Jesus, the Elected Head, of His People

I want to ponder something with you. I want to ponder how in control of salvation our God is; how in control God is of all creation and the salvation worked out in space-time history. And we are going to do that by spending very little time talking about history at all. Because I want to go back. Way back. I want to back to before Genesis 1:1. How do we do that? By looking at texts that reference before time. How do we get from the Triune God [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] existing in and of himself in glory, to not just his act of creation, but his act of ordering our salvation in this creation? There are far too many terrible, and unbiblical answers to this.

For instance, some wrongly think that God did not elect you. He didn't elect, anyone in eternity past. Instead, they think God way back then chose faith, or an amorphous mass. They think God chose the act of faithing as the grounds of salvation. And therefore, they think God does not know who will choose him. He only knows that faith is the means of salvation. because that’s what he set up. But is that what the Bible actually teaches? Let's compare that to the Scriptures. Is that true?

Listen to Eph 1:3-4:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  (4)  even as he [the Father] chose us [the church (the Bride of Christ) individually and as a whole] in him [Jesus. When?] before the foundation of the world…"

Let's simplify that a little bit. In eternity past, God the Father chose us to be represented by his Son. Now, that also means God the Father, before he chose us, chose the Son. You can’t complain there is no free will, if even the Son of God is chosen before time began.

Listen to how the author of Hebrews puts it in Hebrews 5:4-5

"No one takes this honor for himself, [The author of Hebrews is talking about taking the office of High Priest to himself. No one may take it. Instead, it is bestowed. God bestows it on sinners in the Old Testament. But he's about to apply the idea to Jesus. Therefore, the office of Savior, of Messiah, of Covenant Head cannot be taken; it cannot be bid for; it cannot be earned. It is bestowed. And such bestowal is indeed an honor. But the Father bestowed such an office on the Son.] but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.  (5)  So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed [elected, selected, chosen] by him [The Father] who said to him [to Jesus], “You are my Son, [That has to be the Father speaking] today I have begotten you”;

The Father chose the Son to be a representative. And the Father - not the Son, or the Holy Spirit - chose you in His chosen Son. Jesus didn't choose himself. Nor did the Father choose the Spirit. The Father chose the Son. He chose the Second Person of the Trinity. And that occurred, according to Ephesians 1, before Genesis 1:1! That occurred “before the foundation of the world.” So, before time began. Jesus was elected by the Father, before you were elected in Jesus. Now, what does elected mean? It means "chosen." The same way husbands and wives, you chose a spouse. The same way kids, you choose each other in kick ball. Except here, its applicable to salvation. The Father chose the Son to be Savior. The Father selected the Son to be the representative of his people. The Son didn't offer himself for the position. He didn't apply for the job. He never said, "Hey choose me." He didn’t call his own number. Neither did the Holy Spirit.

So then, before God the Father chose us in Jesus; God the Father chose Jesus. Not “a” Jesus; not a Hebrew man 2,000 years; nor faith as a concept; nor humility as an action. The Father appointed the Son to represent those of fallen sinful humanity he chose to save. But that means TWO ENORMOUS THINGS, which again the author of Hebrews focuses on.

Note Hebrews 1:1-2 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  (2)  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he [the Father] appointed the heir [Jesus] of all things, through whom [Jesus] also he [the Father] created the world.

So, the Father selected the Son TO BE HIS HEIR, AND through whom the Father created the world. Now, some people think that all that means is that the Father created all things, through the work of the Son, the same way a boss works through his workers, or the same way an older brother tells his younger brother what to do to benefit himself. Nope! But that is not actually what the author of Hebrews is saying. He isn't merely saying Jesus was the instrument the Father used to make creation. He is saying that. But, he is also saying Jesus was before time and creation began. The Father assigned the Second Person of the Trinity to be the Heir of Creation, before the Creation was created. Jesus’ office of Savior was appointed by the Father before God created. But as Heir of All Things - as Heir of Creation - creation, the universe, was made for Jesus. And especially for his office of Savior. The whole universe was created for the purpose of being redeemed.

Jesus isn't just the source from which creation was created. Jesus wasn't just the Father's instrument of creation. The world is defined by Jesus, bends towards Jesus' will, and its beginning, middle, and end, is for Jesus, the Savior's, redeeming, new-life creating, darkness-and evil-defeating, work.

That means there is no bug, no animal, no waterfall, no hard time, no good time, no math problem, no science problem, no political scenario, that comes about apart from him, but by the nature of his office of “Heir” and “Head” comes from his wisdom, and is part of his plan and agenda for this world. The breath you breathe, the chair you're sitting in; your breath was made to return to its maker. Your chair ultimately fulfills one goal: the glory of the Christ.

And Paul sings God's praise for this.

Romans 11:36 puts it this way,

"For from him [that is Jesus is the head over creation, and Jesus’ position as Savior is the goal of creation. For from him … ] and through him [that is by his agenda, and by his power, and his instrumentality] and to him [that means the goal of every possible entity is to be bent toward his glory now and in the future. What things?] are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."

Hallelujah! Jesus reigns on high. The one who was appointed Heir and Head by his Father, is not sitting at the right hand of God in heaven. And whether now or when he returns, all the cosmos, all the universe is made and built to sing his glory.

So, now I want to go back to where we started.

All of that has to be true BEFORE God elects us in Christ.

Given that the Father set Jesus up to define for his own salvation; given that the Father chose the Son to wield creation to his own glory …

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  (4)  even as he [the Father] chose us [Christians (the church), individually and as a whole] in him [Jesus. When?] before the foundation of the world…"

Blessed be our Triune God, and His Christ.

The Total Depravity of All Mankind, Part 1

The Biblical Fact of Total Depravity:

How do you view natural man? As good? How do you view yourself in your sin? Are you mostly good, but do some bad things? The Bible's testimony of the moral/spiritual quality of man is clear: man, in his sin, in his fallen nature, and even the fleshly-remaining part of the Christian, is morally depraved.

The Old Testament Witness:

The doctrine of Total Depravity is certainly an Old Testament reality.

Genesis 6:5  The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

But there are many more texts. Go look up: Job 14:4, Psalm 14:1-4, Psalm 51, Ecclesiastes 9:3, Jeremiah 17:9

But what about the New Testament? Realize, we don’t believe there are different gods in the Old Testament in comparison to the New. We believe the same Triune God worked in both. And therefore, we should find a consistency of doctrine from Old Testament to New Testament.

The New Testament Witness:

Romans 3:10-18  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;  (11)  no one understands; no one seeks for God.  (12)  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."  (13)  "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."  (14)  "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."  (15)  "Their feet are swift to shed blood;  (16)  in their paths are ruin and misery,  (17)  and the way of peace they have not known."  (18)  "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Notice the New Testament text of Romans 3 is literally quoting Old Testament texts. Together they testify inerrantly that man is guilty of sin, a sinner, sins, is liable for God’s eternal wrath in hell, and to the miseries of this life. But there are numerous other texts that make the same point. Even Jesus will teaches us that nothing good comes out of the heart of men. Go read: Matthew 15:16-20, Mark 7:18-23, Romans 1:28-32, Ephesians 2:1-3, and Galatians 5:19-21.

The Clarification of the Doctrine:

But, by "Total Depravity" we do not mean that man is as bad as he could be. Satan, we could argue, is the most evil being. But every person is not Satan. Adolph Hitler, we could argue, is one of the most evil persons to ever have existed. Every person is not Hitler though. That's not what we mean. The "total" of "total depravity" does not modify "depravity." We are not saying "all people are as bad as they could be." Rather the "total" of "total depravity" references all the aspects of the internal thought world of man. In this sense, "total" means "comprehensive." We are saying that man is comprehensively depraved.

For instance, you parents, why do you not have to teach a child to disobey? Why do they know how to disobey naturally? Who taught them, if they are indeed morally neutral or good? They don’t need teaching! If you’re a parent, you know what I mean. How come your pre-one-year-old seems to get angry at you for feeding them, putting them to bed, getting them up, WRONG!? But manners, politeness, or cleaning their rooms - why is that an act of divine power when it happens!? Or, why are your motives for obedience also tainted with self-love? It is because man's will is in subjection to his corrupt nature.

But the doctrine of Total Depravity is entirely practical. It destroys any argument for the validity of pride or arrogance. When you lose a child, when you lose a job, when you serve the Lord and bad things happen, it’s easy - and immoral - to tell yourself, “God, you’re wrong for taking this away from me. If I were God, I would have given it to myself.” Who are you, O man! Is it not right and appropriate, that, when we go through real, dark, and deep travail of soul, over sin, over pain, over loss, that we first recognize THAT I AM NOT OWED ANY GOOD THING FROM GOD. In your sinfulness, you are first owed his wrath, and the miseries of this life. But if you thought you were owed something from God, you’d be prideful and thankless when you have something good. But considering that you are owed God’s wrath, and the miseries of this life, then the children we do have, an imperfect job that provides for my family, and a humble place to serve in the kingdom, are things we can be thankful for. And when loss of a child, firing, or self-forgetting service in the kingdom comes - while the pain and loss is real, and deep - you don’t have to get mad at God, you don’t have to doubt his love, because your sin renders you worthy of the worst miseries in this life. And while some miseries are genuinely hard, and dark - they are not THE WORST. But God knows the loss you suffer, because he sent his Son to die on the cross for your sin - in a more brutal death than any of us will ever experience. He knows. You’re not forgotten. But that doesn’t mean we may lie to ourselves about how worthy or good we are.

Man's rebellion against God is the moral quality of his entire internal thought world. By "depraved" we mean man is not only "not righteous before God", he doesn't want to be righteous, and he cannot be righteous; he doesn't like God, and he does want to be like God. He wants to be God in every area of his life. But he’d prefer to kill God. Righteousness according to God and the Bible is disgusting to natural man. Man is morally and spiritually warped. He is a rebel before God.

Think of it this way: every other religion thinks man is basically good. But such a position is a demonstration of man's moral depravity. We will call evil "good" in every other religion in order to escape the reality of having been judged by the thrice-holy God. And there is no part of man that isn't controlled by his rebellion. There is no part that is morally good, or acceptable to God. You are dead to God, in your trespasses and sin:

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (2) in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— (3) among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Acts 1:21-26: The Church by the Spirit and the Word replaces Judas

Acts 1:13  And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.  14  All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.  15  In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16  "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.  17  For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."  18  (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.  19  And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)  20  "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and "'Let another take his office.'  21  So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,  22  beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."  23  And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24  And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen  25  to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."  26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Solution Prompted by the Scriptures (1:21-26)

Peter continues. In fact, he comes to a biblically reasoned conclusion.

21  So [that is, "therefore." And he begins to list the qualifications for being nominated as an apostle. And there ARE qualifications for apostleship. Now, as we read think about whether or not anyone may meet these qualifications today. We will find here four qualifications. FIRST,] one of the men [So, he must be a man. He must be a man because he must exercise authority as an apostle. And the Bible does not grant women the authority of any office in the church. Listen to Paul in 1 Timothy 2:12, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet." Despite what some liberals think about Junia or Mary, they were not apostles. But, he adds a SECOND one] who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [so throughout his earthly ministry]  22  beginning from the baptism of John [by the Jordan] until the day when he was taken up from us [So, his ascension, which just occurred. So, a candidate for apostle must have journeyed with Jesus and the apostles, he must have been a disciple for at least three years, AND must have been there from John's baptism all the way up through until Jesus was taken away to the right hand of God in 1:9. So, the second qualification is being a conscious disciple and present for the whole duration of Jesus ministry.

THAT MEANS, no matter what the charismatic and Pentecostal churches tell you, NO ONE MAY BE AN APOSTLE TODAY. I don't care what "apostle Joe" who ministers down on the beltline tells Mobile. He is not an apostle. Because he does not fit the BIBLICAL criteria. And if there are men and women today still preaching the error that there are apostles today, then they are clearly ignoring God's Word, and should be rejected. They are not "of the Lord." And get this we've only hit the first two qualifications. There are two more. And therefore, if you're tempted to go to a church, or follow people, or listen to sermons from "an apostle" you're being duped and lied to. There are all sorts of people in the world and church today who will just take to themselves offices and functions. Beware! Don't be so easily fooled, even if they are nice. Instead listen to the apostolic authority, and to the apostle Peter, as worked out in our text. Listen to God's holy, inerrant and life-giving Word. There is your sure ground. Not the babblings - at best - or the lies - at worst - of false prophets. In fact, you have all the apostolic authority and content you need in the Scriptures. Everything we needed from the apostles pertaining to revelation you have … in your Bible.

And so Peter lays one more out, THIRD] --one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection." [A candidate for apostle had to have been a witness to the resurrected Jesus. Remember, Jesus revealed himself to more than 500 after his resurrection. But not all of them meet those qualification.

Ask the obvious question. Does the man or woman who claims to be an apostle, also claim to have seen the resurrected Jesus!? Not in a dream. In a real manifestation of the glorified, resurrected Christ. IF NOT, then he cannot claim apostleship. He is a liar.

But then. Peter lastly throws in a FOURTH qualification … ]  23  And they [not the apostles. Nomination for apostle, just as nomination for any office, is not from the apostles to a person to be included in their office. No. That's a great way to institute corruption, nepotism, and favoritism. Instead, the "they" here is not the apostles, but its the 120. It's the church; the congregation. They - the 120 disciples (the continuing Israel of God) - put forward ONLY two names. They ran through the qualifications: #1) a man, #2) a disciple from the first and throughout, #3) a witness of the resurrected Jesus, and #4) NOMINATED BY THE CHURCH. Not self-nominated. Not dubbed. Not claimed by one's self. But nominated by the CHURCH. The church they are serving.

If any one of those qualifications are missing, then a man simply cannot be an apostle. So, I will repeat myself. Given the fact that no one today is chosen by the church to be an apostle, AND no one since this time has seen the resurrected Jesus, THEN … NO ONE MAY TAKE THE OFFICE OF APOSTLE, nor function as an apostle, today. There is a four-step succession plan. And no one today meets the criteria. Therefore, the New Apostolic Reformation is kaput; its Dead on Arrival. In fact, of all the 120 they only …] put forward two, … [a man named] Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, [whose name we will never see again] and Matthias. [whose name we will also never see again. Those men were set forward by the 120 to the apostles, as candidates for apostle. I'll also say this now. If your church doesn't do elections like this, more than likely you're not in a Biblical church that follows the apostolic practices and steps of ordaining, calling, and installing church officers (elders and deacons). Because, as we will see in chapter 6, they are all done the same way. And our church ought to the exact same format of church nomination. Surprise, surprise. We didn't make up how officers are chosen. Acts 6 follows the same plan for deacons. We set out the qualifications for elder and deacon according to the Bible in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. We inform you who is available for nomination. There's no candidating. There's no prom king and queen vote. There's not politicking. You nominate who you think meets those qualifications. And eventually we gather you back together, after training them, and you vote on whose qualified. BUT the apostles didn't vote, here. The CONGREGATION did. But that means one of the first graces Jesus gives to the church for his glory and our good is the crown rights of: discerning and voting on the qualified officers of this church. This is the first congregational meeting, AND the first church vote. WE DIDN'T INVENT THEM. They are biblical practices. And if Jesus were not empowering it because he's ruling above from his throne, blessing his ordinances, it would have been null and void.

Beloved, please, begin to see the nominations and elections of officers as just one of the many wonderful CROWN RIGHTS JESUS GIVES TO YOU. Don't squander it. Don't poopoo it as "another meeting." Rebuke yourself for any thoughts that degrades the apparatus Jesus sets up in his church. Jesus is summoning you to use your kingdom privileges for his glory and the healthy spread of his church.

And if you're in a church where these rights are denied to you: run. If it's not top-down, it's good ole boy - and neither are what's best for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So the church nominates, but it is not the church who calls. It is the Lord himself - the reigning King Jesus - who calls, and whose power is wielded to make a new officer.]  24  And they [the 120 and the apostles] prayed and said, "You, Lord, [they are praying to the Father about the Kingship of Christ; about his fitness to decide and bless.] who know the hearts of all, [those voting, these men, and the apostles] show which one of these two YOU have chosen  25  to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." [There's only one spot. Remember, Judas Iscariot murdered himself. He was cursed by God. His lot as an apostle was vacated. But there are two nominations. And again, they use a God-ordered means of making decisions. Proverbs 16:33  "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." King Jesus' will was revealed through the casting of lots.]  26  And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, [Now, that doesn't mean we should still cast lots today for these decisions. But, that was the prescribed method here. And King Jesus, honored by the faith of his apostles and people, swayed his scepter and made effective his will through this means.] and he [that is, Matthias] was numbered with the eleven apostles.

[So, the twelve apostles are twelve again. And the 120 with the apostles are now re-constituted as the continuing church. They are and now function as the New Israel of God. 12 Tribes fade out. And the renewed 12 apostles fade in. The New Jerusalem worshipping the ruling and reigning Christ, are honoring him by his means, praying to him, communing with him, believing Him.

And today your voting in your churches is also important. It is the continuation of the apostolic ministry. Use God's rubric for each office. Elect holy men, not world-gifted men. Elect men who will function as shepherds in your congregation, who will care for your souls, care for sound doctrine, care for the gospel of Jesus Christ to be preached, care to see the Church preserved, and Christ honored. Christ is honored when the Word is followed, and the Spirit gives graces, for biblically qualified men.] 

The Solution Prompted by the Sufficient Scriptures

Acts 1:13-20: The problem of Judas' suicide for the continuing Israel (the church)

Acts 1:13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and "'Let another take his office.'  21  So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."  23  And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.  24 And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25  to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."  26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Problem Created by Judas' Suicide (1:13-20)

The apostles go back to the very place they last communed with Jesus: in the Upper Room. Remember, in that same room he gave them the Lord's Supper.

13 And when they had entered, [Jerusalem] they went up to the upper room, [which was in a house very close to the Temple, as we will see next chapter] where they were staying, [It appears to be in a larger home where they are all lodging. But notice what Luke, by the Spirit, does. He doesn't just mention that the church comes back. He simply gives us the names of the apostles. And a simple count will lead us to conclude to the bad number of 11, not 12.] Peter and John and James and Andrew, (4) Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, (8) James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. (11) [No Thaddeus. Actually, Thaddeus is there, because his Jewish name was more than likely Judas. But, no … Judas Iscariot! That had to be conscious on the minds and hearts of the apostles. They had never suspected Judas. And Luke wants you to feel the sense of … "but there should be 12!" The sense of disappointment is valid here. It's not supposed to be this way. Well, it is, in the sense that providentially speaking God has crafted this situation. But, as far as the ideals of being the continuing church, it isn't: there should be 12. 12 apostles as the continuation of Israel which was made of 12 tribes. Theological symbols matter. 11 wont cut it. There must be 12 to be the continuing church.

But, unlike modern American spirituality, they didn't interpret Jesus' command to "wait" as twiddling their thumbs, sitting a metaphorical rocking chair "waiting" to be acted upon. No, they're waiting was very active.]  14  All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, [They are spending their time communing with the resurrected and ascended Jesus. They are praying both individually and corporately. They miss their Savior, their mentor. He was the one who told them to wait. So how will they wait? By waiting in his presence, in prayer, in communion with him. Afterall, now that Jesus is sitting on the right hand of the throne, they are represented by him to the Father, have access to the Father through Him, and have communion with their God by faith. And, they all did it. It wasn't "the prayer warriors of the apostles." It was all of them. The spiritual children that we saw in the gospels are now maturing, waiting and biding their time in prayer. Do you know what this is!? It's the first prayer service of the church!

When you have to wait, when you have a big decision, when you need discernment, when things according to God's Word and agenda just don't seem quite right - where do you run? Netflix? YouTube? Games? Old reruns? Do you seek pastoral advice first, before you run to your Lord and Savior, in both private and corporate prayer? Do you treat technology, foods, drugs, sin as that which grounds your soul? You're violating the first commandment if you do. You're placing something else, or someone else, over resting in your God and Savior. Or, do you run to Christian friends, counselors, pastors? That's all well and good. But have you considered you might be using the church and her officers as an excuse to not to run to Christ in communing prayer? I know what you're thinking, "I would never!" Yes, you would. Because we all do it. And I'll prove it. How many of us when we are vexed, waiting in faith and hope, love, love, love, CORPORATE PRAYER with the saints!? Almost none of us. How is your prayer life? How necessary to your spiritual health do you think corporate prayer is? You see, you thought corporate prayer was just something the Western Church made up to bore their congregations to tears. Not so. Corporate prayer is an ordinance, a blessed institution in the kingdom of Christ, by King Jesus. We see it here, and we'll see it again at the end of chapter two, but do you see it in your own lives? Come back for our corporate prayer service. They prayed because it was in prayer they had communion in Christ and the rest of their souls. Prayer isn't powerful. The God who answers prayer, who communes with us in prayer, IS THE MESSIAH. HE is power. And he communes with us as we pray. You were made for prayer.

But, these men weren't just praying by themselves, or with each other, but were …] together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. [Even Jesus' unbelieving family members now see the only way to commune with him is through faith in prayer! How amazing. In the gospels they are skeptics. But now, they are believers.

Now, this situation wasn't just for an afternoon. The apostles were coming in and out of the Upper Room. Remember, Jesus was with them … FOR FORTY DAYS. And there are fifty days between his death and Pentecost. So, they are in this state in Jerusalem for about ten days. They are coming in and out, devoting themselves to prayer, to each other, and to the Word, as we will see in a second. Because …] 15  In those days [that is, in the ten days between Jesus' ascension in 1:9 and Pentecost in chapter two] Peter stood up [the obvious problem above must be addressed.] among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) [and again, while I don't place a lot of emphasis on numerology, the fact that there's 120, a clear multiple of 12 should scream to you: ISRAEL (12 tribes (Old Testament), 12 apostles (New Testament), 120 people). But there is a problem, and it must be fixed. It's beautifully strange to see the young Christian (Peter), who was brash and cowardly in the recent past, in less than ten days of being around the resurrected Jesus, and after Jesus went and sat on high, that now, Peter is "the Problem Solver" of the bunch.] and said,  16  "Brothers, [the 120 with the other ten apostles.] the Scripture had to be fulfilled, [Whatever he says next happened because the Scriptures are true. What happened was not an accident. But it was prophesied of in the Old Testament. And their fulfillment is more important than the church's discomfort with, or the loss of, Judas' life.] which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David [Notice what Peter believes about the Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. He believes the Holy Spirit breathed out the Old Testament. He believes the holy Spirit is a person. And that He spoke by the prophets. King David regularly spoke prophetically. About what? …] concerning Judas, [this would be Judas Iscariot. The one who murdered himself. And that's what all suicide is. It is self-murder. It is a sinful act. It is a faithless act. It violates the commandment, "you shall not murder."

We live in a society today that is not willing oftentimes to give self-murder a moral quality anymore. I'm sure they'll try to rebrand it sound better: life-averse, or something. But not only is suicide clearly sinful, but even self-murdering thoughts are sinful. If self-murder is wrong, then desiring, planning, or approving of self-murder is iniquity against God. And therefore, don't look at Judas and say "I would never."

Firstly, you've had sinfully murderous thoughts every time you've gotten angry. But secondly, if you've even imagined your life, your friends, your family, your work, without you, you've had a suicidal thought. Now, on the one hand, I think most people who deal with sin seriously have had thoughts of suicide. But, on the other hand, Jesus atoned for them. More than that Jesus' righteous thought-world is imputed to us. You're treated by the Father, before the law of God, as though you've only ever had righteous thoughts about life. In fact, we are cleansed in mind by the power of the Spirit with the Word. We therefore don't have to give ourselves over to the hopelessness or faithlessness of such dark thoughts.

But Peter is saying, the Scripture do judge this as sin.

And Judas murdered himself because, it was he …] who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. [Judas, as we saw back in Matthew, betrayed Jesus with an act of fidelity, with the symbol of a kiss. His disloyalty came in the symbol of loyalty. That's how hard his heart was. You can only imagine the hurt, the pain, and the sadness that the apostles felt at Judas for his betrayal of their Messiah. And yet, none of that hurt comes up here. Instead, if the Scriptures had to be fulfilled in Judas, who betrayed Jesus, then the Scriptures even more clearly had to be fulfilled in Jesus.

And while it's no less heart-breaking, it means Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, was planned by God and foretold.

And now, finally, after Jesus' ascension, they are maturing in their response to what happened.

And it means Judas' loss to the apostles is also planned. Their being eleven was not a setback, or shock for God.

Your big sins, your small sins, are not a shock to God. It may be to you. But it's not to him.

He's written his Scriptures, and given salvation in such a way, so as to provide grace, removal, repentance, cleansing for your absolutely worst sins.] 17  For [here's Peter's point] he [Judas] was numbered among us [that is among the apostles] and was allotted his share in this ministry." [That is, he too had received an endowment from the Holy Spirit of gifts for his function. Did you notice how when the 72 went out two by two, Judas didn't come back saying, "Hey, Jesus, my gifts didn't work." It wasn't because he was really a believer and you can lose your salvation - no. It's because the kingdom of God is filled with wheat and tares; with believers and unbelievers. Jesus called Judas "the Son of Perdition." He was elected to be hardened in his sin. Yet, he wasn't just part of the kingdom; he was an one of the twelve apostles. But that means the Holy Spirit is not just poured out on believers, but on those pretending to be believers in the kingdom.

Are you pretending? This is how when there are people who have been anchors of the church, instrumental in your salvation and growth, yet they fall away from the church after a while, that while that is dreadfully sad, it shouldn't cause you to lose faith. Because Jesus really equipped them with gifts and abilities, but you were more alive to Christ in receiving the benefit of them, than they were in using them. You've heard me say, "Don't assume every PCA pastor is regenerate." Many beloved pastors have been caught in adultery and murdered themselves. Many stay forty years, retire, collect retirement benefits, but don't know Jesus personally. Many have been used by the Lord, but are dead in their trespasses and sins.

Judas too shared in the ministry, and was gifted. But wait … that means something.

If an officer can pretend; if even an apostle can fake it … then what about you? Could you not be faking this whole thing? Of course you could. We are pretty self-deceived and deceptive people. We can learn the lingo. We talk with the best of them. We can hear sermons then live however we want. We can have certain emotions on Sunday, and then shove them aside Monday through Saturday. We might even lead a gospel-oriented Bible Study, lead marriage retreats, and disciple others. Jesus saw Judas was faking it. Do you not think he doesn't see you? He does. He sees into your soul. He knows the difference between your fake thoughts and your real thoughts. But Judas doesn't have the opportunity to do what you may do now: Repent. Genuinely repent of your sin. Judas is burning in hell. You don't have to. Repent of your worldly thoughts. Because Judas gave himself over them. His shame led him to greater sin.]

18  (Now this man [Judas] acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, [Judas bought a field with his blood money. And there in that field he tied a rope and hung himself. Its reasonable that after a few days in heat that his body could so decompose that] falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. [That's pretty disgusting. Why would Luke, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible have those details in there for us to read?

Is it not to show the cursed state of Judas? Is it not to deter you or anyone from faking following Christ? Is it not as a warning to all fake Christians? These actions are not kept private. They get out.]

19  And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) [Every time people would pass by, they'd think of Judas infamous actions, and his being cursed by God.

Is that what we will remember of each other?] "Oh, he was a good chap, but made a shipwreck of his faith on the rocks of hypocrisy." [Will every time we think of each other be disappointment!? When we think of your time serving in the church as a teacher, a servant, a deacon, an elder, a pastor, will our thought be a call to sadness; a warning?

Because Judas left the eleven apostles in a biblically diagnosed precarious position.]  20  "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, …" [His office - one of the twelve apostles - has been vacated. There's now eleven. But the church can't move forward with just eleven apostles. But, the Scriptures, being sufficient, diagnose not just the problem, but the solution ….] and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and "'Let another take his office.' [So, through prayer meetings, searching the Scripture, implementing them, and Christ approving and blessing their actions they realize … they need another apostle: a new "12th", to continue to be the continuing Israel.]

The Problem Created by Judas' Suicide