The Rule of Christ and Our Submission to Him

Acts 13:13-52

People often approach evangelism like they approach sales. They sell Jesus like he’s the answer to life’s problems on earth. Like a product with benefits. God loves you so much he gave Jesus. Just say the sinner’s prayer and be saved, and get the benefits. But there’s no push for godliness or submission. And we’ve seen the fruit - just like the parable of the sower - people receive this gospel with gladness, but when Jesus doesn’t bless their lives, when persecution becomes too severe, when the world becomes attractive - they depart the faith and leave Christ’s kingdom. Why? Christ is a savior, but he hasn’t saved me from a difficult life. Or people push Christ to their children North Korean style. You’re a Christian you know! He’s done so much for us. Jesus is very angry with you for your bad behavior. When people see no grace and mercy in this king, no threats will keep them loyal to him. One can understand the motivation for both cases - to get a person into Christ’s kingdom as quickly and easily or to keep them in the kingdom as desperately as possible. But to present Christ only as savior and not Lord brings no salvation. To present him only as Lord without mercy also brings no salvation. Yes, God rules. Man has rebelled. But God is gracious and loving. He sent Jesus to save sinners. But this savior is also king. If sinners submit to his saving rule, they’ll be saved. If they don’t, they’ll be judged one day. He has demonstrated grace upon grace.

Today, we shall see the plain teaching on Christ’s gracious rule and the response both of submission and rejection. There are 2 truths about Christ’s rule explained - that God made Christ a king, and Christ earned the right to be king; and 2 responses to Christ’s rule displayed - there are those who would worship Christ and those who would reject Christ.

Firstly, the truths of Christ’s rule explained. Paul and Barnabas had just been to Paphos in Cyprus. When they preached the gospel, they met hot opposition. But Sergius was gloriously saved. Verse 13 tells us they continued to preach this gospel of God’s kingdom, “Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.” Now, we learn something sad here. John Mark, whose mother Mary had a house church, who was assistant to Paul and Barnabas - returned home to Jerusalem. The opposition must’ve been too much in Paphos. So when they returned to the mainland, John Mark left them. Christ ruled his apostles but Mark couldn’t endure hardship. We won’t be hard on Mark, because he does return one day. But this sad account tells us that Christians do struggle with Christ’s rule. God has made Christ our king but we struggle with that. Some more than others. But Paul and Barnabas submitted. They accepted the truth that God had made Christ king. In Pisidian Antioch, they went to the synagogue. Verse 15 says opportunity arose. After the reading of the law and prophets, Paul took the opportunity to preach about God’s rule. He focused on 2 things - how God delivered their ancestors through leaders. Verses 17-19 - God chose their ancestors and prospered the people. He rescued them from Egypt, preserved them in the wilderness, and conquered Canaan for them. Now, the Jews didn’t need a history lesson. They recounted this at every Passover. But Paul did it to remind them that God delivered them by giving them rulers. We see this in verses 20-22. After the Israel moved to Canaan, for about 450, God as king gave them judges. But they wanted a human king. So God gave Saul, the son of Kish. Then God made David king - an obedient man who was after God’s heart. Now, what was the purpose of these rulers? Why judges and kings? Kings were rulers but also their work was to deliver their people from their enemies. Judges 2:16 says why God gave them judges - “Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.”

Paul brought up their history to bring up Jesus - a better king and deliverer. Moses who delivered them to the Promised Land and all the judges and kings who protected them from enemies in the Promised Land all pointed to Christ. He delivers us from sin and Satan, to bring us to a better heavenly land. Verse 23 - “Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus.” As David’s descendent - Jesus was a king! As such, he was a deliverer. So great a king was he, that even John the Baptizer said that he wasn’t worthy to untie his laces - not worthy enough to be a servant. So great a King did God make Jesus - that who can be his servant.

But not only did God make Jesus a king, Jesus himself earned the right to be king. As David’s descendent, he would inherit the throne. Many kings in Israel’s history only inherited the throne, but didn’t do the work of a king. They didn’t protect or deliver their people. Many crown princes become kings - but were bad kings. King Bhumibol of Thailand was a revered king - he did much for his people. But his son - Vajiralongkorn - is hopeless. He made his poodle Fufu, an Air Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force. Prince Charles may never be like Queen Elizabeth. Rehoboam was nothing like Solomon. But Jesus was a greater king. What did he do? He sacrificed himself to deliver his people from their sins. He also resurrected to show that he was innocent and victorious. We learn in verses 27-28, that despite him having no crime, the Jews rejected him. They refused to believe the prophecies about him. They murdered him. By so doing, they fulfilled the Scriptures, verse 29. But because he had no sin and he died for those who did wrong, Jesus earned his right to be king. Verse 30 says that God raised Jesus from the dead. He was obedient unto death and he conquered death and sin. The connection between his resurrection and work is seen in Philippians 2. It says “he made himself of no reputation, and took the form of a servant, a man: he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, in earth, and under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus earned himself his kingship. It wasn’t just inherited.

On the day of his resurrection, he was crowned king, verse 33. Paul quoted Psalm 2 - that Jesus as the Son of God and king would rule over all nations. No other king is like that. David and Solomon never did. Queen Elizabeth had a great realm, but it wasn’t the whole world. Only Christ rules the whole world. And we see this - all over the world, where Christians are, they submit to his rule. Also, Jesus is alive while the rest of the kings are dead. Verses 34-35, which quote Isaiah 55 and Psalm 16, say that Jesus’ body didn’t decay. He conquered death. So if as king, he conquered death, then he can deliver his people from both spiritual and physical death. He’s able to save to the uttermost all who come to him. Paul’s last words in the synagogue were in verses 38-41. There, he presented Christ as a delivering king or a destroying king. Verses 38-39, he said - “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Jesus is the King who offers deliverance. If they believe in him, they’d be justified - counted right in God’s eyes. They’d receive forgiveness of sins. In Paul’s sermon, he recounted the failure of God’s people. The reason they were in the wilderness was because of rebellion. King Saul? Failure! King David? Yes, he loved God, but he was an adulterer and murderer!The rulers and people in Jerusalem? They rejected Christ! Sabbath after Sabbath, they heard the law and prophets, but refused to obey. But all is forgiven when we receive Jesus as king! He’s a king who delivers. He’s not just a sacrifice and savior. His role as a savior is tied to his role as king. We can’t have Jesus as Savior without having him as king. There’s no salvation if Christ is not king. Also, if Christ’s not king, there’s condemnation. In verses 40-41, he warns - beware, lest it comes on you - which the prophets warned - that if you despise this message, you will perish. He said beware - that was a threat. Christ was made a king. He earned his kingship. If a person doesn’t receive Jesus as King, he will perish. But having Christ as king brings mercy. After such strong preaching, how did these people respond? What do people do after such strong preaching? Were they turned off? Wouldn’t a nicer message be better? Shouldn’t he have sold the benefits? Shouldn’t he have avoided repentance? People don’t want Jesus as king, just sell him as savior.

We see that when the gospel is rightly preached, there will be responses. Secondly, the responses to Christ’s rule displayed. Some found it attractive and others hated it. Some found it a good word, but others found it a hard word. Some embraced the rule of Christ, but others rejected it. Why? Because some are called and others are not. Verse 48 tells us - “that as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” There were some who wanted to hear more. They came eagerly, wanting to seek Christ. Verse 42 - “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.” They asked them to tell them more! They returned with eagerness. In fact, they besought them - they invited, strongly requested, earnestly appealed; they begged Paul to tell them more of these words - these hard words! You can imagine outside of the synagogue, these people surrounded Paul and Barnabas and persistently asked them to return the next Sabbath. The words of the gospel were attractive - not just the salvation bit, but the threats. Some people love to eat mala - even though it’s so spicy and painful. But they want to eat it all the same and to have more of it. The gospel presented accurately is appetizing to some, despite its obvious hardness.

And these people couldn’t get enough. They couldn’t wait for next Saturday. Verse 43 says, “Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” They asked for next week, but when the crowd dispersed, many followed Paul and Barnabas. They probably followed him to where he was staying, or someone with a big house invited everyone over for refreshments. Now who were these people? Verse 42 says it was only the Gentiles from the synagogue. But verse 43 clarifies it was both Jews and Gentiles. And it was a large group. And what we learn is that they believed. How do we know this? At the end of verse 43, Paul and Barnabas persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Somewhere over refreshments, they believed. And these ministers persuaded them to stick with grace and not to return to the religions of the synagogue. They told them to stick with King Jesus who saves.

But there were those who rejected the gospel of Christ. The gospel was disgusting to some. We learn in verse 44 that many others wanted to hear the gospel. It says, “And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.” Now, Psidian Antioch was a major city that had a large Jewish population. And almost the whole city came to hear. And that caused a very negative reaction. Verse 45 - “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.” The Jews - likely the leaders of the synagogue - turned on Paul and Barnabas. But why were filled with envy? Remember the Jews were very missionary minded. They wanted to convert Gentiles. The fact there were Gentile believers in the synagogue shows this. Jesus said in Matthew 23:15 how the Pharisees would cross land and sea to make a convert. But now, their fellow Jews and converts believed in Jesus. The city which they wanted to convert were gathered to hear the gospel. The gospel is never preached in a vacuum. There are never neutral audiences. We’re affected by sin and different world views. Richard Dawkins exists. So when the saving kingship of Jesus is displayed, people will hate it. And they contradicted and blasphemed Paul. They debated him. They cursed him. But did Paul and Barnabas stop? No. Verse 46 says they replied boldly to these Jews - “The promises of the gospel were given to you, to your ancestors - so it’s fitting that we should preach the fulfillment of those promises. But since you think you are so “unworthy” of these words of everlasting life, then we will go to the Gentiles. And, in verse 48, many Gentiles believed - those who were ordained to eternal life believed. The hard words didn’t stop them. They believed in Jesus. They wanted his rule. And this angered the Jews more. Verse 50 says the Jewish leaders stirred up the noble Gentile proselyte women, who then influenced their city official husbands (the neck that controls the head) - and they kicked them out of the city and state. When they couldn’t refute him with sound arguments, they used personal attacks, and civil and popular power. They turned on them because they used hard words. But Paul and Barnabas weren’t discouraged. While people were rejecting the gospel, others were submitting to Christ’s kingship. This is the gospel. We learn in verse 51 - they turned away from the Jews in that city and shook off the dust off their feet AGAINST them. This was a symbolic gesture hostility. Whenever the Jews of Palestine returned from another country, they would’ve picked up dirt in their sandals. Before they entered their home, they would shake the pagan dust from their feet before entering their ceremonially clean house. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust against the unbelieving Antioch Jews. It was the Jews who didn’t receive Christ’s kingship who were unclean. They ceased to be God’s people. They’d be judged. What were Paul and Barnabas’ response to all of this? Verse 52 - “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” Some might say - what a weird conclusion! Shouldn’t they have been sad that Christ’s kingship was rejected? No. The Gospel always accomplishes the task it was sent out to do. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Which is why the disciples were filled with a joy given by the Holy Spirit. They rejoiced at both success - of salvation and condemnation - when people were confronted with the kingship of Christ.

Today, we’re confronted with the same. Christ is King. He’s a delivering and saving King. Without his lordship over us, we cannot be saved. We cannot just accept his salvation without accepting his kingship in our lives. To those who are unbelievers attracted to Christ’s salvation - you will never have it unless he’s your Lord. He saves his people. Are you his people? Will you have him rule over you and save you? Young people of the church - Christ is a saving king. He’s not just king with all of his rules - but he’s a gracious king. You have grown up hearing all of his laws and his saving mercies. Unless you believe and trust in him, and come to him knowing his love, his laws will be offensive to you. But if he has saved you and you have experienced his mercies, you will love him for the savior he is, and willingly follow him. But these words are to the rest of us. We have come to Christ - accepting him as our savior - but we still live according to our desires. His laws don’t matter to us. Husbands and fathers are unloving, irresponsible, lazy. Wives are unsubmissive, independent, disrespectful. Young people proclaim their liberty in Christ, but refuse to pursue after holiness. We come to partake of the Lord’s Supper - remembering Christ as our passover, but rejecting his fire that cleanses us from the leaven of sin. And in the mean time, we serve in church.

Some of you are living in secret sins - for years without victory. But instead of coming to Christ as savior to restore you to godliness and king to kill the sin in you, you think that you can keep silent about it, and just try harder - but how long have you tried? But you still return to it. You think you’re your own king and savior. Trying to have victory by your own strength. Trying to have righteousness by your own effort. No. I urge you to come and seek help. Let your elders come alongside you to help you by comforting you with the gospel and instructing you in righteousness. Your joy will be full, when you are victorious over this enemy of secret and besetting sin. Are you going to be angry and reject the Word of God, the admonition of Christ through the preacher and elders? Christ is a saving king. He delivers us. Let us submit to him - that he may subdue us by forgiving us and making us holy. There will be some who will resist Christ’s kingship - even in the church. They may out of weakness show themselves to be John Mark, who will return one day. We grieve and rejoice. There may be those who show they never really were in Christ’s kingdom. But we also grieve and rejoice. We know that when the Word goes forth, it softens the hearts of the called and hardens the hearts of the condemned. We grieve and we rejoice. Because Christ rules - and all will submit to him one day - willingly as sons or unwillingly as enemies. These are hard words but true words.

1. The Truths About Christ’s Rule Explained

A. God made Christ king

B. Christ earned the right to be king

2. The Responses to Christ’s Rule Displayed

A. They worshiped Christ

B. They rejected Christ