0424 RIGHTEOUSNESS SELF CONTROL AND JUDGMENT

RIGHTEOUSNESS, SELF-CONTROL AND THE COMING DAY OF JUDGMENT 

What would you say are the essential marks of the faith? I mean, what behavior or what attitude is vital to being in a relationship with God? More particularly, if you were speaking with a Jewish person about the gospel, what three topics would you speak about? Even more, what if that person was a government official? An official who was also your prison warden, and who had the power to set you free or to condemn you? Faith, hope and love? Grace, the cross, and the resurrection? Fulfilled prophecies, miraculous signs, and personal healing?

What I’m thinking is if I were before someone who had authority over my life, and that person were to ask me to defend myself, I would be talking about positive aspects of the Good News about Jesus. Things that would make the person think well of me, want to set me free, see that the other guys are the bad people in this series of events.

But that is not the conviction and practice of Paul. He truly demonstrates that his agenda is not his own safety or reputation, that he deeply cares for the eternal life of the person he is talking with, and that he knows human nature. He also shows at every step how he is coming closer to reaching Caesar himself with the good news of Jesus, just as had been prophesied earlier.

Here’s what Luke records about Paul’s conversation with Felix and governor and his wife:

“they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.”

It seems counter-intuitive, to be sure. Yet if we reflect on it, maybe we’ll see why It makes sense to talk about these three things: righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment.

Righteousness. A Jewess is going to understand about the quest for righteousness. God requires everyone to be righteous, to do what is right, and to be in good standing with God. Righteousness is not achievable through keeping the Law, you know. Righteousness is granted to us by faith in Jesus Christ, the righteous judge.

Self-control. This is the second central topic of Paul’s explanation of the scriptures. When Paul wrote to Titus, he told the young evangelist to teach each of the groups of adults in the church: Older men, Older women, Younger women and Young men. Do you know the one thing that is in common for all four of those groups Titus was ministering to? Self-control? That’s right! How did you know that? Self-control is the art of saying no to the tempter and of guarding our language and thoughts. Self-control is the spiritual weapon we hold. Wisdom from above teaches us self-control. Without it, we will not see God.

The coming day of judgment. This is a central part of the gospel. It is not just a self-improvement course, after all. It is about salvation. Salvation of our souls from eternal condemnation. The coming day when all of us will be rewarded for what we have done while in the body. The day when Jesus reveals his lordship over the universe, and he sits in judgment of all souls. Some he will set on his right, and some on his left. He will then say to those on his right, “Enter the joy of your master.” But to those on his left he will say, “Depart from me! I never knew you.”

So, when I think about it further, it seems that those three words become essential parts of the good news about Jesus. Well done, Paul.

Notice the reaction of Felix: Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.”

Why would he be frightened? After talking about those three topics, I would think that it would generate a genuine fear in me. Yet, the procrastination of Felix is clear: He tells Paul to go away for now, and when it is more convenient, he will call for him again. It’s the response that many of us give: “That’s sobering. I need to do something. But not now. Let’s talk later.”

May we all hear, repent and believe the good news on the only day that we have: today! Amen.