PAUL'S CONFESSION TO FELIX

Text: Acts 24:1-16.

Delivered on: January 11, 2008. Streetsboro.

INTRODUCTION.

1. In Acts 24, Paul is being accused by the Jews before Felix.
   

2. After Tertullus finishes his little speech, Paul gives his defense.
   

3. He starts out by pointing out that their accusations are false and improvable. (vv.12-13).
   

4. Then, in verses 14-16, he makes his confession to Felix. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. ¹⁵ I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. ¹⁶ This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
   

5. Paul confesses to:
   

   1. Worshiping the God of his fathers according to the Way which they call a sect.
      

   2. He does this believing all the things written in the Law and the Prophets.
      

   3. He believes and hopes in the resurrection of the just and unjust.
      

   4. He always strives to have a conscience without offense toward God.
      

BODY.

1. PAUL WORSHIPED THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS ACCORDING TO THE WAY.
   

   1. The “Way” to which Paul is referring is the “Faith.”
      

      1. Jude 3. Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
         

      2. Acts 6:7. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
         

      3. Acts 14:21-22. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
         

      4. Acts 16:5. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
         

      5. Romans 1:5. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.
         

      6. 2 Corinthians 13:5. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
         

   2. There is only one way.
      

      1. John 14:6. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
         

      2. Acts 4:12. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
         

      3. It is a straight way. Matthew 7:13-14. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
         

   3. Paul worshiped according to this Way.
      

      1. Worship is a necessity to the true follower of God.
         

      2. John 4:23-24. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
         

      3. It is not to be directed by the dictates of our own conscience. Colossians 2:20-23. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— ²¹ “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” ²² which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³ These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
         




2. PAUL SERVED GOD IN THE WAY BELIEVING ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.
   

   1. As Christians, we live under the New Covenant or Testament. Colossians 2:14. Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
      

   2. However, that does not mean that we don’t believe the things written in the Old Testament.
      

      1. Paul was accused of not believing the Law and the Prophets.
         

      2. Jesus was accused of this. Matthew 5:17-18. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
         

      3. The Old Testament is valuable in so many ways. Romans 15:4. For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
         

         1. It led the world to Christ. Galatians 3:24. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
            

         2. It teaches moral and ethical lessons.
            

         3. It teaches us about the character of God.
            

      4. Jesus and Paul understood the real purpose of the Law and Prophets. 1 Peter 1:10-12. Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
         

   3. Notice that he believed ALL things.
      

      1. He believed in the 6 days of creation.
         

      2. He believed in the global flood.
         

      3. He believed in the crossing of the Red Sea.
         

      4. He believed that Jonah was swallowed by a great fish.
         

      5. Etc.
         

      6. Either all of the Bible is true or none of it is.
         

   
   



3. PAUL BELIEVED AND HOPED IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND UNJUST.
   

   1. Paul saw the resurrected Christ.
      

   2. The Pharisees believed in a resurrection but not that Christ had risen.
      

   3. Paul hoped to attain to the resurrection himself. Philippians 3:7-11. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
      

   4. Both the Just and Unjust will be resurrected.
      

      1. John 5:28-29. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹ and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
         

      2. The Just will be resurrected to Life.
         

      3. The Unjust will be resurrected to condemnation.
         

      4. To answer for what we have done in this life. 2 Corinthians 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
         

   5. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ⁵⁵ “ O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
      




4. PAUL ALWAYS STRIVED TO LIVE WITHOUT OFFENSE TOWARD GOD.
   

1. This was true even before he became a Christian. Acts 23:1. Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
   

2. Because he wanted to attain to the resurrection, he strived to live without offense toward God.
   

3. 2 Peter 3:14. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
   

4. What about you?