David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 20:17-21

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am intrigued by Paul’s introduction to his comments as he addresses the Ephesians elders. He begins with a reminder of his faithfulness in ministry and the comprehensive nature of his ministry among them. He had been consistent (“from the first day that I set foot in Asia”) and thorough (“did not shrink…”) in his message of repentance and faith.

One way of thinking about and understanding the Bible is by means of the themes of “Covenant and Kingdom.” These two great themes deal with our identity as God’s people and our calling to represent God and his kingdom’s goals in the world. There is much to be said for this approach to “rightly dividing the world of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The reality of our identity as children of God, heirs with Christ of his heavenly kingdom is a powerful and blessed truth. Our calling to represent Christ as ambassadors of the King of kings is a high and noble calling.

There is also the classical Lutheran approach to thinking about and understanding the Bible which deals with the proper distinction between Law and Gospel. These two dimensions of scriptural truth have had a profound way of shaping my ministry and personal application of Scripture. The Law shows our sin, condemns and guides the Christian in godly living. The Gospel shows us God’s Savior: Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us. It frees us and saves us from sin, death and the devil. The gospel motivates us for Godly living.

Both of these approaches are helpful here. In regard to his consistent and thorough preaching and teaching, we see Paul living out the Kingdom calling of testifying of Christ and extending his Kingdom. The message itself, moreover, is one of law (“repentance toward”) and Gospel (“faith in our Lord Jesus Christ”). My life and ministry is all about calling people to repent and believe. That is a Kingdom calling. I do that under the authority of the King of kings, and with the conviction that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

I am thankful for my theological education and the keen insights and spiritually-challenging truths of Law/Gospel preaching and teaching. I apply these to myself daily. I am also thankful for the insights that come with understanding my standing before God in the covenant of his grace, and my calling to represent Christ in the world as a servant of the King.

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.