Acts part 15 Gospel Contextualization Acts 17:1-34

Acts 17:1–4[1] Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. [2] And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, [3] explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” [4] And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. Paul in Thessalonica. When Paul is talking to jews, he reasons from the scriptures.

Looking at OT passages and why the messiah was not a political/military leader but a suffering servant. ​ Psalm 22 Isaiah 53

Verse 10-15 He gets run out of the city, he next went to Berea (90 miles) and preached there and ​ ​ ​ ​ many believed him.

People in Thessalonica found out that Paul was preaching in Berea and they came ​ ​ and ran him out as well. “These men that are turning the world upside down have come here” ​

Paul fled and went to Athens, and here is where our story begins. Home of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander the great. It was a university town and ​ ​ Paul was the first Christian to arrive in that town.

Acts 17:16–34 [16] Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. [17] So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. [18] Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

Culture in Athens 1. Idol Worship.

He looked around and was disturbed by the extreme Idolatry. They had over 30,000 different Gods (about the same amount of people) that they worshipped.

There were hundreds of temples and statues and monuments in tribute to all of their Gods.

2. Philosophy 1. Epicurean philosophers, A system of philosophy based on the teachings of ​ Epicurus. He said that the greatest good was to seek the most pleasures and be absent of any pain. The highest pleasure came from obtaining knowledge, friendship and living a virtuous life.

2. Stoic philosophers, Founded by Zeno, the Stoics thought that if someone ​ reached moral and intellectual perfection, they would never have emotions. Reliance on self-control. Person is “stoic” means they have no emotions.

Notice Paul’s message. Resurrection.. ​ because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

You have to do something with Jesus. C.S. Lewis. Liar, lunatic, Lord. Jesus as just a nice guy doesn’t work. ​

Acts 17:19-21 [19] And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? [20] For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” [21] Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. This place is an epic place in history, it’s where Aristotle used to deliver messages to the people.

This is the court of the Athenian philosophers. They would oversee the gods and goddesses and the worship of them in the city.

They would hear about new God’s and would judge what was true and what was not.

Acts 17:22-23 [22] So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I ​ perceive that in every way you are very religious. [23] For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. You are very Religious. To the unknown God. They were so religious that they had an altar to an unknown ​ God just in case they missed one.

Message to Greeks:

Acts 17:24-31 [24] The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of ​ heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, [25] nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. [26] And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, [27] that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, [28] for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ [29] Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. [30] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Paul contends that there are not many gods but “The God” The one true God. He is of greater glory and majesty than a temple could hold. Creator: and he made from one man every nation of mankind to live ​ on all the face of the earth Involved: having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of ​ their dwelling place Just: Commands all people everywhere to repent. He has fixed a day ​ on which he will judge the world in righteousness.

You are not far off. Paul quotes their poets and philosophers.

Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, [28] for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’ Instead dwells within his followers. In him we move and live and have our identity.

The problem with “canned” gospel presentations Opening conversion. “If you died tonight” ​ Salesman. Danger of communicating misdirected motives

Moving evangelism from an event to a way of living. Note: Danger in going the other direction.

Listening over speaking. Book: The unbelievable Gospel. Jonathon Dodson ​

In an interview with the Gospel Coalition. Gospel Metaphors stretch across the breadth of the Bible and communicate God’s saving grace. They collect in the epistles as justification, redemption, adoption, new creation, and union with Christ. These graces aren’t metaphors in the sense that they’re symbolic of some deeper reality; rather, each gospel metaphor actually represents a facet of the gospel.

Justification Union with Christ Adoption Redemption New Creation

Gospel narratives/Metaphors

Woman caught in adultery: Jesus sees you in your guilt and because of his work on ​ the cross, He doesn’t condemn you. Legal metaphor. Where are your accusers? ​

Rich young ruler: Jesus condemns you in your moral living. you don’t need more ​ stuff or more accomplishments or more morality

Blind Man/woman caught in adultery. New creation ​

The true Gospel is polarizing. [32] Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” [33] So Paul went out from their midst. [34] But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

1. Some mocked. Indifference. ​ 2. Some wanted to hear more. If you have counted yourself out, you are ahead of ​ God. 3. Some believed Those that believed, changed the world.

The message of the Gospel does it’s work. 2 Gospel conversations.

Close. Acts 17:29-31 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. [30] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” I give you that same message today. There is one God, who is Holy, and perfect, and true, and he deserves to be worshipped in our lives. Nominal Christianity doesn’t work. Fitting into the Christian culture does not equal a relationship with him.

Repent. Not a popular message.

Notes on 5 GOSPEL METAPHORS ​

1. JUSTIFICATION (Legal Metaphor) ​ This resolves the dilemma of how a righteous God can relate to unrighteous people. This solution is found in Jesus Christ. Our works are inadequate; Christ and his work are sufficient. We can never be morally good enough to be accepted by God. This metaphor helps those who are trusting in moral performance as their justification.

“Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” - Galatians 2:16 ​ ​

“[20] For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. [21] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— [22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” - Romans 3:20-25 ​ ​

Stories: Rich young ruler, Woman caught in Adultery. ​

2. UNION WITH CHRIST (Marriage Metaphor) ​ Our fundamental problem is that we are divided from Christ, unable to enjoy his grace, truth, and beauty. By faith, Jesus offers a covenant relationship with us. It deals with intimacy and love.

Husband’s, love your wives as Christ loved the Church – Ephesians 5 ​ ​

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:1-4 ​

Stories: Hosea and Gomer, Woman at the Well ​

3. ADOPTION (Family Metaphor) ​ This changes our family status. God rescues us out of Satan’s family “children of wrath” and relocates to God’s family “children of God” It deals with approval. There is endless approval for those who are in Christ because we are sons and daughters of the King. This metaphor meets people who are looking for approval. Also relates to people who have Dad issues.

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” - Ephesians 2:1-3 ​

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” – 1 John 3:1 ​ ​

“[3] In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. [4] But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. [6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” [7] So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” - ​ Galatians 4:3-7

Stories: Prodigal Son ​ ​

4. REDEMPTION (Slavery and Sacrificial Metaphor) ​ This deals with our otherwise incurable state as sinful and broken people. To redeem is to “set loose” for slavery to sin, to ransom, rescue, deliver. Everyone needs redemption, ​ ​ ​ ​ but no one can free themselves—the price is too high. The only cure is for Jesus to take our place, absorb our sentence and set us free. We are rescued (redeemed) by Jesus shed blood. The old testament idea of redeemer is deliverance from bondage based on the payment of a price. The only cure is for Jesus to take our place, absorb our wrath, and set us free.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.” - Ephesians 1:7-8 ​ ​

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” - Romans 5:10-11 ​ ​

Stories: Ruth, Story of the lost sheep, prodigal Son, the Exodus. ​

5. NEW CREATION (Life and Death Metaphor). ​ New creation changes our spiritual nature. We are not defined by our past (dead in our trespasses), but by our new identity (alive with Christ). In Christ, the old has gone and the new has come. Appeals to Hope. People that have had a difficult life, are broken

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” - 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 ​

Stories: Blind man. Woman caught in adultery ​ ​