Are You Afraid of the Gospel?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week, we saw that the Apostle Paul was caught in a frenzy. The crowd, believing that Paul was against them and blaspheming their way of life, seized Paul and beat him. He was rescued by the Roman guard and has been on trial ever since.
In chapter 24, we pick up 12 days later, and the Apostle Paul is continuing to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, even as a prisoner in the Roman legal system.
I. A Courtroom Battle
I. A Courtroom Battle
Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.
Here we find three characters
Ananias, Tertullus, Paul
Ananias, Tertullus, Paul
Ananias the High Priest
So far in Acts we’ve seen three men named Ananias. In Acts 5, we saw the Ananias that lied about the land that he sold. What he did was attempt to take the credit for something that he did not do, and in doin so, he lied to the Holy Spirit. Because of that, we saw the Ananias of Acts 5, along with his wife, fall dead at the feet of the Apostles.
Then, in Acts 9, we see a second Ananias that was there to help the Apostle Paul after Paul’s conversion to Christianity. The Ananias of Acts 9 was contacted by Jesus Christ in a vision, and was instructed to go and find the newly converted Paul and receive him into the faith. He was the one who baptised Paul.
Now, we are here in Acts 24, and we see a third Ananias, the high priest, who is Paul’s primary accuser. This man was we see in Acts 24 was known for his cruelty and harshness, and that is so ironic because the name Ananias means “Yahweh has been gracious.” In Acts 23:1-2, we meet him and we find that he struck the Apostle Paul on the mouth as soon as Paul begins to defend himself. Paul readily points out that this kind of behavior was against the law of God, the very same law that Ananias the high priest claims to enforce.
Ananias the high priest has now continued to accuse Paul, coming before governor Felix in Caesarea with the elders to continue the prosecution of Paul.
Tertullus (ter-two-lus)
Just like our legal system is complex, the Roman legal system was complex. So when the Bible says that they brought “a certain orator”, it means that they hired a Roman lawyer to be the leading prosecutor in this legal case against the Apostle Paul.
We’ll see in a moment that Tertullus was a very crafty lawyer and did well in making it seem like the Apostle Paul was nothing but a trouble maker.
The Apostle Paul
This is a man who doesn’t need any introduction, but the point of this text is that Paul was fierce preacher of the gospel, and there was nothing that was going to discourage him from sharing the hope of Christ.
Not personal suffering, not intimidation, not even chains would prevent Paul from sharing the gospel of Christ.
And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight,
we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
Now let’s introduce the man name Felix.
Felix and Drusilla
Felix and Drusilla
Felix grew up as a slave, but was appointed as governor when his friends came to power. He was described in history as “cruel, licentious, and base (morally low).” More specifically, the historian Tacticus wrote that he was, “a master of cruelty and lust, who exercised the power of a king with the spirit of a slave.”
He was married to a woman named Drusilla. An equally vile woman who was seduced into power, leaving her husband to marry Felix.
History also tells us that Felix was not good at his job. He was more concerned with pleasure than he was with working, and as a result, insurrections and violence reigned under his rule.
He was the governor of Palestine, and because of his immense cruelty and lack of care for the people and work, anarchy was a common thing under his rule.
This is primarily why Tertullus began with flattery, to make Felix feel proud. It is also why he, in v. 4-9, will twist the truth to make Paul seem like an insurrectionist. He wanted to make Paul seem like a trouble maker in a way that would be frustrating to Felix.
The Roman government mostly allowed governors to rule their regions autonomously. This means that the central government of Rome only got involved if things got way out of hand. This also means that governors who feel threatened by people causing insurrections are less that gracious when they are dealing with them.
Tertullus wanted Felix to react as if Paul was going to cause the Roman government to come knocking on Felix’s door.
For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.
Pay close attention to v. 5
Tertullus Lies
Tertullus Lies
Under Roman law, it was illegal to begin a new religion without the approval of the Roman government. By Tertullus saying, “[Paul is] a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes”, he was attempting to frame Paul for beginning a new religion. Paul will eventually defend his case, but the reality was that during this period in history, Rome saw Judaism and Christianity as part of the same religion. For Paul to preach Christ was not something new in the eyes of the Roman government, but it was something that we could consider to be a different denomination, not a different religion.
But, just like a corrupt lawyer would do, Tertullus was attempting to bring a charge against Paul that would result in a crime, even though no crime has been committed.
Then in v. 6, Tertullus drove the point further by accusing Paul of separating himself from the Jewish people by profaning the temple…another lie since Paul was there to observe a Jewish vow, and went through the process of purification before he entered.
But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,
commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”
Normal process for the Jews living under Roman rule was that they handled religious and legal matters amongst themselves.
At this point in the narrative, Tertullus is probably concerned that Felix is wondering why this Jewish squabble was brought to him instead of being dealt with by the Jewish authorities.
Rome allowed the Jewish people to practice their own discipline because they didn’t care one way or the other what happened, so long as the Jews didn’t incite riots or cause insurrections. So, the lawyer puts the blame on the Roman commander Lysias for getting involved in Jewish matters. This is his explanation of how they ended up before Felix today.
v. 9 simply tells us that the elders affirmed everything that Tertullus accuses Paul of doing.
Paul’s Defense
Paul’s Defense
Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,
because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
It has been said that Paul had the equivalent of 3 Ph.Ds in religion and in the Scriptures. Whether or not that’s true, the point is that he was very intelligent and capable of defending himself, which he begins here in v. 10.
Notice that Paul doesn’t begin with false flattery, but he states a simple fact, that Felix is a judge of the nation and that he is happy to be able to answer for himself in his presence.
In v. 11-13, Paul makes his case that he was there in the temple to worship and not to cause a riot. He then pointedly says that they cannot prove their case against him, asking that all this be dismissed.
But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
Paul quickly turns this accusation of beginning a new religion into an opportunity to share the gospel.
When it comes to personal evangelism, when it comes to preaching and teaching God’s word, there is always an avenue to get there. There is always a way to connect the dots so that the hearers understand. Paul does this here, using the accusations that the Jews are bringing against him as an opportunity to share the truth of Jesus Christ.
So the, Paul doesn’t let the opportunity to present the meaningful truth to Felix get away from him like we do so often. What Paul does is he identifies himself with the Jewish people, stating, “I worship the God of my father and believe in the law and prophets (v. 14).” Then he says, “I have a hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both the just and unjust (v. 15).”
He says these things to make Felix understand that he has not formed a new religion, but that he finally understands the religion that he practiced for so many years. We talk a great deal about honoring Jesus Christ in order to honor the Father. That’s all Paul is saying… “I was was lost but now I am found. I once was blind, but now I see.”
Paul, in his case, when he was converted was actually made to be blind by Jesus, but Tertullus, Ananias, Felix, and those elders there were also blind, they were just spiritually blind.
There are many people in churches today, all across these United States, all across the world, practicing things that they are supposed to practice in order to bring honor to God.
However, Paul’s point is that he also believed that he was honoring God by upholding the Jewish law…but it wasn’t until he met Jesus Christ that his eyes were opened to why he was doing what he was doing.
That may be your case today. You’re at church…you’re listening to God’s word…you sang praises to God…and you might even pray…
But friend, it’s very possible today that you are simply practicing religion and are blind to the truth of Jesus Christ. You are blind to His saving power. You are blind to His marvelous grace.
In fact, you come to church, read the Scripture, sing the songs, all out of sheer obligation to some religious expectation, much like the Apostle Paul did before he met the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am asking you today, just as the Apostle Paul asked so many people to do, and that is to examine yourself, and ask yourself if you are religious and following the customs of your fathers, or if you are personally connected with the person of Jesus.
Religion cannot save you, only the blood of Jesus, shed on calvary, can wash you from your sins.
Paul tells Felix, “Governor Felix, I have not started a new religion, I just finally understand the religion that I practiced all these years. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, this man named Jesus Christ is my hope in Heaven, the one Who was raised from the dead.”
“Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,
in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult.
They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.
Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council,
unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”
This was their issue with Paul. Not that he was in the temple, but that he was boldly declaring the truth that Jesus Christ is our only hope for salvation. That only by faith in Jesus Christ, His blood poured out on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead can we be saved and enter into Heaven’s gates.
So, there’s this courtroom battle…Tertullus, Ananias, and those elders are there to falsely accuse Paul. Next, because Paul shares the hope of Jesus Christ, we not only see a courtroom battle, but we see an internal battle
II. An Internal Battle
II. An Internal Battle
But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.”
So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.
Paul has explained to Felix the truth about Jesus Christ.
When Scripture says, “Felix now has a more accurate knowledge of the Way”, it is referring to Jesus Christ and referencing what Jesus taught His disciples.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Felix is interested in the gospel message like so many people are.
Thursday night we were able to host the football banquet for our youth league. One of the many things I love about hosting community events on our campus is the ability to share the gospel with many unbelievers.
It’s a wonder, but when you begin to talk about the cross of Jesus Christ…when you begin to talk about the Way, the Truth, and the Life…it’s almost as if people are listening so attentively to try and understand exactly what they are being told.
But, what I love to see, as I look around during the time I am presenting the gospel message, something I have experienced in this auditorium time and time again, is the eyes of the people fixated on me as the messenger of God’s truth.
When I see their eyes fixated on me, I know that the Holy Spirit of God is working in their hearts, pleading with them to open their hearts to an understanding of the Way Whose name is Jesus Christ.
Then again, even those who are looking away, I understand the same thing is happening…that God, in that very moment is pleading with them to accept the truth that Jesus Christ is the salvation of man.
This is exactly what is happening the Felix
When he adjourned the case, he was really asking for more time to understand and to consider what Paul had just shared. For, “having a more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings.”
He then does something else intriguing, he places Paul on something that we can relate to as probation or house arrest. He doesn’t throw Paul in a prison cell but allows him to move about freely and allowed people to come visit with him.
And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
Paul’s Sermon
Paul’s Sermon
A few days later, Felix and Drusilla call on Paul to hear him speak one more time about the resurrection and the salvation of Jesus Christ.
In v. 25, we see Paul’s three sermon points that he delivered to Felix and Drusilla that day.
Righteousness
Righteousness
First, it say that Paul reasoned about righteousness.
This is a sermon point that is the basis of motivation to proclaim the gospel. It is the starting place of every sermon preached and every gospel presentation given to unbelievers.
What is righteousness?
Righteousness means to be in right standing with God
Why must we begin there?
Because all men everywhere need to first understand that they are not in right standing with God.
[We were] by nature children of wrath
Paul wrote this to the church at Ephesus, reminding them that at one point we were all by nature children of wrath.
The expression “children of wrath” literally means “angry children.” That is that all men from birth are enemies of God and that we burn with anger toward the things of God.
Paul emphasizes this in Colossians 1:21
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
That is, that we were all children of wrath, unrighteous, out of good standing with God, and because of Jesus Christ, we can now be made righteous through His salvation.
But man’s problem is that we believe that we are righteous.
As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
So, as Paul begins to teach Felix about Jesus Christ, as he presents the gospel, he begins with the reality that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard of perfection.
this brings us to Paul’s second point self-control.
Self-Control
Self-Control
Many believe that they can be self-controlled enough to enter Heaven. However, the major flaw in their thinking is that in order to go to Heaven, we must have perfect self-control.
We cannot be in control of our lusts or our sin when we do not have the salvation of Jesus. In fact, it goes back to that blindness that we addressed.
The Christian may sin, but when they do there is a disgust that follows. There is a lamenting that takes place within the spirit of the Christian man or woman.
When the unbeliever sins, it’s just business as usual. They don’t feel any need for forgiveness from God because they don’t know God.
They might feel guilt, they might feel shame…but they will not bow their knees before God and confess their need for forgiveness, and they certainly will not confess Jesus as their Lord.
Why?
Because they believe that have it all under control.
They believe that they can control themselves. They believe that they can be the judge of what is right versus wrong. They believe that they understand when they’ve taken thing too far!
But friend, this is what Scripture says about the feelings of man concerning their own self-control and their own goodness.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked
The reason that Paul addresses self-control is because under the weight of sin, all men are helpless in that area…we cannot control ourselves, we are hopelessly prone to sin.
And since we are hopelessly prone to sin, we will all fail to be totally righteous before God.
And since all men will always fail to be totally righteous before God, we will incur judgement at the end of times.
Paul’s third point.
The Judgement to Come
The Judgement to Come
Very plainly, the Bible says that God will judge the living and the dead.
Paul explains to Felix that God is going to judge all men at the end of time, and if they die without faith in Jesus Christ, without believing that He was sinless, that He was crucified for sin, and that He was resurrected from the dead, their judgement would be a judgment of condemnation.
“He who believes in [Jesus} is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
So, when the man who has never believed in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins stands before God, the Bible says that their condemnation is against their sin and that their punishment is Hell.
On the contrary,
This is what Scripture says about all people who believe in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
What exactly happens when you put your faith in Jesus?
You become righteous. That means that you are now right with God and there is no violation of His law. The reason for that is because Jesus paid your penalty for sin on the cross, and if you accept that you have sinned and then believe that Jesus paid for that sin, then you are now made righteous, your sins forgiven.
You gain access to self-control. Jesus imparts the Holy Spirit of God into you, and you can now live according to the Spirit of God instead of the spirit of sinful man.
When you sin, you know it. When you fall, you feel it. When God speaks, you receive it.
Romans 8:1 said it clearly.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
You are free from the judgement of God, and you will be welcomed into heaven as a son or daughter of God instead of cast into Hell as a child of wrath.
v. 25 told us that Felix was afraid.
Why was he afraid?
He was afraid that he was going to lose his status, his power, and his will. He was afraid to admit that he was a hopeless sinner in need of a savior…so he sent Paul away.
III. An Eternal Outcome
III. An Eternal Outcome
Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.
But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
v. 26-27 shows us one final thing. That Felix, sending Paul away, didn’t receive the gospel but merely saw the message that Paul preached as an interesting story.
Perhaps there are some of you who have lived your whole life thinking of the Bible as an interesting story instead of the message of salvation concerning sin.
You think you’re righteous…God says in Romans 3:10
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
You think you’re in control…God says in Job 38:4
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
You think that you can handle God’s final judgement of you without the blood of Jesus to cover your sin. God says in Matthew 13:42
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Will you hear me today, repent from sin and trust Jesus, enter heaven as a righteous man? Or will you die in your sins, and be cast into the lake of fire where the wrath of Almighty God will poured out for all eternity?
Don’t be like Felix…don’t send the Holy Spirit away this morning, understand that what I have told you is the truth and that you need forgiveness of sin today.
