Reasoning righteousness, self-control and the Judgment

Paul never missed an opportunity to share the gospel, preach the gospel, teach the gospel. In our passage tonight we see Paul ceasing the opportunity to talk about righteousness, self-control and the Judgment to come.

Oh we are going to start with the verse from Acts but have a few other places to make a journey to tonight too.

We know that Paul in this chapter has been standing before, making a defense before Felix and we were introduced to his wife Drusilla

Acts 24:24 NASB95

24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

Notice that Drusilla was a Jewess, so she was a Jew marrying a Gentile, so this is an illegitimate marriage. But wait she is also divorced from King Aziz who is still living so both of them are adulterers and that makes it illegitimate too. At this time Druscilla was somewhere between about 16-22 years old, she married Aziz at 14 (which was common for that time).

So they had a tainted illegitimate marriage and Paul is going to discuss, reason with them about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.

(Transition) In Paul’s words recorded in Acts and his teaching in the Epistles we can surmise what Paul could have said to them on these reasoning topics.

So if you have not figured it out, reasoned it out yet, here is what we are looking at tonight, grab your bible and be ready to turn to some passages.

Paul spoke regarding righteousness

Paul spoke regarding self-control

Paul spoke regarding the judgment

Regarding righteousness

There is much that can be said about righteousness. Paul has much to say about it too, about God’s righteousness and our imputed righteousness by God.

Question: Righteousness what does it mean? How would you define it? Now stop and look up the definition and see if your’s and the dictionary match.

Oxford definition: the quality of being morally right or justifiable.

There are subjects that we may broach that may make people uncomfortable and in reality and look how the subjects impacted Felix

Acts 24:25 NASB95

25 But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”

Righteousness’s response (Act24:25; Act2:37)

with Felix righteousness frightened him. And we do not know the words that Paul said to he and Drusilla.

Now look at another response

Acts 2:37 NASB95

37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

So that sets us up to discuss righteousness for a few minutes

God’s righteousness (Rom3:21-26)

Consider this passage and I will go back and we together can pull out some points from it.

Romans 3:21–22 NASB95

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

Well, changed my mind as I was working on this and will pull as we go,

Question: How is God’s righteousness manifested (v.22)?

Through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

Romans 3:23–24 NASB95

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

Question: Why is God’s righteousness needed and how is it received (vv.23-24)?

For we all have sinned and it is a gift by His grace through Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:25–26 NASB95

25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Question: Because of God’s righteousness through Christ Jesus, what did Jesus do through His blood (v.25)?

He was publically displayed as a propitiation.

Question: (v.26) notice the so that? What is the so that about here? What is God demonstrating here?

He is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

So to sum up this section

God’s righteousness can make man right, in right standing with God through Jesus Christ because we have all sinned and fall short.

Jesus offered himself up as the acceptable sacrifice to satisfy God’s justice (wrath) in other words propitiation for God is both just and justifier of he who has faith in Christ Jesus God gives us the grace of righteousness that saves us.

God’s imputed righteousness that becomes our righteousness (Rom3:21-26; Rom6:1-14)

We have looked at Rom3:21-26 and see we are made righteous through the redeeming blood of Jesus, according to God’s righteousness.

May we turn to Rom6 now and look at another passage and glean along the way?

Romans 6:1–2 NASB95

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:3–4 NASB95

3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Question: what is the the so that about in (v.4), what are we to do?

Walk in the newness of life,

Romans 6:4–5 NASB95

4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Question (vv.4-5) how are we united with Christ?

In baptism we are united in His death and in the likeness of His resurrection.

Romans 6:5–6 NASB95

5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

Question: What is the purpose of God’s imputed righteousness (v.6)

That our body of sin might be done away with.

Romans 6:7–8 NASB95

7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Romans 6:9–10 NASB95

9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Question: pay close attention to (v.10)- why did Christ die?

He died “to” sin, He died to take on the sin of the one who believes so that They may live to God through Him.

Romans 6:11 NASB95

11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

So, again summing things up, oh wait, a few more verses first

Romans 6:12–13 NASB95

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Question: How are we to present ourselves to God (v.13)?

As instruments of righteousness.

Romans 6:14 NASB95

14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

OK, now to sum this all up quickly.

We are made righteous in Christ according to God’s righteousness (Rom3:21-26)

We are baptized to die to sin and made alive to walk in newness of life (Rom6:1-4)

We are no longer a slave to sin, so that we might live for Christ (Rom6:5-11)

So don’t let sin reign, be an instrument of righteousness (Rom6:12-14)

(Transition) Again we do not have the recorded words that Paul used with Felix and Druscilla but seems logical that he reasoned about the saving grave of God and the responsibility of living righteously afterwards, to live for God not for self.

What they may have been feeling was guilt as they, she for sure, knew they were disregarding God’s law, you can check out Mal2:14-16 on your own.

Concerning self-control

Self-control is allowing the Spirit to lead us and listening to the Spirits leading, it is part of the fruit of the Spirit (see Gal5:22-23) This world lacks self-control and there is a good chance that Paul reasoned with them about self-control something we can learn and apply too.

Just a reminder Paul never missed an opportunity to preach or teach and he I’m confident was speaking leading them from sinful state (pre-conversion) to a redeemed state (after conversion).

Self-control before conversion

TURN IN YOUR BIBLES TO ROM7 WITH ME

(note) This passage can be pre-conversion or even the struggle for the Christian with the flesh today, when self-control, God given self-control is not applied.

Inability to live righteously (Rom7:14-20; Jn8:34)

Romans 7:14–15 NASB95

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.

Romans 7:16–17 NASB95

16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

Romans 7:18–19 NASB95

18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

Romans 7:20 NASB95

20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Stop and take notice of the pronouns Paul uses “We” for the law was for all, then the “I” and the “me” taking personal responsibility for the inability to live righteously to live without sin, keeping the law perfectly. Making him a slave to sin. Jesus said (below not on the screen, just quote it).

John 8:34 NASB95

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

the law of sin, wages against the law of one’s mind, let me show you

Indebted, enslaved to sin (Rom7:21-24)

Romans 7:21–22 NASB95

21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,

Romans 7:23–24 NASB95

23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

self-control that is saving is not found outside of Christ. In Christ we have the self-control needed if we apply it when we struggle with the flesh.

(Transition) Paul would not leave in a broken state, a separated state, a sinful state, he would share, give hope about a saved state.

Self-control after conversion

Three things to pull from here, to lead to conversion or to be reminded from conversion when we struggle.

A great truth, a great promise (Rom8:1-4)

Romans 8:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 8:3–4 NASB95

3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

In Christ there is no condemnation (v.1)

You are set free from the law of sin and death (v.2)

God did what the law could not in sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (v.3)

So that we walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (v.4)

A great challenge (Rom8:5-8)

Romans 8:5–6 NASB95

5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

Romans 8:7–8 NASB95

7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

What do you see as the challenge in this passage?

TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT IN THE FLESH!

Let me expand using scripture on this point that we are equipped to do it.

Romans 8:11–12 NASB95

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

Romans 8:13–14 NASB95

13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

By the indwelling of the spirit we can put to death the deeds of the flesh.

So, do you think that Paul would have spoken of this to Felix and Druscilla about this? Well now comes another think that needs to be considered too, the coming judgment.

Concerning judgment

While we know the struggles of the flesh, pre-conversion and even after conversion, we need to have the reason why it is important to reason about righteousness and self-control, it is because of the judgment that is forthcoming.

Concerning the day of judgment (Act17:30-31; Rom14:9-12; 2Cor5:10)

I know our time is very limited by now, so let me quickly give this to you.

Acts 17:30 NASB95

30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

Acts 17:31 NASB95

31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Concerning judgment there is a day set for judgment and the times of ignorance about that are done!

God has given all judgment to the Son, and everyone will given an account of himself one day (Rom14:9-12) but let me give you one verse.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NASB95

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

God is righteous, God is just and God is impartial and we can be confident that Paul pointed out those things to Felix and Druscilla regarding man and his sin.

For there is a result to the judgment.

Concerning the results of judgment (2Cor5:11; 2The1:5-9)

2 Corinthians 5:11 NASB95

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

To pierce hearts and minds so men will respond and repent of their sinful ways.

God is going to deal out retribution to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, but I invite you to look at the context of 2The1:5-9 to get the full impact.

Do you think these things could make Felix afraid (Act24:15)?

We cannot put off making a decision, and walking by faith in that decision each and every day, 2 years they heard from Paul, 2 years they did not respond (Act24:26-27)

by faith may we know, reason with the righteousness of God that gave us the fruit of the Spirit self-control because we understand the coming day of judgment when we will give an account and we want to be on the side of Jesus and His righteousness.