24 Some
days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for
Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And
as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became
frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I
will send for you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money
would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very
often and converse with him.
27 After
two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he
wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. (Ac 24:24–27).
Paul was being held in Caesarea to await trial
because of the accusations of the Jews in Jerusalem. He appeared before Felix, the governor who
could not find any fault in Paul but instead of releasing him, held him captive
until Lysias could hear his case. While
Paul was waiting Felix with his Jewish wife, Drusilla met with him to find out
more about what Paul believed. Felix and
his wife had some knowledge of Christianity. Drusilla was the daughter of Herod
Agrippa who was eaten by worms as a judgment for his claim to be god to the
people. Felix had taken her as his wife
in an adulterous relationship. There was
something about Paul that was intriguing that caused Felix and Drusilla to find
out more about the Way that he was somewhat familiar.
Paul
used this opportunity to be a witness to them of the truth that they needed to
hear. He focused on three areas:
Righteousness or Justice; Self Control and the Judgment to come.
These
3 areas are critical for us as believers to understand and be able to express
to people who are not believers. These
three areas deal with the moral conscience of man. God has created man with a sense of right and
wrong. There is a moral code written in
the heart of man and though it is greatly perverted today there is still within
every person a sense of what is right and wrong. People know what they ought to do or what
they should do in given situations regarding moral standards. This moral law is a reflection of the character
of God within man that man cannot escape.
Let's
look at these three important areas.
Righteousness or Justice
The
Romans were known for their system of justice.
Paul was using his Roman citizenship do be able to have his case heard
before the Roman justices. Felix knew
about justice but did not have the courage to acquit Paul of the false
accusations brought against him. Paul
used this opportunity to explain to both Felix and his wife, God's standards of
righteousness and justice.
The
Scriptures clearly teach that God sets the standard of righteousness and from
these standards he bases his judgments and his justice. God is not a man that he should lie. He does not change his standards to please
man. He cannot be bribed to make exceptions. His standards are perfect and they are the
measure by which he will determine right from wrong.
The
world system today is moving quickly in the direction of relativity. Absolute truth has been shunned and those who
preach it are ridiculed by those who claim there are no absolute standards by
which we can judge. But in stating this
they are making a statement that is an absolute truth to them. They have rejected the Word of God as the
standard and replaced it with their own ideas.
Man
left on his own drifts away from the moral code God has placed within him. We read of this happening in the days of Noah
when mankind was so corrupt in their thinking and actions that every thought
and intention of the heart was bent on evil.
The culture had to be destroyed so that a new culture could replace it
through the lineage of Noah who was described as a righteous man and a preacher
of righteousness. The influence of evil
was curtailed but not eliminated and God set aside a group of people from the
lineage of Abraham through which he would bring the promised Messiah. As this family grew into a nation and
multiplied in Egypt during their captivity, God raised up Moses to bring the
nation out of Egypt to the Promised Land.
They were a chosen nation who were called out to become a holy nation, a
nation separated from the other nations of the earth that had drifted away from
the knowledge of God and were steeped in worshiping other gods. In order to preserve the nation of Israel God
has to institute his laws which defined the moral code that was in opposition to
the practices of the other nations. God's
moral code was written in the laws Moses gave to the people that God revealed
to him while on Mount Sinai. These laws
reflect the character of God and portray his holiness that he wanted his people
to emulate. They were commandments not
suggestions and they are as valid today as they were when they were given.
Felix
and his wife were very familiar with these laws yet were living in violation of
them through their adulterous affair.
They
must have felt some guilt listening to Paul's explanation yet it was not to the
point of bringing them to repentance and faith in Jesus.
The
righteousness of God is not attainable for man.
It is impossible for man to make himself righteous according to the
standards God has determined. The righteousness that we receive is only through
Christ who became our righteousness.
When we give our lives to him his righteousness is given to us. God looks at us through Christ who became sin
for us and through his death, died for us.
Though we are forgiven we are not perfect yet God sees us clothed in the
righteousness of Christ. Without his
righteousness we are condemned to eternal separation because of our failure to
keep God's laws. God's laws were
designed to lead us to Christ and receive his gift of righteousness. The question we must ask is why do people not
accept what God has done for us in Christ?
If they know they are imperfect and that God is holy why do they not
believe in Christ and accept what he has done to make us in right standing with
God? R. C. Sproul has stated that the reason God's
standards are rejected is because people do not want to be subjected to
God. They do not like God nor the absolute
standards he has established and consequently they choose to reject him. They want to do what they want to do rather
than what God has commanded of all mankind. We are witnessing today a great
change in social mores that reflect man’s rebellion against the holiness of
God. Jesus predicted that there would be
a digression in the last days that would parallel what happened in the days of
Noah before the flood.
Self-Control
The
second area that Paul addressed with Felix was self-control. This ability is needed to be able to be
obedient to what is known to be true or right.
Felix and his wife did not possess self-control as witnessed by their
illicit relationship. They followed
after their fleshly desires. Their
failure is common to all of us. We know
what to do but choose to do otherwise.
We are all guilty of not having self-control over many areas of our
lives. It is not just the addicts who
exhibit this, we all do in different areas of our lives. The body is a great servant but a horrible
master when we give in to its demands.
Our minds can become polluted with thoughts and ideas that would put us
in prison if they were acted upon. Our
lack of self-control should cause us to cry out to God for help! Our greatest enemy at times is not the devil
or other people it is our own thoughts that are influenced by many
sources. Self-control is the fruit of the
Holy Spirit working in us. He can change
our thoughts and provide us the ability to exhibit self-control as we learn to
yield to him and allow him to control our lives. Our human will can bring our actions under
control to a degree but our thought life can still be disastrous. Though we may refrain from taking action our
inner compulsion will be toward doing the opposite. People under the control of the world today
want freedom to do whatever they want to do.
This is not freedom, it is anarchy against God. Man does not want controls in certain areas
of his life. He wants complete freedom
so that self-control is not needed. This
leads to addictive behavior and self-control is nonexistent as the habit
controls the person and leads them into bondage. It is a ploy of the devil to offer freedom
which leads to captivity and bondage.
It is
only through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we will truly gain self-control.
7 for God did not
give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control,
(2 Tim. 1.7)
It is
the hope we can offer to mankind who is trapped in the flesh. The Holy Spirit can give us true freedom and
control over the flesh and the thoughts that are in opposition to God's
standards of righteousness.
The Judgment to Come
The
final area Paul addressed was the judgment to come. This is what I believe caused Felix to
tremble and say that the conversation needed to end, that is was enough. If
there is no judgment then justice cannot truly be served. Laws that are not enforced and given
consequences for their violation lose all power to control people lives and
protect them from violators.
The
Scriptures give us an important understanding of God's judgment.
John
3.17
17 For
God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world
might be saved through him.
Judgment
and wrath are alien to the nature and purpose of God. God delights to administer mercy and
salvation, but He is reluctant to administer wrath and judgment.
9 The
Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing
toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach
repentance.
(2 Pe
3:9–10).
God
has the sovereign right to be our judge. 1 Peter 1.17 but he has chosen to commit all judgment to
the Son.
John
5.22,23
22 The
Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that
all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the
Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
26 For
as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life
in himself, 27 and has given him authority to execute judgment,
because he is the Son of man.
Jesus
has been given the honor of being the judge so that all men will show equal honor
to him as they would the Father. Jesus as the Son of Man as well as the Son of
God, he is both human and divine and in his judgment he is able to make
allowances for all the infirmities and weaknesses of the human flesh. Yet Christ is also unwilling to administer
judgment and has transferred final authority of judgment to the Word of God.
47 If
any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did
not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who
rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have
spoken will be his judge on the last day. (Jn 12:47–48).
Derek Prince in his book "Eternal Judgment" describes God's judgments of the believer and nonbeliever.
There are 4 main principles of God's judgment found in
Romans 2.
First, God's judgment is based on truth.
1 Therefore you have no
excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another; for in passing judgment
upon him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same
things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon
those who do such things. (Ro 2:1–2).
God's
standards for judging do not change.
They are always based on the truth and his word is truth (John 17.17)
This
revealed standard of God’s truth applies just as much to the one who judges as
to the one who is judged.
Secondly, God’s judgment is "according to his works”.
6 For
he will render to every man according to his works: (Ro 2:6).
17 And
if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his
deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. (1 Pe 1:17–18).
12 And
I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were
opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead
were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. (Re 20:12)
We
must be careful not to limit the meaning of the word "deeds or works”
merely to external actions, such as can be observed by other human beings. The
whole Bible makes it plain that God, in His judgment of man, takes into account
not merely external actions, but also the deepest and most secret thoughts,
impulses and motives of the heart.
5 Therefore
do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will
bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes
of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God. (1 Co 4:5)
12 For
the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and
discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And
before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of
him with whom we have to do. (Heb 4:12–13)
The third principle of God’s judgment is stated in Romans
chapter 2, verse 11:
11 For God shows no partiality.
God's
judgment is not compromised by any external or relational factors. He is completely unbiased in his judgments. He cannot be bribed, manipulated, coerced or
forced to do anything. Everyone will be treated the same and judged by God’s
righteous standards.
The fourth principle of God's judgment is that each person
will be judged according to the measure of moral light and understanding made
available to him.
12 All who have sinned without
the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law
will be judged by the law (Ro 2:12).
Those
outside of the law will be judged in accordance with the general revelation of
God through creation.
20 Ever
since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power
and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So
they are without excuse; (Ro 1:20–21).
Those
who have greater revelation of God through his word and through the preaching
of the gospel will be held to a different standard because they have been given
more light.
Three Judgments
There
will be three different judgment given.
Each of these judgments will carried out in three different scenes and
the Judge will sit on three different seats.
The first will be "the judgment seat
of Christ" in which the true followers of Christ will be judged.
The second scene, the seat of judgment is
called "the throne of Christ's glory". Here the Gentiles remaining on the earth at
the close of the great tribulation, prior to the setting up of Christ's millennial
kingdom upon the earth.
The third scene the seat of judgment is
called "a Great White Throne."
Those to be judged here will be all the remaining dead who will be
resurrected at the close of the millennium.
The Judgment seat of Christ
17 For
the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it
begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of
God? 18 And“If the righteous man is scarcely saved, where will
the impious and sinner appear? (1 Pe 4:17–18).
10 For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may
receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. (2 Co 5:10).
True
believers in Christ will be judged individually not as to whether they will be
saved or condemned but to determine the rewards they will receive for their
works.
Every act performed by a
Christian while here on earth must fall into one or other of two
categories—either "good”, or "bad”. There is no third category, no
neutrality. Every act of a Christian has definite value of some kind—either
positive, or negative. Every act that is not performed in faith and obedience,
for the glory of God, is unacceptable to God, and therefore "bad”. It is
upon this simple basis, clearly revealed, that, as Christians, each one of us
must expect to be judged. In speaking of the place which Christ will occupy
while judging Christians, Paul uses the phrase, "the judgment seat of
Christ”. The Greek word here translated "judgment seat” is "bema”.
This word suggests a raised platform, used for public address. In other
passages of the New Testament, it denotes the place of judgment used by the
Roman Emperor, or by one of his deputies, to hear and pronounce judgment on
cases brought before them.
Since our sins have been blotted out and God has no record of
them, we will not be judged for condemnation but we will be judged for rewards.
Our works will be tested to determine their value.
11 For
no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. 12 Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each man’s work
will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed
with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If
the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a
reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss,
though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Co 3:11–15).
Only that
which is of true and enduring value will survive, purified and refined by fire.
As we consider this scene of judgment, we may well ask ourselves each one, as
Christians: How may I serve Christ in this life, so that my works will stand
the test of fire in that day? There are three points concerning which each one
of us should examine ourselves. These three points are: 1.Motive; 2.Obedience;
3.Power.
First, we
should examine our own motives. Do we do what we do to please ourselves, for
our own satisfaction and glory? Or do we sincerely seek to glorify Christ and
to do His will?
Second, we
should examine ourselves on the point of obedience. Are we seeking to serve
Christ according to the principles and the methods revealed in the Word of God?
Or are we fashioning our own forms of worship and service, and then attaching
to them the name of Christ and the titles and phrases of New Testament religion?
Third, we should
examine ourselves in respect of power. In First Corinthians chapter 4, verse
20, Paul reminds us:
20 For the kingdom of God does not consist
in talk but in power.
Are we
seeking to serve God in the inadequacy of our own carnal will and strength? Or
have we been renewed and empowered by the Holy Spirit, so that we can say like
Paul, in Colossians chapter 1, verse 29:
29 For this I toil, striving with all the
energy which he mightily inspires within me.
The Throne of Christ's Glory
This will be the judgment
of the Gentiles at the close of the great tribulation.
31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before
him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from
another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and
he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. (Mt
25:31–33).
"nations"
refers to members of all nations except Israel.
The passage
states merely that all the members of the Gentile nations—in other words, all
Gentiles —will here be gathered before Christ for judgment. All these will be
here be judged, not in groups as nations, but each one individually. This is in
line with the principle which we have already established—that in every
instance the eternal judgments of God concern individuals, not racial groups.
Each individual will be required to answer solely for his own life and conduct.
Now the
scripture clearly specifies that the judgment which we are now considering,
before the throne of Christ’s glory, will be for Gentiles only. There will be no Jews, and no true
Christians. This fact agrees with the general revelation of scripture
concerning the close of this present age. There will be no true Christians at
this judgment, because all these will already have been raptured and will have
entered into their reward, before this judgment ever takes place. There will be
no Jews present at this judgment, because by this time Israel, as a nation,
will already have passed through her own special judgment, and all Jews who
survive this special judgment, will have been reconciled to God through the
acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah.
The Great White Throne
11 Then I saw a great white
throne and him who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and
no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and
small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was
opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written
in the books, by what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the
dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by
what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into
the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; 15 and
if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into
the lake of fire (Re 20:11–15).
At the
close of this period of one thousand years of Christ's reign, Satan will make
one final attempt to organize the Gentile nations in rebellion against Christ
and His kingdom, but this rebellion will be brought to naught by the direct
intervention of God. At this time Satan himself will at last be banished
forever from earth and will be cast into the lake of fire, to join the
anti-Christ and the false prophet, who will already be there. With this defeat
of Satan’s last rebellion, all the rebellious amongst those living at that time
upon earth will be purged out; and it will then remain to judge the dead of all
previous ages. For this purpose, all the dead, who have not previously been
resurrected, will at this time be called forth for judgment. In this way the
scene will be set for the third and final phase of God’s eternal judgment.
Here is the
ultimate end of all sin and rebellion against the authority and the holiness of
almighty God: it is to be cast for ever into the lake of everlasting fire. Only
those may escape this final judgment whose names are written in the book of
life. The names recorded in this book of life are the names of those who have
accepted the grace and mercy of God made available to man solely through faith
in the atoning death of Jesus Christ. All those believers who lived in the ages
before the cross looked forward by faith to that atonement. All those believers
who have lived since the cross have looked back by faith to the same atonement.
The only place of reconciliation between God and a sinful world is the cross of
Jesus Christ. Apart from the cross, there is no other way of reconciliation to
God. All those who have not come to God in faith through the cross of Christ
can have no other claim upon God’s mercy and forgiveness. They must therefore
be judged according to their own works, and on the basis of these works be
rejected forever from the presence of God. At the close of this final judgment
will be fulfilled the eternal purpose of God, through Christ, as revealed in
Colossians chapter 1, verses 19 and 20.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was
pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself
all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his
cross.
These verses
reveal that it is the final purpose of God to reconcile to Himself by the blood
of Christ all things in heaven and in earth. However, this reconciliation does
not extend beyond the confines of heaven and earth. It does not concern those
who have been consigned to outer darkness and the lake of fire. By the close of
this final judgment, all those who have accepted by faith the propitiatory
blood of Christ’s cross, will be eternally reconciled to God. Conversely, all
those who have not been reconciled in this way will be eternally rejected. Cast
out from heaven and earth they must take their place in the lake of fire.
Paul in his
conversations with Felix and Priscilla may not have had all the revelation
regarding the Judgments to come but whatever he revealed to him was enough to
make him tremble. Felix was troubled but not transformed. He was more concerned about getting money
from Paul than the eternal state of his soul.
He trembled but he did not bow and he will one day stand before God to
give an account of his life.
Rejecting Christ is a
serious matter and those who do need to know the consequences of their
decisions. God does not delight in
executing justice, his desire is that all will come to the knowledge of Christ
and be reconciled to him. He allows
mankind free will to make it their choice and if they reject him in this life
they will not want to be with him in the next life. God does not force anyone to go to heaven.
In our witness to the lost, we do them no favor if we do not
explain to them God’s righteousness and justice, man’s lack of self-control
that leads him into sin and the judgment that God will render to every
individual. Paul found it to be very important in his conversation with Felix because it addressed serious issues that were holding him back from gaining eternal life. The same can be said for the majority of people today who have not accepted their condition nor understood God's provision for them.
