"Finishing Strong & Leaving a Lasting Legacy"

Acts 28

After a total of 44 studies, we have finished our chapter-by-chapter, inductive exploration of the Book of Acts.  My recaps here are, of course, generally just that -- a recap (summary). That said, the last three chapters of Acts are essentially an overview of the entire book as it relates primarily to Paul's life and ministry.  Before diving back into the last chapter of Acts, let's quickly summarize Acts 26 and 27:

In Acts 26, Paul gives us a great example of what a Christian's testimony looks like: a short explanation of who we were before Christ (what I call my "BC" days), how we came to salvation (God's grace and not by anything we did other than "surrender"), and finally what God is doing through us "AD."  Remember that it's not about you or me but rather all about Christ.  Y ou only tell your story to point to His story. Your testimony is a bridge, not the destination. The destination is Jesus and His story, and Paul gives us a powerful template in this. When we share, we need to pray that God will give us boldness to speak and the He will open people's eyes and hearts to His truth. There is nothing we can say that will make a person "repent and believe" (Mark 1:15) or otherwise come to a genuine faith (John 3:1-21), but the Holy Spirit can use our testimony to that end (salvation being ultimately a work of the Holy Spirit). We must simply be bold and obedient enough to share it.

In Acts 27, we're introduced to another First Century "cop" in the person of Julius the Centurion, along with some powerful examples of Godly servant-leadership in both Julius and Paul. As it relates primarily to Paul, take note of three things here: (1) Paul, seemingly just another prisoner, keeps his cool and is used by God along with Julius to save the lives of nearly 300 passengers (cops and prisoners alike). (2) After the entire ship's company is led safely to shore (nothing short of a miracle), Acts 28 opens with Paul gathering sticks to build a fire for his fellow prisoners and the officers guarding them.  Folks, that took a LOT of "sticks," and it is Paul, a "mere" prisoner, who showed the leadership necessary to save his shipmates, then showed extraordinary servant-hood by gathering the wood for a fire!  (3) Finally, there is this matter of the poisonous snake (viper) starting in verse 3. Note that Paul not only doesn't panic, he is also so confident in his salvation and the mission God has for him (remember that Jesus Himself told Paul he was being "dispatched" to Rome in Acts 23:11 --  The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.") that he pays little mind to the deadly snake and leaves quite the impression in the process.  [Because folks are asking, see  the Unbiblical Cult of Snake Handling (yes, it's sadly a thing -- <sigh>)].

As Paul arrives in Rome under house arrest, he stays the course God set for him. Verses 30-31 close out our study of Acts in a most powerful way: " He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,  proclaiming  the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ  with all boldness and  without hindrance."  Paul arrived in Rome about AD 61, secured a house at his own expense (meaning not at the expense of others) and preached the gospel while chained to Roman officers 24/7 (they would probably have changed shifts every four hours). Talk about a captive audience!  Moreover, the context of Scripture reveals that in addition to preaching the Word, he also wrote a big chunk of it during his time of incarceration. Specifically, it is believed he wrote Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians during this two-year time period before he was released, re-arrested under Nero's edict against Christians and then finally beheaded sometime between AD 66 and 68.   

Look what Paul wrote about this time in Philippians 1:12-13 -- "I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that  my imprisonment is for Christ." The "whole imperial guard" -- don't miss this! It would have included the elite Praetorian Guard (the Roman SWAT and Secret Service) as well!  In short, what God is telling us through Paul here is that, despite his incarceration, God used him to preach the Word to a "captive" police/military audience of thousands! Did he bellyache about his circumstances? NO! Paul reveled in it because, as he tells us, he was a "prisoner for Christ" (Philemon 1)! Paul, acting under the power of the Holy Spirit, refused to be "hindered" by his circumstances, and neither should we.  

The closing of Acts 28 is an incredible epitaph to Paul's life and ministry and a powerful legacy for us today.  Paul faithfully stayed the course and completed all God called him to do. He faced difficult and challenging times in his life, but he never gave up and never let his circumstances deter him from serving Jesus. God accomplished His purpose in Paul's life as Paul said "yes" to Him time and time again. What a lesson each of us!

While we have technically finished our study through the Book of Acts, it is  essential we understand that Acts is really a never-ending story through which God is calling each of us to follow Paul's (Peter, Cornelius, etc.) lead in surrendering and committing ourselves to His purposes for your lives. In short, God is still looking for Isaiah 6:8 men and women who will respond to His "call(s) for service" -- to move when He says "move," to go whenever He says "go" and do whenever he says, "do."  Like Isaiah, the central figures of Acts responded with, " Here am I, send me!" Talk about finishing strong and leaving a truly lasting legacy!

So is that you?  It can be! Turn to Christ in faith today. Repent if you're living a Revelation 3:14-21 " lukewarm" existence and go "all in" for Him.  Moreover, if you do not truly know Christ as Lord and Savior, then make TODAY the day of our salvation.  How?  Dig into the following:  

(1) J esus' first recorded words in His earthly ministry were: " Repent and believe in the Good News " ( Mark 1:15 ).  To repent  is a "180" -- a complete, radical change of mind and heart as it relates our sin. To believe  as He intends it here is to cry out to God for your salvation and wholeheartedly  surrender in faith to Christ in the same way we have "faith" that our body armor will do its job against the rounds it is intended to stop, that our brakes will work when running Code, or that a skydiver's parachute will open when it is supposed to (we stake our very lives on it)! And the "Good News" that Jesus refers to here is of course His Gospel and plan of salvation.

(2) Again, understand that you can't "earn" or otherwise "badge" your way into heaven (or out of hell) by your worldly "goodness" or by being a "good cop." Without first embracing Christ and his redeeming blood He shed for you on the cross, you can NEVER be "good" enough to make it into heaven or escape the righteous and just consequences for our crimes (sin) in a very real place called hell. Still don't believe that? Take the "Good Person Test" and see how you do!  

(3) This same concept of " believe" (the saving kind) is further revealed in John 3:1-21 where Jesus says, "... you must be born again." Note our Lord's emphasis on the word " must" (not "may" or "should"): this is ultimately the life-saving/life-changing personal relationship with Christ that I stress here every week (see What does it mean to be a born again Christian?). 

So now then, with this foundation in place, see:

(a)  How can I be saved?   

and

(b)  Cops and Salvation (a powerful, short message from Police Major  Travis Yates of Ten-Four Ministries and Law Officer Magazine ).