Embracing the Light: The Rejection of Christ

 

Summary

In the book of Acts, we encounter the powerful testimony of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who stood before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish court, to defend his faith in Jesus Christ. Stephen was accused of blasphemy for preaching that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, a claim that infuriated the Jewish leaders. In his defense, Stephen recounted the stories of Abraham and Joseph, illustrating how the Jewish people had historically misunderstood and rejected God's messengers. He highlighted the irony that the very people who prided themselves on being descendants of Abraham were rejecting the fulfillment of Abraham's hope in Christ.

Stephen's speech is not just a historical recount but a profound reflection on the human condition. It reveals a pattern of rejection that has persisted throughout history, where people, blinded by prejudice and envy, fail to recognize God's work among them. This rejection is not due to a lack of intellect or understanding but is rooted in a moral blindness and a hardened heart. The same spirit that led Joseph's brothers to reject him out of envy is what leads people today to reject Christ and His offer of salvation.

The world often dismisses Jesus because of His claims of divinity and His call for total allegiance. While people may admire Jesus as a great teacher or moral leader, they stumble over His assertion of being the only way to God. This rejection is a reflection of the human heart's resistance to surrender and acknowledge its need for a Savior. The story of Joseph serves as a type of Christ, showing how the one who was rejected became the savior of his people, just as Jesus, though rejected, offers salvation to all who believe.

In this Advent season, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we are reminded of the profound love of God who sent His Son into the world to seek and save the lost. The message of Christmas is a call to recognize our need for salvation and to embrace the light that has come into the world. It is an invitation to move beyond our blindness and prejudice and to receive the gift of eternal life offered through Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin highlights the historical pattern of rejecting God's messengers, a pattern rooted in moral blindness and envy rather than intellectual deficiency. This rejection is a reflection of the human heart's resistance to God's truth. [06:07]

- The story of Joseph, as recounted by Stephen, serves as a type of Christ, illustrating how the one who was rejected became the savior of his people. This parallels how Jesus, though rejected, offers salvation to all who believe. [13:36]

- The claims of Jesus, particularly His divinity and His role as the sole mediator between God and humanity, are often the stumbling blocks for many. While people may admire Jesus as a teacher, they resist His call for total allegiance. [22:03]

- The rejection of Christ is not due to a lack of understanding but is rooted in a heart that loves darkness rather than light. This moral blindness prevents people from seeing the glory of Christ and the truth of His message. [36:42]

- The message of Christmas is a profound reminder of God's love, who sent His Son into the world to save humanity. It is an invitation to recognize our need for salvation and to embrace the light that has come into the world. [51:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Introduction to Stephen's Defense
- [01:14] - Charges Against Stephen
- [02:16] - Abraham's Faith and the Gospel
- [03:31] - The Story of Joseph
- [05:06] - Rejection of Christ by the Sanhedrin
- [07:12] - Relevance of Stephen's Speech Today
- [09:16] - Why the World Rejects Christ
- [11:19] - The Necessity of Christ's Coming
- [13:36] - Joseph as a Type of Christ
- [15:31] - The Need for Desperation in Coming to Christ
- [19:37] - Grounds for Rejection of Christ
- [27:48] - The Cause of Rejection: Envy
- [36:42] - Blindness to Christ's Glory
- [45:38] - The Enormity of Rejection
- [51:12] - The Message of Christmas and God's Love

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 7:8-16
2. Genesis 37:1-11
3. John 3:19-21

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Observation Questions:

1. What were the charges brought against Stephen by the Sanhedrin, and how did he respond to these accusations? ([01:02])

2. How does Stephen use the story of Joseph to illustrate his point to the Sanhedrin? What specific aspects of Joseph's story does he highlight? ([03:31])

3. According to the sermon, what is the primary reason the world rejects Jesus Christ, as illustrated by the story of Joseph's brothers? ([09:16])

4. How does the sermon describe the reaction of Joseph's brothers to his dreams, and what does this reveal about their hearts? ([20:36])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does Stephen's recounting of Jewish history serve as a critique of the Sanhedrin's actions and beliefs? How does this relate to the broader theme of rejection in the sermon? ([06:07])

2. How does the sermon draw parallels between the rejection of Joseph by his brothers and the rejection of Jesus by the world? What does this suggest about human nature? ([13:36])

3. The sermon suggests that the rejection of Christ is not due to a lack of understanding but rather a moral blindness. How does this concept challenge common perceptions about faith and intellect? ([36:42])

4. How does the sermon interpret the message of Christmas in light of the rejection of Christ? What does this imply about the nature of God's love and the human response to it? ([51:12])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you may have rejected a message or person due to prejudice or envy. How can Stephen's speech encourage you to approach such situations differently in the future? ([06:07])

2. The sermon highlights the importance of recognizing our need for a Savior. What are some practical steps you can take to cultivate a heart that is open to acknowledging this need? ([13:19])

3. How can you actively work to overcome moral blindness in your own life, especially in areas where you might resist surrendering to God's truth? ([36:42])

4. In what ways can the story of Joseph inspire you to forgive those who have wronged you, as he did with his brothers? How does this reflect the forgiveness offered by Christ? ([51:12])

5. The sermon suggests that the world often admires Jesus as a teacher but resists His claims of divinity. How can you personally reconcile these aspects of Jesus in your own faith journey? ([22:03])

6. As we approach the Christmas season, how can you intentionally focus on the true message of Christmas and share it with others who may be blinded by cultural misconceptions? ([51:12])

7. Consider the ways in which you might be resisting God's work in your life due to envy or pride. What steps can you take to align your heart with God's purposes? ([28:05])

Devotional

Day 1: The Pattern of Rejection

Throughout history, humanity has consistently rejected God's messengers, a pattern rooted not in a lack of understanding but in moral blindness and envy. Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin highlights this recurring theme, as he recounts the stories of Abraham and Joseph to illustrate how the Jewish people have historically misunderstood and rejected those sent by God. This rejection is not due to intellectual deficiency but is a reflection of the human heart's resistance to God's truth. The same spirit that led Joseph's brothers to reject him out of envy is what leads people today to reject Christ and His offer of salvation. [06:07]

Acts 7:51-52 (ESV): "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered."

Reflection: Consider a time when you resisted a message or truth from God. What was the root cause of your resistance, and how can you open your heart to His truth today?


Day 2: Joseph as a Type of Christ

Stephen uses the story of Joseph to draw a parallel to Christ, illustrating how the one who was rejected became the savior of his people. Joseph's brothers, driven by envy, sold him into slavery, yet he rose to a position of power and ultimately saved his family during a time of famine. Similarly, Jesus, though rejected by many, offers salvation to all who believe. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of how God can use rejection and suffering to bring about His purposes and offer redemption. [13:36]

Genesis 50:20 (ESV): "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you felt rejected or overlooked. How might God be using that experience for a greater purpose in your life or the lives of others?


Day 3: The Stumbling Block of Christ's Claims

The claims of Jesus, particularly His divinity and His role as the sole mediator between God and humanity, are often stumbling blocks for many. While people may admire Jesus as a teacher or moral leader, they resist His call for total allegiance. This resistance is a reflection of the human heart's reluctance to surrender and acknowledge its need for a Savior. The world often dismisses Jesus because of His claims of divinity and His call for total allegiance, which challenges our autonomy and self-sufficiency. [22:03]

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 4: Moral Blindness to Christ's Glory

The rejection of Christ is not due to a lack of understanding but is rooted in a heart that loves darkness rather than light. This moral blindness prevents people from seeing the glory of Christ and the truth of His message. Stephen's speech reveals a pattern of rejection that has persisted throughout history, where people, blinded by prejudice and envy, fail to recognize God's work among them. This blindness is a reflection of the human heart's resistance to surrender and acknowledge its need for a Savior. [36:42]

John 12:40 (ESV): "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them."

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself choosing darkness over light in your daily life? How can you actively seek to open your eyes to the glory of Christ today?


Day 5: The Message of Christmas and God's Love

The message of Christmas is a profound reminder of God's love, who sent His Son into the world to save humanity. It is an invitation to recognize our need for salvation and to embrace the light that has come into the world. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we are reminded of the profound love of God who sent His Son into the world to seek and save the lost. The story of Joseph serves as a type of Christ, showing how the one who was rejected became the savior of his people, just as Jesus, though rejected, offers salvation to all who believe. [51:12]

Titus 3:4-5 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."

Reflection: As you reflect on the message of Christmas, how can you embrace the light of Christ in a specific area of your life where you feel lost or in need of guidance?

Quotes

"Steven as I say was the first Christian Marty he was put to death because he was a Christian because he was a preacher of the gospel because that he was one of these people who had committed himself to Jesus of Nazareth believing that he was the son of God for that reason he'd been arrested and here he is on trial charges were brought against him what well that he was guilty of blasphemy that he was speaking against the temple speaking against Moses speaking against the law but ultimately the charge that they brought against him was this that he was preaching this Jesus that was the trouble that was what was infuriating these Jewish leaders." [00:40:32]

"Steven in this long speech that is recorded here is real only making one point and the point that he makes is this that he is rarely dealing with the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Sanhedrin that's the only thing he's interested in they have rejected Christ they were the authorities that persuaded the crowd to cry out away with him crucify him and they're still doing it they're punishing his followers and preachers why do they do so why why did they reject Christ why are they trying Steven Because he believes in Christ and is a preacher of Christ that's the thing that he's anxious to show them and to establish them." [04:55:16]

"Why does the world reject the Lord Jesus Christ the majority of people do reject him I keep on reminding you of these statistics only 10% of the people of this country even claim to be Christian 90% are not interested regarding as a complete irrelevance they reject him why do they reject him or let me put it like this why does this season of Advent this season leading up to Christmas day why does it either mean nothing to the vast majority or why does it mean something that is quite wrong and the sheer travesty of all that rarely ever gave origin to the whole notion of Christmas why is that why is it that this amazing message that offers us so much look at that himym we've just been singing it reminds us in a wonderful way of the blessings of the Christian Life of what is possible to us now why is it that the world is rejecting all this." [09:11:44]

"The answer to the Bible is that it was the only way whereby mankind could be saved he said that himself he said the son of men is come to seek and to save that which is lost that means you see that he had to come before anybody could be saved but why was that necessary what is it in mankind in the world that makes it necessary for the Son of God to come out of the glory into time and to live the life he lived and to be treated by men in the way with which we are familiar and there's only one answer to that it is because of our state as men and women by nature in sin the message of Christmas is and this whole Advent season that we were in such a state and in such a condition that it takes that to put us right but nothing less can put us right." [11:59:40]

"Joseph is a type of Christ there is no question of this at all he was rejected by his Brethren and yet he turned out to be the one who saved them from starvation and death the one they rejected was the one who ultimately saved them he is I say a type of Christ he's a picture of Christ and the way they treated him I want to try to show you is a perfect picture of the way in which the world has treated Christ the son of God and still treat him if you want to know the New Testament text text that tells us how what the world has done to our Lord precisely what Joseph's brother did Brethren did to him it is this he came unto his own and his own receive them not." [13:40:52]

"Why do people reject the Lord Jesus Christ why do they reject this wonderful offer of Salvation in him why do they reject this amazing salvation now the answer I say negatively is it's not a matter of intellect it's not a matter of knowledge it's not a matter of understanding of course the world says it is that's the argument that you hear so regularly on the television Wireless and everywhere else and the cheap jokes and all you read about in the newspapers all the cleverness Modern Men intellect knowledge and it has nothing to do with it at all I can prove that to you quite simply if I haven't done so many times before I prove that to you quite simply like this if you take the facts of History you will find some of the greatest brains the greatest Minds that the world has ever known have been Christian and have believed this message that alone is enough in and of itself it cannot be a matter of intellect these Giants that tower out in history Christians men have become Christians." [14:19:28]

"Blindness moral blindness leading to Prejudice now this is the great case of the whole of the Bible it was the point made by Steven here to this me these members of the Sanhedrin Pruis not clear thinking at all the brothers of Joseph never really took trouble to think this matter out did you notice a significant statement that was made in verse 11 of that 37th chapter of Genesis listen to this and his Brethren envied him but his father observed the saying now there's the whole key you see the brothers of Joseph when he told them these two dreams they were just furious blind Prejudice who is he this is intolerably impossible but his father the old man Jacob who had his dealings with God he observed the saying in other words he instead of being blinded by his prejudice this he began to think and he he though he had reprimanded Joseph and though he didn't understand what Joseph was really saying he knew enough about spiritual things to know this he said to himself this boy isn't saying this merely for the sake of saying it he's not an arrogant boy he's quite the reverse he's one of the best the most cultivated and cultured of my sons why does the bo say a thing like this he hasn't conjured this up himself Something's Happened to this boy you see Jacob was a man who had known what it was to meet with God unexpectedly." [16:00:00]

"Light has come into the world and Men love Darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil light has come into the world the light came in him but they reject it because of their Prejudice they don't listen to him it isn't intellectual it's the lack of thinking it's the lack of clear reasoning it's the lack of truly understanding what he's saying the Apostle Paul puts it letter in these words if our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world have blinded the minds of them that believe not lest they believe the Glorious gospel of Christ you see he says this Paul looks on at his fellow countrymen the Jews sometime after after Steven he's confronted by the same problem that the Jews are rejecting their own Messiah why do they do it well he says you know the trouble is there is a veil over their hearts they read their scriptures every day but but they every Sunday but they don't understand them there is a veil there is a kind of case that comes down there's an opacity they can't see they're blinded the God of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not they don't see the glory of his person they don't see the glory of his teaching they can read the gospels and they miss the whole point they redu it some of them to nothing but just a little bit of political agitation others regard him as a sort of pale galileon with his aesthetic teaching others see just some sentimental notion of Love they have never seen the glory the bigness the grander of it all The Sermon on the Mount is exposition of the way of Salvation and all the glory of his teaching they've never seen it why well because they're blood blind it isn't intellect you can have the greatest intellect in the world but if you're blind it won't help you you won't be able to see you can put the most glorious picture before a man if he's blind he sees nothing and that is precisely according to the Bible with send us to us every one of us The Men Who rejects Christ is blind is blind to spiritual truth he sees everything from a selfish standpoint he sees a Joseph setting himself up and putting him down and and he doesn't like it who is he it's blindness intellectual blindness but something still worse it is rarely the state of their heart the Modern Men I say again is very contradictory he boasts of his knowledge well if you listen to your frauds you will come to the conclusion that a man is not governed by his intellect but by his desires and his passions and to that extent Fred is right is stating the truth this idea that men is a pure intellect is a just a figment of men's imagination no no man thinks with his heart that's why he's a creature of prejudices he's not governed by clear understanding he's governed by desires look at it in the case of Joseph's brother and the Patriarchs moved with Envy that's what moved them not reasoning understanding but Envy the state of their heart and this is still the cause why men and women reject Christ." [18:40:00]

"Light is come into the world why doesn't everybody turn to it why doesn't the world turn to Jesus Christ tonight if ever it needed him it's tonight look at the state of the world look at the war in Vietnam look at the position in rodish I don't know what's going to happen but look at the turmoil look at the uncertainty can't you feel feel that the world is as the Bible tells us like the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose Waters throw up M and dirt there's an Agony in the human heart have you stood on the street corner and Have you listened to the still sad music of humanity why this here's the answer light has come everything we need is offered us in this blessed person but the world rejects him why well because men loved Darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil that's the answer the world loves Darkness it doesn't want the light it pretends it does it talks it does just to boost its own morale just to quieten its accusing conscience it's not interested in light if the world wanted light and truth and Purity it's here it's offered it's all offered for nothing the world doesn't want the world's a liar the world loves Darkness rather than light because its Deeds were evil our Lord has said this many many times himself where does evil come from and this is his answer it's perfectly plain out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies these are the things that defile a men but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a men why do we behave as we do because our hearts are black and are evil it isn't Temptation it's you you run after Temptation you go to meet it you read books because you know what you're going to find in them you go to see films because you know what they're going to do to you you love it don't blame the world don't blame the advertisers it's you it's the evil heart of unbelief out of the heart of men proceed all these defiling things let's be honest my friends this is why the world rejects Christ it doesn't want Purity it doesn't want truth there is this fatal contradiction in the heart of men this is the cause of the trouble for the good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that I do I find then a law that when I would do good evil is present with me for I Delight in the law of God after the of men but I see another law in my members Waring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members all wretched men that I am and that's the truth of every one of us by Nature we are creatures of lust and desire and passion oh let me give you the most perfect description ever given of mankind without Christ mankind as it is by nature given by the Apostle Paul in the third chapter of his epistle to Titus here it is put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey magistrates to be ready to every good work to speak evil of no men to be no Brawlers but gentle showing all meekness unto all men for we ourselves were also at one time foolish disobedient deceived serving divers TRS and Pleasures living in Malice and envy hateful and hating one another and isn't that true of all of us by Nature isn't that true of your Society oh the glittering party and how fun they are of one another they've got daggers in their hearts they hate one another they're hateful and hating one another that's why your world is as it is tonight greed and aice and envy and lust and passion and desire it's in us all Paul describes it again in the second half of the first chapter of his epistle to the Romans and it is because of this that the world doesn't want Christ he spes life they say Christianity they say is narrow it's contemptible it's something to be dealt with by sarcasm and ridicule and derision it comes out as a joke in your favorite television program and it's clever Christ is the spoiler of Life the one who introduces you just a narrow miserable cramped little existence isn't that it you see there's only one explanation got nothing to do with intellect it's the state of the heart it's your clever people who are leaders in Vice at the present time they've got amazing cleverness and Ingenuity but you notice how they're using it catering to the animal and that which is even lower than the animal it's the same thing as you find in the brothers of Joseph moved with Envy he has moved it's all a matter of the heart." [20:00:00]

"God so loved the world the world that rebelled against him and rejected him and spent upon his laws and turned his paradise into chaos God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him however vile a rebel he might be however foul a heart he might have whatever he may have done whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son my dear friend don't you see it in this old story about Joseph's brothers and their treatment of Joseph can't you see it you've been behaving like the brothers of Joseph if you're not a Christian and it's all because you're blind mind because you've got an evil heart oh God grant that you may have seen it tonight seen yourself under this condemnation the condemnation of God the condemnation of men and eternal condemnation there is no hope you've got to meet him and you can't meet him you're such a vile creature you're such a hopeless creature there's nothing to be said for you as there was nothing to be said for Joseph's brothers but thank God it's my privilege to tell you this that if you but acknowledge your blindness and the Blackness of your evil heart and your sin and your hopelessness and tell God ser and cast yourself upon his Mercy he'll receive you he will tell you that he's loved you with an everlasting love and that he sent his son into the world deliberately to die for you that you might be forgiven that he might reconcile you unto himself in that way and give you New Life New Hope peace security safety everything you need in this life and glory in the world to come oh may God open our eyes to the state of every one of us by nature to our need of Salvation and to the the fullness of the Salvation that God has provided for us freely in his dearly beloved only begotten son." [25:00:00]

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Transcript
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