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Intro.

1.  Why do people reject the gospel of Christ?

2.  In NT, when people rejected the gospel it is said they judged themselves unworthy of eternal life. When people heard, believed & obeyed gospel it is said they had been appointed to eternal life - Acts 13:44-49.

3.  Christ has always been precious to some & offensive to others - cf. 1 Pet. 2:6-8; 1 Cor. 1:23-24.

4.  Bible examples of rejecting the gospel warn us to not reject our only means of salvation! {2 Cor. 4:3-4}

I.  THE JEWISH RULERS: Hatred, Envy, Pride & Tradition.

  A.  Their Deception About Jesus Was Powerfully Refuted & Multitudes Were Being Converted.

    1.  Matt. 27:62-66; 28:11-15 - Failed attempt to secure the tomb, lies & bribes to cover-up truth.

    2.  Acts 2:41, 47 (3:1-26); 4:4 - Conversions, favor of the people, message of Christ, growth.

    3.  Acts 4:2 - Greatly distressed (4:14-17 - Chose to reject truth rather than obey it).

  B.  Jealousy Prompted Their Rejection Of Truth - Acts 5:17.

    1.  cf. Acts 5:33 with Acts 2:37 - Contrast (cf. 7:54).

    2.  Gospel enrages those who think more highly of their position & tradition than they do about truth!

    3.  Jas. 1:21 - Truth must be received w/ meekness!

II.  THE ATHENIANS: Human Wisdom - Acts 17:16-34.

  A.  To Them Gospel Was Not Comparable To Their Philosophies - 17:18-20.

    1.  Epicureans - "Happiness is pleasure" (Hedonism).

    2.  Stoics - Passionless mastery of emotions via an independence from all circumstances.

    3.  v. 18 - Babbler - Lit., "seed, to pick," hence, a "seed-picker" - "One who picks up & retails scrapes of information."

    4.  Viewed gospel as beneath their intellect! Loved wisdom, but rejected true wisdom!

    5.  Gospel is in contrast to man’s wisdom - 1 Cor. 1:18-25.

      a.  Can either believe this & be saved, or…..

      b.  Deny it & be lost! (Col. 2:8)

III.  THE EPHESIAN CRAFTSMEN: Material Wealth - Acts 19:23-27.

  A.  People Who Obey The Gospel Cease Their Sinful Practices - v. 25-26 (cf. 19:18-19).

    1.  One God - Ruin their business! (No gods made with hands, v. 26).

    2.  Love of money kept them from salvation!

    3.  Matt. 19:20-24; l Tim. 6:6-10 - Love of money - Lack of contentment, temptation & snares - Destruction & eternal ruin!

    4.  When money/marterial things are more important than obeying truth of God - Forfeit eternal life!

IV. FELIX: The Opportunist - Acts 24:24-26.

  A.  Truth Cannot Penetrate A Selfish Heart (More Interested In "Looking Out For Number One!").

    1.  v. 24-25 - Heard truth & it shook him - Looked for a convenient season.

      a.  Opportunity - Not to obey (he had that!) - But to get what he wanted out of it! (v. 27)

      b.  Wrong motives!

  B.  Your Motive For Obeying The Gospel Must Be Pure.

    1.  Not to "gain an advantage" for self, w/ others, etc. - cf. Lk. 14:26-27.

    2.  Out of faith in Christ - Yielding your life to His will (Rom. 6:17-18).

    3.  Phil. 3:7-8 - Count all things loss to gain Christ!

V. AGRIPPA: Sensuality & Worldly Power - Acts 26.

  A.  Love For This World Blinds Many To The Gospel - 1 Jno. 2:15-17.

    1.  Agrippa - Incest w/ sister, ambitious of power - If anyone needed gospel, he did!

    2.  He believed prophets (26:27) yet denied their fulfillment!

    3.  Phil. 3:7-8 - Whether "almost" or "w/little persuasion" - Point:  He rejected truth for his place of comfort & public respectability.

    4.  Today: Unholy relationships & immoral conduct is clung to rather than repenting & obeying Christ! (cf. Eph.4:17-24)

Conclusion

1.  Why do people stumble over Christ & His gospel? Hatred, envy, pride, tradition, human wisdom & its intellectual arrogance, material gain, opportunism, sensuality & worldly power - All these & more!

2.  What about you? Will Christ be a rock of offense or a rock of salvation?! (1 Pet. 2:6-8) Are you worthy of eternal life? (Only if/when you obey His gospel!)