Acts 5:33-42
Tolerant Unbelief
Introduction:
We have come to see in the last sermon that unbelief in the Gospel of Grace is an irrational thing to do. There is no objective observation. The Gospel is completely dismissed with anger and pride. On the other hand there are those people who are quite respectful and tolerant who appear on the surface to be silent believers, but the reality is they no more believe than the most violent aggressor. Satan is very subtle and he really doesn’t care what kind of an unbeliever you are as long as you reject Christ and His gospel. Satan has many schemes to deceive people; he will put them all into practice. Eph. 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
Gamaliel, A Controlled Man
A Wise Pharisee
Two Cases: Theudas – v.36; Judas v.37
Fair Play and Justice v. 33
Feared God – v.39
A Christian Man?
Gamaliel lacked spiritual perception
Gamaliel possessed worldly wisdom
The Gamaliels of Today:
Jesus a social reformer
Jesus one way among many
Jesus successful
Gamaliel’s Objectivity
Gamaliel, An Unconverted Man
Lessons to Learn from him:
Human wisdom and legal calmness are irrelevant in the spiritual realm – I Cor. 1:20,21; 2:14; Matt. 18:3
The way in which some reject the gospel does not matter.
Partial acceptance of the Gospel is of no value – Luke 16:13
What’s Important:
Is God’s redemptive plan
God made a provision for us in Christ – II Cor.5:21
Pastor Nick Iamaio
Reformed Presbyterian Church
207 South First Street, Fulton, NY 13069
Web Site fultonrpc.org
9/6/2009