How shall we then live?

When Jesus finished His public minis try He had about 500 committed followers. Of these 500 about 120 were located in Jerusalem. His followers in Jerusalem could fit into one large, upper room in Acts 1. After 3.5 years of public ministry, crisscrossing the land of Israel, teaching the truth, healing thousands of people and living a perfect life, relatively few people believed in Him. However, everything changed in the Book of Acts. By the time Acts ends Christianity is a mighty movement sweeping across the Roman Empire. Multitudes are following the Lord Jesus.

The Gospel of Luke records “all that Jesus began to do and teach” (Acts 1:1). In Acts the Lord Jesus continued to build His church as He promised (Matthew 16:18). Jesus continued to build His church through the apostles. The apostle Paul played a very prominent role in the growth of the Christian faith.

What motivated the apostle Paul? What did he focus upon? What drove him? What should we focus upon during this tumultuous season? Philippians 4:20-23 lists three dominant themes in the life of Paul. These three themes should dominant our lives also.

First, Paul focused upon the glory of God. He wrote, “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Paul was motivated by the glory of God. He lived his life to please God. We honor the Father by worshiping His Son Jesus.

The good news begins with the bad news. The bad news is that we are sinners who need a Savior. We have fallen short of God’s perfect standard. The bad news leads to the good news. God the Father sent God the Son to die in our place on the cross. Theologians call the death of Jesus a substitutionary atonement.

Living for God’s glory was costly for Paul. 2 Corinthians 11 lists his sufferings. He said, “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one” (verse 24). The leather whip across the back was the punishment of the synagogue. None of these beatings are listed in Acts. These beatings are in addition to his sufferings in Acts.

Paul stated, “Three times I was beaten with rods” (verse 25). This was the punishment of the Romans. Only one of these times is listed in Acts- Paul’s time in Philippi in Acts 16. He said, “Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift in the sea” (verse 25). Paul’s shipwreck in Acts occurred after he wrote 2 Corinthians. These three shipwrecks are in addition to his shipwreck in Acts.

Living for God’s glory was costly for Paul. No matter what happens in the election we must live for God’s glory. God’s glory means to obey God. Obeying God means following the Son.

Second, Paul focused upon God’s people (verse 21-22). Paul told the Philippians, “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.” The word greet means “to embrace.” Most people live shallow lives. Not the apostle Paul! His life consisted of deep relationships.

Twice Paul mentions the “saints.” Saints are not a class of super heroes. The Bible teaches that saints are ordinary Christians. A saint is separated from sin and set apart for God. We are God’s people! We have been adopted into God’s family through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We must be deeply involved with God’s people.

Third, Paul focused upon God’s grace (verse 23). Paul ended the epistle with, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward those who deserve the opposite. God delights in doing good to His enemies.

When we were separated from God, God sent His Son on the greatest rescue mission. Jesus came to die for our sins. Today every believer lives in God’s grace. God delights in doing good to those who are separated from Him. Romans 5:2 says that we “stand in grace.” God views His people with favor and delight!

Picture salvation like a court room scene. At salvation Jesus receives our sins. We receive His perfect righteousness. The Father declares us righteous. The illustration breaks down at this point. In a human court, the judge leaves through the back door and the innocent walks out the front door. In salvation the Father leaves the bench, wraps His arms around us and adopts us into His family! This is God’s grace.

An election will take place soon! Regardless of the outcome our focus should remain the same. Let’s focus on God’s glory, God’s people and God’s grace. As these themes dominate our lives God’s kingdom will advance.

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.