With less than forty days remaining before, arguably, the most important presidential election in the history of our country, it is difficult not to look at passages that pertain to preaching the saving gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of opposition through the lens of the upcoming election. Should the Biden-Harris ticket win in November, the extreme left wing will aggressively try to shut down evangelical churches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By \u201cevangelical\u201d church, I mean a church that preaches and teaches, among other things, that salvation is by Christ alone and grace alone and faith alone. To say that other religions (e.g., Buddhism) are damning may possibly be \u201chate speech.\u201d It seems possible that such preaching and teaching will not enjoy a pulpit exemption from being characterized and punished as \u201chate speech.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With all this in mind, the passage that stands out for Day 173 is Acts 5:28\u201329, 42 (ESV)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n28<\/sup> saying, \u201cWe strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man\u2019s blood upon us.\u201d 29<\/sup> But Peter and the apostles answered, \u201cWe must obey God rather than men. \u2026 42<\/sup> And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Acts 5:12-16 shows that the apostles were performing many great signs so that \u201c\u2026 more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, \u2026\u201d (see verse 14a, ESV). The apostles\u2019 success made the Jewish leaders jealous so they arrested the apostles and put them in jail. That night, an angel of the Lord carried out a successful \u201cjail break\u201d so that the next day the apostles were \u201cstanding in the temple and teaching the people\u201d (see verse 25b, ESV). The apostles were brought before the Jewish leaders and verses 28-32 (ESV) tells what happened [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n28<\/sup> saying, \u201cWe strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man\u2019s blood upon us.\u201d 29<\/sup> But Peter and the apostles answered, \u201cWe must obey God rather than men.<\/strong> 30<\/sup> The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31<\/sup> God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32<\/sup> And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
At first, the Jewish leaders wanted to kill the apostles, but Gamaliel brought some reason into the discussion per verses 38-39:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n38<\/sup> So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39<\/sup> but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!\u201d So they took his advice,<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Thereafter, the Jewish leaders beat the apostles and let them go charging them \u201cnot to speak in the name of Jesus\u201d. Verses 41-42 (ESV) records the apostles\u2019 reaction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n41<\/sup> Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42<\/sup> And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Another less literal translation (NCV) reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n41<\/sup> The apostles left the meeting full of joy because they were given the honor of suffering disgrace for Jesus. 42<\/sup> Every day in the Temple and in people\u2019s homes they continued teaching the people and telling the Good News\u2014that Jesus is the Christ.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
What Peter and the apostles did per the description in Acts 5 ought to serve as a model for the 21st<\/sup> Century Christ-follower when facing opposition to preaching the gospel. I see at least three takeaways from this account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, Christ-followers must \u201cobey God rather than men.\u201d<\/strong> Here, the ESV translates the Greek verb peithayche<\/em>\u00f6<\/em> <\/em>as \u201cobey\u201d, and per one lexicon (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains<\/em> (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 466). New York: United Bible Societies) it means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n36.12 \u03c0\u03b5\u03af\u03b8\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9a<\/sup>; \u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u03c7\u03ad\u03c9: to submit to authority or reason by obeying\u2014\u2018to obey.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
In other words, a believer must submit to the authority of God and not mankind even if the authority of mankind takes on the form of the government. This requires that a believer must know what God\u2019s Word teaches about salvation through Jesus Christ. Very briefly, the gotqustions.com website (link: https:\/\/www.gotquestions.org\/Christian-doctrine-salvation.html<\/a> ) reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nA definition of the Christian doctrine of salvation would be \u201cThe deliverance, by the grace of God, from eternal punishment for sin which is granted to those who accept by faith God\u2019s conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.\u201d Salvation is available in Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) and is dependent on God alone for provision, assurance, and security.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Note the two verses referenced above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nJohn 14:6 (NET) – 6<\/sup> Jesus replied, \u201cI am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\nActs 4:12 (NET) – 12<\/sup> And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Second, a Christ-follower ought to be \u201c<\/strong>rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.\u201d<\/strong> In other words, to suffer persecution because of taking a stand for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is a badge of honor for a believer. Persecution is something a believer ought to expect in light of what Jesus taught in John 15:20 (NASB95):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n20<\/sup> \u201cRemember the word that I said to you, \u2018A slave is not greater than his master.\u2019 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Persecution should be expected in light of what Paul wrote as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV) – 10<\/sup> For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV) – 12<\/sup> In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Third, a Christ-follower ought to consistently teach and preach the saving gospel of Jesus Christ per the example in verse 42.<\/strong> A Christ-follower ought to look for those opportunities to witness in whatever form consistent with 1 Peter 3:15\u201317 (NET):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n15<\/sup> But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.16<\/sup> Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.17<\/sup> For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Right now in the United States, Christians have the opportunity to proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ without fear of persecution, but that may change, especially if the Biden-Harris ticket wins the election. Let\u2019s take to heart the urgency of the circumstances per Ephesians 5:15\u201317 (NET)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n15<\/sup> Therefore be very careful how you live\u2014not as unwise but as wise, 16<\/sup> taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17<\/sup> For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord\u2019s will is.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
But whatever the circumstances, let\u2019s keep in mind what one commentator (Larkin, W. J., Jr. (1995). Acts (Vol. 5, Ac 5:40). Westmont, IL: IVP Academic) writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWho\u2019s in charge? A God who empowers and leads his church in carrying out his mission in spite of opposition.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, unless God intervenes, your eternal destination is hell. But, your destiny can change. Today can be the day of your salvation. Please see my blog (https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/2020\/04\/20\/for-god-so-loves-you-2\/<\/a>) for a description of how you can be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n