Rejecting False Promises: Embracing God's True Savior

 

Summary

In Acts chapter 7, Stephen stands before the council, accused of blasphemy, and delivers a powerful retelling of Israel's history to highlight a recurring pattern: God's people have consistently rejected the saviors He sent. Stephen begins by affirming that the foundation of the Jewish faith is not the temple or the law, but the promises of God, exemplified by Abraham's faith. He recounts how Joseph, rejected by his brothers, became their savior during a famine, and how Moses, initially rejected by his people, was later embraced as their deliverer. Stephen emphasizes that the law and the temple, which the council holds dear, were also initially rejected by their ancestors.

Stephen's message is clear: the religious leaders are repeating the mistakes of their forefathers by rejecting Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises. They have placed their faith in the law and the temple rather than in the promises of God. Stephen challenges them to recognize that Jesus is the true dwelling of God with man, the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. He warns against trusting in worldly promises, which ultimately lead to disappointment and devastation.

For us today, the message is a call to examine where we place our trust. Are we relying on the promises of health, wealth, success, or the approval of others? These are false promises that cannot deliver true fulfillment. Instead, we are invited to place our hope in the promises of God, particularly the promise of Jesus' return. Jesus is coming again to bring justice, healing, and eternal life with Him. Our faith should rest on this unshakeable promise, not on the fleeting assurances of the world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Foundation of Faith: The true foundation of faith is the promises of God, not religious structures or laws. Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness because he believed God's promises. This challenges us to evaluate whether our faith is rooted in God's promises or in religious practices. [22:46]

2. Rejection of Saviors: Throughout history, God's people have rejected the saviors He sent, from Joseph to Moses, and ultimately Jesus. This pattern warns us against dismissing God's provision and challenges us to recognize and accept the savior He has provided in Jesus. [29:42]

3. Misplaced Trust: The religious leaders trusted in the law and the temple rather than in God's promises. Similarly, we must be cautious not to place our trust in worldly promises of health, wealth, or success, which cannot fulfill us. [39:44]

4. Jesus as Fulfillment: Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, the prophets, and the temple. He embodies God's promises and offers true salvation. Our faith should be centered on Him, recognizing that He is the ultimate expression of God's faithfulness. [42:10]

5. Hope in Jesus' Return: Our hope is in the promise of Jesus' return, where He will bring justice, healing, and eternal life. This promise surpasses all worldly assurances and invites us to place our full trust in Him. [50:58]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [18:23] - Introduction to Acts 7
- [19:42] - Stephen's Accusation
- [20:53] - Foundation of Faith
- [22:46] - Abraham's Faith
- [23:41] - Joseph's Rejection and Acceptance
- [25:16] - Moses' Initial Rejection
- [27:46] - Moses as Redeemer
- [29:42] - Israel's Pattern of Rejection
- [31:05] - Misplaced Trust in the Law
- [32:24] - The Temple's Role
- [33:21] - The Danger of Idolatry
- [35:24] - Jesus as Fulfillment
- [39:44] - Trusting in Worldly Promises
- [41:21] - The Council's Reaction
- [42:10] - The Promise of Jesus' Return
- [50:58] - Conclusion and Call to Faith

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 7:1-53
- Genesis 15:6
- John 14:1-3

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Observation Questions:

1. How does Stephen use the history of Israel to address the accusations against him? What key figures does he mention, and why are they significant? [19:42]

2. What pattern does Stephen highlight in the behavior of the Israelites towards the saviors God sent them? How does this relate to their current rejection of Jesus? [29:42]

3. According to Stephen, what was the true foundation of the Jewish faith, and how does this challenge the religious leaders' beliefs? [20:53]

4. How does Stephen describe the role of the temple and the law in the history of Israel, and what warning does he give about them? [31:05]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why does Stephen emphasize the promises of God as the foundation of faith rather than the law or the temple? How does this perspective shift the understanding of faith for the religious leaders? [20:53]

2. In what ways does Stephen's retelling of Israel's history serve as a critique of the religious leaders' current actions and beliefs? How does this relate to their rejection of Jesus? [35:24]

3. How does Stephen's message about misplaced trust in religious structures and laws apply to modern-day faith practices? What are the potential dangers of such misplaced trust? [39:44]

4. What does Stephen's speech reveal about the nature of true salvation and the role of Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises? [42:10]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be placing your trust in religious practices or structures rather than in the promises of God? How can you shift your focus to God's promises? [20:53]

2. Consider the pattern of rejecting God's provision as highlighted by Stephen. Are there ways in which you might be resisting or ignoring God's guidance or provision in your life? How can you become more open to recognizing and accepting it? [29:42]

3. Stephen warns against trusting in worldly promises. What are some specific worldly promises you find yourself tempted to rely on, such as health, wealth, or success? How can you redirect your trust towards God's promises? [39:44]

4. How does the promise of Jesus' return influence your daily life and decisions? In what ways can you live more intentionally with this promise in mind? [50:58]

5. Think about the role of Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises. How does this understanding impact your relationship with Him and your approach to faith? [42:10]

6. Identify one area in your life where you need to place more trust in God's promises. What practical steps can you take this week to strengthen your faith in that area? [43:17]

7. Reflect on the concept of true salvation as presented by Stephen. How can you ensure that your faith is centered on Jesus and not on external religious practices or worldly assurances? [38:30]

Devotional

Day 1: The Promises of God as Our Foundation
The foundation of faith is not found in religious structures or laws but in the promises of God. Stephen, in his defense before the council, emphasizes that Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness because he believed in God's promises. This challenges us to evaluate whether our faith is rooted in God's promises or in religious practices. The religious leaders of Stephen's time placed their trust in the law and the temple, missing the essence of faith that Abraham exemplified. We are invited to reflect on where we place our trust and to ensure that it is in the unshakeable promises of God. [22:46]

Hebrews 11:8-10 (ESV): "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you rely on religious practices rather than God's promises. How can you shift your focus to trust in His promises today?


Day 2: Recognizing the Saviors God Sends
Throughout history, God's people have rejected the saviors He sent, from Joseph to Moses, and ultimately Jesus. Stephen highlights this pattern to warn the religious leaders that they are repeating the mistakes of their ancestors by rejecting Jesus. This serves as a reminder for us to be open to God's provision and to recognize and accept the savior He has provided in Jesus. We must be vigilant not to dismiss the ways God is working in our lives, even if it challenges our expectations or traditions. [29:42]

Acts 3:13-15 (ESV): "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses."

Reflection: Think of a time when you resisted God's guidance because it didn't align with your expectations. How can you be more open to His direction today?


Day 3: Avoiding Misplaced Trust
The religious leaders trusted in the law and the temple rather than in God's promises. Similarly, we must be cautious not to place our trust in worldly promises of health, wealth, or success, which cannot fulfill us. Stephen's message challenges us to examine where we place our trust and to ensure it is in the eternal promises of God rather than the fleeting assurances of the world. This requires a conscious effort to prioritize God's promises over the temporary comforts and securities that the world offers. [39:44]

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.'"

Reflection: Identify one worldly promise you have been relying on for fulfillment. How can you begin to place your trust in God's promises instead?


Day 4: Jesus as the Fulfillment of God's Promises
Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, the prophets, and the temple. He embodies God's promises and offers true salvation. Stephen's message to the council was that Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's faithfulness, and our faith should be centered on Him. This calls us to recognize Jesus as the true dwelling of God with man and to embrace Him as the fulfillment of all that God has promised. Our relationship with Jesus should be the cornerstone of our faith, guiding our actions and decisions. [42:10]

Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Reflection: Reflect on how you can make Jesus the center of your daily life. What changes can you make to ensure He is the foundation of your faith?


Day 5: Hope in the Promise of Jesus' Return
Our hope is in the promise of Jesus' return, where He will bring justice, healing, and eternal life. This promise surpasses all worldly assurances and invites us to place our full trust in Him. Stephen's message reminds us that the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises is found in Jesus' return, and this should be the source of our hope and confidence. As we navigate the challenges of life, we are encouraged to hold onto this promise and to live in anticipation of the day when Jesus will make all things new. [50:58]

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (ESV): "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

Reflection: How does the promise of Jesus' return influence your daily decisions and outlook on life? What steps can you take to live in anticipation of His coming?

Quotes

"So this right here, the root and the source of the Jewish faith is one thing, and that is the promises of God. The foundation of the Jewish faith wasn't the temple. The foundation of the Jewish faith wasn't the law. But before all of these things came into being, there was one simple idea. God made a promise, and Abraham believed him." [00:22:16] (29 seconds)


"Okay, so faith is built on the calling and the promises that God has made, and the way that we respond to those. So we'll pick back up verse 6. And God spoke to this effect, that Abraham's offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others. Who would enslave them and afflict them for 400 years." [00:23:16] (25 seconds)


"Israel also rejected Moses at first, even though Moses was the one who had been sent to redeem them from their sin. And so this is the second instance that Stephen points out. They rejected him at first, but when he showed up and he demonstrated the power of God, when he showed up in his glory, not earthly glory, not the glory of Pharaoh's court, but the glory of the Lord, then they accepted him." [00:28:37] (26 seconds)


"So the council spoke of their concern for the law and how the law was the foundation of their faith, of their religion. But in fact, when Moses first provided them with the law, they rejected the law and they rejected the law giver. So they rejected it at first, but now they're using it as the foundation of their faith and they are depending on their ability to do what it is that the law says in order to earn them right standing with God." [00:31:05] (38 seconds)


"And because they had God's temple, nothing bad could ever happen to them. So that's the issue, right? They said, we have the law, and as long as we follow the law, then nothing bad can happen to us. And we have the temple, God's house. And if we have God's house, then nothing bad will ever happen to us. And so they were depending not on the promises of God, but they were depending on the things that God had given them instead." [00:34:12] (32 seconds)


"Jesus, rather, is the fulfillment of Moses. He is the fulfillment of all of the scriptures that they are looking to. And he said as much, Jesus said as much in John 5. He's speaking to a group of religious leaders, and he says to them, you search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me." [00:39:17] (25 seconds)


"And the most generous interpretation of what was happening amongst these religious leaders is that they weren't trusting in the Holy Spirit. They were trusting in the Holy Spirit. They were trusting in the Holy Spirit. They were trusting in the promises of God, but instead they were trusting in the things that God had given them to remind them of their promises. For us today, it would be like trusting in the fact that I go to church every week, the fact that I read my Bible, the fact that I do a lot of good things, right? When we trust in those things, we're trusting in the things that God has given us rather than trusting in God." [00:39:57] (32 seconds)


"Because we can place our hope in the promises of the things of this world. The promises of health, right? If you are diligent about your personal health and if you work out enough and if you eat the right things and if you don't eat the wrong things and if you're very careful, then you will be healthy and you will live a long time." [00:43:31] (23 seconds)


"Our hope isn't in the promises that this world can make. Because no matter how healthy you are, whether it is by accident, or whether it is by the sheer onward march of time, you will grow sick and die one day. No matter how wealthy you are, there is no amount of money that can buy eternity." [00:46:31] (23 seconds)


"Jesus promised that he was coming again for his people, and he promised that he would bring justice to those who have been wronged. He said in Revelation 22, behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense. That's a fancy word for justice, with me, to repay each one for what he has done. Jesus is coming again. And so for all of the ways that people have hurt you, that they have wronged you, that they have disappointed you, he is coming again to make those things right." [00:48:55] (35 seconds)


"Jesus is coming again to bring justice, to bring healing, to allow us to dwell with him forever in the perfection of his kingdom. The promises of God are fulfilled. They are fulfilled in Jesus. He came once and he was rejected by his people. He is coming again one day in power and in glory to bring to fruition all of the promises of God. And when that day comes, will you be found depending on him, trusting in his promises?" [00:50:58] (43 seconds)


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Transcript
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