8/3 The Joy of Chosen Witnesses
/Acts Chapter 56 - Sermon
Title: The Joy of Chosen Witnesses
Text: Acts 10:37-46
37 "You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Overview
The scene in Acts 10 is incredibly significant in Christian history because it marks a pivotal moment: Gentiles, just like Jews, can now receive God's grace, salvation, and be chosen as a people, a royal priesthood. Gentiles and Jews are now united!
The gospel has become a path to salvation, enabling people from all nations to become God's people. At the time, this was a scene that brought immense joy.
However, while the door is open to everyone, not everyone can enter.
Let's look at Acts 10:41-43 again:
41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
While the way is open to all people, specific commands were given to chosen witnesses. These are the ones who shared a meal with the resurrected Jesus, those who were commanded to testify to all the earth that Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead. And through them, there are those who come to believe in Jesus and receive forgiveness of sins through His name.
This implies two distinct groups: "all people" and "chosen witnesses." And the judgment is carried out by Jesus.
[Matthew 25:31-33] 31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."
Sheep and goats, heaven and hell, those who merely hear the word and those who hear and act on it...
The lazy servant and the faithful servant, those who prepared oil in advance and those who didn't...
The Bible uses a great deal of language to distinguish between these two groups, and most of these distinctions came directly from Jesus Himself.
Yet, a common thread among those on the left in these parables is that they weren't people who had never heard of Jesus. They knew about Jesus, and some even cried out, "Lord, Lord!" with their mouths.
Therefore, Christians must belong to the group of chosen witnesses.
But if Jesus's "chosen witnesses" are the Lord's sheep and faithful servants who ultimately enter the Kingdom of God, aren't those who are not chosen treated unfairly?
Our modern understanding and the limitations of our language often lead us to believe that "being chosen" means someone has specifically pointed some one out.
However, in Jesus's parable of the wedding feast, how did He describe those who were called and those who were chosen?
In that parable, "being called" referred to someone going out and directly handing out invitations. But "being chosen" in that parable was almost the opposite of our common understanding. The specific people who accepted the king's invitation and responded to it were described as chosen.
The conclusion is thus stated:
[Matthew 22:14] “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Heaven is open to everyone, but there are specific people who are chosen.
Ultimately, in this parable, Jesus emphasized that those who responded to the invitation were the "chosen ones."
So, one thing is clear: the meaning of "being chosen" in the Bible is significantly different from our common understanding.
What's even more confusing is that the expression "being chosen" is always in the past tense: "already chosen," "chosen from the beginning of time."
How does that make you feel when you hear these expressions?
It makes us think of fatalism, believing that life is already predetermined.
[Galatians 1:15-16] 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult with any human being.
Paul states that he was chosen from his mother's womb to be an evangelist to preach Jesus among the Gentiles. He's saying that everything was already decided before he was even born.
In fact, there are many such expressions in the Bible that give the impression that everything is already decided.
However, at the same time, the Bible also presents God as angry, disciplining, and warning us about our wrong choices and sins, as if we have free will.
So, isn't it unfair? Doesn't this mean that King Saul, who tried to kill David, or Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, were simply acting out a pre-planned script?
I've seen theology students lose their faith over this issue, and I've met young people who struggle with it.
This confusion arises because the Bible is a book where the infinite God and finite humans appear together, and it speaks simultaneously about the eternal Kingdom of God and the finite earth.
It contains records of two things that are difficult for human reason to grasp simultaneously.
For us, time flows continuously like a line. It never stops; it's flowing even at this moment. But is it the same for God?
Not at all. This is proven by the fact that the resurrected Jesus appeared to multiple people simultaneously. This means God is not bound by time and space.
So, can God do this?
Can God observe an event unfolding in our lives, see how we react to it, and then use that outcome to change our past?
Logically speaking, if God is an omnipotent being who transcends time and space, then, of course, it's possible.
From our perspective, it means God can see our present and change our past. And, of course, that changes our present and future as well.
Therefore, our decision to accept an invitation is an act of our free will, and through that acceptance, we become God's pre-chosen ones. This is the meaning of "being chosen in advance."
Our current decision regarding God's invitation changes our past, creating an eternal difference without anyone even noticing.
This scene of Peter preaching to Cornelius announces that all nations, from Jews to Gentiles, are now invited. An invitation is prepared for everyone.
However, not everyone will ultimately be chosen. The Bible consistently warns and clarifies that the responsibility for this lies with those who took the invitation lightly, procrastinated their response believing they had enough time, or outright refused it.
Thus, we can understand why Peter, while proclaiming that the gospel is open to all, simultaneously emphasizes that he himself is a specially chosen witness.
He is shouting, "You who have now received Jesus's invitation, become chosen ones like me!"
He's not just saying, "Accept Jesus as a new god and worship him from now on!" It means: "Be a witness to His resurrection. Eat and drink with Him! Participate in communion, and live your daily life alongside Him!"
What happened to Cornelius and his household and friends who received the invitation in today's passage?
Let's see what happened to them:
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
This happened while Peter was proclaiming the gospel. These were Gentiles, yet they displayed behaviors typically seen in devout Christians, such as raising their arms towards heaven and worshiping.
It must have been a truly heartwarming sight to see them all praising and singing "Hallelujah" in various languages, with outstretched arms towards heaven, just like the disciples did when they gathered in the Upper Room on Pentecost.
They had only heard fragments of the gospel, hadn't they? They hadn't prayed a prayer of acceptance. They hadn't even been baptized first because they wanted to believe. So how did the Holy Spirit come upon them?
Let's reread verse 44:
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
It says the Holy Spirit came on "all who heard the message."
In verse 44, the word "message" is not the typical Logos but Rhema.
Logos: Refers to the objective, universal, and written Word of God (the Bible). Rhema: Refers to the written Logos that, through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, comes alive as a personal and dynamic experience in the believer's life, prompting faith and obedience, like a living voice.
So, it's revealing that the Holy Spirit descended upon those among Cornelius, his household, and his friends who actively received the message conveyed through Peter as something specifically given to them.
They hadn't even prayed in the name of Jesus Christ yet, but because they listened to the message with such an attitude, it was acknowledged as if they had prayed a prayer of acceptance.
That's why a visible descent of the Holy Spirit, similar to what the disciples experienced on Pentecost, occurred for them.
Parable of the Four Soils
Jesus also greatly emphasized how one should listen to the Word.
[Matthew 13:19-23] 19 "When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
The reason why those on the first type of soil don't understand the Word has nothing to do with intellectual capacity. In fact, the disciples themselves didn't understand the parables when they heard them. However, they took them seriously and genuinely wanted to know their meaning.
But those who casually disregarded it as irrelevant to themselves are the ones with a "path-like" heart.
The second type received it with immediate joy. They responded quicker than anyone else. But like rocky ground with only a thin layer of soil, the seed sprouted quickly but withered within a day. This pattern repeats—a momentary experience of grace followed by a quick return to their old ways. So, not only do they bear no fruit, but the time they spend in a healthy state is also very short.
The third type of soil represents people who are too caught up in this present world. They are constantly losing vitality due to worries about the future and the temptation of wanting more. Worldly matters seem so important that they always hesitate to follow God.
The fourth type of soil represents people who, when they hear God's Word, receive it as rhema and put it into practice. They are the ones who accept the opportunities and challenges God gives them. They prioritize God's will above all else and respond earnestly, trusting in God. These individuals live lives that bear fruit far beyond themselves—thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold.
The Lord told this parable twice in the Gospels, not simply to point out and rebuke. He is inviting us to become good soil and participate in His joy!
It is rare to find someone who always has good soil in every area.
Even those who live as good soil for much of the time still stumble in relationships or stubborn areas. The Lord desires them to reflect on this message so that they may live lives that God abundantly blesses.
We don't have to cultivate that soil ourselves. We just need to listen well to the word—the rhema—that the Lord gives us, with a humble and good heart.
What the Lord Does
[Philippians 2:12-13] 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
If you look closely at this passage, you'll find a logical contradiction.
It emphasizes the salvation and blessing that disciples will receive through their own diligent obedience.
However, the very next verse, verse 13, states that God works in you, putting desires within you and enabling you to act. It's not you, but God who is acting. God pours out the desires, and ultimately, God is the one who fulfills those desires. Isn't this a clear contradiction?
However, this is a very common paradox in the Bible and in the lives of Christians.
Try complimenting a Christian you consider to be truly faithful! How will they respond? They'll respond precisely like this:
"The Lord did it all; I was just there. The Lord did it."
When I expressed gratitude to those who put in great effort in mission fields, they all confessed, "The Lord did it all."
They weren't just saying it. They genuinely felt it and couldn't help but say it.
Paul, who endured the most suffering and carried out the most ministry among the apostles, ultimately confessed that his ministries were nothing.
Paul isn't just pretending humility. He genuinely knew that he was merely the one who witnessed God's work through him most closely.
As we move into the middle of the book of Acts, we'll encounter Paul's journeys again. The shortest period of his missionary journey was a single night spent in Lystra. And even in Philippi, a place we're familiar with, he only spent a few days on a short-term mission.
Yet, the brief record of what happened in that short period has eternally changed countless lives over the past 2,000 years, hasn't it? How many times over has it multiplied its fruit? Paul was good soil, listening well to the Lord's words, and the Lord kept His promise.
So, even though our team only stayed for a week, that was by no means a short time. We were more focused on the Lord and listening to Him than at any other time of the year. When God is present in that time, it becomes sufficient.
One brother from our New Jersey church who went with us experienced great grace and returned home. He wrote 20 pages of testimony until 4 AM that day. He said he wrote it immediately because he didn't want to forget it. When I asked him to send it to me, he sent the 20-page testimony in both English and Korean, saying I could share it with others.
As soon as I received it, my eyes welled up with tears, and I read the entire testimony in one sitting. The brother wrote his inner struggles so purely and without reservation, and even though it seemed haphazardly written, my heart swelled with emotion at his childlike excitement and joy, seeing how God had led him through every step of the process.
Do you remember how Jesus and the disciples in Acts undertook difficult journeys to find just one person?
The same Lord led us in the same way and showed us the same things.
Walking the path of Jesus and experiencing the joy that Jesus felt—that was the joy of chosen witnesses.
Seeing a boy who used to be so disobedient raise his arms high, his face full of emotion, crying out "Holy Forever" dozens of times with glistening eyes, or a brother who used to find it very uncomfortable when his wife was listening at home now listening to that song on repeat all day long...
Doesn't that fill you with emotion? Doesn't it bring overwhelming joy?
No matter what their profession, Christians remain on this earth to witness such overwhelming moments of emotion and joy. The Lord is holding us here to participate in such work.
As we do, we will eventually be assured: "I didn't find the Lord on my own. The Lord loved me and chose me. He chose me from my mother's womb to walk with Jesus, to share Jesus from New York to the nations, to South Dakota. By the grace of God, I am what I am." That's what we'll confess.
Then, the Lord's words and promises will, one by one, become clear and sound like words of love directed at us.
For the people we meet frequently in our daily lives, a slower, more deliberate pace, and many pauses will be necessary.
But seeing the Lord's great dream for them become a desire within us, and seeing those desires continue to be fulfilled...
If you desire such a life, then every day, every moment, listen carefully to the Lord's invitation. Respond humbly and rightly as good soil! In doing so, you will increasingly experience the joy of being chosen.
If you're still struggling to discern the Lord's invitation, follow the principles that run throughout the entire Bible, which God has established.
As your pastor, I will tell you the principle of blessing: Live a life that practices hesed (lovingkindness), which God prefers over sacrifice. Make mishpat (justice) the standard of your life. Think of "us" before "me." When there's an opportunity for an encounter for the Lord, choose to give up your personal comfort. Doing just that is enough. That is the principle of mishpat that causes life and blessing to overflow.
Thinking of the community over yourself means choosing forgiveness instead of revenge, and reconciliation instead of avoidance.
As you mature, you will increasingly discern the Lord's specific and detailed will even in exceptional situations.
As we continue to joyfully respond to the Lord's invitation, our past will continue to be transformed into "chosen," and eventually, our present, future, and eternity will align with the Lord's will. And then, how can we not bear fruit of at least 30, 60, or even 100 times?
Friends, we have been called once again today.
Let us pray.
