January 19, 2023 -- Acts 7:1-2; 51-53 -- The Acts of the Apostles: Defending the Reason You Believe

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen said:
“Brothers and fathers, hear me.

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
Acts 7:1-2; 51-53 ESV

…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good name may be put to shame
I Peter 3:15-16 ESV

It seems like Stephen launched right into attack mode and gave a defense for what he believed. There seems to be a lack of gentleness and respect. Take the time to read Acts 7, noting that the quotation before us today leaves out 49 verses, a long sermon. The defense of the faith, and the reason Stephen had great and confident hope in Jesus Christ is precisely because Stephen understood that the whole Old Testament points to Jesus. Start to finish the Bible is all about Jesus. That is what Stephen explained in those verses which were left out of Acts 7 in the above quotation.

The Father, Who before the heavens and the earth were created, in His great love chose people for Himself. Jesus Christ was sent to redeem those chosen by the Father and do so by His reconciling blood. Stephen explained how the Spirit displays the rich love of the Father and the tremendous grace of Jesus throughout the whole Old Testament. It points to Jesus. Stephen then explained that through out their history many Jewish people and leaders rejected the Promised Messiah. Those who rejected Jesus in Stephen’s day were proving they were sons of wickedness, rather than sons of Abraham, sons through whom the blessing of Jesus Christ would be applied.

Are you prepared for opposition? Are you prepared for people to question your faith and then push hard against what you believe? Your faith stands in stark and radical contrast to the philosophy of this world. You are strangers and aliens to what the world considers good and right. The world is always setting their standards as a moving target. What the world approves and disapproves changes. The Word of God stands forever. It is right and just and true because the One Who Spoke it and upholds the universe is Right, and Just, and the True One. Therefore, be prepared, always, tired or rested, lonely or in wonderful community, hungry or empty, rich or poor, to give a defense of what you believe. Be ready, sometimes the ones who demand an answer from you will be people you least expected. Perhaps the Spirit of God has prepared hearts and minds as fertile soil to receive the Gospel.

Our Father in heaven, great and holy is Your Name. Help Your people to praise You and bless You with worship, devotion, and love suited to the expansiveness of Your perfects. Spirit of the Living God, whenever we read the Bible, listen to a sermon, or speak with Christians friends sharing the delight of our confident hope in Jesus, may our souls and minds, our lips and attitudes be always at the ready to give a well thought-out defense of our devotion to You. Teach us, King Jesus, at Your throne of grace and mercy, to continually seek You out, loving You, learning of You, asking in Your Name so that, like Stephen, our faces will reflect the radiance of Your glory. Amen

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