SEMESTER 1
312 – The Persecution of the Church
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 12
THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH
Read Ex. 1:11-12
, Acts 8:1-4.
INTRODUCTION:
1. We live in a day of heresy concerning divine blessing and human “happiness.”
2. I recently saw this referred to as “Cadillac Christianity,” a good thought.
3. Many today equate God’s blessing an approbation with constant human approbation (massive crowds).
4. In this lesson, I hope to show quite a different side to this matter.
I. THE REASON THE CHURCH WAS PERSECUTED
It is the erroneous thought of many that if we obey God we will have the basic favor of man. This is often not so at all. Consider what brought most of the persecution upon the early church.
1. For acting (healing) in Jesus’s; Name. (Acts 3:6, Acts 4:5-21)
2. For preaching in Jesus’s; Name. (Acts 7:51-60)
3. For pursuing the faith in general. (Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1-2)
4. For simply being part of the church. (Acts 12:1-3)
5. For preaching the word of God. (Acts 13:44-50)
6. For refusing idol worship and preaching Christ. (Acts 14:12-19)
7. For preaching grace alone as our relationship to God. (Gal. 4:11)
II. CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD PERSECUTION
We tend today, when persecution comes, to think: (a) we have done something wrong, (b) we must go to work on getting laws changed, (c) God is dead and we must work things out ourselves, or (d) God has let us down so let us just get angry and quit. How did the early saints feel about persecution?
1. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy. (Acts 5:40-41)
2. They praised God, that He was working His plan. (Acts 4:23-31)
3. They trusted God, sleeping at the time of impending death. (Acts 12:1-6)
4. They prayed and sang praises. (Acts 16:23-25)
5. They counted it a mark of fellowship with Christ. (Phil. 3:10)
6. They counted it an evidence of the promise of future blessing and exaltation. (Rom. 8:17)
III. THE EFFECT OF THIS PERSECUTION
It is often said by someone who turns to a “ministry” of national or social reform that we must do this, so we can continue to preach; i.e., we must halt or reduce persecution or it will kill the effect of the church.
1. Persecution made them pray.(Acts 12:5, Acts 4:23-31)
2. It made them labor in unity. (Acts 4:32)
3. It made them extend their ministry. (Acts 8:4)
4. It extended their ministry to the Gentiles. (Acts 11:18-21)
5. It increased the number of disciples, (compare Acts 11:21 to Ex. 1:11-12)
Never let criticism of friends or persecution of friends or enemies, turn your head from preaching the gospel.