sinner? I can speak for myself. Yes,
I am. And my only hope of forgiveness
is in this man who paid my sin debt to the full. That's my hope. Look at verse 39 in our Acts
13, 39. By him all that believe are justified. By him all that believe are justified. from all things, but you could
not be justified by the law of Moses." You see, Christ is my
total, 100 percent, He's all my salvation. In Him we are complete. Now back to the text, look at
verse 22. But we desire, we desire to hear thee. You see this, verse
22? Acts 28, verse 22. But we desire
to hear thee. Thou thinkest. For as concerning
this heresy, this heresy, we know that everywhere it's spoken
against." Now, I want you to hold your place here. I want
you to turn back to chapter 24, verse 14. That word there, sect,
is the same word that's rendered here, heresy, in Acts chapter
24, verse 5. For we have found this man, Acts
24 verse 5, we have found this man, this is the same Jewish
crowd talking about God's servant, the apostle. We have found this
man to be a pest. He's a bug. We consider him a cockroach,
a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout
the world. And he's a ringleader of the
heresy, that word there, sect, is the same word, heresy, Nazarenes! Now, why do they say Nazarene?
The Lord Jesus Christ, in His early childhood, grew up in Nazareth. One person said, can any good
thing come out of that vile city, Nazareth? What did He say? Well,
you come and see. Come and see a man! That told
me all things that I have done. Now look in the same chapter
here, Acts 24, verse 14. But this I confess unto thee,
That the way which they call, these Jewish people, they call
it heresy. So worship I the God of my fathers,
believing all things that are written in the law and in the
prophets, and have hope toward God, which they themselves also
allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just
and the unjust. The way they call heresy. Now
look back at the text again. They said, we know everywhere
that it's spoken against. The gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ is not the wild imagination of the thoughts of the Apostle
Paul. Is he the inventor of the gospel?
Is he the originator of the gospel of God? Not at all. Turn one
page to Romans chapter 1. The gospel of Christ is not the
invention of man. It is not the gospel of Paul.
Although he called it and owned it as my gospel, but it didn't
originate with him, did it? Look at Romans 1, verse 1. Paul,
a servant of Jesus Christ, called an apostle, separated them to
the gospel of God. You see, it's God's gospel. The
gospel of God, look at verse 2, which he had promised to four
by his prophets in the Holy Scripture concerning his son. The gospel
of God is all about concerning His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,
concerning Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David
according to the flesh, but declared to be the Son of God with power,
according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the
dead. You see, it's the gospel of God. What is the gospel of
God all about? It's about a person, the Lord
Jesus Christ. That's what it's all about. It's
the gospel of God concerning Christ. And notice this, look
back at the text again. He said, this message, which
we consider to be heresy, we know that everywhere it's spoken
against. The Jews certainly hated it,
didn't they? And the self-righteous people
in our day certainly hate the way of grace. You know, this
is not any new thing. Look back in Luke chapter 2.
You remember old Simeon was in the temple. the old man waiting
for the Savior to come, Luke chapter 2. And when he took up
the Lord Jesus in his arms, Luke 2 verse 28, Blessed God, and
said, Lord, now let us, thou servant, depart in peace according
to thy word. For my eyes have seen thy salvation,
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light
to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of the people of Israel,
And Joseph and his mother marveled at these things which were spoken.
Verse 34, Luke 2, And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary
his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising
again of many in Israel, for a sign which shall be spoken
against. I tell you, the natural man,
left to his own natural thoughts and His own natural inclination,
the carnal mind is enmity against God. The natural man, his mind
is darkened. He loved darkness, not light,
and left to ourselves the gospel of God's saving and glorious
grace. It will be spoken against by
us unless God is pleased to do something for us and in us in
Christ Jesus. It's no different. Those old
self-righteous Jews hated the way of grace. They hated the
Lord Jesus Christ. And men are no different today.
They speak against the gospel of God's grace. If you're for
it, I tell you, it's because God has made you to differ. If
you see the whole of your salvation purposed by God's grace in eternity
and given to you in time and sustains you to glory, I tell
you, you're a special object of God's grace. Because the natural
man does not believe those things. He speaks against those things,
not for them. Just as these Jews did here.
Ah, he said, we know everywhere this way spoken against. Now,
look at verse 23. Back in our text. And when they
had appointed him a day, and here they heard his opening remarks. And they said, we're going to
come back and we're going to hear you. And they gave him a day, and
he took the whole day, it says here, from morning to evening.
And there came many to him, and there was lodging, to whom he
expounded. He testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them
concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the
prophets, from morning to evening. And some believed the things
which were spoken, and some did not believe. Now turn to verse
31. He spent his whole last two years
of his life preaching this same message. Look at verse 31, preaching
the kingdom of God. Preaching the kingdom of God,
teaching those things that concern the Lord Jesus Christ, and he
did it with all confidence. Putting him in prison didn't
shake his confidence. Putting him in prison didn't
shake his belief, his faith. He was strong in faith, giving
glory to God. Without fear and with boldness,
he spoke about the kingdom of God. Now, Paul's last message
is the same message given to him in the beginning. The gospel
of Christ needs no improvement, update, or revision. It's the
same gospel. God's gospel never changes. You
know why? He never changes. He said, I'm
the Lord. I change not. Therefore ye sons
of Jacob are not consumed." Man's religion is always changing,
always evolving, always needs an upgrade. God's gospel never
needs to be upgraded. Not at all. Not at all. Now,
look what it says in verse 23. When they came to him, he expounded
unto them and testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them
concerning the Lord Jesus Christ." Now, four or five things here
on this verse. Paul declared unto them the absolute rule,
reign, and the sovereignty of God. He declared unto them the
kingdom of God. Now, a kingdom has to have a
king, right? Who is this king? The Lord Jesus
Christ is king of kings. Turn back to Acts chapter 1. Look at this here. Acts chapter
1. This is how we started here in
Acts 1, verse 3. Acts 1, verse 3. This is the risen Lord talking
to His disciples, to whom also He showed Himself alive after
His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty
days, and speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom of
God. The kingdom of God. Paul declared
unto them the absolute sovereignty of God. the kingdom of God. Turn to Acts 15, verse 18. Acts 15, 18. Whatsoever the Lord
please, that's what He did in heaven, earth, seas, and all
deep places. God is the absolute God in heaven
and earth, and all deep places. And whatever He pleases, that's
what He does. Acts chapter 15. You see, He
preached unto them the sovereign rule of God. Acts 15, look at
verse 18. Known unto God are all His works,
from the beginning. He said, I've spoken it, I bring
it to pass, I've declared it, I will do it. God is God over
all things. Turn to Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2. Look what it
says right here concerning the decree of God in the coming of
the Lord Jesus. Acts chapter 2, verse 22. You men of Israel, hear these
words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by
miracles and wonders and signs which God did by Him in the midst
of you, as you know, yourselves also know. Verse 23, Him being
delivered by the determinate counsel. For knowledge of God
you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain,
whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it
was not possible that he should be holding of it." Him being
delivered by the determinate counsel of God. He came on purpose,
God's purpose, to put away our sin. And what they did to him
in crucifying him, turn to Acts chapter 4, was by the sovereign
will of God. Remember what Pilate said that
day? Don't you know what he said to
the Lord Jesus? Don't you know I have power to
crucify you or let you go? And the Lord corrected him and
said, you don't have any power over me except that which is
given of God. Acts chapter 4, look at verse
26. The kings of the earth stood
up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and
against his Christ for the truth against our holy child Jesus
whom thou has anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate. with the
Gentiles and the people of Israel will gather together for to do
whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."
What I'm saying is this, Calvary is not an accident. The Lord
Jesus Christ died by the sovereign decree of God and he died at
the hands of wicked men and they did exactly what they wanted
to do, but they did what God determined before to be done.
You see, it pleased God to bruise him in our room and in our stead.
And it's not what wicked men did that accomplished our salvation. It's what God was doing at the
cross. That's our hope. God punished
Christ in our room and in our stead. It pleased God to bruise
him in our room and in our stead. Secondly, Paul declared and testified
that this kingdom of God is not an earthly kingdom. But a spiritual
kingdom. Turn to John chapter 8. I'm sorry, John chapter 18. John
chapter 18. When the Lord Jesus was arrested
and arraigned before Pilate, verse 34, Pilate entered into
the judgment hall and called Jesus and said unto him, Art
thou the King of the Jews? The Lord answered, Sayest thou
this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? And Pilate answered and said,
Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered
thee unto me. What hast thou done? Now look
at this. The Lord said, My kingdom is
not of this world. My kingdom is not of this world.
If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight?
that I should not be delivered unto the Jews, but now is my
kingdom not from hence." His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom,
a heavenly kingdom. Paul testified that this kingdom
is not an earthly kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom. He told
them what it's not. Turn to Romans 14. Look at this. He told them what it's not and
what it is. earthly kingdom, it's a heavenly
kingdom, a spiritual kingdom. Romans 14, look at verse 17. I'm sure he made good on this.
The kingdom of God is not, you see that? The kingdom of God
is not meat and drink. We don't establish a righteousness
by diet, by eating or drinking or not. But here's what it is. So it's not that, but here's
what it is. Salvation is by righteousness,
peace, and joy. The kingdom of God is by righteousness,
peace, and joy. You see those three things? Righteousness,
peace, and joy that comes from God the Holy Spirit. Now what
is this righteousness, peace, and joy? This is what the Kingdom
of God is. This is what salvation is. It's
righteousness by the deeds and the merit of another. By the
obedience of another. My righteousness that justifies
me before God is not done by my hand. It has nothing to do
with what I do. That's right. My righteousness
before God is on the deeds of another. The performance of another. He was obedient unto God, even
to the death of the cross. That's my righteousness that
justifies me before God, and you know what? He has freely
given that to me, and I receive it as a gift. Blessed is that
man to whom God would impute righteousness with, how it works. You get a hold of that? This
is what the kingdom of God consists of, a justifying righteousness
given freely by Christ Jesus. Not only that, But because of
that, we have peace with God. Turn to Colossians chapter 1.
We have peace with God. You see, it's righteousness and
peace. Now, I've often heard people say, religious people
say this, well, I'm trying to make my peace with God. You're fighting a losing battle. You think you can satisfy the
holiness of God? You think you can meet the demands
of God? I'm trying to make peace with
God? Forget it! Here's our hope, Colossians chapter
1. Now here's the peace that we have before God. The reconciliation
we have before God. Colossians chapter 1 verse 19,
For it pleased the Father, Colossians 1.19, that in Him should all
fullness dwell, having made peace. Now who made peace? He made peace
for me. through the blood of His cross,
by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself. By Him, I say,
whether they be things in earth or things in heaven, you that
were sometimes alienated, enemies in your mind by wicked works,
yet now hath He reconciled." Who made peace? He did. How? With the blood, sacrifice of
His own blood in the body of His flesh through death to present
you holy, unblamable, unreprovable. in His sight. You see, this is
what the Kingdom of God is. This is what salvation is. Righteousness
upon the obedience of another, the Lord Jesus. He is my righteousness. And peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ. And then we have joy, joy, joy. Turn to Romans 5. You know people,
people in our day, They're always talking about, I'm trying to
find joy, I'm trying to find peace, I'm just so miserable.
My friend, peace and joy and happiness is in Christ. He is my peace. He is my joy. What it says here in Romans 5,
verse 1, "...therefore being justified by faith we have peace
with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access
by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope
of the glory of God. Oh, I tell you, peace with God
and we have joy rejoicing in the Lord always and again I say
rejoice. We are the true Israel which
worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and we have no
confidence, no confidence in the flesh. Not at all. Here's the third thing. I'm sure
Paul declared, as our Lord did, that any sinner's entrance into
this kingdom of God, this kingdom of grace, is by spiritual birth
from above. How do you get into this kingdom?
We're born into it. Turn to John chapter 3. We're
born into this kingdom. We don't will our way in, work
our way in. We're burst into this kingdom.
It's a spiritual kingdom, remember. Look what our Lord said here,
addressing this most religious Jew, Nicodemus. John chapter
3, verse 3, "...verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man
is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Doesn't
know, doesn't understand, doesn't perceive what the kingdom of
God is all about. Unless a man is born again, he
doesn't know anything about the righteousness that God demands
of him, and how it's fulfilled in Christ. Look at verse 4, Nicodemus
says unto him, How can a man be born when he's old? Can he
enter the second time in his mother's womb and be born? He's
thinking just natural, isn't he? The Lord said, Verily I say
unto you, except a man born of water, that's the gospel, the
Word, the water of the Word, and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God. You must! You must! That which is born of flesh is
flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel
not that I say unto you, you must be born into this kingdom. And it's a sovereign birth. Look
at verse 8, the wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound
of the rabbit, you can't tell where it comes from or where
it goes. So is everyone that's born of the Spirit of God. Turn
back to John chapter 1, look at this. John chapter 1 verse
12. Any sinner that's entered into
this kingdom is done so by the grace of God, by a birth from
above. What it says here in John chapter
1, look at verse 12. But as many as received him,
that's faith given of God, to them gave he right, privilege,
power, liberty. Same word there we studied in
our Bible lesson today. Power to become sons of God,
even to them that believe on His name. Now notice the punctuation
there. I'm not an English teacher, but
I know that's not a period. It goes on, doesn't it? Which
were born. They believed God and received
Him because they'd been born. Not of the blood, natural generation. nor of the will of flesh, nor
of the will of man, but they received him because they had
been born of God, begotten of God by the word of truth. If
his own will beget he us with the word of truth. Turn back
to the book of Colossians chapter 1, again. You see this sinner,
any sinner's entrance into this kingdom is by grace, it's by
the birth of God, the birth of the Spirit of God, according
to the will of God. And it involves this, Colossians
1, verse 12. Colossians 1, verse 12, "...giving
thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet fit to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light in Christ, who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated
us into the kingdom of his dear Son." How did that happen? It's
all by the power and grace of God in Christ Jesus, in whom
we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin,
according to the riches of his grace. Now turn to Matthew 25,
34. Matthew 25, 34. You see, it's
a spiritual kingdom. We're born into this kingdom,
translated into this kingdom by the power and will of God.
Matthew 25. Look what he says here. Matthew
25, verse 34. The last day, when the Lord gathers
the sheep and goats, all nations shall stand before Him, verse
32, and He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd
divides His sheep from the goats, and He shall set the sheep on
His right hand, but the goats on the left. Verse 34, Then shall
the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed
of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world. You see, it's a spiritual kingdom.
And that's what Paul told these Jews. They were looking for a
earthly kingdom. They were a national people.
And because they were national, natural Jews, they thought and
expected God would bless them upon their obedience under the
law. And Paul said, that's not the way it's going to be. Paul
declared unto them the lordship of Christ. God had made that
same Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now look back at the text again.
Acts 28 verse 23, And he preached this sermon from morning till
evening, preaching the lordship of Christ, the sufficiency of
Christ, the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he
did so from sunup to sundown. Now, in closing, look at verse
24, And some believed the things which were spoken, And some believe
not. Some believe not. We have seen
this same story demonstrated all through the book of Acts
when the gospel is preached. Some believe and some did not
believe. Turn back to Acts 13 again. Acts
13. Give me just a minute now. Acts 13. Look at this carefully.
When Paul preached the gospel here in Acts 13, Verse 44, the next Sabbath day
came almost a whole city to hear the Word of God. But when the
Jews saw the multitude, they were filled with envy, and here's
this familiar saying, they spoke against it. Those things which
Paul had spoken, contradicting and blaspheming, calling Paul
evil and his message evil. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed
bold and said it was necessary that the Word of God should first
have been spoken unto you, but seeing that you put it from yourselves,
and you judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn
to sinners." Now look at verse 47, "...for so hath the Lord
commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the
Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation to the ends
of the earth." And when the Gentiles heard this, remember what we
read in Acts 28? God will send that salvation
to the Gentiles and they will hear it. Look what it says right
here. And when the Gentiles heard this,
these sinners who needed a Savior, they were glad and glorified
the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life,
they believed the gospel. Now I want you to look at one
other scripture with me. Some believe, turn to John 10. As
many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Some believed,
some believed not. John chapter 10. I'm saying that
it's God who makes the difference. We believe according to the working
of His mighty power. We believe only because He's
made us object of His grace. Those who do not believe, they
do so because of their own willful blindness and darkness and ignorance
of their own heart. That's right. The only thing
God has to do for me to split hell wide open is just simply
leave me to my own dullness and ignorance and blindness. My prayer
is, Lord, don't leave me alone. Don't leave me alone. Look at
John 10 here. Those Jews. John 10, 22. It was at Jerusalem,
the Feast of the Dedication. It was winter. And Jesus walked
in the temple on Solomon's porch. Then the Jews, same crowd here. Came round about him, said unto
him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ,
tell us plainly." He told them repeatedly, repeatedly. And Jesus
answered them, I told you, and you believe not. The works that
I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. Now watch
this, you believe not, because you're not my sheep. As I say
unto you, my sheep, my elect, my chosen, they hear my voice.
And I know them, I love them, and they follow me, and I give
unto them eternal life, and they'll never perish. Neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them to
me is greater than all, and no man can pluck them out of my
Father's hand. I and my Father are one." Well, some believed by grace, and some
were left to perish in their own willful ignorance and blindness. Paul dwelt two whole years, it
says here in closing, in his own hired house, and received
all that came unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, teaching
those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness
without fear." At the end of two years, do you know what happened? When God was through with His
faithful servant, after He had written all those epistles, those
prison epistles we have, And after he received all that would
hear the gospel, God said, that's enough. They took off his head. God took him to glory. No wonder
he writes to be absent from the bodies to be present with the
Lord. When he writes about his soon departure in 2 Timothy chapter
4, he said, I fought a good fight. I've kept the faith. My departure
is soon at hand.