Christians Who Turned the World Upside Down
“These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” -Acts 17:6b
The ones whom the people of Thessalonica were talking about as having turned the world “upside down” were, of course, the Christians. And if the world before them had been darkened by sin, full of superstition, and hopelessly lost in error, then yes, they had indeed turned the world upside down.
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Turned upside down.
The Christian message
Their message, the gospel, was so radical, so new, and so original, it transformed entire cities and cultures. But truly, it was not simply the message that changed people’s lives, but rather, the Spirit of God that came to dwell in each new believer’s heart that made this New Testament so potent.
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. -Jeremiah 31:33
Eligibility
And who could be given such a precious gift? Anyone! What began as good news for the Jews eventually spread out to include the Gentiles: that is, the entire world.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. -Acts 13:46-47
A free gift, or an earned reward?
And what was the cost of this gift of God? It was absolutely free! It could not be earned by good works, any more than it could be blocked or restricted through previous sin. The thief that was crucified on the cross next to Jesus for his crimes was still able to obtain salvation in his dying moments. “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).
As the famous hymn says:
“The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day,
and there may I—though vile as he—wash all my sins away.”
-There is a Fountain Filled with Blood, William Cowper
Then it would seem that the only “cost” of this gift is to simply recognize that we are in need of it. As the above verse states, “though vile as he…” That is to say, though we are as vile as the thief who rightfully deserved to die, we too ought to seek to wash all our sins away; have them washed away in the blood of the Lamb: Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. -Revelation 1:5-6
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