OBEDIENT PRIESTS

1. In our society change is almost inevitable.

2. People change jobs, mates, where they live, morals, and a lot of other things.

3. Political beliefs and affiliations are sometimes changed.

4. Even religious convictions and beliefs are subject to change.

IN ACTS 6:7 WE HAVE A CURIOUS PASSAGE.

A. Luke spoke about “priests.”

B. He described lot of priests because the text says “a great company.”

C. These priests were “obedient to the faith.”

2. Let’s think about what this passage is describing.

3. The people being described were religious.

4. There were not only religious, they were religious leaders and teachers in Israel.

5. They were accustomed to helping others with the spiritual part of life.

A. Their religion was not one made devised by men.

B. Those in the Sunday morning class recently studied Col. 2:23.

C. In this verse Paul spoke of “will worship.”

D. Will worship is worship which God has either forbidden or not asked for.

E. These priests were not involved with a system of will worship.

F. They had the system given by God through Moses.

6. These men had a system that had come from God and had been approved by him.

7. Yet, Acts 6:7 says they abandoned this way; they traded it in for something else.

A. What they did should strike us as odd when we compare it to our day and time.

B. At the present time we are told there are many ways to God and we should pick a way we like.

C. It doesn’t matter how we approach our Creator; the only relevant point is approaching Him.

D. The priests in Acts 6 did not subscribe to this philosophy.

E. They abandoned their system for religion and embraced a brand new way.

8. It is one thing for a man on the street to change his religious convictions.

9. The priests who converted to the gospel were not average Jews.

10. These fellows made their living by being religious workers.

11. Changing faiths for them meant being out of a job—unemployment.

A. Someone might say their talents would be used in their new faith.

B. They could serve as full time preachers after being converted.

C. This explanation is not very likely.

D. The number of priests was extensive – “a great company.”

E. Furthermore, when these men converted, there was increasing religious tension.

F. As Acts 6 continues, this strain is described. The sketch of the problem continues through Acts 7.

G. When Acts 8 opens, the problems intensified so much the people of God had to scatter.

12. These priests who left Judaism made a significant sacrifice to become Christians.

13. This suggests that any old religion will not please God.

14. God has a certain way things are to be done and He expects us to follow His way.

15. This morning we say the need for Jonah to do things God’s way.

16. Tonight we see this same truth in the lives of priests.

WHAT THE PRIESTS TURNED TO FOR A RELIGOIUS FAITH IS DESCRIBED AS “THE FAITH” AT THE END OF VERSE 7.

A. The Bible uses the word faith in different ways.

B. In places like Heb. 11:6 we are told to have faith.

C. This faith is belief.

D. We believe Jesus came, died, and was raised from the dead.

E. We have faith the Bible is true and there is a life after physical death.

F. Christians have faith in a future judgment day as well as heaven and hell.

2. Believing faith is often described in both testaments.

3. The word faith describes belief but it is not limited to belief.

4. Acts 6:7 speaks of a faith which is “obeyed.”

A. The point is made a little clearer with a definite article (“the” faith).

B. Today we speak about the Bible in different ways.

C. We might use the word Bible, New Testament, Scriptures, God’s will, heaven’s plan, Word of God.

D. All of these descriptions are good.

E. There is, however, another way to describe the book given to us by God.

F. This description is found in Acts 6:7.

G. There is the faith.

5. These two words describe a system of faith or the way described in the Scriptures.

6. The faith is heaven’s plan or what we are told to do in the Word of God.

7. This is not my conclusion or a belief limited to members of the church.

A. On of the best known book publishers in the world is Baker books.

B. This company is based in Grand Rapids, MI, just a few hours from here.

C. Several years ago they published and outstanding volume known as “Baker’s Dict. Of Theology.”

D. I have used this volume dozens or hundreds of times because it is a gold mine of information.

8. Under this book’s entry on faith this comment is found:

9. The expression “the faith” occasionally denotes the body of truths believed.

10. This is exactly right.

11. “The faith” is the body of truths found in the New Testament and believed by God’s people.

12. The faith describes what people believe and obey.

A. The faith was different from the religion being practiced by the priests.

B. The priests were accustomed to following the Law of Moses.

C. The Law of Moses was taken out of the way and no longer respected by God (Col. 2:14-15).

D. The priests learned of this and “were obedient to the faith.”

13. They followed the plan given by God through the apostles.

14. In today’s culture few talk about being “obedient to the faith.”

15. When people are told about Christianity they hear things like the sinner’s prayer and accepting Christ.

16. In the first century the true spokesmen for God taught people to be “obedient to the faith.”

17. This is necessary to become a Christian and this keeps us in a right relationship with God.

18. Other places where the expression “the faith can be found are these:

A. Jude 3; Gal. 1:23; 1 Tim. 4:1, 6.

AS WE LOOK AT ACTS 6 WE KNOW WHO IS BEING DESCRIBED: RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO WERE PRIESTS. WE KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TAUGHT: THE FAITH (THE TRUTHS KNOWN TO AND BELIEVED BY CHRISTIANS).

A. The third element to consider from Acts 6:7 is found in the word obedience.

B. The priests who left their system of religion were familiar with this concept.

C. Under the Law of Moses they knew God had given certain laws.

D. They knew people needed to obey these laws.

E. When they realized God had a new way, they obeyed the new system.

2. The word obeyed is a verb. Verbs describe action.

A. When we look at this action word, we find other places in the New Testament where it occurs.

B. The first time we find it is in Mt. 8 (8:27).

C. The Bible says the “winds and the sea” obeyed Him.

D. Have we ever thought about what this means?

3. Mt. 8:24 says there was a “great tempest.”

4. Matthew says the boat was “covered with waves.”

5. Jesus “rebuked” the storm (verse 26).

A. What if the waves were 20’ and Jesus’ rebuke brought them to 15’?

B. This would have been better, but the storm would not have truly been rebuked.

C. In order for the storm to be rebuked it needed to become quiet; completely still

D. Obedience on the part of the storm and water required full compliance (100%).

E. This exactly what the Bible says in Mt. 8:26.

F. There was a “great calm.”

G. The word used in Mt. 8 and Acts 6 describes full and absolute compliance with God’s will.

6. Mt. 8 helps us understand obedience in the spiritual realm.

7. Most who are interested in Christianity agree that obedience is necessary.

8. People differ, however, on how much obedience is required.

9. Is some, most, or full obedience to God and His will necessary to please the God of heaven?

10. Mt. 8 reveals that the word obedience means full compliance.

A. Another passage which shows the full nature of obedience is Rom. 6:17.

B. People obey rules and commands for different reasons.

C. In some cases people are bribed into obedience.

D. There are instances where obedience is forced.

E. Rom. 6:17 says first century Christians “obeyed form the heart.”

11. That is, these people loved God and therefore fully did His will.

12. This is very likely what is described in Acts 6.

13. Priests were people who loved God and wanted to serve Him.

14. When they realized their religious faith was no longer right, they changed.

15. Their attitude was, “We want to be obedient to the faith God has given” and this is what they did.

16. The priests made the right choice.

17. The word rendered obedient in Acts 6 is also found in 2 Thess. 1:8.

A. This passage says judgment will come upon those who “do not obey the gospel.”

B. The expression “the faith” in Acts 6:7 is synonymous with the word “gospel” in 2 Thess. 1:8.

C. Both passages describe the same body of truth and the need to obey it.

D. Acts 6 says many did obey the gospel.

E. 2 Thess. 1 recognizes that not everyone is obedient to heaven’s word.

F. Those who do not obey will suffer “separation from God and eternal punishment.”

18. The priests had only one choice if they wanted to please God and they accepted it.

19. A related passage (which has the same word) is Heb. 5:9.

20. This inspired writer said God gives salvation to those who “obey” Him.

21. The priests in Acts 6 obeyed so they were saved.

22. Others refused to obey and were thus outside the bounds of God’s fellowship.

23. If we know what God requires of us, the most important word in our vocabulary is obedience.

24. It is not enough to be religious. We must have a religious life which is obedient.