Guarded by Our Shield and Defender (1 Peter 1:1-9; LD 20)

The Unhealthy and Unwealthy Gospel (Acts 6:8-15)

Introduction It is easy to think that if we are faithful, God will always reward us with visible success. That was the assumption of Job's friends, and to some extent Job himself. Job does wrestle with God’s will, and lays out that the wicked man can prosper and the righteous man can suffer.  Justice in this age is not always so black/white.  We can fall into a hasty assumption that if we obey, life should go smoothly. If we suffer, we must have done something wrong.  Is this always the case? Stephen's story reminds us that God's kingdom does not always work according to our expectations. Here is a man full of grace, full of the Holy Spirit, and faithful in every way. Yet instead of receiving praise, he is falsely accused and brought to trial. Luke shows us that faithfulness is not measured by earthly success but by steadfast trust in Christ. Contradicting the Expected Narrative Stephen is introduced as a man "full of grace and power." His life displayed the work of the Holy Spirit. He is a man so enveloped by grace that he is a gracious man.  He served the weak as a deacon.  He defended the truth second to none.  Overall, he reflected the kindness of Christ.  His wisdom did not come from natural ability but from the Spirit working through him.  Christ shows his promise is true that he will give the words when one is hauled into a court.  (Luke 21:14 [https://www.esv.org/Luke+21/]) His godliness stirred opposition rather than an attentive ear. Those who argued against him could not answer his teaching because the Spirit gave Stephen wisdom beyond their own.  One would think that such compelling arguments would win the day.  However, the opposite happens.  The Opponents Create False Evidence Unable to defeat Stephen's teaching, his opponents turned to deception. They secretly persuaded false witnesses to accuse him of blasphemy against Moses, the temple, and God. Rather than submitting to God's Word, they twisted the truth to preserve their own system. This reminds us that unbelief is not simply a lack of evidence. The problem is the human heart. Stephen answered every objection faithfully, yet Luke tells us they failed to believe. Ironically, they violate Moses’ law as they recruit a malicious or a false witness against Stephen (Deuteronomy 19:15-21. [https://www.esv.org/Deuteronomy+19/] ). Moses is very clear that the thing the false witness desires to do to the accused will be carried out on them.  Clearly, they do not want what is orthodox.  They will cast aside Moses to destroy an innocent man. It is true that we are called to be ready to make a defense (1 Peter 3:15 [https://www.esv.org/1+Peter+3/]), but at the same time we are not to obsess about every possible objection (Luke 21:14 [https://www.esv.org/1+Peter+3/]).  The problem is not solved through moral or logical suasion.  It is a problem of the heart that only the Lord can cure.  A Second Moses, Rejected Like the First As Stephen stood before the council, Luke reports to us instant credibility: his face shone like the face of an angel. Just as Moses reflected God's glory after meeting with the Lord, so Stephen visibly reflected the presence of God.  When Moses received the Torah from God, we read that his face shone so brightly that God’s people could not look upon him (Exodus 34:29-35 [https://www.esv.org/Exodus+34/]).  You would think that the council would pause and contemplate.  They would think that maybe Stephen is also bearing revelation from the same God.  Maybe Stephen is bringing revelation and instruction, torah, that the council should heed.  However, Stephen would suffer as a martyr, as we will see in two weeks, because of their hard-hearted rebellion. We might think that this is defeat.  Christ never abandoned His servant. Stephen's strength came from the risen and reigning Savior, who upheld him through suffering and welcomed him into glory.  Christ’s ascension does not remove him from the church.  No, Christ’s ascension testifies that he rules over the church in the midst of his enemies.  His ascension testifies that he really empowers the church as sovereign ruler and priest (Psalm 110:2 [https://www.esv.org/Psalm+110/]; cf sermon on Psalm 110 [https://www.urcbelgrade.com/sermons-and-stuff/2026/7/15/christ-present-reign]).  The church must remember this lesson. We cannot judge God's blessing merely by numbers, popularity, or outward success. Christ calls His people to faithfulness. The results belong to Him, and we trust that it works out.   We are called to discern (Ephesians 5:10 [https://www.esv.org/Ephesians+5/]) what is pleasing to God and be faithful to him. Conclusion Stephen teaches us to keep our eyes fixed on Christ rather than on earthly outcomes. We may faithfully proclaim the gospel and still face rejection. We may do what is right and still suffer. But none of this means Christ has abandoned His people. Our Savior reigns even in the midst of opposition (Psalm 110:2 [https://www.esv.org/Psalm+110/]; cf sermon on Psalm 110 [https://www.urcbelgrade.com/sermons-and-stuff/2026/7/15/christ-present-reign]). He gives His Spirit to strengthen His church.  His Spirit gives us wisdom to answer when called upon.  The ultimate peace is knowing that in the Spirit we will persevere until the end. Therefore, let us seek to be people who are full of the grace of Christ.  Let us be a people who give ourselves over to the Spirit. Let us be a people who seek to discern what it means to be faithful in every circumstance. Our confidence is not in visible success but in our risen Lord, who holds His people securely in His hands and will never fail to bring them safely home.  Let us walk in him!

Guarded by Our Shield and Defender (1 Peter 1:1-9; LD 20)

Introduction Abraham struggled to trust God's promises even after receiving a vision and an explicit word from God. The Lord assured Abraham that he is Abraham’s shield (Genesis 15:1 [https://www.esv.org/1+Peter+1/]).  The Lord will protect him and defend him. Peter also doubted the path to glory through the suffering of the cross.  The thought of a distant God protecting a people who seem so far away just seems absurd.  Christians today may wonder whether God has abandoned his people. We face trials, and we might wonder if God is really in the midst of them.  This becomes even more apparent when Peter addresses us as exiles.  If we are in exile, we would think that God is even more removed from us.  Peter, who struggled to believe Christ would protect him, assures the church that the Triune God has neither forgotten nor forsaken His people. Rather, He is actively guarding them until they receive the inheritance He has prepared for them.   The Triune God Peter tells us that the Father has chosen us.  It is his foreknowledge.  Why does he know?  It is because he has decided it (1 Peter 1:1 [https://www.esv.org/1+Peter+1/]).  Our exile status is intentional.  The Son has redeemed us through his blood.  The Holy Spirit is sanctifying us to conform to Christ. (1 Peter 1:2 [https://www.esv.org/1+Peter+1/]) Peter writes to believers living in exile.  We are outside the promised land.  We have to see that exile does not mean abandonment. The Father elects/chooses His children, the Son continues to reign as Lord and Redeemer, and the Spirit remains present, sanctifying and preserving God's people. The Lord refines his people through the painful trials.  The trials are like gold passing through the flame.  These trials are not signs of God's absence.  No, the trials are used to burn away the impurities of our faith, conforming us to be more faithful children of God. The Triune God is personally guarding us as he protected and guarded his people in foreign lands.  We are currently in exile on a Christian pilgrimage to the promised land, being guarded by God.  It is true that we are reminded of our creaturely status when we contemplate the doctrine of the Trinity.  We know that our God is beyond our full comprehension.  However, we can know and do know our God.  We know that he is actively working on our behalf.  Our Certain Application Yes, we are in exile.  We are away from the promised land.  However, our Lord works to protect us.  The Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that the Holy Spirit has been given to me.  We might think of someone more spiritual having the Spirit.  However, the Holy Spirit is given to me.  I am a temple of the Holy Spirit by God’s grace.  The Holy Spirit will be with us from this age to the age to come.  We might not think that this is very important.  However, Peter assures us that God is giving us double protection.  The inheritance that Christ has won for us is being guarded in heaven.  We are continually and actively being guarded by God to receive that inheritance. The assurance of this is that no Babylonian or Assyrian can take our inhertiance like we saw with Israel in the past.  Yes, we will face trials in this age.  We will get some bumps and bruises along the way, but the Lord will be the shield and defender, guaranteeing that we will receive what he has set apart for us.  This means that as the Holy Spirit is given to us by Christ, we will be protected.  It means that as the Father has chosen us, we will receive his chosen inheritance.  This is not because it is grounded in us, but by our God working in history.  Conclusion Peter knows the struggle of the Christian life.  He too wanted glory now.  He did not understand Christ’s mission to gain heaven through the cross.  In fact, Peter denied Christ three times when Christ was heading to the cross.  Peter did not understand the suffering to glory.   Peter had an awkward breakfast with the Lord, where the Lord asked him three times if Peter loved him and charged Peter to care for his people after Peter’s three answers.  Peter knows the grace of Christ.  Peter was assured that he would persevere until the end.  It is not because Peter is so competent, but because the Lord is that faithful.  Let us take Peter’s testimony seriously.  Let us hear his inspired words to encourage us in this life.  Our God is not distant.  We might not fully understand the doctrine of the Trinity, but we know that our God guards our inheritance and he actively guards us.  We will receive what he has set out for us.  Christ has earned it.  The Father has chosen us.  The Spirit applies Christ’s distinct blessings. As we face trials in this age, let us be confident that the Lord is refining us to be the people he has called us to be.  He is shepherding us in the midst of it.  We will dwell with him in our inheritance he secured for us.  Let us live out the days he has numbered for us in the confidence of his protection and faithfulness.  I did a series on “Sojourning Under the Sun [https://www.urcbelgrade.com/sermons-and-stuff/category/Sojourning+Under+the+Sun].”  You can read a short summary of exile on the Gospel Coalition’s  [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/exile/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]website.

Growing Pains (Acts 6:1-7)

Introduction The book of Acts gives us honest "metrics" of the church. Luke records remarkable growth for the early church. There are thousands of converts. However, he never presents an idealized picture of the church. Alongside gospel success come persecution and real problems. In Acts 6, the congregation begins to murmur. The church is in the wilderness and is acting like Israel in the wilderness. Luke does not hide the conflict, but records how the church worked through the conflict. We are reminded that healthy churches are not churches without problems, but churches that address problems through Christ’s wisdom. Sometimes a church loses sight of Christ’s priorities. How does this church repent and conform to Christ’s wisdom? The Church Experiences Growing Pains As the church expands, believers from different backgrounds join the congregation. Luke intentionally calls them disciples. A disciple is someone who is dedicated to their teacher’s instruction. This is an important reminder that Christians are lifelong learners who continually grow in conformity to Christ. We never arrive or graduate as disciples in this life. We continually grow in Christ. This is a lifelong dedication to the master’s instruction through his word and spirit. The problem is growth exposes weaknesses. Cultural tensions arise as the Hellenistic widows are neglected, and murmuring threatens to divide the body along ethnic lines. The group is on the verge of splitting over a legitimate issue. We have seen Israel do this in the wilderness. The Lord wrestles with his people, and sometimes we wonder if the Lord will prevail. Christ Provides Wise Servants for his Church The apostles recognize the legitimacy of their grumbling. This is very scary for the church. Israel grumbled about food, and the Lord provided through manna (Exodus 16). Another time when Israel grumbled was when Korah challenged Moses’ rule (Numbers 16-17). We see in these examples that when God’s people grumble, they are complaining about God. So, now the new community is grumbling. They might have a legitimate concern, like Exodus 16, but this normally does not end well for God’s people. Will they meet God’s anger, or is there another solution? The apostles hear this, and they know that they have a God-given task to preach and pray. So, the solution has to be honoring to God. They have to preach and pray. However, the Lord is upset when the community’s weak are exploited or neglected. The complaint is not presented in a godly way. The community is grumbling; widows are exploited, and the community is not bearing a godly witness to outsiders. They have a solution. It is not that they are beneath waiting on tables, but that is not their priority. They are called to preach and pray. They cannot abandon their God-given task. They tell the congregation to choose seven men of good reputation, men who are full of the Spirit, and who demonstrate Godly wisdom. The apostles will be dedicated to preaching and praying. These men will tend to the widows’ needs to make sure that the widows are not exploited. The community is satisfied with this solution. There are seven servants or deacons who are appointed primarily to this task. The solution teaches us that every office in Christ's church matters. All the offices in the church serve to advance the gospel. The Word of God Remains the Source of Life Luke concludes by reminding us that the church will continue. We learn that as the apostles preach the Gospel, "the Word of God continued to increase." This is not saying that the word of God grows bigger, but that the church continues to bear more fruit as it grows through Gospel preaching. We hear the wonderful declaration that priests who once opposed Christ become obedient to the faith. The power that preserves and grows the church is never organizational skill alone, but the faithful preaching of Christ. This has to be accompanied by prayer and a congregation that is continually transformed by the Gospel message. Conclusion We must realize that the church will always experience growing pains. The church is comprised of struggling sinners. Unfortunately, the poor are always among us (Matthew 26:11). We are disciples to be instructed through the preaching of the Gospel. It is through this means of grace that Christ continues to instruct the church in his wisdom. It is through Gospel preaching that the Spirit is pleased to work to grant discernment. Christ comes to redeem the exploited and give them relief. The church, as disciples, is called to emulate Christ’s mission. So, the apostles will continue to preach the Gospel and pray, while the office of servant, deacon, will care for the physical needs of the saints. So, we see that the church, guided by Christ’s wisdom, finds the solution. We have the office of deacon. We see that the church as a whole receives the Lord’s care. As disciples of Christ, we are called to imitate his compassion, rejoice in his gospel, and confidently trust that he will continue building his church according to his perfect wisdom.

Realizing Christ’s Promised Reign (LD 19; Psalm 110)

Introduction We confess that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, but we might ask, “What difference does that make today?”After all, we cannot see him. We still live in a world filled with evil, persecution, and injustice. At times, we might think that Christ has left us as orphans. Psalm 110 answers those doubts. David shows us that Christ's ascension was not his retreat from the world but his glorious enthronement. Our risen Lord now reigns as our King, represents us as our perfect High Priest, and will one day return as righteous Judge. His throne is the church's comfort because his work is complete. So, how do we know this is true? Christ Reigns as Our Enthroned King Psalm 110 begins with the Father inviting the Son to sit at his right hand. Christ’s sitting communicates that this work is 100% complete. Christ has finished his humbling earthly work of redemption and now reigns with all authority. His reign does not mean the world immediately becomes peaceful or enters a golden age. Psalm 110 reminds us that Christ rules in the midst of his enemies. Evil still opposes the gospel and seeks to challenge Christ. The church still faces hostility. History continues to ebb and flow between seasons of ease and seasons of persecution. Nevertheless, none of this threatens Christ's kingdom that is ministered through his church. Even when his enemies rage, they do so only under his sovereign rule. He continues to gather his church, preserve his people, and govern history according to his perfect wisdom. His heavenly throne assures us that appearances of evil, sin, and persecution never overrule Christ’s enthronement. Christ truly reigns in the midst of his enemies. Christ Represents Us as Our Eternal Priest We can say, “Christ is in heaven? He is absent from us! How can you say that he represents us when he is removed from us?” We are asking the wrong questions! We are assured that the ascended Christ is present with his people. He continues his ministry on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. He is not like a mere mortal who can only be in one place at a time. He can be in heaven, and still dwell in us and with us. Psalm 110 tells us that Christ is in the order of Melchizedek. He is a priest who ministered in Jerusalem when Abraham triumphed over Lot’s captors [https://www.esv.org/Genesis+14/]. Genesis compiles a genealogy for each significant person. However, Melchizedek breaks this trend. He has no genealogy to communicate his birth. He has no record of his death. He is a priest without beginning or end. Christ is a priest in this order. Christ never grows weary interceding on our behalf. Christ never grows weary of protecting us and leading us by his Spirit. In the Holy Spirit, he unites us to himself, strengthens his church, and equips his people to serve him faithfully. Psalm 110 reminds us that God's promise concerning this Priest-King will never change. Unlike the temporary priests of the Old Testament, Christ's priesthood is everlasting. His sacrifice is complete. His intercession never ceases. His protection will never expire. Our acceptance before God rests entirely upon the finished work of Christ. His heavenly enthronement testifies to us that his work is truly complete. Christ Will Return as Our Judge The same Christ who now reigns in the midst of his enemies will one day return to judge the living and the dead. His invisible reign will be very visible on the day of his wrath. We realize the day of the Lord after Christ’s enthronement, but not the full physical blessings of the day. We already have the guarantee because Christ is enthroned, giving us his Spirit. However, we wait for the fullness. Christ will bring the conclusion to the day of the Lord in the day of his wrath. (Gospel Coalition: “Day of the Lord” is worth a read [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-day-of-the-lord/]) For unbelievers, that day will be a day of wrath. Every rebellion against God's King will finally be brought to an end. Christ will address every injustice that has been done. In fact, every knee will bow to Christ. It is better to bow the knee now and take Christ’s yoke upon yourself rather than to bow the knee as Christ’s enemy on the day of his wrath. When we bow the knee today and take Christ’s yoke upon us, we will be comforted by his return. It is on that day when we realize the full physical blessings of the day of the Lord that we will be taken into our rest. Our king will visibly rule us because his eternal priesthood guarantees it. His sitting in glory testifies to the successful completion of his mission. He will bring his people into the full glory of his rest. Ruling in the midst of his enemies is only between his first coming and his second coming. Until that day, we may grow weary. We face suffering, disappointment, and spiritual battles. Yet Psalm 110 closes with the image of refreshment, reminding us that Christ himself sustains his people as they journey toward glory. His people drink from the river of life as they are united to their glorified priest-king. The One who conquered through suffering now supplies his church with the living water that enables us to persevere. He will preserve his people as they persevere in him. Conclusion Christ's ascension is not the story of a Savior who left his people behind. It is the declaration that the work of redemption is finished and that the victorious King now reigns from heaven. He rules over his church in the midst of his enemies. He continually represents us as our faithful High Priest. And he will return to judge the world in perfect righteousness. Therefore, when the struggles of this age tempt us to lose heart, Psalm 110 calls us to lift our eyes to the throne of Christ. Our Priest-King reigns. His kingdom cannot fail. His Spirit sustains his people. And the day is coming when every enemy will publicly bow before him. Until then, let us continue to drink deeply from the river of life. This is the life that he freely gives. Let us rest confidently in our ascended Savior. He unites us to him, we taste his goodness in his Spirit, and he will visibly come to bring us to glory. Let us long for the day when he brings us into the full physical blessings of his kingdom. Today, he rules in the midst of his enemies, but he will bring us to glory on the day of his wrath. Let us drink deeply of the river of life as we walk in his Spirit. He will bring this creation to its glorified goal because his enthronement guarantees it.

Can Piety Oppose the Gospel? (Acts 5:12-42)

Introduction: Beware the Pious Ones Introduction: Beware the Pious Ones My dad used to warn me, "Be careful of the pious ones." That puzzled me for years. Piety should be about loving God, pursuing God. So why would anyone warn you to be careful of pious people? Then, I noticed that the most pious in Christ’s day received His sharpest words. Christ warns the pious that they are shutting people out of the kingdom. In fact, in all their evangelistic zeal, they are only creating disciples of hell. That should make us pause and contemplate true piety. Acts 5 gives some insight into this problem. We discover that there are self-proclaimed pious people actively working against the work of Christ. So the real question is: how do we know what piety we're actually pursuing? The Community's Power (Acts 5:12–16) Word spreads about Ananias and Sapphira, and the healing of the disciples. The crowds do not discern the truth, but hold the apostles on some superstitious pedestal. They bring their sick to the disciples, hoping that at least a shadow will fall on the sick and bring healing. However, they don’t want to get too close because people die in this community. The problem is that people look to the apostles for healing rather than to Christ. We have seen this with the crippled man. He clung to the apostles, and not his savior. The apostles made it very clear that the Lord brings healing. So, the Apostles continue to preach the gospel. Tragically, the crowd misses the point of the signs. The signs are not self-promoting signs that the false prophets use to promote their own significance. Christ warned his disciples about these false prophets before going to the cross (Mt. 24:24; Mk 13:22; Luke 21:8). No, these are signs that gave the prophets credibility and authenticity to confirm their message. It was not to compete with the message. Unfortunately, they would rather watch for a miracle than find their wholeness in Christ. It takes time to be progressively transformed by His word. This helps us see true piety versus false piety. True piety looks to our God. False piety looks to the tangible in this world. God's Power Play (Acts 5:17–26) The high priest and the Sadducees move against the apostles out of jealousy. The Sadducees deny the supernatural. They claim that there is no resurrection, no miracle, nothing supernatural. They believe that Scripture is an ethical handbook rather than the living and abiding Word of God that confers life. They are jealous that the Apostles are gaining traction. They cannot tolerate a movement built on a risen Christ. A movement with credible healings and miracles. The apostles’ ministry is a radical existential threat to their power. So, they react by assuming that if you silence the messengers, then you silence the movement. So, they try to silence the apostles by locking them up in jail. An angel quietly opens the prison at night. There is no disturbance outside the prison, so the guards assume everything is fine. The Lord sends the apostles right back to the temple with a simple charge: go speak all the words of this Life. The next morning, the council sends for the prisoners and finds an empty locked cell. The word returns to the senate that the "prisoners" are already preaching at the temple. God dismantles the power play without raising his voice. The glorified and resurrected Jesus of Nazareth will be proclaimed. Who Really Holds the Power (Acts 5:27–42) The Apostles are escorted from the temple to the senate. The apostles are accused of trying to put "this man's blood" on them. Please keep in mind that this senate is the same group of people who once told Pilate, "his blood be on us." Peter's answer is direct: "We must obey God rather than men," and he pointedly calls God "the God of our fathers.” The Apostles are in the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because they embrace Christ. This means that the pious ones, who deny Christ, cannot claim the same historic identity. Where Pentecost's crowd was cut to the heart and repented, this council responds with rage. Gamaliel, a Pharisee, then offers a test: movements built on mere men collapse when their leader dies. This happened with Theudas. He rose up, and Rome executed him, silencing his mission. Judas the Galilean led a tax revolt, and Rome executed him, killing his movement. Two clear movements that were not from God rose up and died almost immediately. The movements had no power beyond the leaders. So, if the apostles are from God, there is no way that the Sanhedrin/council can stop it. However, if it is merely a man-made movement, then it will die. So, let history unfold. Praise be to God! We worship the same resurrected and ascended Christ that the Apostles proclaimed. The movement continues by the Lord’s continued providence and care. Conclusion: True Piety Points Away From Itself So, how do we know if we're pursuing the right piety? Luke 18 answers it: the Pharisee's sin wasn't effort, it was trusting in his own righteousness. There's nothing wrong with looking back and thanking God for how he's sanctified us. However, when it becomes look how good I am, Christ has quietly left the stage. The Pharisees make their own disciples (Matthew 23:19). They are not making disciples of Christ, but disciples of their theology. When Christ gives the great commission, the disciples are commanded to teach and disciple in all that I have commanded you. True piety asks, “How do I glorify Christ?” It is the assurance that I only draw near to God because I am in Christ. He has lived, died, been raised, and ascended to glory. He rules me/us by His Spirit from heaven. True piety seeks to glorify Christ rather than self. That's the whole difference between the pious ones my dad warned me about and the true pious. May we distinguish true piety and desire to please our Lord, who has redeemed us. Then,  I noticed whom Christ reserved his sharpest words for in the Gospels: the most pious people of his day.  Christ warns the pious that they are shutting people out of the kingdom. In fact, in all their evangelistic zeal, they are only creating disciples of hell. Acts 5 gives some insight into this problem. We discover that there are self-proclaimed pious people actively working against the work of Christ. So the real question is: how do we know what piety we're actually pursuing? The Community's Power (Acts 5:12–16) The Apostles continue to minister the Lord’s gospel.  The problem is that people look to the apostles rather than to Christ. We have seen this with the crippled man.  His attention was called to Christ as the crippled man clung to the apostles.  It is the Lord’s word that brings the healing. This is where we see the true piety versus the false piety.  The true piety looks to our God.  False piety looks to the tangible in this world. Word spreads about Ananias and Sapphira, and the healing of the disciples.  The crowds do not discern the truth, but hold the apostles on some sort of a superstitious pedestal.  They bring their sick to the disciples, hoping that at least a shadow would come into contact and bring healing.  However, they don’t want to get close because people die in this community. Tragically, they miss the point of the signs.  The signs are not self-promoting signs like the false prophets who use the signs to promote their own significance.  Christ warned his disciples about these false prophets before going to the cross (Mt. 24:24; Mk 13:22; Luke 21:8).  No, these are signs that gave Moses credibility and authenticity before Pharaoh.  Unfortunately, we see that the crowds are still the crowds who lurk rather than join.  They would rather watch for a miracle rather than find their wholeness in Christ, being progressively transformed by His word. God's Power Play (Acts 5:17–26) The high priest and the Sadducees move against the apostles out of jealousy.  The Sadducees deny the supernatural. They claim that there is no resurrection, no miracle, nothing supernatural.  Scripture is an ethical handbook rather than the living and abiding Word of God that confers life. They are jealous that the Apostles are gaining traction.  They really are not going to allow a movement built on a risen Christ.  A movement with credible healings and miracles.  This is not a competition for them, but a radical existential threat.  Their existence is about to be completely undermined.  So, they react by assuming if you silence the messengers, then you destroy the movement.  They lock up the apostles in jail. An angel quietly opens the prison at night.  There is no disturbance outside the prison, so the guards assume everything is fine.  The Lord sends the apostles right back to the temple with a simple charge: go speak all the words of this Life. The next morning, the council sends for the prisoners and finds an empty locked cell.  The word returns to the senate that the "prisoners" are already preaching at the temple. God dismantles the power play without raising his voice.  His life message will go forth.  The glorified and resurrected Jesus of Nazareth will be proclaimed. Who Really Holds the Power (Acts 5:27–42) The Apostles are escorted from the temple to the senate.  The apostles are accused of trying to put "this man's blood" on them.  Please keep in mind that this same group of people once told Pilate, "his blood be on us." Peter's answer is direct: "We must obey God rather than men," and he pointedly calls God "the God of our fathers.” The Apostles are in the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because they embrace Christ.  This means that the pious ones, who deny Christ, cannot claim the same historic identity.  Where Pentecost's crowd was cut to the heart and repented, this council responds with rage instead. Gamaliel, a Pharisee, then offers a test: movements built on mere men collapse when their leader dies.  This happened with Theudas.  He rose up, and Rome executed him, silencing his mission.  Judas the Galilean led a tax revolt, and Rome executed him.  His movement died.  Two clear movements that were not from God.  We know that because the movement died.  It had no power beyond the leaders. So, if the apostles are from God, there is no way that they can stop it. If the movement is only in their power, then it will cease. So, let history unfold. Praise be to God!  We worship the same resurrected and ascended Christ that the Apostles proclaimed.  The movement continues by the Lord’s continued providence and care. Conclusion: True Piety Points Away From Itself So, how do we know if we're pursuing the right piety? Luke 18 answers it: the Pharisee's sin wasn't effort, it was trusting in his own righteousness. There's nothing wrong with looking back and thanking God for how he's sanctified us.  However, when it becomes look how good I am, Christ has quietly left the stage. The Pharisees make their own disciples (Matthew 23:19).  They are not making disciples of Christ, but disciples of their theology. When Christ gives the great commission, the disciples are commanded to teach and disciple in all that I have commanded you. True piety asks, “How do I glorify Christ?” It is the assurance that I only draw near to God because I am in Christ.  He has lived, died, been raised, and ascended to glory.  He rules me/us by His Spirit from heaven.  True piety seeks to glorify Christ rather than self.  That's the whole difference between the pious ones my dad warned me about and the true pious.  May we distinguish true piety and desire to please our Lord, who has redeemed us. Amen.