Remaining Faithful

“And preaching the gospel to that city, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, calling on them to continue in the faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:21-22)

Paul was preaching in Lystra when he was stoned and left for dead outside of the city. But he wasn’t dead and went with Barnabas to Derbe where they made many disciples. (Acts 14: 19-21) He then returned to Lystra to strengthen and support those disciples who had believed. He tells them two different things. One is to continue in the faith. And the other is that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God.

To “continue in the faith” was Paul’s command for the disciples in Lystra. Lystra was seeped in pagan practices and idol worship. There was a temple of Zeus just outside the city. When a miracle was performed by Paul and Barnabas, the Zeus priest brought sacrifices to offer to them, thinking they were gods in human form. (Acts 14:8-18) Even though Paul and Barnabas protested and preached the Gospel, they still offered sacrifices to them. Can you imagine a new believer with no knowledge of the true God, but who now believes in the One true God trying to live a holy life? I can imagine the confusion and their dependance of the leading of the Holy Spirit. Even though I was brought up in a Christian denomination, but one that doesn’t follow the Bible, I was confused about many things when I came to Jesus. So, I can understand how these new believers needed more teaching for daily holy living and dependance on the Holy Spirit. I can also imagine why Paul felt he had to return to Lystra to support those new believers and to strengthen them.

Paul writes to the Colossians the importance of continuing in the faith. “And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish, and without charge in His sight, if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard and which was proclaimed in all the creation under Heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister,” (Colossians 1:21-23). Jude writes to believers how to continue in the faith. “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, eagerly awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to everlasting life.” (Jude 1:20-21)

The other thing Paul told the new disciples at Lystra was that “through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God.” I can imagine all the persecution these new believers would endure for their new and very different lifestyle and worship practices. Tribulation at the beginning of becoming a new believer is nothing new to any new believer. Old friends are offended and react in a number of ways from ridicule, exclusion to outright anger. Family members also ridicule and act out in anger. But when one is going against the whole of society, it’s even dangerous. In some areas of the world, Christians lose their families, their homes, their country and even their lives for the sake of Christ. “He who loves his life shall lose it. And he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there also My servant shall be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:25-26) It’s hard to follow Christ in the midst of opposition. Yet that is what we are called to do. Even in this day and age, Christianity is living counterculture. Many of our practices are frowned upon like modest dressing, pure and holy speech, heterosexual marriage and our sacrificial love for the brethren.

Jesus Himself warned us that to follow Him would bring tribulation in this world. “I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Paul wrote about suffering with Jesus. It’s persecution. I had an experience where a Christian lady was speaking about what she was doing. I wasn’t judging her, but I needed to be sure that she knew that what she was doing was not right. She told me I was judging her and was self-righteous. I was shocked because I thought she would agree with me. So, we even suffer tribulation from sinning Christians. “And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:17-18) And he writes the Thessalonians something similar. “For truly, when we were with you, we told you before that we were going to suffer affliction, as it also happened, even you know.” (1Thessalonians 3:4) I will never forget when I taught in a public school and for Christmas I’d decorate my bulletin boards with Christian Christmas themes like the nativity, etc... I got more flak from other Christians telling me I shouldn’t do that, to take it down and warning me that I’d get in trouble than I did from unbelievers.

To wrap up, we can understand Paul’s insistence on returning to Lystra to support and strengthen the new disciples. They were going to suffer much tribulation in a city seeped in idolatry and pagan practices that permeated all of society. They needed to be assured of the Truth of the Gospel and God’s promises to continue living a holy life in that society.