Righteousness; Temperance; Judgement
A Sermon on Acts 24:24-27
Originally preached Jan. 24, 1960
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. 25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; …
Sermon Description
The gospel makes fallen sinners uneasy because it condemns all sin and unrighteousness that defiles God’s law. In this sermon on Acts 24:24–27 titled “Righteousness, Temperance, Judgement,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shares that the message is not one of comfort but one that rightly condemns all who will not repent and believe in it. This is the case of Felix and Drusilla when the apostle Paul preaches the gospel to them. They are living in an adulterous relationship and unjustly holding Paul in prison. Paul does not try to convince them of the reasonability of Christianity and its claims, but tells them the need for righteousness and the great wrath when all will be judged for the deeds done in the flesh. This is why the gospel is such an urgent message, for all are appointed to die and suffer judgement. It is only by believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ that any can escape the righteous wrath of God. However, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, often times the church is more concerned with politics and moralism than they are with the preaching of the only true hope for humankind. This is the great message that God has entrusted to the church. It is the truth that Jesus Christ died for sinners so that all who believe will be saved.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage under consideration is Acts 24:24-27 which describes Paul's encounter with Felix and Drusilla.
- Felix was the Roman governor of Judea. He was born a slave but gained his freedom and rose to power. However, he was a cruel, unjust and licentious man.
- Drusilla was a Jewess and the daughter of Herod Agrippa I. Though married, she was living in adultery with Felix.
- Paul was brought before them and preached the gospel. He was courageous in doing so.
- The encounter was not a discussion but an authoritative proclamation of the gospel. The gospel is not to be discussed but proclaimed.
- Paul preached on righteousness which is living a life pleasing to God as intended. It includes our conduct and relationship with God and others. Failure to live righteously is sin.
- Paul preached on temperance which is self-control and continence. He likely rebuked Felix and Drusilla's lack of self-control and licentiousness.
- Paul preached on the judgment to come. All will stand before God and be judged for how they lived their lives.
- Paul preached the faith in Christ - that Christ is the Son of God who died for our sins so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.
- Felix trembled at the preaching but did not repent. He dismissed Paul hoping for a bribe and to please the Jews.
- Felix went against reason and conscience in rejecting the gospel. The power of sin makes people act unreasonably and silence their conscience.
- Felix lived for money, pleasure and popularity rather than righteousness and eternal matters.
- Felix and Drusilla's lives ended in loss and tragedy showing the folly of living for temporal rather than eternal things.
- We are exhorted to not make the same mistake as Felix and Drusilla but to repent and believe the gospel.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding the Sermon of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Felix, Drusilla, and Paul
What was the biblical passage that Dr. Lloyd-Jones preached on?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones preached on Acts 24:24-27, which describes Paul's encounter with Felix and Drusilla, where Paul reasoned about "righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come," causing Felix to tremble and postpone further discussion for a "more convenient time." The passage also reveals that Felix kept Paul imprisoned for two years, hoping to receive a bribe.
Who were Felix and Drusilla according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Felix was a former slave who rose to become governor of Palestine through his brother Pallas's influence with the Roman emperor. He was described as a man who "exercised the power of a king with the spirit of a slave" - clever but unscrupulous, avaricious, voluptuous, licentious, and unjust. Drusilla was a Jewess, daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister of Herod Agrippa II. She came from a family line that included those who murdered James, John the Baptist, and the infants of Bethlehem. She had left her husband to live in adultery with Felix.
What three main topics did Paul address in his message to Felix and Drusilla?
Paul addressed three main topics: 1. Righteousness - how God expects people to live according to His moral law, including the Ten Commandments and proper relationships with God and other people 2. Temperance (self-control) - the ability to control desires, lusts, and passions, addressing their personal sin of adultery 3. Judgment to come - the reality that everyone will stand before God to give an account of their lives and actions
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast modern gospel presentations with Paul's approach?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts modern approaches that favor discussions, entertainment, and general social issues with Paul's direct, authoritative proclamation. He criticizes the contemporary tendency to have friendly discussions about Christianity rather than bold preaching. Lloyd-Jones notes that Paul didn't discuss politics, social issues, or make protests against Roman policies despite his unjust imprisonment. Instead, Paul was personal, convicting, and disturbing in his approach, focusing on the individuals' relationship with God rather than general societal concerns.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the true reason people reject the gospel?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that people don't reject the gospel for intellectual reasons but for moral ones. He says it's not about reason or intellect but about moral trouble that is camouflaged as intellectual objection. He points to Felix and Drusilla as examples of people who rejected the gospel despite being convicted by it (Felix trembled). They rejected it because: 1. They were enslaved to sin (which made them go against both reason and conscience) 2. They valued money (Felix hoped for a bribe) 3. They sought popularity (Felix wanted to please the Jews) 4. They were focused only on this life rather than eternity
What happened to Felix and Drusilla after their encounter with Paul?
According to the historical footnote Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides, about two years after this incident (around AD 63), Felix's brother Pallas fell out of favor with the Roman emperor, and Felix was also dismissed from his position as governor. All his power, position, and popularity vanished. As for Drusilla, she and her son were killed suddenly in AD 79 during an unexpected eruption of Mount Vesuvius, passing "from time to eternity" in a moment.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the true message of the gospel that Paul preached?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the true gospel message is that while all humans are condemned by God's righteous standards and headed for judgment, God has provided salvation through Christ. The "faith in Christ" that Paul preached was that Jesus, as the Son of God, came into the world to save sinners by taking their sins upon Himself at the cross. Through believing in Him, a person's sins are forgiven and they receive Christ's righteousness. This justification comes by faith alone - not by works or attempts to live righteously enough. The gospel offers immediate and complete salvation to those who believe.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say the gospel should make people uncomfortable?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that the gospel should make people uncomfortable because it confronts them with their sin and moral failures. He says, "If this gospel has never annoyed you, you've never believed it. The gospel is something that is utterly opposed to the natural man and to the natural mind. It's disturbing, it's upsetting, it's annoying, it's too personal." Unlike social causes that condemn others, the gospel condemns the individual listener, making them feel personal conviction about their own life and choices.
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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.