Sermon
#1326[1] Miscellaneous
Notes
Title: “After
The Way Which They
Call Heresy So Worship
I The God Of My Fathers!”
Text: Acts 24:14-16
Reading: Acts
22:1-23
Subject: Paul’s Confession Before
Felix
Date: Sunday Morning - September 27, 1999
Tape # U-86
Introduction:
·
Paul’s Arrest at Jerusalem
·
Standing before Felix. The Roman Governor of Judea
·
The Accusation (vv. 5-6)
Acts 24:5-6 For
we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among
all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the
Nazarenes: (6) Who also hath gone
about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to
our law.
·
The Assembled Crowd
- The High Priest
- Tertulian
- The Pharisees
- The Sadducees
- The Scribes
·
Paul’s Response (vv. 14-16)
Acts
24:14-16 But this I confess unto thee, that after the
way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all
things which are written in the law and in the prophets: (15) And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow,
that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (16) And herein do I exercise myself,
to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
I. “THE WAY” - (Pro. 14:12; 16:25)
Proverbs
14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a
man, but the end thereof are the ways
of death.
Proverbs
16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of
death.
A. A Way - Broad Gate - Wide Way
B. The Way - Strait Gate - Narrow Way
II. “WHICH THEY CALL HERESY…”
III. “SO WORSHIP I.”
·
WORSHIP
Philippians
3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship
God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the
flesh.
IV. “THE GOD OF MY FATHERS.”
A. Not My Physical Fathers but My Spiritual Fathers (Phil. 3:1-11).
Philippians
3:4-11 Though I might also have confidence in the
flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the
flesh, I more: (5) Circumcised the
eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the
tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (7) But what things were gain to me,
those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea
doubtless, and I count all things but loss
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the
law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is
of God by faith: (10) That I may know
him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being
made conformable unto his death; (11) If
by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
B. The God
1.
Sovereign (Psa. 115:3; 135:6).
2.
Holy (Isa. 6). “Holy and reverend
is his name.”
3.
Justice (Ezek. 18:20).
4.
Gracious (Ex. 33).
V. “BELIEVING ALL THINGS
WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS”
That
is to say, Believing all things which in
all the Scriptures. I bow to the
Word of God.
VI. “AND HAVE HOPE TOWARD GOD…”
(v.
15).
Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they
themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of
the just and unjust.
In
face of eternity, in the face of the resurrection of the dead, in the face of
Divine judgment, I have hope toward God because I worship him…
A. As a sinner
I am convinced of my sin
(John 16:8-11; Psa. 51:5; 58:3; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:9-18).
John
16:8-11 And when he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no
more; (11) Of judgment, because the
prince of this world is judged.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the
world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned:
Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin
did my mother conceive me.
Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they
go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Romans
3:9-18 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and
Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
(10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth,
there is none that seeketh after God.
(12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (13) Their throat is an
open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: (14) Whose mouth is full
of cursing and bitterness: (15) Their
feet are swift to shed blood: (16) Destruction and misery are in their ways: (17) And the way of peace have they not known: (18) There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Illustration: The Publican
B. As a sinner chosen of God (2
Thess. 2:13-14; Gal. 1:15-16).
Galatians
1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me
from my mother's womb, and called me by
his grace, (16) To reveal his Son in
me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with
flesh and blood:
2 Thessalonians
2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God
for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
truth: (14) Whereunto he called you
by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C. As a sinner redeemed, atoned for, purchased and made righteous by the blood of God’s own
dear Son. As a sinner trusting Christ alone for acceptance with God (Gal. 2:20-21).
Galatians
2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me. (21) I do not frustrate the grace
of God: for if righteousness come by
the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
D. As a sinner raised from the
dead, sought out, called, and
saved by the irresistible grace and power of God the Holy Spirit (Psa. 65:4; Eph. 2:1-4,
7-8).
Psalms 65:4 Blessed is
the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied
with the goodness of thy house, even of
thy holy temple.
Ephesians
2:1-4 And you hath
he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience:
(3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts
of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he
loved us,
Ephesians
2:7-8 That in the ages to come he might show the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. (8) For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Illustrations: Lazarus
The Aborted Infant
The Valley of
Dry Bones
E. As a sinner sealed, preserved, and kept in the way by the power and grace of God - “Who are kept.” “Never perish!” “Keep through Thine own name!”
·
Kept in My Surety’s Hands
·
Kept in The Shepherd’s Hands
·
Kept in The Father’s Hands
VII. “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of
offence toward God, and toward men” (v. 16).
A. “Toward God”
·
Trusting His Son (Col. 2:6).
·
Seeking His Will
·
Seeking His Honor
·
Serving His People!
B. “Toward Men.”
·
Living in honesty
·
Showing mercy!
Application:
How about you? Who do you worship?
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and
said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
AMEN.