A Tragic Response

Introduction

It was Felix who had come to Paul with desire to hear more about Christ and the Christian faith.

Paul as always was eager to speak with Felix concerning Christ and he did not let the fact that it was Felix who was responsible for his continued imprisonment hinder him from confronting him with the truth.

The message that Paul preached to Felix is the same message that you and I must proclaim today. It is a message that everyone, even our enemies, need to hear and it is a message that cannot be altered or adjusted to suit our present age.

The world still needs to hear the truth and the Spirit will still convict sinners and they will be brought to a point of decision to either receive or reject Jesus Christ.

Notice first of all:

The Message (Vs. 25a)

Paul reasoned with Felix concerning “righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come” This is the message that is required if the sinner is to recognize that he stands in need of a savior.

Let us examine each point in Paul’s stirring sermon to Felix.

Paul began at righteousness most certainly speaking to Felix concerning God’s standard of righteousness. God demands righteousness and He has given us His commandments to show us what righteousness looks like.

The problem our society faces today is no different than that which plagued society in Felix’s day. Every culture and even every individual has their own set of standards and convictions concerning what is right.

We must appeal to the unchanging standard of God’s Word if we desire to know with certainty what is right in God’s sight. It does not matter what men believe to be right or what society believes to be right, only God’s standard is true.

If we are going to be effective in witnessing of Christ, we must be willing to present God’s standard of righteousness as it is found in the scriptures.

We cannot excuse away sin and immorality but we must confront it and boldly proclaim the truth.

From there Paul began to speak to Felix concerning temperance- or self-control. Once the standard of righteousness has been established it is important that we recognize that man has the responsibility to abide by the standards of God’s Word.

James 2:10–11 KJV 1900

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Man does not have the liberty to pick and choose which commands he will obey and which commands he will ignore. If we are to be right with God we must obey in every point.

This obviously is a hopeless situation for we find ourselves wholly incapable of measuring up to God’s standard of righteousness, for we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Felix was know for his corruption and violence and would certainly have recognized that he had also fallen short of God’s standard.

Ultimately this led to Paul’s third point as he spoke with Felix of judgement to come. Maybe Paul said something of the same nature as is written here:

Hebrews 9:27 KJV 1900

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Felix would naturally have wondered what the consequence were for his moral failings and certainly Paul would have explained to him that judgement would surely be meted out and that he would be condemned for his sins.

Maybe he would have states something like as is found in Romans 6:23- the wages of sin is death. Paul would have explained the consequences awaiting a man who is guilty before God.

Undoubtedly Paul would then have pointed him to Christ ‘s death for sins, his burial, and resurrection conquering sin, hell, and the grave and sought to lead him to faith in Christ as savior.

The Message Paul delivered provoked a response in Felix that seemed to be sincere:

Conviction (Vs. 25b)

When a man has the opportunity to hear the truth presented as Felix did, the natural result is conviction. Felix trembled at the thought of what awaited him at the coming judgement because of his sin.

It has been wisely stated “no conviction, no conversion” and this is still true today. We do not bring men and women to Christ solely on the basis of God’s love and mercy, they must recognize that He is just and righteous and that He will not overlook sin.

Conviction is produced when a person can see themselves in the light of God’s Word and recognize that they fall short of God’s standard and that on this basis they are guilty before God and worthy of judgment and condemnation.

Paul did not sugarcoat the gospel even when speaking to the man that could have set him at liberty. We certainly cannot afford to sugarcoat the gospel today. If men are to be saved they must first see themselves a sinner headed worthy of punishment.

Conviction is the result of the proclamation of the truth of the Word of God coupled with the power of the Spirit of God. Conviction is a supernatural working of the Spirit of God in the heart of men.

Felix it seems was under serious conviction but unfortunately the conviction did not bring about his conversion. The fact that a person feels conviction and is sorry for their sins is not enough to save them.

The truth of the gospel will produce conviction in the heart of the hearer but ultimately every individual has a responsibility for his/her:

Response (Vs. 25c)

When a person hears the truth they will be held accountable for their response to the truth. Felix experienced conviction but from every indication we can see in the scriptures he never placed his faith in Christ so he remained unconverted.

Felix, like so many had every opportunity to be saved but it appears that he was unwilling to turn from his sins and turn to Christ in faith.

In Felix’s case we do not find an open opposition to Christ or to the gospel message but simply a delay in responding which ultimately is a rejection.

It is likely that there are scores of people in hell today who intended to respond at some future point in time, who unfortunately never reached that convenient season that Felix speaks of.

We must help others to see the urgency of salvation, not by sheer force , but by sincere reasoning and clear presentation of the truth of the Word of God.

You and I are not responsible for the response of those we witness to, but we should do everything in our power to bring them to faith in Christ urging them to repent and believe the gospel!

If you are awaiting that convenient season today, don’t wait any longer for only God know what tomorrow holds for each of us. What a tragedy to be so very near to faith only to spend eternity separated from God in torment!

Romans 10:8–10 KJV 1900

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

God would have saved Felix in an instant if only he had responded in faith and repentance but because he rejected the offer of salvation so far as we can tell Felix is in hell today.

Conclusion

The greatest need of our generation is for men and women who will, like Paul, boldly and uncompromisingly proclaim the truth.

This world still needs to hear of “righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come” and the truth will produce conviction and bring them to a point of decision to either receive or reject Christ as savior.

May we never compromise the message and may we witness of Christ as God gives us opportunities to do so. May we call our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and family remembers to repent and trust Christ before its too late.