The Deal-Breaker

“And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word,”

Acts 28:25a

Generally, mankind believes that being loved unconditionally is a good thing. We believe that getting a gift of any kind without having to work for it or earn it is a good thing. Overall, the claim of Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of the world no matter how far we fall away is just too good to be passed up.

But some of you still do. And others- though trusting Christ to be that love, that gift, that saviour- have no passion about them for loving or living for God in return.

Not much has changed since 62AD

Paul presents the Jews at Rome with all the best tenents of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He does this first by the purity of his own testimony. “Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.” (Acts 28:18) Secondly, he presents the grand plan for Israel, summed up in Paul’s words: “for the hope of Israel.” (Acts 28:20) Thirdly, he does this by the proof of fulfilled prophecies for Israel. “persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets,” (Acts 28:23) Paul’s appeal to the Roman Jews was filled with truth, love, and an open invitation.

However, as our opening verse states, they teetered on the fence of decision until Paul dropped one ugly word.

In my own opinion, had Paul never mentioned the word, those that hadn't believed at this point STILL would turn away. Paul, as a wise masterbuilder (1 Corinthians 3:10) knew that people were likely to get stuck in indecision, by default rejecting Christ, yet deceiving themselves. So, he places a stumblingblock in front of them to force a decision; to make them have to turn one way or the other. Paul was not about to leave these men "almost persuaded" (Acts 26:28). He knew by their disagreement that they were not going to believe the Gospel, so he exposed their choice for what it was: flat rejection.

What was that one word?

There is a Biblical precedent for that word being, “Gentiles.” (see Acts 28:28 and Acts 22:22) But I find at least four offensive words in Paul’s sentence against them that are still ‘deal-breakers’ for the indecisive man.

A Word That Suggests the Superiority of Jesus Christ.

“Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,”

Acts 28:25b

By referring to the Third Member of the Trinity as the Holy Ghost, Paul connected the Spirit of God to the man Christ Jesus. The Jews would not admit that when Jesus “gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46) that His Spirit was Divine.

Some Jews did not believe in spirits at all (Acts 23:8). Even of those that did believe, they were hesitant to call the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ‘holy’. But this word is exactly what Paul confronted them with.

A Word That Demands Action After Acceptance

“Saying, Go unto this people, and say Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive.”

Acts 28:26

Paul said of the most religious people in the world, from time past to present, that they were a mission field. He reminded them of Isaiah’s blunt prophecy, and of the damning fact that they were as ignorant of it now as they ever had been.

It stands out as being especially abrasive because those Jews hadn’t gone anywhere with what they knew about Jehovah already. They were stuck in a voluntary quarantine with the mindset of Jonah. They would hardly fellowship with their Samaritan neighbours, let alone tell a Roman or a Greek.

Anyone who knows Christ will not be ashamed to confess Him publicly. The lost may know facts, but only faith in the Lord Jesus brings boldness.

A Word That Condemns the Natural Condition of the Heart

“For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

Acts 28:27

As vile a sinner as we may be, it still stings to be told that. So, why tell them?

A consistent witness will understand this ‘deal-breaker’ better than any scholar could theorize behind a desk. Whenever they spot hesitation to put full faith and trust in Christ, it is a sign that self-righteousness still exists in the sinner’s heart. That sinner cannot trust Christ AND himself. Paul saw that in these men, and called their heart “gross.”

‘Gross’ has come to mean ‘disgusting,’ and that is a derivative of its old-time usage. To ‘wax gross’ meant to ‘become overgrown or fat’ (see Isaiah 6:10). In other words, the picture of self-righteousness is a swollen up, proud heart. Paul called it what God thought of it. That really ‘turned them off’ to the Gospel.

A Word that Lumps You into the Same Status as Everyone Else

“Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”

Acts 28:28

The Jew had thought that he was better than everyone else. Now he is told that he will have to take second place to a bunch of heathen far worse morally than they, but “they will hear it.”

To a status driven world, nothing is more demeaning than having your successes, your originality, your quality included in the same sentence as the failures, the illigitimate, the cheap imitation. If that’s ever happened to you, hasn’t it made you frustrated? Hasn’t it made your hard work seem meaningless? Hasn’t it gotten your attention?

Paul knew exactly what he was quoting when he chose Isaiah. Paul’s only desire was to see Israel saved (see Romans 11). These harsh words were meant to push the unpersuaded person to a hard decision: trust Jesus Christ alone, or reject Him entirely.

Friend, it is as true for you as it was for them.

The Gospel is free, and good, and powerful. But if you cannot accept the Lord Jesus Christ as God, you’re out. If you won’t believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, it’s over. If you puff up every time your sin is mentioned, you love IT more than you want forgiveness. And last of all, if you can find one sinner on earth that you are better than; beware! God will go to THAT man instead of you.

“And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”

Acts 28:29

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

1 Timothy 1:15

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