Righteousness, Temperance, and the Call to Transformation

 

Summary

In the passage from Acts 24, we encounter a dramatic scene involving three key figures: Felix, the Roman governor; Drusilla, his wife; and the Apostle Paul. Felix and Drusilla represent the world, with their positions of power and their lives marked by moral compromise. Paul, on the other hand, stands as the embodiment of the Christian message, addressing them with boldness and truth. Despite being a prisoner, Paul takes charge of the situation, reasoning with them about righteousness, temperance, and the judgment to come. His message is not one of entertainment or mere storytelling but a call to deep reflection and personal accountability.

Paul's discourse on righteousness highlights the nature of God as just and holy, and the expectation that humanity, made in God's image, should live uprightly. He emphasizes that righteousness is not just a lofty ideal but a practical reality, as outlined in the Ten Commandments. Temperance, or self-control, is presented as the practical application of righteousness, challenging individuals to live disciplined lives, not governed by mere instincts and desires. Finally, Paul speaks of the judgment to come, a theme often neglected in modern discourse, reminding us of our accountability before God.

The message of the Christian faith, as Paul presents it, is not a political or social protest but a call to personal transformation through faith in Christ. It is a message of hope, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. Despite the compelling nature of Paul's message, Felix and Drusilla reject it, illustrating the tragic reality of human resistance to the gospel. Their story serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to consider our own response to the message of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- Righteousness and God's Nature: Righteousness is central to understanding God's nature and our relationship with Him. It is not merely a concept but a call to live in alignment with God's holiness, as reflected in the Ten Commandments. This righteousness is foundational to our identity and purpose as beings created in God's image. [21:00]

- Temperance as Practical Righteousness: Temperance, or self-control, is the practical outworking of righteousness. It challenges us to apply the principles of righteousness in our daily lives, governing our instincts and desires with reason and discipline. This distinction between principle and practice is crucial for genuine Christian living. [26:14]

- Judgment to Come: The reality of judgment is a sobering reminder of our accountability before God. It underscores the importance of living with an eternal perspective, recognizing that our actions have consequences beyond this life. This theme calls us to live with integrity and purpose, mindful of our ultimate destiny. [34:11]

- The Gospel's Offer of Salvation: The gospel offers hope and salvation through faith in Christ. It is not about self-improvement or moral effort but about acknowledging our need for forgiveness and embracing the grace offered through Jesus. This message of redemption is central to the Christian faith and our relationship with God. [37:50]

- The Tragedy of Rejection: The story of Felix and Drusilla illustrates the tragedy of rejecting the gospel. Despite hearing the truth, they choose to ignore it, prioritizing temporal pleasures over eternal realities. This serves as a warning to us, highlighting the importance of responding to God's call with humility and faith. [40:07]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Acts 24
- [01:36] - The Drama Unfolds
- [04:11] - Felix: The Roman Governor
- [07:55] - Drusilla: The Ambitious Wife
- [11:03] - Paul: The Apostle on Trial
- [12:45] - Relevance to Today
- [14:06] - The Church's Message
- [17:02] - The Power of Personal Conviction
- [18:41] - The Christian Message
- [21:00] - Righteousness Explained
- [25:01] - Temperance and Self-Control
- [34:11] - Judgment to Come
- [37:50] - Faith in Christ
- [40:07] - The Rejection of the Gospel
- [49:11] - Lessons from Felix and Drusilla

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 24:24-27
- Romans 3:23-24
- Matthew 5:21-22

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Observation Questions:

1. What were the main topics Paul discussed with Felix and Drusilla, and how did Felix react to Paul's message? ([00:48])

2. How does the sermon describe the character and background of Felix and Drusilla? ([04:28])

3. What does the sermon say about the nature of righteousness and how it relates to God's character? ([21:13])

4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of temperance in the Christian life? ([26:14])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon illustrate the difference between righteousness as a principle and temperance as its practical application? ([26:14])

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the message of the Christian faith is not a political or social protest? ([19:10])

3. How does the sermon explain the concept of judgment to come, and why is it important for Christians to consider? ([34:11])

4. What reasons does the sermon give for why people, like Felix and Drusilla, might reject the gospel message? ([41:22])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your understanding of righteousness. How can you align your daily actions more closely with the principles outlined in the Ten Commandments? ([23:11])

2. Consider a situation in your life where self-control is challenging. What practical steps can you take to exercise temperance in that area? ([26:14])

3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of living with an eternal perspective. How can you remind yourself of this perspective in your daily decisions? ([34:11])

4. Have you ever found yourself resisting a message or truth that you knew was right? What can you do to be more open to God's guidance in the future? ([45:22])

5. The sermon describes the tragedy of rejecting the gospel. How can you ensure that you are responding to God's call with humility and faith? ([40:07])

6. Identify one area in your life where you might be prioritizing temporal pleasures over eternal realities. What changes can you make to shift your focus? ([48:36])

7. How can you share the message of hope and salvation through faith in Christ with someone in your life who may be resistant to it? ([37:50])

Devotional

Day 1: Righteousness Reflects God's Holiness
Righteousness is central to understanding God's nature and our relationship with Him. It is not merely a concept but a call to live in alignment with God's holiness, as reflected in the Ten Commandments. This righteousness is foundational to our identity and purpose as beings created in God's image. The Apostle Paul, in his discourse, emphasizes that righteousness is not just a lofty ideal but a practical reality. It is a call to live uprightly, reflecting the just and holy nature of God. As we strive to embody righteousness, we align ourselves with God's expectations and fulfill our purpose as His creation. [21:00]

"For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face." (Psalm 11:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you align your daily actions with God's righteousness today, reflecting His holiness in your interactions with others?


Day 2: Temperance as a Discipline of Faith
Temperance, or self-control, is the practical outworking of righteousness. It challenges us to apply the principles of righteousness in our daily lives, governing our instincts and desires with reason and discipline. This distinction between principle and practice is crucial for genuine Christian living. Paul presents temperance as a necessary discipline for those who seek to live a life pleasing to God. It requires us to exercise control over our impulses and desires, choosing to live by the Spirit rather than the flesh. By practicing temperance, we demonstrate our commitment to living a life that honors God and reflects His character. [26:14]

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." (Proverbs 25:28, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you struggle with self-control. What practical steps can you take today to exercise temperance in that area?


Day 3: Living with an Eternal Perspective
The reality of judgment is a sobering reminder of our accountability before God. It underscores the importance of living with an eternal perspective, recognizing that our actions have consequences beyond this life. This theme calls us to live with integrity and purpose, mindful of our ultimate destiny. Paul speaks of the judgment to come, urging his listeners to consider the eternal implications of their choices. By living with an awareness of the judgment, we are encouraged to prioritize what truly matters and to live in a way that honors God and prepares us for eternity. [34:11]

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)

Reflection: How does the reality of future judgment influence your decisions and priorities today? What changes can you make to live with an eternal perspective?


Day 4: Embracing the Gospel's Offer of Salvation
The gospel offers hope and salvation through faith in Christ. It is not about self-improvement or moral effort but about acknowledging our need for forgiveness and embracing the grace offered through Jesus. This message of redemption is central to the Christian faith and our relationship with God. Paul presents the gospel as a message of hope, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. It is an invitation to experience the transformative power of God's grace and to live in the freedom that comes from being reconciled to Him. [37:50]

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your own need for forgiveness and grace. How can you embrace the gospel's offer of salvation more fully in your life today?


Day 5: The Tragedy of Rejecting the Gospel
The story of Felix and Drusilla illustrates the tragedy of rejecting the gospel. Despite hearing the truth, they choose to ignore it, prioritizing temporal pleasures over eternal realities. This serves as a warning to us, highlighting the importance of responding to God's call with humility and faith. Their story is a cautionary tale, urging us to consider our own response to the message of Christ. It challenges us to examine our hearts and to ensure that we are not resisting the truth but are open to the transformative power of the gospel. [40:07]

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." (Hebrews 3:15, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are resisting God's call? What steps can you take today to respond to His invitation with humility and faith?

Quotes



Paul reasoned with them, reasoned. There are so many people today who never go to a place of worship, and if you ask them why, they say, well, the church, Christianity, what is it? A lot of emotionalism, unintellectual, unintelligent people who meet together, and they're singing hymns and choruses and getting intoxicated with music and working up an emotional atmosphere. I'm not interested, says the average man. I want something real. I want something that I can think about and reason about, something with logic in it. [00:15:56]

Righteousness is a great statement in general principle about God and man and how men should live. What Temperance is the practical application of that. And even though we are so subtle that we can agree with general principles and then fail to apply them in practice so that we need to have it spelled out to us in detail. [00:26:14]

The whole tragedy of the world is that men is no longer doing that. Men are and women are living like animals, obeying their instincts. If they feel like a thing, why not do it? They don't stop to consider consequences to themselves nor anybody else. They walk out and they do things, whatever the consequences may be. They're living in an intemperate manner. [00:33:36]

The world doesn't believe in judgment to come, and that's why the world is as it is tonight. That's why there's lawlessness right through society. They know nothing about judgment to come, but it's the great theme of the Bible. What's it mean? It means this, that man is a responsible being created in the image and likeness of God, meant for God, and that God holds him responsible. [00:34:11]

The faith in Christ. What's it mean? Oh, thank God for this. It's our only hope, my friends, for we are all under condemnation, every one of us. But there's a possibility of escape. There's a way of salvation, the faith in Christ. And I can hear Paul pleading with Felix and Drusilla. He said, look here, you're living in sin. You're going to be judged by God. [00:37:50]

The story of Felix and Drusilla illustrates the tragedy of rejecting the gospel. Despite hearing the truth, they choose to ignore it, prioritizing temporal pleasures over eternal realities. This serves as a warning to us, highlighting the importance of responding to God's call with humility and faith. [00:40:07]

Felix trembled. Why did he tremble? Well, it was for this reason that the Apostle Paul wasn't talking about generalities. He was talking directly to them. He was personal, and this is a very personal message. It comes to every one of us personally. If this message has not come to you personally, you've never really heard it. [00:17:41]

Righteousness is a term that is used about God himself. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. God is love. We are told many things about God, and one of the things we are told is that he is righteous. What's it mean? He's just. If you like, it means this, that in God there is nothing twisted, nothing perverted. [00:21:00]

Temperance, unfortunately, we've tended to confine the meaning of this word, and when I use the word Temperance, we all tend to think instinctively of abstinence from alcoholic drinks. Well, that may come into it, but the word Temperance is a very much bigger word than this. It means self-control. It means discipline. It means continence. [00:25:01]

The message of the church is not a protest. There are so many people today who seem to me to think that the business of the Christian church is to be always protesting, protesting against war, protesting against the bombs, protesting against apartheid in South Africa or this or that, and they think that Christianity is nothing but a kind of political or social protest movement. [00:19:59]

The gospel offers hope and salvation through faith in Christ. It is not about self-improvement or moral effort but about acknowledging our need for forgiveness and embracing the grace offered through Jesus. This message of redemption is central to the Christian faith and our relationship with God. [00:37:50]

The reality of judgment is a sobering reminder of our accountability before God. It underscores the importance of living with an eternal perspective, recognizing that our actions have consequences beyond this life. This theme calls us to live with integrity and purpose, mindful of our ultimate destiny. [00:34:11]

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Transcript
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