Knowing when it is time to go

And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there. Acts 14:5-7

Last time we said that while we should persevere in the face of difficulties, there are times when wisdom says “move on!” These two verses provide an example and a principle of when it is wise to go.

When Paul and Barnabas were opposed and people’s minds were being poisoned against them, they remained (v.2-3). But when the opposition turned to physical violence, they moved on. Here are two principles:

First, when the circumstance is not one we are allowed to ditch (marriage, for instance), we must remain. Note that they did not stop preaching Christ, they went somewhere else to preach.

Second, when the opposition involves physical violence, we are wise to change locations!

Again, may the Lord give us wisdom to know when to stay and when to go, as well as the courage to stay if we must!

Knowing when it is time to stay

Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Acts 14:3-4

When opposition arose against the gospel ministry (v.2), Paul and Barnabas didn’t cut their losses and run. No, they continued in the work. Notice that in (v.3) immediately on the heels of the opposition in (v.2), we read”

“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord…”

The “therefore” is important. It was specifically because of the opposition that they “stayed” and persevered.

If we persevere only when circumstances are easy, what valor is required? It is when things are difficult that remaining faithful is noble. Regardless in which arena of life we face opposition, let us be men and women of valor, refusing to give up. The saying is true: “Though we may lose certain battles, we win no surrenders!”

Of course there are times when the best way to deal with a bad situation is to change situations. There are times when changing jobs, for instance, is the right thing to do. But there are other situations when it is virtually never the right choice to run away. May God give us the wisdom to know the difference and the strength to persevere when perseverance is the right choice.

For the easily discouraged

Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.
Acts 14:1-2

Some people are relatively unfazed by undesirable circumstances. Then there are the many who, whenever something goes wrong, are ready to give up in defeat. This second group are the people this meditation is for!

When Paul and Barnabas’s missionary endeavors were producing fruit and many believed (v.1), they must have been greatly encouraged. But what about when opposition arose and resulted in people’s minds being “poisoned against the brethren” (v.2)?

As I said, some may have taken it in stride, knowing that life is made up of both the bitter and the sweet. But then there were others, who may not have taken the bitter so well. Let those who are easily discouraged be encouraged! While there was a momentary setback in the gospel ministry, here we are 2,000 years later and the Church of Jesus Christ still stands!

We do well not to “live and die” with each day, but to live in the long run, trusting Jesus to keep His promise to “build My Church,” against which the “gates of Hades shall not prevail.” (Matthew 16:18)

His kingdom cannot fail!

Being filled with joy, no matter what

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:52

The Christian life is to be a life of joy! Consider these two verses:

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

1 John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

From these we might think that the Christian life is not only joyful, but that our joy is somehow related to unceasing desirable circumstances, but the context of the last verse in Acts 13 is about suffering persecution. And yet the disciples were joyful even in adverse circumstances. How?

First, their sins were forgiven. No matter what else befalls us, if we are saved, we have the greatest reason of all to be joyful.

Second, they were serving the Lord. When we are serving the Lord, we have reason to be joyful even if/when serving is not easy or pleasurable!

Consider and be encouraged by this passage that mentions joy, even in unpleasant circumstances:

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Should missionaries persist or move on in the face of persecution? (Part two)

And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:49-52

We are thinking through the question of whether missionaries should persist in the face of persecution, or move on. Paul and Barnabas moved on. Should this be considered the right thing for all who encounter persecution? We considered Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:14-16 in which Jesus told the disciples to move on, but also to use wisdom. Here are a few thoughts on how to answer this question today.

It is certainly OK to avoid persecution. We need not look for it nor stick around for it if we have the option to escape it. This does not mean compromising the gospel or denying Christ to do so; it is okay to move away from it when possible. But let us understand that for many of our brothers and sisters who live in places of persecution, moving on isn’t an option!

Those who choose to remain and persevere in their evangelistic efforts often see positive results in the long run. Our desire to see people saved often means a measure of persecution is “worth it.” So again, we must be wise in discerning the Lord’s will in each case, since no two cases are exactly the same.

And for we who are not on a foreign mission field where persecution is the norm, let us PRAY for our brothers and sisters who do face persecution. May God protect them and give them wisdom to discern when to stay the course and when to move on.

Should missionaries persist or move on in the face of persecution? (Part one)

And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:49-52

This spot in Acts marks a turning point in which the gospel began to be more than a Jewish sect. As persecution at the hands of Jewish people outside of Israel increased, the gospel went forth in the Gentile world.

Verse 51 brings up a difficult question, When those proclaiming the gospel are persecuted, should they continue or move on? Notice that Paul and Barnabas “shook the dust from their feet against them {their persecutors]” and went to another place. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:14-15.

14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

Jesus instructed His disciples to move on when encountering persecution for proclaiming the gospel. Jesus even spoke of God’s severe judgment on those who not only reject the gospel, but abuse His messengers.

So here is a question for Christians today: When persecuted for proclaiming the gospel, are we to stop proclaiming the gospel to our persecutors? We might question missionary efforts into Muslim countries where persecution is rife. Should we stop trying to evangelize in these places?

Some argue that Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 were for the disciples in Jesus’ day regarding persecution from the Jews. Paul and Barnabas seem to have been following Jesus’ words since persecution was coming from religious Jews.

Before considering this question a little more next time, let us be reminded of the next words from Jesus’ mouth in Matthew 10:16:

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

From these words I am persuaded that the Church must exercise wisdom, since there is no absolute one-size-fits-all answer.

Maybe it wasn't such a new thing after all!

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.' " Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:45-48

Last time we said God was doing a new thing, by including the Gentiles in His kingdom. But was it really “new”?

Understand that God was not replacing Jews with Gentiles. He was adding Gentiles to the Kingdom—an expanded kingdom made of people from every tribe, tongue and nation.

And it wasn’t new. At least it shouldn’t have been regarded as new because God spoke repeatedly throughout the Old Testament about how He was going to use the nation of Israel as a light to the Gentiles to bring them to the knowledge of God.

“I will make you as a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6

Sadly, Old Testament Israel missed this obvious point. They not only excluded Gentiles, they rejected their Messiah (John 1:11-13).

Praise God that we Gentiles are no less “chosen” by God than Israel. And let us not miss the fact that we are to take Christ and the gospel to the nations as well (Matthew 28:18-20).

God was doing a new thing…

So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. Acts 13:42-44

Who were the “Gentiles” mentioned in verse 42? Verse 43 answers the question. They were “devout proselytes.” The word “proselytes” refers to non-Jews (Gentiles) who had converted to Judaism. Why does this matter? If we do not understand this, we would wonder what pagan Gentiles were doing in the synagogue? They were there because although they were not the biological seed of Abraham, they had converted to Abraham’s religion.

Having cleared up that detail, the more important issue is that upon hearing Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, these non-Jewish converts to Judaism were moved to want to hear more about Christ. So they urged Paul and Barnabas to return on the the following Sabbath.

But note that when Paul and Barnabas did return on the following Sabbath, verse 45 reveals that while the Gentile converts to Judaism were eager to hear more about Christ, the Jewish Jews were not:

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. (v.45)

Why does this matter? Though Paul and Barnabas routinely went first to the Jewish synagogues, the greatest opposition to the gospel came from the Jews. Of course some Jews believed in Christ, but the greater number who embraced the gospel were Gentiles. The good news is that while the gospel went to the Jews first, and while most of them rejected their Messiah (John 1:11-14), God was doing a new thing, expanding His kingdom to formerly godless Gentiles.

Please, believe it! He is our only hope!

Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 'Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.' "
Acts 13:40-41

The first lesson from this text was that nations deserving God’s judgment must turn to God in faith and repentance to escape the judgment of God at the hands of their enemies. The second lesson was about God’s judgment on Jerusalem in 70 AD—and that the only way to escape it was to trust in Jesus the Messiah.

Lesson three is simply this: Every human being has an appointment with God, the Judge of all creation (Revelation 20). Every human being will have earned God’s eternal wrath by breaking His laws and by failing to receive Jesus Christ as the only remedy for our well-deserved ruin.

But God has provided a way by which we may be forgiven, cleansed, and reconciled to God. That way is Jesus. The Son of God became a man who lived sinlessly and died vicariously for those He came to save. He then rose victoriously to secure eternal life in Heaven with Him. The only way to receive that gift of grace is to confess our sin, trust in Christ (and in no one, or anything else, or in addition to Christ), and to follow Him as Lord and Master of our lives. Have you done or are you doing that?

God told Habakkuk that what He was about to do to Judah was beyond belief. Paul was foretelling what God would do to Jerusalem and the Jewish religion was beyond belief. God’s plan to save sinners by giving His only begotten Son to save His people—especially in the way He did, is beyond belief. But please, believe it! He is our only hope!

The only way to escape that judgment was to flee to Christ in faith!

Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 'Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.' "
Acts 13:40-41

Last time we gave the back story of God’s word to Habakkuk, whom Paul quoted in Acts13:40-41. The first lesson we received was that God uses even the wicked to judge, and He may well be using the wicked to judge the United States on our day. Read Romans 1:18-32 to learn of how God judges sinners by “giving them up to” their sins.

The second lesson we can learn from Paul’s words in Acts 13 is that Israel was ripe for God’s judgment for having rejected their Messiah, God’s Son, Jesus. And though Israel was already a conquered and occupied land, living under the iron fist of Rome, it was only going to be a few more years before God would use Rome again, and more severely, when in 70 AD Rome would obliterate Jerusalem and the Jewish religion for rejecting Jesus.

Destroy the Jewish religion? Yes. Though there are Jewish people today, and although some (but very few) are religious, the religion practiced by the Jews today has no semblance of the Jewish religion commanded by God in the Bible. There is no temple, nor are there any priests, nor sacrifices—which are the heart and soul of Old Testament Biblical Judaism.

Why did God destroy the Jewish religion? Actually He didn’t destroy it. He completed it! Everything the Romans destroyed was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is the Great High Priest who offered the one and only sacrifice that could actually take away sins—His blood!

As Jerusalem fell in 70 AD, you can be sure that the Jewish population couldn’t believe what God was doing. The only way to escape that judgment was to flee to Christ in faith! Praise the Lord, though most did not—many did!

Please! Pray for revival!

Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 'Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.' "
Acts 13:40-41

Lest we forget the context of this verse, Paul is preaching a sermon while on his first missionary journey. In verse 41, he quotes from the Greek text of Habakkuk 1:5 in which God instructs the prophet Habakkuk that even if God told Habakkuk what He was up to, Habakkuk wouldn’t believe it!

What was God referring to when He spoke to Habakkuk? The prophet was lamenting to God about how evil Judah had become and that God wasn’t doing anything about it. God’s reply was, “I am doing something about it and if I told you what I was going to do, you wouldn’t believe it!”

God was preparing to use the incredibly godless and wicked Babylonians as His rod of discipline on Judah by turning His people over to them. And sure enough, Habakkuk couldn’t believe it! “But they are worse than we are!” Habakkuk protested.

Lesson number one: One of God’s frequent means of judging a people is to turn them over to their enemies—even though the enemies are no more godly, and often less godly than those who, through them, God is judging! How many times have the God-fearing in America lamented over how evil our nation has become! We may not like God’s reply. He may choose to turn us over to our enemies. Those enemies may be foreign powers, or they may be destructive powers from within our own nation. That God uses the ungodly as a means by which He judges a people should not surprise us.

The good news is that God may also graciously visit this nation with a spiritual revival—which I believe is the only way to avert the judgement of God this nation deserves. No politicians, political party, laws, or courts can save our wicked nation. Only the grace of God can save the United States from the judgement we have heaped up for ourselves with immorality and murder of children in the womb which our nation has celebrated.

Please! Pray for revival—not only in our nation, but in our lives and in our homes.

Beware of unbelief!

"Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: 'Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish; for I am accomplishing a work in your days, a work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.'"
Acts 13:40-41

Some insist that the gospel must be presented only in positive terms. “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!” If there is no mention of sin, or sin’s penalty of the judgment and wrath of God, an essential component of the gospel has been left out. God’s wonderful plan is forgiveness of sin and deliverance from God’s wrath. that is what make the wonderful plan, wonderful!

Paul’s sermon in Acts 13 includes a warning regarding unbelief. Those who fail to believe will not experience God’s wonderful plan for those who do believe. Instead they will experience God’s dreadful plan of judgment.

Two thoughts to consider:

If you have believed, God’s wonderful plan for your life is forgiveness of sin and eternal life with Him. remember this, refusing to think of salvation as merely a way to experience a more pleasant life now.

When you pray for and speak about Christ to your unbelieving family and friends, be sure to tell them the the whole truth. Don’t worry about how negative talk (about sin and judgment) might turn people off. Our job is to tell the whole gospel. God alone can and will do the saving.

Oh, the blessings of justification!

…and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39

One last thought about justification for now.

Romans 5:1-2 states that because we have been justified, by faith, we have peace with God and access into God’s grace.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

When God declares a believer “justified,” that believer is in an eternal state of peace with God. The peace is the result of the end of the war between God and each believing sinner. The war ended because Jesus took the punishment we deserve for our sinful declarations of war against God. Justice has been satisfied and we have peace with God. And as long as we walk in the spirit, we can experience and enjoy the peace of God. (Our disobedience does not turn off God’s peace, but when we disobey, we simply remove ourselves from the stream of the blessings of His peace.)

Because we are justified (declared “not guilty”) by God, we have full and unlimited access to God’s grace. This is not speaking of the initial access to God believers receive when coming to faith—it is the continued access God graciously provides to those who trust in His Son. It is this continued access that the writer of Hebrews speaks in Hebrews 4:16.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Oh, the blessings of justification!

Justification, Part Three

…and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39

When does justification take place? In one sense, the redeemed were justified in the mind of God from before time began. In another sense, justification took place when Jesus died and rose again 2,000 years ago. But in the strictest sense, we are justified when we believe.

We believe when God gives us the gift of faith.

1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

God’s gracious gift of faith is given and received when a person is born again by the Holy Spirit of God. This fact brings yet another biblical truth that is misunderstood, even by many who are born again. When asked, most believers say they are born again because they believed. This is not true. We believe because we are born again. This is not a semantical “glass half empty or half full” matter. It is supremely important for two reasons.

First, if we are born again because we believe, our belief is from us instead of a gift of God’s grace, in which case we we can “boast” that we saved ourselves by our faith, That is disallowed by Ephesians 2:8-9.

Second, if we are born again because we believe and not because of God’s grace, God’s glory in our salvation is diminished. All praise and glory for our salvation belongs to God alone—not to us, even in the slightest way.

Third, because God’s Word teaches that we believe, are justified, and therefore saved because by God’s grace alone, we are born again!

Soli Deo Gloria! To God alone be glory!

Justification, Part Two

…and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39

What is justification? Justification Is an act of God, by His grace.

Romans 3:24 …being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…

Justification is a legal declaration by God that the guilty are not guilty in His sight. How can this be? When God justifies a sinner, He counts Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as “payment in full” for that sinner’s sins. At the same time God declares that sinner “righteous,” imputing (transferring) Christ’s righteousness to the sinner’s spiritual account. Jesus receives our unrighteousness and we receive His righteousness.

How does one receive this grace from God? Justification is received by faith alone, not by anything we might do of ourselves.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

We say “faith alone” because as Paul writes, it is “apart from the deeds of the law,” meaning we contribute nothing to it. It is by God’s grace alone received through faith alone.

But isn’t it then our faith, and doesn’t our faith originate in us? No, even the faith to believe is a gift of God so that there is nothing we can take credit for, or “boast” in.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works [any effort on our part], lest anyone should boast.

Next time: When does justification take place? In one sense the redeemed were justified in the mind of God from before time began. In another sense, justification took place when Jesus died and rose again 2,000 years ago. But in the strictest sense, we are justified when we believe.

Justification, Part One

…and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39

What is “justification?” There are three necessary components of salvation. Justification. Sanctification. Glorification. All three are ours by God’s grace alone, received through faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone. And all are for God’s glory alone.

Justification is what God has decreed about believers when we are initially saved.

Sanctification is what God is doing in the lives of believers from the time they believe until the time we are with Him in Heaven.

Glorification is what God will do when we are released from this life into eternity to see His face in His glorious presence in Heaven.

In the New Testament, salvation is stated in the past tense (we were saved), in the present tense (we are being saved, and in the future tense (we will be saved.)

Each speaks of being saved from a different aspect of sin. When we are justified, we are saved from sin’s penalty. As we are being sanctified, we are being saved from sin’s power. When we are glorified, we will at last be completely saved from sin’s presence.

More on justification next time.

Trust in Him if you haven’t. Rest in Him if you have.

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39

That Jesus rose from the dead is not just a miraculous event.  It is the greatest news of all time for those who trust in Him.  Why?  Because Jesus died and rose to secure forgiveness of sin for those who trust in Him.

And why is that important?  Because sin condemns us to the eternal wrath of God.  But Jesus’ death and resurrection from the dead secures forgiveness of sin.  That is not only good news for those who believe in this life—which it is because we live with assurance rather than in fear—it will be the greatest news on the great and terrible day of God’s final judgment.

That day will be the most important day of everyone’s existence.  Why?  Because on that day, each person will either be cast into the everlasting lake of fire, or be welcomed into the New Heaven and Earth.

Trust in Him if you haven’t.  Rest in Him if you have.

Over 500 witnesses!

But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.
Acts 13:30-31

The Old Testament law disallowed a person to be executed for a capital crime unless there were two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6).  God is more than casually concerned that a matter be adequately verified before it is believed.

In the matter of Jesus’ resurrection, one witness is not sufficient.  Nor is two, or even three.  So God made sure that Jesus was seen alive, after He was dead and then raised from the dead, by over 500 eyewitnesses according to 1 Corinthians 15:6:

“After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.”

The fact of Jesus’ resurrection is verifiable.  To deny it is to deny the facts.  To believe it is not a blind leap of faith, but faith in the truth!

But God raised Him from the dead!

But God raised Him from the dead.
Acts 13:30

What preceded the “But God” at the beginning of verse 30?  Sinners sought to kill the only begotten Son of God, Jesus. 

I say sought to kill Jesus.  They sought to kill Jesus, but they did not succeed.  Before Jesus went to the cross, He clearly stated, “ No one takes [My life] from Me, but I lay it down of Myself” (John 10:18).  The Son of God was never a victim.  Let us never forget that!

“But,” the evil attempts by sinful men to kill Jesus, resulted in the supreme fact that “God raised Him from the dead.”  Hallelujah!

Not only was Jesus no victim, neither was He a martyr who died for a cause.  His followers cannot go to His tomb to remember or revere Him.  Why?  Because His tomb is empty!  Because God raised His lifeless body from the dead—never to die again but to live and reign victorious for those He came to save.

Paul later wrote to the Corinthians:

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead…  1 Corinthians 15:19-20

Hallelujah!

Fulfilled prophecy is a for reason worship

For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
Acts 13:27-29

What  comfort to know that God doesn’t make things up as events happen!  He not only knows all things, and knows all things before they happen, God is on control of all things.  God decrees all things that happen, and all things that happen, happen because God has decreed them.

This does not make God the author of, or responsible in any way for sins committed by those He has created.  But being sovereignly in control of all things, He uses even the sins people commit, for which we are solely responsible, for the accomplishment of His purposes.

This explains how God could tell us of sinful things that will happen before they happen—without needing to make people sin.  He merely removes His hand of restraining grace, allowing sinners to act according to the in sinful desires of our heart. 

Why does He tell us about such things before they happen?  So that we will know who is really in charge of all things.

Those who sought to kill Jesus were known to God and prophesied by His prophets before they even lived, much less acted.  A most enormous sin, decreed by God, bringing about the greatest salvation so that we would know that God alone is in control of all things.

How can we not worship Him?!