Righteousness: Temperance and Judgement to Come
A Sermon on Acts 24:24
Scripture
24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Acts 24:24 titled “Righteousness: Temperance and Judgment to Come, “ Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on two questions: how is the gospel to be presented and how are people to listen to the gospel? The gospel is reason, and people must think and be confronted with the truth. This gospel is not merely entertainment. Learn about the character of God and how He created people to be His righteous companions. What happened? Made in the image and likeness of God, people are to have self-control and temperance. The meaning of temperance is addressed alongside righteousness—one being the general principle, while the other is concerned with application in daily living. What distinguishes humans from animals? Animals are controlled by instinct, but people have souls with reasoning and understanding. Judgment will come and people will be held responsible before God, but they can look at the perfect provision He provided. Only a person’s fear can drive them to salvation. Why do people reject the gospel? The opinion of others must never be put over the opinion of God. Learn from the tragedy of Felix and Priscilla.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage under consideration is Acts 24:24-27 which describes Paul reasoning with Felix and Drusilla about faith in Christ.
- In order to understand the passage, we must know the characters involved: Felix, the Roman governor; Drusilla, Felix's Jewish wife; and Paul, the apostle and prisoner.
- Felix was a freed slave who rose to power through the influence of his brother Pallas. Though holding a high position, Felix had a mean character.
- Drusilla belonged to the Herod family. She married Felix, a pagan, against Jewish law in order to gain power and status.
- Paul was a prisoner of Felix. Though physically unimpressive, Paul was one of the greatest men who ever lived.
- Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla about righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment. Righteousness refers to God's holy character and the uprightness He demands of men. Self-control refers to mastering sinful desires and disciplining oneself to obey God. The coming judgment refers to God's judgment of all men after death.
- Paul also preached the faith in Christ - that though all have sinned, God sent His Son to die for sinners so that those who believe in Him will have eternal life.
- Felix trembled upon hearing Paul's message but rejected the gospel, hoping for bribes and unwilling to offend the Jews. He went against reason, conscience and the Holy Spirit.
- Unbelief is irrational and debasing. Felix hoped for bribes from a poor prisoner and was anxious to please the Jews though their governor. Sin makes one foolish and a slave to the opinions of men.
- Felix's downfall - soon after this, Felix and Drusilla lost their positions of power. Drusilla and her son eventually died in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii. Though she had heard the gospel, Drusilla clung to worldly pleasures and died unprepared to face God.
- We must learn from Felix and Drusilla's example, recognize our need for the gospel, and believe in Christ as Savior before it is too late.
Sermon Q&A
What Did Paul Preach to Felix and Drusilla? Insights from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Who were the three main characters in the biblical account of Paul's trial?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, there were three main characters in this biblical drama from Acts 24: Felix, the Roman governor who had risen from slavery to a position of power; Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess from the royal family of the Herods and who was living in adultery with Felix; and the Apostle Paul, who stood before them as a prisoner in chains.
What did Paul reason with Felix and Drusilla about?
Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla about three specific things: righteousness (God's holy standard and how humans should live), temperance (self-control and discipline in daily living), and judgment to come (the reality that all will stand before God to give an account). This was the content of Paul's message rather than political or social issues that many might expect.
Why did Felix tremble when Paul preached?
Felix trembled because Paul's message about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come convicted him deeply. The message exposed his sinful lifestyle (living in adultery with Drusilla) and confronted him with the reality of future judgment. His conscience was stirred, and the Holy Spirit was working on him, causing this powerful reaction even though he was in a position of authority over Paul.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the proper way to present the gospel?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the proper way to present the gospel is through reasoning, not entertainment. He emphasizes that Paul "reasoned" with Felix and Drusilla rather than entertaining them or merely telling stories. The presentation of the gospel should engage the intellect and make people think, confronting them with truth that leads them to consider their standing before God.
Why do people reject the gospel according to this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that people reject the gospel not because of superior reasoning or intelligence but because: 1. They refuse to reason properly and think clearly 2. They act contrary to their own conscience 3. They strive against and quench the Holy Spirit 4. They value the opinions of men more than God 5. They prioritize temporal pleasures over eternal considerations 6. They are enslaved by sin which clouds their judgment
What happened to Felix and Drusilla after they rejected Paul's message?
According to historical accounts mentioned by Lloyd-Jones, Felix soon lost his position when his brother Pallas fell out of favor with the emperor. As for Drusilla, she and her son were killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 while wintering in Pompeii. After rejecting Paul's message about eternal matters, they both lost everything they had held onto in this life.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the ultimate purpose of the gospel?
The ultimate purpose of the gospel goes beyond showing people their need through righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. It's to present "the faith in Christ" - that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that through faith in Him, sinners can be forgiven, justified, born again, and made heirs of eternal life. The gospel shows the perfect provision God has made through His Son for our greatest need.
How should people properly listen to the gospel according to this sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, proper listening to the gospel should lead to being disturbed or even "trembling" like Felix. If the preaching of the gospel has never made you uncomfortable about your soul, your life, your death, and your eternal destiny, you haven't really heard it. True gospel listening should lead to self-examination, conviction of sin, and considering one's standing before God.
Itinerant Preaching
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.