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PreacherE · Tue Jan 20, 2009 , 01:02 AM

They risked their lives for the name of Christ

Acts 15:26

'Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

Paul and Barnabas had traveled to Jerusalem to seek counsel of the apostles on a dispute which had begun to arise in the church. Some of the Pharisees which had been saved were claiming that the Gentiles needed to be circumcised and that they needed to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles after discussing the matter decided that circumcision was not a necessary part of the Christian's life. They then chose to send two men back to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas to testify of their decision. These two men had the testimony in our text verse of having hazarded their lives for the name of Christ. Their names were Judas Barsabas and Silas.

1. They were willing to die for what they believed in.

The apostles made the statement that Judas and Silas had hazarded their lives for the name of Christ. They had suffered some sort of persecution because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the apostles suffered for Christ in some form or another. In II Corinthians 11:23-26, Paul gives us a brief synopsis of the persecution he had faced for being a Christian. He eventually was beheaded in Rome on the order of Nero. All of the other apostles were tortured as well. John was the only one who did not die a martyr's death, yet he still experienced excruciating torture by the hands of the Romans. All throughout history there have been those who were willing to die for the Saviour who had died for them on an old, rugged cross. No matter what happened to them physically they were not going to fail the Lord Jesus Christ.

How different this is today for the majority of those who claim the name of Christ. Most Christians today are scared to do anything for Christ because of what someone else might think about them. How many of today's Christians have backed out of witnessing to someone because they feared being ridiculed? How many have refused to live for Christ and do something for Him because it would cause them to have to separate from the world? If persecution were to come upon the church today, the way it was during the time of the apostles, then I fear that many churches would sit empty because the people would not be willing to die for what they believe in.

2. To live is Christ, but to die is gain.

Paul stated this in Philippians 1:21. He was ready to live his life for Christ, but he knew that death would simply bring him to Heaven's shore. In verse 23, we see that Paul was ready to depart this life in order to be with Christ. He remembered that to be absent in this body is to be present with the Lord. Yes, Paul was willing to die for Christ because that just meant he would be with Christ. He was ready to cross that river to reach Heaven's beautiful shore.

We need to realize that whatever our fate here on this earth, if we are saved, then death is merely the beginning of our Heavenly sojourn. We have no reason to fear what this world may do to us. Our salvation is eternal and secure in the Lord Jesus Christ. No one on this earth, not even ourselves, can ever change our position with the Lord once we are saved. How wonderful it is for a Christian to leave this life and to enter into the joy of the Lord for all eternity.

We have a Saviour who gave up the glory and splendor of Heaven to come to this earth and die on the cross in our place. He took the sins of every person who has ever lived and ever will live upon Himself as He hung on Golgotha's hill. What less could we do then to live our lives in service to Him and if necessary to die in service to Him faithful to the very end. The apostles had a firm grasp of what the Lord said in Matthew 10:28. If we are saved by the Blood of the Lamb then we have nothing to fear of what this world can do to us. When we leave this world we have the glories of Heaven and the presence of the Saviour to look forward to.

Many Christians will never have to worry about hazarding their lives for the name of Christ. The most they will have to face is some name-calling and ridicule from others. Still, we should have the heart and mind of a Christian who is willing to risk their lives for the name of Christ if need be.

In Christ,

PreacherE

IM4given · Tue Jan 20, 2009 , 10:55 AM

AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY MEN! Preach it Brother!

candlelight · (This post was last modified: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:33 PM by candlelight.)

A double "Amen" on that...PreacherE! I am listening to Christian radio right now. The first thing the preacher says to the brethren...is to:

1) Start immediately without rationalization. When we "rationalize"--- we can talk ourselves out of serving God to the best of our ability.

Too many Christians want to "rationalize" things in their walk with Christ.

Might I add, that...my pastor says he is surprised when a Christian says that they will die for Christ. Yet, they can't even live for Him? How true that is. Yes...we must "Turn the World Upside Down." I am tired of the Heathen gaining control of God Almighty's world. The world belongs to the Saviour, and Him alone. If we are alive in Christ...let us remember that there is nothing we cannot do, because the Holy Spirit indwells within the born-again Christian. We belong to Jesus Christ!

Romans 1:16-17...16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. "Paul Introduces Himself and the Gospel of Jesus Christ"