The Ethical Implications of the Gospel

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Start with Application Testimony

[Give people an opportunity to share how they applied what we learned last week]

Last week’s question: How do you need to move forward this week, towards a door that isn’t open yet?

INTRO

Paul had returned to Jerusalem and been arrested, after being falsely accused by unbelieving Jews of bringing a Gentile into the Temple grounds.

He was now in Roman custody and had been sent to the Roman Governor, Felix, after the Roman authorities had learned of an assassination plot by the Jews

Where we left off, Paul had just arrived in Caesarea for further trail of his case

READ

Question to consider as we read:

Why do people reject the Gospel?

Acts 24:1–27 CSB

1 Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, “We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. 3 We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4 But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true. 10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. 11 You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people. 18 While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ” 22 Since Felix was well informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs. 24 Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money. So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him. 27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.

EXAMINE

What are the key points in this passage?

#1 | Paul is innocent and Felix knows it

Paul’s accusers have no evidence or substance to their claims

Acts 24:12–13 “They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me.”

All of the accusations against Paul were obvious hearsay and speculation

Felix gives Paul all the freedom he can, without setting him free

Acts 24:23 “He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs.”

Felix wasn’t just being nice - his treatment of Paul makes it obvious that he didn’t think Paul was guilty

So why didn’t Felix just release Paul?

#2 | Felix does what pleases him

Doing the right thing doesn’t matter to Felix

Felix was motivated by personal gain and advantage - not justice

Acts 24:26 “... he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money. So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.”

Acts 24:27 ...because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.

Felix abuses his power, wealth, and privilege

He had a reputation for being selfishly motivated and self-promoting (1a)

Drusilla was his third wife, after he had convinced her to leave her first husband by promising to give her whatever she wanted (2)

Rome eventually removed Felix from office because of his abuse of power (1b)

#3 | Felix can’t accept the implications of the Gospel

Felix was probably interested in the blessings of the Gospel

He already knew some things about Jesus (Acts 24:22) and wanted to learn more (Acts 24:24)

We can imagine that the initial news of the forgiveness of sin and the reward of eternal life, would have been very appealing to Felix - a man who had done many terrible things

But remember, Jesus is able offer eternal life and forgiveness because He is King and Judge (Rom 8:33-34) - you can’t have the mercy until you submit to the Judge

Sadly, Felix was not interested in being accountable to Christ

Acts 24:25 Now as [Paul] spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid...

Felix may have been interested in Jesus’ blessings, but he still wanted the freedom to do whatever he wanted

The idea of being accountable to Christ, was not a reality he wanted to face

But the message that Jesus is our King and Judge is central to the Gospel (Acts 10:42-43; Rom 14:8-9)

This means that the Gospel has ethical implications - obedience and submission to Christ isn’t optional

1 John 1:6–7 “If we say, ‘We have fellowship with him,’ and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

1 Peter 1:13–19 “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.”

APPLY

Explore and apply the passage with these questions:

[Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want people to feel the liberty to explore the topics of the passage that stand out to them. Select the questions from below that you think are right for the conversation, or add your own. Questions should be focused, yet open-ended. Wherever the conversation goes, help your group “land the plane” on the core idea of the lesson when you wrap up.]

Can you relate to Felix’ struggle? How?

The Gospel means “Good News.” Why is it “good news” that we are accountable to Jesus?

What parts of the Gospel do you have a hard time accepting?

Where we want to “land the plane”

The Gospel isn’t just the good news that Jesus loves and forgives you - it’s also the message that you must submit to Him as King and live accountable to Him as your Judge. If we reject accountability to Jesus, then we reject Jesus Himself. But if we accept accountability to Him, then He will teach us wisdom and lead us in the way we should go.

Application question for the Week

[Encourage people to provide an answer now, if they are able - to provide an opportunity for accountability and praise reports the following week.]

Is there an area in your life where you live as though you are not accountable to Jesus? What change will you make this week?

REFLECT

Prayer Points for Today

Take a moment to pray together, acknowledging the authority of Christ in our lives and submitting ourselves to it.

FOOTNOTES

Governor Felix

The lawyer [Tertullus] spent almost as much time on his introduction as he did on the specific charges against Paul. His description of Felix was obviously fawning flattery, for Felix was known for his violent use of repressive force and corrupt self-aggrandizement. Felix had been a slave, won his freedom, and curried favor with the imperial court. Tacitus, a Roman historian, bitingly summed up Felix’s character with the terse comment, “He exercised royal power with the mind of a slave.” Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 421.

How Felix knew about Christianity can only be surmised. Probably he heard about it from Drusilla, his wife, who was a daughter of Herod Agrippa I and a sister of Herod Agrippa II. Because she was a Jewess (v. 24) she would know about the Way. Besides this, Felix could scarcely have ruled in Judea for several years without learning something about the faith of the early church. Rather than make a decision which would have been unfavorable to the religious authorities he adjourned the proceedings. He said, When Lysias the commander comes … I will decide your case. Whether Claudius Lysias (cf. 23:25–30) ever came to Caesarea or not was beside the point; the case had been postponed indefinitely. Felix, evidently aware of Paul’s innocence, granted him a limited amount of freedom as a prisoner under the guardianship of the centurion. Later another centurion gave Paul similar freedom in Sidon (27:3). Felix must have taken a brief trip with his wife, Drusilla. When they returned, Felix sent for Paul who spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. Felix was brought under conviction when Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. Well he should, for his marriage to Drusilla was his third and he had to break up another marriage to secure her. His regime was marked by injustices that contrasted with the righteousness of God. And he was a man grossly lacking in self-control. The duplicity and greed of Felix is seen in his desire to be bribed by Paul. To placate the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison even though he knew Paul was innocent. Felix eventually lost his position because he was cruelly intemperate in putting down a Jewish and Gentile conflict in Caesarea. Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 422.

More on Drusilla’s divorce and marriage to Felix.

...when she was still only sixteen, Felix, with the help (it is said) of a Cypriot magician called Atomos, (36) persuaded her to leave her husband and come to be his wife, promising her (with a play on his name) every “felicity” if she did so. 36 It would be farfetched to connect Atomos with Etymas (Hetoimas), the Western reading of the name of Elymas, the Cypriot magician of 13:8. Some manuscripts of Ant. 20.142 have “Simon” in place of “Atomos.” F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 447–448.

The Ethical Implications of Faith in Christ.

Felix and Drusilla, then, sent for Paul and listened as he expounded the Christian faith. But he made it clear that the gospel had ethical implications and, as he talked about these, Felix and Drusilla felt that the interview had taken an uncomfortably personal turn. It was certainly not such an “abstract discussion” as Joseph Klausner supposed; (38) on the contrary, Paul’s distinguished hearers had probably never listened to such pointed and practical teaching in their lives as when he talked to them about “righteousness and self-control and the future judgment”—three subjects about which that couple specially needed to be informed. No wonder that Felix trembled and decided that he had heard enough for the time being. 38 J. Klausner, From Jesus to Paul, E.T. (London, 1944), p. 406. F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 448.