Unbelief

Acts, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

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Audio | Acts 4:1-31

Summary

Jesus promises to be with us as we boldly, yet humbly, proclaim His gospel in a world of unbelief. Unbelief is not a modern, intellectual or personality issue. It is something much deeper. This week we take a closer look at unbelief and Spirit-filled ways to faithfully face it – in your life and the lives of others.

Introduction

There are many books written today about what Christianity is. But, the best place to turn is to the original source. That’s exactly what we have in the book of Acts. This book is the first authoritative account of the early Christian church. Acts highlights what Christians believed, how they lived, what the gospel is, how the gospel spread, how the church grew, and more. As a newly forming church, this is incredibly helpful and insightful as we seek to follow Jesus’ lead in planting deep gospel roots in the heart of our great city. So far, we’ve seen the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the first sermon, the first church planted, the first worship gathering, and the first miracle. Today, we see another first – the first persecution – which goes on to become a major theme of Acts.

John 15:17,19 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you…A servant is not greater than his master…if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”

The big idea idea today is that Jesus promises to be with us as we boldly proclaim the gospel in a world of unbelief. This work isn’t only for apostles, evangelists and the like. Participating in the spread of the Gospel is for every person that follows Jesus. He promises to go before us at work, at home, in our neighborhoods, and out in the city. He promises to be present as we hold out the life-giving, soul-redeeming, heart-satisfying good news of the Gospel. But, to do that, we need a good understanding of unbelief. This section helps with that. There is more going on with unbelief that you may at first think. So, to do that, we’re going to unpack this section, and topic, by asking three questions: What is unbelief? How does it work? How do we face it?

Questions

Q: What is Unbelief? (Acts 4:1-8)

First, what unbelief is NOT.

Unbelief is NOT a modern issue.
There is nothing new about rejecting Jesus. Most people in our city think they’re not Christian because they’re “modern”. They’ll say things like “You still believe that? How can you be a Christian in these enlightened times?” The reality is that the century has nothing to do with it. Here, in Acts 4, these men are guilty of the same unbelief. They, like us today, not only refused apostles, but Jesus too. This means that unbelief is as old as the gospel itself. It has been present since the very beginning, making it ancient issue, not a modern issue.

Unbelief is NOT an intellectual issue.
Those who don’t believe may say they have an intellectual issue with Christianity, but ultimately it is not. In Bible and history, we see both intellectuals and ordinary people believing and not believing. Peter, for example was a simple, uneducated man (4:13) The Aposlte Paul, on the other hand, was raised a Pharisee, brilliant, educated, excelling among his peers and hated Gospel, until he met Jesus. Unbelief has nothing to do with intellect or with how much you know.

Unbelief is NOT a personality type
Some who don’t believe may say, “well, I’m just not the believing-in-Jesus type…”. Notice here that those who are opposing the apostles, and their message of Jesus, have nothing in common EXCEPT they hate Jesus (e.g. priests, captain of the guard, Sadducees, scribes, etc)

Second, what unbelief IS.

Notice 4:2 “greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” To be “annoyed” is to be greatly, troubled, disturbed or affected on a deeper level. (Ex. Pascal’s Wager)  What makes a person reject the Gospel? It is a condition of the heart, NOT mind, knowledge, understanding. It is something deeper, towards the center of the personality that causes this rejection. The Bible calls this blindness of heart that is a result of our sin-condition. Too often, Christians portrayed as emotional, living based on feeling, not wise or soberly assessing facts. While, those who do not believe are pictured as calm, unmoved, dispassionate, assessing the data of humanity. That is just not true. Unbelief in Jesus is deeply rooted in our natural condition apart from God. It is an overflow of our deep refusal to let God be where he rightfully belongs in our life – at the center. We might wish it was our intellect, or modern age but there’s something inside of us.

Q: How Does Unbelief Work? (Acts 4:9-12)

Though the idea of a “cornerstone” is not as common in modern architecture, in former times the cornerstone was the most important. It was the first stone. The lines and angles of the cornerstone set the lines and angles of the building (i.e. determined the reality of the building) It was also the biggest, strongest stone. Under weight, it couldn’t fall apart, crack or crumble. It had to be a perfect stone. Any flaws and the structure would fall apart. It was also the most expensive stone. Took as long to find the right cornerstone, as it took to build the entire structure. For all these reasons, it was the most valuable stone. It was vital, precious, valuable, irreplaceable. They are rejecting Jesus, the Cornerstone of the universe.

The bottom line here is that every human being has a cornerstone, the question is what is yours? We’re all builders and we all deem something to be ultimate value, basis for security, wisdom, comfort (e.g.  your education, your morality, your family, a political cause, a career). Our cornerstone is the thing that makes you feel good about self and able to look at world – and self – in the eye. Our cornerstone is the things that helps us know who the good people are who the bad people are.

“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Cor 1:22-25

For example:
Jews: Their cornerstone = morality + hard work. They tended to be un-sophisticated, with little education. Their confidence was in their work-ethic and morality. What is wrong with the world? People aren’t moral and hard working like me.
Greeks: Their cornerstone = sophistication + philosophy + education. Their confidence was found in their knowledge and know-how. What’s wrong with the world? People aren’t sophisticated and educated like me.

The gospel comes and points to every cornerstone, other than Jesus, and says “this is inadequate”. The Gospel, via Peter and John, is threatening their fragile cornerstones which is why they’re annoyed.

The Gospel says that all people are sinners; Jew and Greek alike.

Gospel to Jews: “Yes, you’re moral, but you’re not better off than the worst criminal. We’re all sinners…BUT, if you trust Jesus, receive his forgiveness, and become one of God’s people by grace!” That offended them! They would respond, “But do you know how hard I worked and how moral I am?!”
Gospel to Greeks: “Yes you’re educated but before God you are no better off than most ignorant person…doesn’t matter that you’re an enlightened liberal…you’re no better off than anyone else…BUT in Jesus Christ, you too receive forgiveness, you become one of God’s people by grace!” That offended them! They would respond, “But do you know how educated and sophisticated I am?”

Everybody, but a Christian, has cornerstones too weak to bear the weight of life. Every other cornerstone is unstable because it is subject to our performance. If you build on anything other than Jesus, you’ll be unsure about your life. This is what makes people hate Christians; they are sure about life, about God, about their standing, about Jesus, about acceptance, about grace.

Q: How Do We Face Unbelief? (Acts 4:13-31)

First, get to know Jesus well (vs 13). What specifically did they have in view here? Jesus’ boldness. Jesus wasn’t mean, unkind, but stood his ground. This causes the council to ask, ”When’s the last time we heard this? Ah, Jesus…” As we learn to trust, follow and love him, we too will become more like him.

Second, live a life worthy of the gospel (vs 14). The council has nothing to say in opposition to the miracle Jesus worked through Peter and John. (cf. 1 Pet 2:12 “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God…”) Even if those around you deny the Gospel, don’t let them deny the evidence of a life transformed by him.

Third, talk to others about what you have seen and heard (vs 5-20). When faced with the decision to obey God or obey man, we obey God. In particular, when it comes to sharing what Jesus has done for us, how he has changed our life, forgiven our sin, and given us a new life we formerly knew nothing about. We do this in a way that is real, not obnoxious. Be careful to not come down on others who don’t yet believe. You’re like a recovering addict talking to a present addict. They’re trapped. You were there once. Be patient and loving towards them as others were to you.

Fourth, Pray. The church doesn’t ask God to change their circumstances, but rather asks Him to change them. This prayer highlights the centrality of God’s mission for God’s people – and that unbelief is to be expected along the way. All prayer, including this one, is an expression of dependence. Though God is sovereign (i.e. in control) we are his chosen agents in working out his plan – so we need (and get!) to pray.

Fifth, Keep Going. Lastly, we see that the Lord answered their prayer to simply continue proclaiming the Gospel with boldness.

A Final Note to Christians regarding “unbelief”.

Do you know why you’re unhappy, angry, anxious? You don’t believe the gospel. You might say, “I believe the gospel.” The truth is that you don’t. The reason you feel that way is because you’re main reason for being happy is the world’s same reason for being happy. What is that? Performance. This means that inside your heart is unbelief. If you and I really believed the gospel we wouldn’t feel in those ways. (cf. 2 Pet 1:9,12) Part of our heart refuses to believe. That unbelief is still in you. If you’re not forgiving and singing with joy, then you’re forgetting what God has done and who you now are in him. This means that we all need the grace of God. It is not us (Christians) and them (non-Christians), but Him and us.

“For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins…Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.” 2 Peter 1:9,12

Quotes

“There is no tenet more basic to contemporary secular culture than that of religious tolerance. Our country was based on the principle that people of all religious creeds and backgrounds are welcome on our shores and are to be accorded the freedom of religious express so that all religions are equally tolerated under the law. Today, however, the assumption of the secularists is that all religions are not only to be equally tolerated under the law but are equally valid (or invalid). The American truth today is that what you believe does not matter so long as you are sincere, and there are many roads that go to heaven. Some go directly ad some by a more circuitous route, but in the final analysis, all that God is really concerned about is that we be people of faith. I cannot think of a principle more plainly and categorically opposed to the universal teaching of sacred Scripture – both Old and New testaments – than that idea.”
-RC Sproul, Acts, p92

“There is an exclusiveness to Jesus’ work that is not popular today. It is seen in our culture as a blow against religious diversity as well as the cause of great religious and political strife throughout history, especially in European history up to the Enlightenment. But a key point is often missed. It is when religion is imposed that it does damage. Here we see apostles making an appeal and leaving the decision and consequences to individual response. There is no effort to impose the faith, only to inform about it and to stress the responsibility every creature ultimately has to be responsive to the living God. In addition, the offer of Jesus is made to all without discrimination. The the exclusiveness of the benefit is directly related to one’s willingness or unwillingness to be connected to the benefits.  The church’s call is to be loyal to God in sharing the message and doing so in such a way that its impact on believer’s lives is evident. The call is not to impose the gospel on others. Some will not welcome such a testimony. They are left to go their own way with its tragic consequences. To others, however, the gospel will supply the sweet savor of real life and will open new vistas to how one can live and have fellowship with God.”
–Darrel Bock, Acts, p200

Recommended Resources

The Reason for God, Tim Keller
Mere Christianity, CS Lewis