Admission

Introduction

It is difficult to admit that you are wrong. When your motives are right, you assume your actions are right. When we are challenged and shown our error, it can be difficult to admit that you were wrong. In fact, most of us enter into the “denial” of the thing first. In our shock, we say things like “I don’t believe it.” In fact, instead of admitting that we were wrong, we dig our heels in and try to prove that we aren’t wrong. Call it stubbornness, we work hard to defend our point of view. All the while we are making things worse. Now if this has never happened to you, then you are indeed a rare jewel. I have been with couples listening to them argue about who is right and wrong and not once did either of them consider that the arguing could stop even momentarily with an admission that it is possible that I am wrong.

What does it take to make you admit you are wrong about something? Does a bad outcome have to occur before you admit you are wrong? Does someone have to get hurt emotionally before you admit you are wrong? Our pride keeps us from admitting our errors. We continue to claim we are right because of pride. We shift blame; we accuse the other person; we will do almost anything to not admit the truth — I am wrong. Pride makes us think that such an admission is a sign of weakness or a loss of power or status. What we rarely see is that the failure to admit is a sign of weakness and a loss of respect in the eyes of others. We want to be valued and in our pride we do not achieve what we want. We actually get the opposite. It is difficult to admit you are wrong.

Spiritually, we know that the only way we come into relationship with God through Christ and experience the power of the Holy Spirit is to admit that we are wrong. We have to admit our sin in order for us to get what we really want — forgiveness, confidence, grace, mercy, love. Failure to admit our sin leaves us spiritually cut off from God and from each other. As we get close to ending our study of Acts, we look today at Paul’s story one more time. And what we will see is that an admission of being a sinner allowed God to use Paul in ways that he never could have imagined. The same is true for us.

Paul’s Story

Paul has been in prison for over 2 years. Based on God’s promise that Paul will be in Rome, Paul has appealed to Caesar. As a Roman citizen that was his right and as a Roman citizen, he will go to Rome. But that doesn’t mean anyone else has to get in a hurry about it. Governor Felix kept him imprisoned at Caesarea hoping for a bribe. When he was replaced by Governor Festus, the process starts all over again. This where our story begins. King Agrippa, he is the great grandson to Herod the Great, the one who killed all baby boys age 2 and under trying to make sure that his rival, Jesus, didn’t survive. King Agrippa’s name is Marcus Julius Agrippa. He is known as Agrippa II. He is the son of Agrippa I whose death is recorded in Acts 12:23. He is Jewish but as his name illustrates there is Roman influence. Agrippa II great great grandfather (Herod the Great’s father) was good friend with Julius Caesar; hence, the name Julius is used. Herod the Great was a good friend to Mark Antony; thus, Marcus is Agrippa’s first name. Why the history? Agrippa is Jewish but he is clearly in the Roman camp. He knows both sides. He loyalty lies with power. Paul’s speech will assume upon Agrippa’s Jewish knowledge.

Paul retells his life’s story. Agrippa would have known the Pharisees and understood their theology. Agrippa would have known about Jewish chief priests and their desire to eradicate Judaism of those who followed Jesus. Agrippa would have known about the crucifixion and about the story of the resurrection. Knowing about such things and believing them are two different things. But Paul will use Agrippa’s knowledge to his advantage. Unlike with Festus, where certain subtleties would have to be explained, here Paul speech flows without explanation. When he uses the word “hope” Agrippa understands. Everything that the Jews were looking for in a Messiah was fulfilled in Jesus. Why would anyone question the idea of a resurrection when their own scriptures said that the servant of God would rise? (Psalm 16:10, Psalm 22:21-29; Hosea 6:2; Hosea 13:14; Isaiah 25:8)

Paul tells his story. Agrippa listens. Damascus is the turning point. Here Paul must admit that he was wrong. Damascus. God met Paul here. A blinding light captured his attention. Three days of blindness reminded him of the death of Jesus. His ability to see was his own spiritually symbolic resurrection. Out of the darkness of the tomb, Paul saw the light again and this time he obeyed. His sins were washed away and his night became day. And he offers for Agrippa to admit that he needs this same Jesus. Agrippa’s response is like many. “You think in such a short period of time, you can persuade me to be a Christian.” Not a sarcastic remark but a remark that recognizes that a nerve has been touched. Agrippa wants out of this presentation. He came here to greet Festus as the new governor. He expected a legal discourse. What he got was a testimony of faith and it has struck a nerve. Agrippa is uncomfortable but he is also challenged.

So What?

What does it take for you to admit you are wrong? What does it take for you to admit your sin? When you are uncomfortable with the reality of your sin, how do you respond? In the moment of challenge, do you defend yourself? Dig your heels in more? Shift the blame? Or like Agrippa avoid? Pride makes it hard for us to admit our sin. Pride separates us from what we really want — connection with God and with others. Our pride convinces us that to admit our sin, people will think badly about us. To admit our sin people will not like us or reject us or act differently. And all of that may happen.

But until we admit our sin, we are in darkness. Paul travels to Damascus thinking he is doing the right thing. Endorsed by authorities to imprison and to bring to trial and in some cases to kill those who follow Jesus. He is protecting God. He is upholding God’s will. He can find all kinds of reasons to keep doing what he is doing and would have kept doing it if God had not intervened. In the brilliant flash of light, Paul saw his darkness. For three days, like Jesus in a tomb, Paul was forced to see things more clearly. In his blindness he saw the light. It is a paradox. But this is what happens when we admit our sin. We finally see.

The great apostle Paul was a great sinner. God used him to preach and teach and heal and persuade. Paul suffered physically, emotionally, mentally and in that suffering he saw more clearly how God was using him and how God used the suffering of Jesus to bring people together. Pride tells us that we have nothing to admit. We lie to ourselves and in that lie we live behind a facade of smiles and quick words so that we do not have to face the reality of our sin and lostness. Paul admitted his sin and people rejected him. People acted differently. People did not like him. But what Paul got for his admission of sin was a relationship with God that was never possible without the admission. If God can change the heart of Paul and use him in mighty ways, God can change you.

You say, I have already admitted my sin. I’ve been baptized. I follow Jesus. Then do the deeds that demonstrate repentance. Be quick to admit your sin. Be quick to allow others to know you so that relationships can deepen. Be quick to let God be seen in you. But there are some who need to admit sin and to repent. This time is for you. It is a reminder that what you want begins with a confession of sin. Invitation.

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.