Last week we studied Acts 9:10-25. You can listen to that sermon on our website.  This morning we will camp out at verse 26.

Read :: Pray :: Examine/Apply

Verse

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.

Commentary

After Saul fled from Damascus he went to Jerusalem and found himself in a difficult position. As a newer Christian he attempted to join the disciples there but they rejected him. The disciples did not believe he was a follower of Jesus Christ. Saul must have seemed like the quintessential wolf in sheep’s clothing to them. They must have thought that he was attempting to join the church so that he could destroy it from within. They took no chances and turned him away. The fellowship he enjoyed in Damascus was withheld from him at Jerusalem. How sad.

F. F. Bruce wrote that we can tentatively date Saul’s conversion to A.D. 33 and his return to Jerusalem sometime in A.D. 35. This would mean that Saul may have spent about 2 years fellowshipping and preaching the gospel in Damascus before going back to Jerusalem. Bruce’s insight inspired me to look a little further into this. I was then led to Galatians 1:11-24 (our reading passage) which says that Saul left Damascus for Arabia and then returned to Damascus and then went to Jerusalem 3 years later. With that being said, it would appear that the biblical chronology would be as follows.

From the beginning of A.D. 33 to the end A.D. 35 (3 years)

1. Saul left Jerusalem to bind Christians in Damascus.

2. Saul got saved on the Damascus Road.

3. Saul entered Damascus.

4. Saul received back his sight, was filled with the Spirit, and fellowshipped with other believers.

5. Saul preached the gospel in Damascus synagogues.

6. Hellenistic Jews got stirred up.

7. Saul left Damascus to go to Arabia to confer with the Lord.

8. Saul returned to Damascus to preach the gospel in synagogues.

9. Persecution and death threats arose against Saul and he fled the city.

10. Saul returned to Jerusalem.

Here’s what’s amazing to me about this. How is it that 3 years later the church at Jerusalem didn’t believe Saul was a true follower of Jesus Christ? Did they not hear about his conversion? Did they not hear about his ministry? I think they heard about both. Let me explain how:

Saul had been saved and blinded while in the presence of co-persecutors. They were the men that accompanied him on his mission to bind Christians in Damascus. What happened to those men? Did they get saved alongside of Saul and remain with him in Damascus or did they return to the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem to report what happened? If they had been saved and remained with Saul you would think that our author Luke would have noted something about that. Luke was a pretty thorough historian. He especially enjoyed writing down the salvation accounts of others. If the co-persecutors returned to inform the Sanhedrin about Saul’s change the church would have probably heard the news as well. The Sanhedrin watched the church and the church watched the Sanhedrin.

And what about the lines of communication that existed between the church at Jerusalem and the Christians from other regions? We’ve seen two examples of this communication in the book of Acts so far. The first example is Samaritan example. Somehow the apostles heard about the revival that broke out in Samaria. They heard about Philip’s ministry and how the Samaritans were getting saved in droves. When they received the report they sent Peter and John to assist Philip and to lay their hands on the new believers. The second example is the example of Ananias. Prior to Saul’s conversion, Ananias had somehow heard about his plans to bind Christians in Damascus. Ananias had even heard about how Saul obtained official documents from the Sanhedrin.

Based on these two rock solid examples I think it’s fair to assume that the Jerusalem Christians were fully aware of Saul’s conversion and ministry. What then held them back? What prevented them from accepting and receiving Saul? The answer is fear. Verse 26 says “They were all afraid of him.” I would like to take a moment to point out some things about fear. First off, fear can be a good thing when in its proper place. Examples:

Fear of God

When we ponder God our ponderings should be accompanied by a form of fear known as reverence. Reverence is basically a profound sense of awe and respect. God should be approached in this manner. God is holy. God is all knowing, all present, and all powerful. He created the universe with spoken words. He whipped man together from the dust and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. According to the OT when God makes war against His enemies He crushes them by the tens of thousands like ants. There are a multitude of biblical examples that should generate within us a fear of God. And yet we tend to come to God haphazardly and even flippantly. We tend to believe that because of Jesus we can come to God however we please. This is not true.

Ponder this: If a judge in our court system gave you clemency rather than justice would you respond to him flippantly or in a way that would diminish his honor and position. Certainly not. You would either thank him respectfully or stand there in silent awe. It should be the same with God. Even though God granted us freedom from the bondage of sin and death and from judgment through the person and finished work of Jesus Christ we shouldn’t approach Him haphazardly or flippantly. We should never come to Him in a way that seems to diminish His holiness, honor, glory, and position. We should always come to Him in humility that has been seasoned with reverence and fear. Always. Remember this, Jesus didn’t change God He simply gave us access to Him. God’s infinite holiness and righteousness still stand and will never change. God is God. And God demands that His people honor and revere Him. So in terms of coming to God, fear is a good and helpful thing.

Fear of Sin

Fear can also be good in terms of how we view and deal with sin. Sin creates negative effects. Sin creates harmful effects. Sin damages us and others. Sin destroys families, careers, and lives. The effects of sin should stir within the followers of Christ fear. Fear can be a good deterrent. I often ponder how easily it would be for me to sin myself right out of this pastorate.

The fear of causing harm to my Redeemer’s holy name is a mighty deterrent from sin.  The fear of bringing shame and disgrace upon my family and church is a mighty deterrent against sin. In my opinion, fear of sin and its effects should be as natural to the true believer as breathing or drinking water. So fear can be good in terms of how we view and deal with sin.

Fear and our Physiology

Fear can also be good in terms of how it can trigger adrenaline which can help us to avoid danger or defend ourselves and loved ones against an attack.

These examples show how fear can serve us well. Now I’d like to switch it up. I’d like to point out how fear can be dangerous and harmful. How fear can distort how we view, receive, dispense some important things.

1. Fear can distort how we see and receive God’s love.

God’s love brings security and identity into the lives of His children. His love secures us in Him.

It gives us hope, peace, joy, and purpose. God’s love is what gives His children the courage to live risky death defying lives for Him. God’s love endures forever. It is unchanging. It is eternal. Nothing can remove us from His love. Nothing can alter the flow of His love. His love is like a mighty and relentless waterfall. Fear, however, can distort the way that we see and receive God’s love. Fear can distort our perception of reality. The reality is God always loves us but fear causes us to doubt that. We often tether our circumstances to the flow of God’s love. If things are going well we think God loves us. If things are bad we think God doesn’t love us. We interpret difficult things such as pain, suffering, loss, and persecution as expressions of God’s hatred, dislike, or judgment.

1 John 4:18 says that the presence of fear means that there is an absence of God’s perfect love. Fear was present in the Jerusalem church which meant that there may have been a problem with their love. They feared Saul. Even after the reports and his testimony. When Saul came to them he shared his story and his story corroborated with the reports. But they denied him out of fear. They showed him no love. Why, because Saul threatened their sense of security and identity. “We are Christians and he wants to take that away from us!” What they needed to realize was that their security and identity were in Christ Jesus not in their health, safety, or group. We need to realize the same thing. Our security and identity are in Jesus not in ourselves, in others, in what we have, in our comfort, or in anything else.

The belief that our security and identity are in Christ Jesus will revolutionize the way we think and live. It will free us from the bondage of fear which will help us to live risky sacrificial lives for our Lord. It will remove the fear that distorts the precious life giving love of our Heavenly Father. When God’s love seems distant or unattainable, check yourself for fear, and remind yourself that you are secured in Christ. Remind yourself of Romans 8:38-39 which says that nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The second type is:

2. Fear can distort how we see and receive God’s grace.

All who are in Christ are in Christ by the precious grace of God through the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace means unmerited favor which is to be given something that you didn’t deserve. Or even better, to be given the opposite of what you do deserve. Grace is an attribute of God. Grace is a miracle of God. Grace is transformative. It changes us. At the moment of our salvation God’s grace was applied to us by the Holy Spirit. We call this regeneration. As we travel down the narrow path of true life the grace of God is continually applied to us by the Holy Spirit. We call this sanctification which is the process of being molded into the image of our Lord. Grace is wondrous and mysterious.

The flow of God’s grace to His children is like the flow of His great love. As a mighty waterfall it continues unabated. It cannot be stopped, it cannot be dammed, and it cannot be redirected. The flow of God’s grace is as certain as He is certain and we know that He is immutable and unchanging. We know that He is immovable. He is like a strong tower but with an eternal foundation. Unshakable. So God’s grace endures as He endures.

Grace is the means by which we were brought into God’s great love. This means that grace is also essential to our sense security and true identity. Knowing that God has chosen us according to His grace is the most freeing and liberating truth. It frees us from the belief that we must earn our way with God. It frees us from religious performance. It frees us from the fear of how others may view and value us. Grace means that we are accepted by God which means that we do not have to pursue the acceptance of others. Tullian T. wrote, “Because Jesus was someone, you’re free to be no one.”

Most people in the world are trying to be someone. Someone important. Someone who is loved. Someone who is accepted. The reason they work hard at this is because there is a restlessness that overshadows their lives. The restlessness came at the fall. Adam and Eve were created by God for God but when they separated themselves from Him through sin, their sense of security, value, and identity were jettisoned and replaced by a sense of restlessness. A. W. Tozer described this restlessness, “There is within the human heart a tough fibrous root of fallen life whose nature is to possess, always to possess. It covets “things” with deep and fierce passion.”

Man has been plagued by this restlessness since the beginning, and he has been on a pursuit to fill the void ever since. But the grace of God in Christ Jesus restores our sense of security, value, and identity by restoring us back to God who is our true source for those things. Grace can bring an end to the restlessness. It can bring an end to the pursuit. That is part of the good news of the gospel.

Fear, however, can distort how we see and receive God’s grace. It messes with our sense of security, value, and identity. Fear hinders how we take it in God’s grace and how we apply it, enjoy it, and dispense it. The Jerusalem Christians feared Saul because they saw him as a threat to their security, value, and identity. They thought that he had come to destroy those things. But what they didn’t understand at that particular moment was that those things were secured in the impenetrable and invincible Son of God, Jesus Christ. As I’ve already mentioned, fear can be generated by our circumstances, experiences, and choices. Personal sin can bring a sense of fear which can lead to doubt about the legitimacy and availability of God’s grace. Examples: People tend to think that their sin disqualifies them from receiving God’s grace.

They believe that they have to somehow clean themselves up first before they can receive it. Some think they have to keep themselves clean in order to keep it. But the Bible teaches explicitly that God’s grace is one way. That grace is not contingent upon man’s works or efforts. If grace were contingent upon our works and efforts if would cease to be grace. Grace can only be grace if it comes from one side, the side of God. That is what makes it grace. Quoting Tullian again, he wrote: “A restored relationship with God never happens by our climbing up to him; it happens only in Jesus, who came down to us. Grace is descending, one-way love!”

If we sense or believe that God’s grace isn’t sufficient, available, or attainable we must examine our lives and search for fear. Analyze yourself to see if fear is distorting the way that you see and receive God’s ever-flowing grace. The third type is:

3. Fear can distort how we see and receive others.

In Biblical terms, humanity’s unique dignity flows from our creation in God’s image. Since we are God’s regents on the earth, an attack on any human being is tantamount to an attack on God Himself. Thus God tells Noah after the Flood: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” (Gen. 9:6).

The justification in this instance for capital punishment was the fact that human beings were made in God’s image. Murderers forfeited their right because of their attack on one of God’s image bearers. That is how seriously God takes human life. Taking this one step further, since the value of human life flows from the image of God, so does human dignity. And since the image of God is shared by all people, all of us have an intrinsic dignity that is distinct from anything else about us. The supreme value of the image of God far outweighs any other consideration in determining our worth. And yet, fear can distort how we see and receive others. 10 examples:

Fear can keep us from seeing people as image bearers with intrinsic dignity. Fear can keep us from seeing their potential for change and good.Fear can cause us to characterize others as beyond hope. Fear can cause us to immediately classify people as threats or enemies. Fear can keep us from loving our enemies. Fear can cause us to seclude ourselves or withdrawal from others. Fear can cause us to disregard evangelism. Fear can cause us to withhold grace. Fear can cause us to withhold forgiveness and mercy. Fear can cause us to reject the legitimacy of ones claims and thus reject them.

Because of fear, the Jerusalem Christians crossed each of these lines. What were they trying to protect? What could Saul take from them?

He could take away their physical freedom. He could take away their ability to gather for learning and fellowship. He could take away their homes and possessions.He could take away their physical health through scourging. He could take away their physical life.

All of these things are important. But what did Jesus say about following Him?

- And you will be hated for my name sake (Matt 10:33).

- If the world persecuted me it will persecute you (John 15:20).

- In this world you will have tribulation (John 16:33).

- Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23).

- Anyone who puts his own life and loved ones ahead of me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26).

What could Saul NOT take away from them?

- He could not take away the love of God.

- He could not take away the grace of God.

- He could not take away the promises of God.

- He could not take away the joy of God.

- He could not take away their hope (provided that it was in Jesus).

- He could not take away the Holy Spirit.

- He could not take away the true source of their security, value, and identity which are locked away for all  eternity in Christ Jesus the Lord.

If you boil it all down, Saul had limited access. He could put his hands on that which is earthly and temporal. But he could not put his hands on that which comes from heaven. I’d like to submit to you that the things that come from heaven are worth infinitely more than those that come from the earth. Now here’s the trick. Fear and unwillingness to let go of the temporal reveals a lot about us:

- It reveals that our hope has been misplaced.

- It reveals that we are drawing our sense of security, value, and identity from the wrong source.

- It reveals that we value the things of earth more than the things of heaven.

- It reveals our idolatry.

If Christ is truly our all in all, if Christ is truly our hope, if Christ is truly the source of our security, value, and identity, we should be willing to let go of the things of this earth for the sake of our King.

Let go of:

- Our freedom

- Our safety

- Our possessions

- Our money

- Our comfort

In our next section we will see how one guy from the Jerusalem church shirked the status quo and met with Saul to listen to his story. This guy was secured in Christ and because of that he felt that he had nothing to lose.

For now, may we live risky, daring, sacrificial, and evangelistic lives to the glory of our Lord. That is what He has called us to! That is what it means to carry our cross daily! And may the perfect love of our heavenly Father dwell in us richly and cast out all our fear so that we may see and receive more of His love and more of His grace and so that we may see and receive others. May we share the love and grace of God with them.