- And 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. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. (Acts 24:24-26)
When the council and their lawyer came before Felix and Paul stood trial in Caesarea for the riot in Jerusalem, having been saved from a plot to kill him by the Roman guard, Paul gave his defense and Felix understood he was not guilty. Felix wanting to receive a bribe for Paul’s release soon showed that despite his understanding of Jewish ways and Christianity loved his god of money more than receiving Christ. His convenient season never came and though he had trembled when his conscience was pricked, he was soon replaced when Nero sent Festus to Caesarea and his ploy to get a bribe was not realized nor did he garner any favor with the Jews. He talked with Paul often but never surrendered to God on His terms.
It is sad when those who begin to understand, and have knowledge of such things, never repent and receive that which God offers. Their knowledge may even be perfect, understanding all the mysteries of the faith, but it is all in their head, having not surrendered their heart and putting their faith in that which they know intellectually. Only faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary can save. No matter how much one may know about the facts, until there is repentance of sin and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, a person is not born again no matter what experience they may have had in the past. Only God through His grace saves us, not our works, our deeds, our church, or our words. Nothing we do or say can save for salvation is through the work of the Holy Spirit by the Word of God.
God wants all to be saved and to come to know Him, not intellectually but with the honest heart of a disciple and child of God from His Word. God cannot receive us while we are still standing in our own merits but only when we surrender to Him on His terms and fully trust Him alone. We must die to self, daily and continuously, in repentance and faith in Him alone. His Word alone is our light as we walk with Him and grow in Him. Paul knew of God and then met God and was saved. Felix knew the ways of God but never met the living Lord Jesus and was not saved. Not because God did not want to save him, for God is not willing that any should perish, but because Felix never gave up that which he trusted in order to receive Christ.
God calls His people to holiness and obedience to Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
It is sad when those who begin to understand, and have knowledge of such things, never repent and receive that which God offers. Their knowledge may even be perfect, understanding all the mysteries of the faith, but it is all in their head, having not surrendered their heart and putting their faith in that which they know intellectually. Only faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary can save. No matter how much one may know about the facts, until there is repentance of sin and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, a person is not born again no matter what experience they may have had in the past. Only God through His grace saves us, not our works, our deeds, our church, or our words. Nothing we do or say can save for salvation is through the work of the Holy Spirit by the Word of God.
God wants all to be saved and to come to know Him, not intellectually but with the honest heart of a disciple and child of God from His Word. God cannot receive us while we are still standing in our own merits but only when we surrender to Him on His terms and fully trust Him alone. We must die to self, daily and continuously, in repentance and faith in Him alone. His Word alone is our light as we walk with Him and grow in Him. Paul knew of God and then met God and was saved. Felix knew the ways of God but never met the living Lord Jesus and was not saved. Not because God did not want to save him, for God is not willing that any should perish, but because Felix never gave up that which he trusted in order to receive Christ.
God calls His people to holiness and obedience to Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
RSS Feed