Study #48: It was necessary for us to have entered into the Kingdom of God through much tribulation (Acts 14:8

Study #48: It was necessary for us to have entered into the Kingdom of God through much tribulation (Acts 14:8 - 28)

Acts, Chapter 2.1: The Jews of Asia Minor violently opposed the church-planting efforts of Paul and Barnabas among them (12:25 - 15:35)

§Complement Introduction: The Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul to plant churches among the Gentiles, and they began on Cyprus (12:25 - 13:12)

¶Opposite The Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul to work in the mission field (12:25 - 13:5)

¶Opposite Paul destroyed the spiritual influence of a false prophet on the leader of Cyprus (13:6 - 12)

§Complement Body: The hostility of the Jews in Asia Minor moved the missionary efforts of Paul and Barnabas toward the Gentiles (13:13 - 14:28)

¶Opposite Paul and Barnabas traveled to Antioch in Pisidia of Asia Minor to preach the Gospel in the synagogue of the Jews (13:13 - 25)

¶Opposite Paul boldly proclaimed Jesus Christ as the Risen Messiah of Israel to them (13:26 - 43)

¶Complement The hostility of the Jews in Antioch of Pisidia encouraged Paul and Barnabas to reach out to the Gentiles with the Gospel instead (13:44 - 52)

¶Complement The hostility of the Jews in Iconium eventually forced Paul and Barnabas to flee for their lives to Lystra and Derbe (14:1 - 7)

¶Unique After spending time with the new churches they had planted, Paul and Barnabas returned home to the church in Antioch (14:8 - 28)

§Unique Conclusion: The Apostles and elders held a council at Jerusalem to determine whether Gentile Christians should be circumcised (15:1 - 35)

¶Complement The church leadership debated whether Gentile Christians should be forced to follow the Law of Moses (15:1 - 12)

¶Complement The church at Antioch rejoiced to hear that Gentile Christians would not be forced to follow the Law of Moses (15:13 - 35)

All Bible quotations and the arrangement are found exclusively in the Kingdom Study Bible version, published by Jehovah Has Spoken Publishing Ministries.

It is published for free online at https://https://www.phibible.org/

We continue our study of Acts Chapter 2.1 with the fifth paragraph of the Body Section.

The Bible text arranged according to the Golden Ratio design:

¶Unique After spending time with the new churches they had planted, Paul and Barnabas returned home to the church in Antioch (14:8 - 28)

Opposite And a certain man sat at Lystra, powerless in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak, who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!”” And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” And they called Barnabas, “Jupiter”; and Paul, “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people; which when the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they tore their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, “Sirs, why do you do these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God, who made Heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in it; who in times past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” And with these sayings they scarcely restrained the people, that they did not do sacrifice to them.

Opposite And certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, who persuaded the people; and, having stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. Nevertheless, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city. --

Complement And the next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe; and when they had preached the Gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples: exhorting them to continue in the Faith, and that it was necessary for us to have entered into the Kingdom of God through much tribulation. And when they had ordained elders for them in every Assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

Complement And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the Word in Perga, they went down into Attalia. And from there, they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. And when they came, and had gathered the Assembly together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Unique And they remained there a long time with the disciples.

The Golden Ratio design explained: two Opposites, two Complements, and one Unique

Opposite The idolatrous people of Lystra thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods and tried to worship them

Opposite The Jews of Antioch and Iconium tried to kill Paul with stones; but God spared his life --

Complement Paul and Barnabas ordained pastors in each Assembly that they had planted in the cities of Asia Minor

Complement Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch in Syria to the Assembly that they had started from

Unique They remained there a long time with the disciples

Comments: The Apostle Paul healed a crippled pagan man who had never walked in Acts 14:8-18; and Peter had healed a similar crippled Jewish man who had never walked in Acts 3:1-11; but the pagan people of Lystra reacted in a completely different way than the Jews in Jerusalem.

Instead of marveling at the great miracle of God that had provided an opportunity for Peter to preach the Gospel to them (as the Jews), the pagan people of Lystra thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods! So they brought animal sacrifices and garlands of flowers, so that they could worship them. Paul and Barnabas were able to stop them, but just barely.

Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there (they were still angry at Paul for preaching the Gospel in their cities); and they persuaded the people to kill Paul by stoning, which they tried to do; but God healed Paul afterward, and spared his life. This was an experience that Paul referred to in his second letter to the Corinthians:

“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times I received forty stripes except one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I suffered shipwreck; a night and a day have I been in the deep sea; in journeys often; in perils of waters, in perils from thieves, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, and in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness.” 2 Corinthians 11:23-27

Paul must have been deeply shaken by this terrible experience of a crowd of angry people, who tried to kill him with stones! It must have been equally amazing for him to realize that God had spared his life.

I believe that Paul interpreted it as a sign from the Lord, that it was time to complete the work that he had started in Asia Minor; and go back home to Antioch. God had spared his life this time; but if he and Barnabas kept pushing outward into other regions, perhaps next time God would not save him.

There is a time for everything; and the purposes of God are never accomplished all at once, but over time; sometimes, many years or even centuries. God would use Paul for two more missionary journeys to plant churches, but for now it was time to go home for a while for rest and healing.

God has ways of getting our attention; and sometimes, it can be very brutal!

Paul told the new Christians in his churches that he had planted: “that it was necessary for us to have entered into the Kingdom of God through much tribulation.”

But today, many churches preach a different “Gospel” that is called “easy believe”-ism. In other words, just repeat some words of a prayer and you will be saved; or stand in front of a church, and repeat after me: “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” The preacher shakes your hand, and now you are a Christian! It’s so easy, anyone can do it and they don’t even have to stop their drinking, smoking, or cursing!

Another “Gospel” is to baptize infants or adults with water; and voila, they are instant Christians! No need to repent of sin or even to believe in Jesus!

Some churches are so liberal that they don’t care if you believe in Jesus or not! They are like social clubs, with drinking, smoking, gambling, and adultery; with smiles all around!

Modern, liberal churches are filled with people who have done that, but they are Christians in name only; there is no reality to their profession.

That was not the case for me: my Christian friend gave me Christian pamphlets, gospel tracts, and even a book on prophecy over a period of about 8 or 9 months, before I was ready to be saved. And God had to put me in a very difficult situation in my job before I was ready to listen!

I remember putting my head down on a desk (with rock music blaring loud to drown out the voice of God in my heart) and crying out, “What’s wrong with me!?” Everything was falling apart, and nothing I did seemed to work.

NOW, God could finally speak to me! I was ready to turn my back on my old life and turn to Jesus Christ, and give Him my heart. The crisis and tribulation that I was going through prepared me to be truly saved. Without that crisis in my life, I am certain that I never would have been saved.

After all, when everything is going well, and I am healthy, and have plenty of money and everything I need: why would I want God? This is why rich people rarely ever get saved. Sometimes they do, but it is rare, for all of these reasons.

This is also why poor people are much more willing to listen to the Gospel and be saved! They know that they need God, because their lives are miserable.

“It was necessary for us to have entered into the Kingdom of God through much tribulation.”

The difference between Christians who were saved in some kind of personal crisis in their lives, and “Christians” (in name only) who were saved by the “easy believe” route, is clear to see.

The former spend time in prayer, they attend a Bible-believing church, they try to win others to Christ, they read the Bible regularly, they try to live a holy life for God; and if they fall, they get back up and start over with God again; they refuse to swear and use profanity, and if they fall, they repent and get right with God.

The “easy believe” “Christians” are comfortable with swearing, lies, pornography, smoking, drinking alcohol; and if they attend a church, it is rarely; or if they attend regularly, they attend a very liberal church that will say nothing about their sins. They want a church THAT WILL MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE WHILE THEY ARE GOING TO HELL.

It is also possible for an “easy believe” “Christian” to attend a good, solid, Fundamental Baptist church, where the Gospel is preached, and the Bible is taught well: and yet, never be saved! These are the “Judas Iscariots” of Christianity, who look good on the outside, but do not know the Lord Jesus on the inside. Pastors need to be very discerning about these things, and not to allow these “Judas Iscariots” to join their churches until they show good evidence that they are truly born again. These people think that they are saved, but are not. Only a miracle of God can open their eyes to their true situation.

What about you? Are you an “easy believe” “Christian”? Yes, “you prayed a prayer”; yes, you joined a church; yes, you were baptized; BUT were you truly saved? No one can be saved by good works; BUT good works are an ACCURATE INDICATOR of whether you are truly saved, or not.

Good works are also not proof that you are saved! You can be the best person in the world in the eyes of your neighbors, and appear to be the most religious in the world; and yet you can still go to Hell when you die! The Pharisees and scribes in the days of Jesus were like that, and yet Jesus said that they were like tombs that were outwardly beautiful, but within, they were full of the bones of dead men.

“For by grace you have been permanently saved through faith; and that faith is not out of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of our own works, lest any man should boast” Ephesians 2:8-9

The only way to be saved is to repent! Acknowledge to God that you are a sinner, and have done many wicked things, because we all have.

The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

Next, you must believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God; and that He died on the cross to pay for your sins, and that He rose again from the dead on the third day.

Next, you must call upon the Name of Jesus Christ to save you. This is best done in private, with just you and God. Alternatively, a Christian friend can pray with you to assist you; but your prayer to God must be your prayer, and yours alone. No one can save you except Jesus!

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: No man comes to the Father, but by me”! John 14:6

You can do it right now, and be saved eternally, if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died on the cross for YOUR SINS, and that God raised Him from the dead on the third day. Use this prayer as a model for your own:

“Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against YOU. I am no good, and you are righteous! I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, were buried, and rose again from the dead on the third day. I want you to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Please come into my heart right now. Forgive me for all my sins, and save my soul. In the mighty Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!”

If you have turned from your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and only Savior from sin, please message me through Facebook and let me know that you have done that, so that I can pray for you and rejoice with you in what God has done in your life. Amen.