The Cost of Truth
John 15:18-20 & 23, 16:1-4
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also… Whoever hates me hates my Father as well... All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them.
There is a COST for following CHRIST.
We have an underdeveloped theology of PERSECUTION and SUFFERING.
Acts 6:8-15 NIV
Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 7:1-2 NIV
Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?” To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me!”
Acts 7:51-60 NIV
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NIV
But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christamong those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.
TRUTH, even spoken in LOVE, will always put Christians at odds with this world.
What Must We Remember When Their Time Comes?
1. Remember Who You’re Reflecting
Acts 6:15 NIV
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin, looking intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Reflect Christ’s love, not their hate.
Luke 6:27-28 NIV
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
What Must We Remember When Their Time Comes?
* Remember the Applause of Heaven
Acts 7:56 NIV
“I see heaven open and the Son of Man STANDING at the right hand of God.”
What Must We Remember When Their Time Comes?
* Remember the Power of a Seed
Acts 22:20 NIV
“And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.”
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
* Tertullian
1 Peter 4:12-16 NIV
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
Maybe you made a decision to follow Jesus today, or maybe you’re curious what life with Him is all about. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to share with us so we can help you discover your next step.
