The Nuts and
Bolts of Christianity
Acts 24:24-26
Introductory Thoughts
Background to the Text
Paul defense before Felix - Verses 10-21
Felix closes the proceedings - Verse 22
Visitation forbidden - Verse 23
The Text - Verses 24-26
Paul called back
Drusilla, Felix's wife, was of Jewish descent
Paul reasoned with Felix concerning:
Righteousness
Self Control - Temperance
The judgment
Righteousness
Defined
“The state or quality of one who observes
divine & human laws; one who is what he
ought to be; upright; virtuous; keeping the
commands of God; correctness in thinking,
feeling, and acting.” [Thayer]
A Word Occurring 92 Times In N.T.
Self-righteousness Is Never Acceptable
Matthew 5:20
Righteousness
The Right Kind Of Righteousness Must
Be Practiced
Matthew 6:1-18
The wrong kind is shallow - Verses 1-2, 5, 16
If We Establish Our Own Righteousness,
We Will Not Submit To God
Romans 10:1-3
We learn about God’s righteousness in the
gospel - Romans 1:16-17
God accepts anyone who will learn, practice
His righteousness - Acts 10:35
Self Control - Temperance
Defined
“The virtue of one who masters his desires and
passions (esp. his sensual appetites); to
exhibit self-government; to have power over; to
master, restrain, curb, control.” [Thayer]
A Word Occurring 3 Times In N.T
We Live In An “Unrestrained” World
Under the Sway Of Satan
1 John 5:19
“Animalistic Appetites” - 2 Peter 2:9-12
Self Control - Temperance
God Wants Us To Reign In Our Passions
Self-control is to be added to our Christian
character - 2 Peter 1:6
Self-control is fruit of the life lived under the
direction of the Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:23
Self-control is practiced so saints can have
the imperishable crown
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
A lack of self-control will lead to sinful
situations - 1 Corinthians 7:5-9
Judgment
Defined
“A decree or decision one passes on the faults
of others; the sentence handed down from a
judge; condemnatory sentence; penal
judgment; something judiciously decided.”
[Thayer]
A Word Occurring 28 Times In N.T.
Judgment
Most In The World Live In Such A Way
That Ignores The Certain Final
Judgment
Psalm 94:1-7 - Hebrews 9:27 - Hebrews 4:13
Yet, all will stand before Christ
2 Corinthians 5:10
Yes, all will “bow the knee”
Romans 14:10b-12
Judgment
The Lord Has Fixed A Judgment
Jude 15
It will not be a “fact finding mission”
It will be a day of vindication when all the
world will be “convicted” or “convinced”
that God was always right
A Day Of “Righteous Judgment”
Acts 17:31
Concluding Thoughts
It Would Be Wrong To Reduce the N.T.
to This 1 Verse
Yet, This 1 Verse Does Contain the
“Essentials” Of N.T. Christianity
Righteousness
Self Control - Temperance
Judgment
Concluding Thoughts
We need to busy ourselves in doing
righteousness (living the right way)
While living right, we need to control
ourselves in the face of temptation, sin
All we do is in view of the judgment