"For the Greater Purpose"

Overview

For the Greater Purpose

When Paul arrived in Jerusalem Acts 21:15-19, he was met with warm greetings, the delivery of a love offering gathered from other churches for the suffering believers there, and a joyful gathering of the elders. Paul's report focused not on his own accomplishments but on "the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry"—a reminder that he understood himself simply as a vessel and a mouthpiece. The elders' response was right and good: they praised God.

Yet a problem emerged Acts 21:20-24. The Judaizers—those false teachers from Acts 15 who insisted salvation came by grace through faith plus keeping the Mosaic law—had been spreading rumors that Paul was telling Jewish believers to forsake Moses. To dispel the slander, the elders proposed that Paul join four men in completing a purification vow (rooted in Numbers 6) and pay their expenses. Surprisingly, Paul agreed Acts 21:26. At first glance this seems wholly out of character for the apostle who so fiercely defended salvation by grace alone.

The key to understanding Paul's action is found in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22: "Though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew in order to win Jews." Paul was not driven by power, wealth, or the approval of others. His one consuming passion was to win others to Christ. He never taught that ritual observance saved anyone, and he made clear that such practices held no spiritual benefit. But he also extended grace to Jewish believers who continued in their heritage, and he was willing to participate in such customs himself if doing so opened a door for the gospel. The ritual could not save—but it could build a bridge.

This is the model for the church in every age, and especially in unsettled and anxious times. Just as Jesus did whatever it took to redeem us—becoming man, bearing our sin, dying in our place—so those claimed in the waters of baptism are called to live outward, for the sake of others. Who in your neighborhood needs a phone call this week? Is there a widow or widower who feels alone, someone who needs groceries picked up or medication delivered, someone who simply needs to hear, "How are you? You're in my prayers"? We can stand in the sure confidence that God is sovereign and Jesus is Lord, and from that peace we move outward, forming bridges over which the gospel travels. That is the greater purpose—now as always—of every follower of Christ.

Transcript

Would you open your Bibles' Please with me to the 21st chapter of the Book of Acts 0s

for our continued study in this great book. 5s

The 21st chapter of the Book of Acts for our study this morning. 9s

We've all had the experience, haven't we? 15s

Where someone says something or someone does something and we think to ourselves or maybe we 18s

say it. 25s

Well, that's different. 26s

That's odd, that's uncharacteristic of who they are. 27s

We've all had that experience. 33s

Then you come to the Apostle pole. 37s

Why? 40s

One thinks that after a while you get to know him. 41s

You know what makes him tick. 46s

As we've been studying through the Book of Acts, we certainly understand Paul and as we 48s

read his letters, we see his passion and his heart. 53s

But in today's lesson, he does something that makes you go, what? 59s

Huh? 67s

Paul? 70s

Let's study together. 72s

We pick up in the 21st chapter in verse 15 and there we read. 74s

After these days, we got ready and started to go up to Jerusalem. 81s

Some of the disciples from Cessaria also came along and brought us to the house of 86s

Manassin of Cyprus and early to Cypal with whom we were to stay. 91s

When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly. 98s

We can crawl into the sandals of those of ancient day. 105s

This was a wonderful gathering. 109s

There had been a special collection that had been taken from other churches for the suffering 112s

church in Jerusalem. 117s

And so as they gather now, this offering that had been collected out of love is given in love 120s

to the suffering church in Jerusalem. 127s

There is joy in the reception of that special gift. 130s

There is warmth in the greeting. 134s

It is a beautiful scene. 137s

We go on. 140s

The next day, Paul went with us to visit James and all the elders were present. 142s

Remember, there's a term in Holy Scripture that's really synonymous, several terms. 150s

Elders overseers, bishops. 155s

We would translate today, pastor. 158s

So you have the gathering now of the pastors in Jerusalem. 161s

The next verse, verse 19. 167s

After greeting them, he related one by one, the things that God had done among the Gentiles 170s

through his ministry. 178s

Notice, please, the emphasis. 182s

Paul is emphasizing what God had done. 185s

Paul understood, he was simply a vessel. 191s

Paul understood, he wasn't the one that brought about results. 194s

But he was simply the mouthpiece, the spokesman, the one who proclaimed the gospel, 199s

and God used that word and did great and wonderful things. 205s

There is joy as they gather and now Paul focusing on God focuses on what God has done. 211s

And the reaction? 224s

When they heard it, they praised God. 226s

What a beautiful scene. 231s

What a joyous gathering. 233s

But there's a problem. 239s

Look when they please, beginning in the second part of verse 20. 243s

Then they said to him, you see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews. 249s

And they are all zealous for the law. 258s

They have been told about you what you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles 263s

to forsake Moses and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs. 268s

What then is to be done? 279s

They will certainly hear that you have come. 282s

Well, who are those where it says they have been told about you? 289s

Who are those that are telling about Paul? 295s

I remember when we studied back in Acts the 15th chapter, there was a group of Jewish Christians. 302s

They were called the Judaizers. 308s

And remember the Judaizers believed that you were saved by the grace of God through faith 311s

in the Lord Jesus Christ, plus adherence to the mosaic law. 319s

It was a false teaching. 329s

These were the ones that were talking about Paul. 333s

And that very word there translated told about you. 338s

The Greek word is cataclysm. 342s

We get cataclysm from it. 344s

So in other words, this was continual, ongoing teaching saying that this is what Paul is teaching. 346s

But was it? 358s

No. 360s

In the 15th chapter of Acts, 363s

it says that certain individuals came down from Judeo, we are teaching the brothers, 366s

unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. 371s

That's that saved by grace through faith, plus works. 381s

But Paul never taught that. 389s

He taught saved by grace through faith, but he never said that one had to adhere to the mosaic law 393s

in order to be saved. 402s

So there's a problem here. 406s

There's a joyous gathering here. 407s

This love gift is given. 410s

There's relating what God has done. 412s

And then the pastors say, we've got a problem here, Paul. 417s

But they had a plan. 423s

Picking up the verse 23. 425s

So do what we tell you. 428s

We have four men who are under a vow. 430s

Join these men, go through the right of purification with them, 435s

and pay for the shaving of their heads. 440s

Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, 444s

but that you yourself observe and guard the law. 450s

But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, 456s

we've sent a letter with our judgment, 460s

that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood 462s

and from what is strangled and from forenication. 467s

So what's the plan here? 473s

The plan then is that Paul would join them in this vow, 475s

that Paul would join them in the observance of this law, this ritual. 481s

By the explanation of it goes all the way back to numbers, 491s

this six chapters. So this is nothing new. 493s

But the plan, 497s

by the plan seems like it's written by the judiizers, doesn't it? 500s

And with the judiizers said, grace, faith, plus, 506s

observe the mosaic law, then you'll be saved. 511s

Well, Paul's not going to do this. 518s

Well, you know what makes them tick. 523s

So, avation by grace through faith and the Lord Jesus Christ alone. 525s

No way, Paul's going to do this. 530s

No way. 534s

Look at verse 26. 537s

Then Paul took the men and the next day, 541s

having purified himself, he entered the temple with them, 546s

making public the completion of the days of purification 550s

when the sacrifice would be made for each of them. 555s

What? 567s

Huh? 570s

Paul? 573s

What's he doing here? 577s

Because this just doesn't seem like the Paul, we know. 580s

Does it? 588s

Several years ago, I had a conversation with a gentleman 592s

and he shared that really all of his life, 597s

he was seeking the approval of his parents. 602s

He said it was a situation where I kept trying to get it, 607s

but I never felt that I ever could get the approval of my parents. 613s

Seems like love was just conditionalized based upon my actions. 622s

And I never could reach the goal of where they wanted me 628s

to be. 635s

He said what drove his life was trying to get his parents approval. 638s

There could be a lot of things that drive our lives, right? 650s

A quest for power can drive somebody's life. 656s

Quest for wealth can drive somebody's life. 661s

A quest for acceptance can drive someone's life. 667s

What drove Paul's life? 675s

What was the greater purpose in all he did? 678s

What was that which drove? 684s

What he said and what he did? 686s

Turn with me, please. 693s

To first Corinthians the ninth chapter. We're in Acts. 695s

So go through Romans and then you're at first Corinthians. 699s

First Corinthians the ninth chapter. 702s

Verse 19. 707s

And notice what Paul writes. 710s

For though I am free with respect to all, 714s

I have made myself a slave to all so that I might win more of them. 720s

To the Jews, I became as a Jew in order to win Jews. 729s

To those under the law, I became as one under the law. 738s

The why myself am not under the law so that I might win those under the law. 743s

What drove him? 755s

What was his greater purpose in all that he did? 757s

His greater purpose was to win others to Christ. 762s

It is so fascinating that in the early church the Jews, 776s

the Jews were never condemned by the Christians for following their rituals. 784s

They had vows, they had regulations around the Sabbath. 792s

They had their feasts, their dietary laws. 795s

But nowhere did the Christians condemn them for continuing to follow them. 800s

Why? We know that the Apostle Paul said there's no spiritual benefit in them. 813s

But they were never condemned for continuing it. 820s

In fact Paul talks about the weaker brothers and sisters. In other words, 824s

to be patient for the new converts of the Jews into Christianity, to be patient 830s

while they came to the understanding of a clear conscience with regard to those rituals. 837s

They said that it was not mandated for the Gentiles, to force the Gentiles, 848s

to adhere to the rituals. They were very clear on that, but they were also clear 855s

in giving the Jews grace that indeed they could live out their heritage 863s

to live that out. But what Paul was focused on like a laser beam was communicating 870s

to the Jews, that following those rituals, following those laws, that never earned salvation, 879s

not at all. Do them if you want, Paul said, you are saved by grace 891s

through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And doing the rituals has no spiritual benefit. 900s

Why then did Paul do what he did? He was simply living out what drove him, 917s

living out the greater passion in his life, to win others for Christ. 924s

So that's why he says, in verse 19, I'm free with respect to wall. I've made myself a slave to 934s

wall so that I might win more of them. To the Jews, I became as a Jew in order to win Jews. 942s

Paul says, if living out this wall, if that opens a door for witness to the Jews, 954s

count me in. Count me in. Does doing that save? Absolutely not. 968s

But if in freedom he can do that, communicating that it doesn't save, if it opens the door, 979s

Paul says, of course, of course I'll do that. 989s

And we think of Jesus. The Lord Jesus Christ did whatever it took to redeem us. 998s

He became man. He took our sin upon him. He died on the cross in our place. 1011s

He did whatever it took to redeem us. As followers of Christ, those who have been claimed 1022s

in the waters of baptism, it is our call then to live out our faith and to win others 1035s

by the grace of God to Christ. Beloved, these are challenging times, aren't they? 1046s

They are times that are simply just unprecedented for us. They're difficult times. 1060s

But what an opportune time it is for the church, for the church to live out our greater 1069s

purpose in all that we do. And that is to win others for Christ. 1082s

And so what can we do this week as the body of Christ? What can we do to love in his name? 1092s

Let me ask it this way. Who is it in your neighborhood that needs someone to reach out to them? 1102s

Just to say, how are you? How are you doing? How are you handling all of this news? 1113s

Maybe it's a widow. Maybe it's a widow or who so misses their spouse right now. 1124s

And the news from the television just seems to be bad each and every day. 1133s

And here she wants to turn it off, but they just they just can't seem to turn it off. 1142s

Because they need to hear the news. But they don't like the news they're hearing. 1149s

Is there a widow or a widow or that you can reach out and establish that bond of friendship 1160s

to where you love them with the love of Christ? Who is it that maybe has a need? 1169s

Maybe they feel trapped and they need some groceries or they need the medication picked up. 1181s

You can be their legs. And in so doing they see the church in action. 1189s

You see we are a people that can stand in the short confidence that God is sovereign, 1200s

that God is in control, that God is not off his throne, that God knows exactly what is happening. 1205s

And that as we put out on the sign in the front of the church, Jesus is Lord, we can stand in that joy 1214s

and in that confidence and in that peace. 1224s

And move outward to minister to others so that amidst this time of anxiousness, of wonderment, 1230s

of nervousness, the church reaches out with the message of Jesus Christ and loves, loves. 1242s

And in so doing bridges are formed over which the gospel message is carried. 1257s

Who is it? This week, today, that you can pick up that phone and say, 1269s

just wondering how you're doing and I want you to know that you're in my prayers. 1280s

You see that's living out the greater purpose, isn't it? Living out the greater purpose 1289s

of winning others for Christ, 1297s

always and now. 1308s