5.7.23 PM Worship – Nathan Adkins – The Thief on the Cross
5.7.23 AM Worship – Mark Day – Almost Persuaded
5.7.23 AM Worship – Mark Day – Almost Persuaded
Proofs and Persuasion
Jesus demonstrated His resurrection from the dead by many infallible proofs (Acts 1:3). Christianity rests upon powerful evidence. Many compelling reasons can be offered in favor of following Jesus Christ. From the earliest days of the church, preachers have courageously proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ in face of opposition. They did not ask people to just believe what they were saying based on a feeling, but rather marshaled evidence to persuade their audience of the truth.
What about the Jews who claimed to believe the Old Testament but denied that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah? Do we read of Christians in the New Testament telling them to pray for God to give them a good feeling to confirm if Jesus was the Messiah? No, they gave persuasive proofs. Consider Apollos who “vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:28). Saul, later called Paul, “confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:22). Paul formed a habit of going into synagogues and reasoning from the Scriptures; he would explain and demonstrate by drawing arguments from the text that Jesus was indeed the Messiah who had to suffer, die, and rise again (Acts 17:2, 3). Just because the evidence he presented warranted that conclusion did not mean that all were driven to that conclusion. Not all understood the evidence. Nor was everyone convinced. Acts 17:4 goes on to say that some were persuaded in Thessalonica. In Ephesus, however, though Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God, some were hardened and did not believe (Acts 19:8, 9). Other factors may interfere with one’s response to the gospel. An honest soul can see the reasoning and obey, but a man with ulterior motivations may twist his way out of the necessary conclusions.
We must keep presenting the gospel for it is the power to salvation to all who believe (Romans 1:16). Some may grow angry. They may even resort to violent opposition because they cannot answer the powerful proofs we present. When we present the words the Holy Spirit has given in the Bible, men cannot refute them. Those who disputed with Stephen, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, were not able to resist the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke (Acts 6:10). Though many mistreated Paul for his words, we find him in the final chapter of the book of Acts still preaching the kingdom of God with all confidence (Acts 28:31). When he appeared before Felix and Agrippa to answer for crimes the Jews accused him of, Paul proved Christianity while those who opposed him could not prove their case (Acts 24:13; 25:7).
Agrippa recognized the persuasiveness of Paul’s words (Acts 26:26-28), yet no record indicates that he ever responded favorably by becoming a Christian. Paul spoke words of truth and soberness, but men in positions of power and opulence are often quick to dismiss the gospel (Acts 26:24; cf. 1 Cor. 1:26). Paul reasoned with Felix of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come to the point that Felix trembled; however, Felix pushed his response off into the future for what he hoped would be a more convenient time, but, again, history provides no such record of that time ever coming (Acts 24:25). The gospel is reasonable and the evidence for it is powerful and persuasive. Some may resist it, but we must keep proclaiming the word of salvation (Acts 13:26).
5.3.23 Wed. Bible Study – Mark Day – The Gospel to Samaria
5.3.23 Wed. Bible Study – Mark Day – The Gospel to Samaria
Whoever Shall Call on the Name of the Lord
Joel prophesied of the last dispensation of time which would be inaugurated by great signs performed by God (Joel 2:28-32). The last days of which Joel spoke began to be fulfilled in Acts 2 as the inspired apostle Peter affirmed in verses 16-21. In these last days, the promise is whosoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21). While many in the religious world think this is a prayer to Jesus to save them from their sins, the Bible teaches otherwise. In context in Acts 2, Peter went on to prove that they audience was guilty before God for crucifying Jesus the Christ (Acts 2:22-36). Once convicted, they asked what to do. Remember whoever would call on the Lord would be saved. However, Peter did not lead them in a prayer. What did he tell them to do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (Acts 2:38-40).
Calling on the Lord to be saved was an appeal to God through repentance and baptism to be saved, having past sins remitted. Baptism saves us; it is an appeal to God for a clean conscience in response to the guilt of sin our conscience presents (1 Peter 3:21).
By inspiration, Paul affirmed that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Paul understood that he was not speaking of a prayer a sinner–who has never come to God, yet to become a Christian–makes. Paul/Saul was religious his entire life. He affirmed his belief in God and the Old Testament, but he did not recognize that Jesus was the Christ, the fulfillment of all the Messianic prophecies. Then Jesus revealed Himself to Paul (Acts 9:3-5). When Paul asked Jesus, “what do you want me to do?” Jesus did not say, “Well, you are already talking to me, just ask me to save you.” No. Jesus said, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:6). Paul now believed in Jesus. He called Him Lord. He began to obey the Lord’s directives. Paul also fasted and prayed for three days (Acts 9:9, 11). However, Paul later in Acts 22 recalled what happened in the city of Damascus that day that he called on the name of the Lord. In Acts 22:16, Paul recounted how Ananias, the preacher, came to him and said, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Paul believed in God, believed in the Bible, saw Jesus in a vision, talked to Him, believed He was Lord, and fasted and prayed for three days, but he still had not called on the name of the Lord. He still had his sins. They had to be washed away. Jesus told Paul/Saul that he would be told what he must do. Ananias was dispatched by the Lord and told Paul/Saul to get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
This last phrase, “calling on the name of the Lord” shows that baptism was this appeal to the name of Jesus. After all, baptism is in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5). We ought to let the Bible define and explain its own expressions rather than placing our own notions on the text. It is clear in Acts 2 and Acts 22 that ‘calling on the name of the Lord’ involves baptism, the appeal to God for the forgiveness of sins.
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