Humble Saints

Humble Saints

Acts 21:17-26

October 15, 1951, “I Love Lucy,” aired its first episode starring husband and wife duo, Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, about a middle class housewife and her mishap adventures in New York City. “I Love Lucy” was the first show filmed with a 35mm camera in front of a live studio audience and the first show featuring an ensemble cast. It is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential TV shows in history. In speaking of her own success and cultural impact, Lucille Ball once said, “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” Ball is praised by our “Love yourself first,” generation. She is remembered as a hero and serves as a model for countless others who desire to live by the mantra, “Love yourself first.” 

And yet, it is not revolutionary to “love yourself first,” everyone is born with a heart bent towards living for yourself. We are born with a desire to rule. We are born to live for ourselves. As Isaiah writes, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way.” We don’t need to be told to love ourselves, for we love ourselves too much already. What is truly revolutionary and other-wordly, is to live for the good of others. Paul writes of Timothy, Philippians 2:20–21,

[20] For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. [21] For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 

“No one like him.” This may be rare in our world, but should not be in our churches. Our role model is the one who did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. 1 John 3:16,

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 

We live in a “Love yourself first,” world, but that is not the way of Christ. 

Beloved, the church cannot survive if we love ourselves first. It is natural to this fallen world to go your own way, but we are born again and our citizens of another world. We must live for the good of others to put on display the world that is to come. A world where the saints go the way of Christ and lay down their lives for others. If you are born again, if you have an alien righteousness, if you belong to Christ, I want to encourage you in four ways to love others first.

The Saints Sacrifice for others (v.17)

In Acts 21:17, Paul and his companions have just arrived in Jerusalem. It has been a long journey and everyone has been warning him about the dangers that await him in this city. Paul was constrained by the Holy Spirit to come. Acts 21:17, 

“When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.” 

The saints of Jerusalem welcomed the brothers with great joy. Why? There are three obvious reasons. First, they knew Paul and his companions and were excited to be reunited. Second, true believers welcome other believers. They are one in Christ and have the same Father. So this would have been a “family reunion.” Finally, Paul did not come empty handed. He came with a collection from the Gentile churches to serve the Jerusalem church. The collection for the saints is woven through almost all of Paul’s letters. Romans 15:25–27,

[25] At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. [26] For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. [27] For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 

And 1 Corinthians 16:1–4,

[1] Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. [2] On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. [3] And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. [4] If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. 

And 2 Corinthians 8:1–5; 8-10,

[1] We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, [2] for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. [3] For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, [4] begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—[5] and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us…[8] I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. [9] For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. [10] And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 

The collection from the Gentile Christians for the Jewish Christians show their main allegiance is not to their ethnic heritage but to Christ. The saints of the first century gave out of their poverty to demonstrate their unity in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The church is a mixture of various cultures. This morning we have people gathered together in the name of Jesus Christ from over 15 nations. Our common thread is not our language or our nationality, but our union in Christ. And even in our gathering today, we are choosing to honor one another by laying down our comforts to demonstrate our union together in Christ. This gathering is otherworldly; supernatural. 

Acts 21:17-26 demonstrates how the saints live for the good of others. They do first by sacrificing their goods for those in need. 1 John 3:16–18,

[16] By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. [17] But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? [18] Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

This is why we have been so encouraged with such a willingness to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico after the recent storm and why churches across the country will be sending offerings to churches in Florida after hurricane Ian. One pastor wrote me last night whose church is in Sanibel island,

Pray for our members as they mourn and struggle with the emotional trauma of the storm’s fury and the realization that many of us have lost most of our earthly goods. At this point everything I own can fit in my pickup.

And then even in the midst of the destruction, he sees God working for their good as he writes,

We had been praying for some time that the Lord would enable us to help plant a church in Ft Myers. It appears that the Lord has sent our entire congregation across the causeway in a radical new dependence upon his grace and power.

I do not know how the Lord will move our church to serve our brothers and sisters during this season, but I do know that we will rise to the occasion. For that is what the saints of God do. We sacrifice for others.

The Saints Celebrate for others  (v. 18-20a)

After the initial greeting, Paul and his companions shared all that the Lord had done among the Gentiles, Acts 21:18–20b,

[18] On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. [19] After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. [20] And when they heard it, they glorified God. 

As they shared about the work among the Gentiles, the Jewish Christians glorified God. God gets the glory. Beloved, we must celebrate what God is doing in other churches in our city and other churches around the world. For God gets all the glory. 

We pray for the prosperity of our churches, because we have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. We want to celebrate what the Lord is doing. We cannot have the attitude, “Why is God not doing that here?” We should rather say, “Praise God for what He is doing there!” This is a great attitude not only for churches but for friendship. Celebrate what God is doing in the life of others. It is freeing to love others first. I pray we labor for the good of our church and all churches who preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Saints Strategize for others (v. 20b-25)

The collection for Jerusalem helped to bring solidarity among Jewish and Gentile Christians. The decision in the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 was to encourage fellowship among the two distinct cultures. And yet, the issue of Jew and Gentile living together as one body was still a challenge. James shares some concerns with Paul, Acts 21:20–22,

[20] And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, [21] and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. [22] What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 

There was a rumor that Paul was teaching that the Jews who live among the Gentiles should forsake Moses and abandon circumcision and Jewish culture. Paul, himself, did not abandon his Jewish culture. They were sharing inaccurate information. We do not know who is spreading the rumor, but we know it is false. For Paul actually taught, 1 Corinthians 7:17–20,

[17] Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. [18] Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. [19] For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. [20] Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 

Paul is being misrepresented by some in Jerusalem. James looks at Paul and says, “This may be a problem?” What are we to do? 

Remember Paul’s own words in Ephesians 4:3, when he called the saints to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” There was potential disunity so the elders of Jerusalem strategized with Paul to work for unity in the church. Our unity displays the gospel and it is the desire of the Lord Jesus. He prayed before his crucifixion, John 17:20–23,

[20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 

Our oneness is so the world may believe that Jesus was sent by the Father. It is no small matter. If there is any disunity in your heart for this body, repent. Turn from loving yourself first, lay your life down for others. 

People were mischaracterizing Paul’s teaching. He was being sinned against. And yet, the elders in Jerusalem ask him to live in a way to bring unity. Acts 21:23–25,

[23] Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; [24] take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. [25] But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 

We do not know all the specific reasons for this plan. There is no consensus among scholars on the specific requests from James, but what is clear is the motivation found in verse 24, “Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.” James wants to silence the rumors about Paul for the sake of unity. The issue is not about salvation but discipleship. It is not about how one is saved, but how one lives out their salvation. 

This is one of the biggest issues in the New Testament: how do Jews and Gentiles live together as one body. How do two different cultures merge into one unified Christ-honoring culture? Gentiles have already been commanded to lay down things which will prohibit deep fellowship among the Jews as James references the letter sent out from the Jerusalem Council. The Gentiles are going to have to lay things down for the sake of unity. The Jews are going to have to lay things down for the sake of unity. The Jews cannot demand Gentiles to be circumcised. The Gentiles cannot demand the Jews to eat the same foods. They both have to lay things down for one another. Why? For the sake of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Beloved, we must keep the gospel of Christ as the center of our church. James and the elders were concerned on how Paul and his message were going to be received. We should as well. Paul had to live differently in a Jewish world than in a Gentile world. And he did it so people would be saved. 1 Corinthians 9:19–23,

[19] For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. [20] To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. [21] To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. [23] I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 

What are you willing to do for the sake of the gospel? What are you willing to become to save people from hell? What are you willing to endure so people will see Jesus?

Friend, if you have never trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please hear me. The Bible says that you and I are sinners who deserve God’s wrath and eternal punishment for our sin against God. Romans 6:23, 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The only way we can overcome our sin is through Jesus Christ. Jesus died to pay the debt for all who would turn from their sin and trust in him. Jesus laid down his life for you. He was beaten, mocked and crucified. And as he hung on the cross, he said, “It is finished.” He bowed his head and gave up his spirit. He was taken from the cross and laid in a tomb. The Son of God condemned as a sinner by the world, but three days later, God raised him from the dead. The resurrection proves Jesus was innocent and his sacrifice was sufficient. He laid down his life so you and I could be saved. The cross of Calvary should tell us at least two things: First, if you don’t repent, this is what awaits you. You will pay for your sins. Secondly, you are so loved by God that he sent his Son to take your place. 

Friend, we hope our church’s willingness to lay our lives down for each other is a sign for you that the Father sent Jesus for you. He laid his life down for us and now we pray we will lay our life down for one another so you may be saved. If you have not trusted in Christ, do not leave today without talking to someone about the hope of the gospel.

The Saints Submit for others (v. 26)

Paul did not only hear James' idea, but submitted to it. For the sake of the gospel, he lived like a Jew to win the Jews for Christ. Acts 21:26,

[26] Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. 

Jesus laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for one another. Our love can’t be mere words, but they must be in action. 

What is God calling you to do for others? Will you love yourself first? Or 1 John 3:16will you love your neighbor as yourself? Beloved, heaven is real. Hell is real. And how we live as the body of Christ will either draw them to Christ or push them from Christ. We live in a “Love yourself” world, but we belong to God who tells us  “Love others first.” Beloved, who is shaping our love? 

I pray that God would help us live with an empty-tomb affection for one another so that the world may know that the Father sent Jesus to save them. I pray we become all things to all people that by all means we might save some and that we would do it all for the sake of the gospel and the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”