베델믿음교회, 서성봉 목사, 사도행전 강해 (84) - 의와 절제와 심판에 대해서, 2026.8.23

Last time, through the exposition of Acts chapter 24, we examined the case of Paul, who was the defendant in the court of the Judean governor, Pilate. On the opposing side were the Jewish priests, elders, and their hired lawyer, Tertullus, who were accusing Paul. Felix ultimately realized that there was no evidence to convict Paul of any crime, and he said, "When the commander Lysias comes, I will decide your case," thus postponing the trial. Although he kept Paul in custody, Felix allowed people to visit freely and even permitted assistance to Paul. However, Felix did not take these actions out of a desire to help Paul. There was a reason behind it. Felix's heart was motivated by a desire for money through Paul, and he wanted to win the favor of the Jews. Thus, he sought to maintain his honor and power.

Now, Felix, along with his Jewish wife Drusilla, meets Paul. What they hear is a discourse on the way of Christ. At this time, Paul speaks to the couple about righteousness, self-control, and judgment. Felix becomes afraid. All of this is recorded in Acts chapter 24. As I meditated on the Word, I felt a significant burden regarding the righteousness, self-control, and judgment that Paul proclaimed. It was a holy burden for me. Therefore, today, I want to delve deeper into the message that Paul delivered regarding righteousness, self-control, and judgment directed toward Felix and Drusilla.

Understanding Felix and Drusilla

Now we need to understand a bit more about who Felix and Drusilla were for the sake of understanding the message. At that time, Felix was a governor appointed by the Roman emperor, ruling over Judea. Drusilla was Felix's third wife and the sister of Herod Agrippa II, who will be mentioned in Acts chapter 25. Her brother was Agrippa I, a figure we encountered in Acts chapter 12. Agrippa I was the one who killed James, one of the twelve apostles, making him the first martyr. The governor Felix, his wife Drusilla, and her brother Herod Agrippa II belonged to a family that wielded immense power and influence in their time. Their authority was formidable. Felix had military and political power and had the authority to decide Paul's life or death. Additionally, Drusilla's father and brother were kings of Judea, giving them all the authority to appoint priests and manage the temple.

The reason I mention these figures is that Paul, who was on trial, was a very humble individual. He was powerless and was a prisoner bound in chains. The people sitting before him as he delivered his message were the highest authorities of the time. If we think of this scene as a stage play, it is a striking image: the insignificant and powerless prisoner Paul proclaiming righteousness, self-control, and judgment to the most powerful figures of the time, Felix and Drusilla. Yet, Felix and Drusilla display very fearful expressions. The Bible clearly records that they were afraid.

Bringing It to Our Life Context

Now, let’s bring the stage of the text into our life context today. For those of us who have faith and attend church, it is undeniable that the topics of righteousness, self-control, and judgment that Paul spoke about are very important subjects for our church and Christian community. Isn’t this fundamental to Christianity? Thus, when Jesus began His public ministry, His first proclamation was, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." He urged them to repent. However, surprisingly, these topics are not often discussed in church or in our lives.

Let’s say you have a very precious jewel in your home. It could be earrings, a necklace, or a ring. You keep it in a safe, sturdy cabinet and do not display it in a visible place. How would that be? Who knows that there is a very precious treasure inside? Only you know. Many people cannot know. This seems to reflect the attitude of today’s believers in the church toward righteousness, self-control, and judgment. It’s as if we are hiding these truths. We should be speaking about righteousness, self-control, and judgment, yet even though we are aware of the righteousness, self-control, and judgment that Paul proclaimed before the powerful, we do not speak of them. Therefore, I feel a more holy burden to share what righteousness, self-control, and judgment are, as Paul preached them.

Paul’s Testimony on Righteousness

First, let’s talk about righteousness. Paul testifies about righteousness in Romans 1:17-18: "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.' For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." In these two verses, verses 17 and 18 present opposing concepts of righteousness. Verse 17 speaks of a righteousness that leads to life through faith, while verse 18 speaks of God’s wrath against unrighteousness. To put it simply, there is a life-giving righteousness and a death-dealing unrighteousness. The conclusion is this: there is a righteousness that gives life through faith, and conversely, because of unbelief, God’s wrath comes. Herein lies a very important criterion that distinguishes eternal life from death: it is about what one believes. That criterion is Jesus Christ. Believing in Jesus Christ leads to righteousness and life, while not believing results in God’s judgment.

But do you know what irony exists in the world? People do not believe this simple truth. They do not acknowledge it or accept it. Why is that? It is not for any other reason but sin. What is sin? Paul discusses sin in Romans 1:29-31, mentioning what we might generally think of as sin. If I read this, you will likely agree that these are sins: "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless." Do you agree that all of these are sins? Yes, you do. That’s right. However, to be precise, these are the fruits of sin. The Bible uses the word 'hamartia' for sin, which in English means 'missing the target.' It means that beings who should be directed toward God are instead away from Him. They have missed the mark. It speaks of a people who should seek God but are going down other paths.

Thus, a very important mention regarding sin is found in the preceding verse, Romans 1:28: "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind." This is sin. It is the unwillingness to acknowledge God in one’s heart. This is human nature. The sins we think of start from here: because they have departed from God. They do not believe in God in their hearts. They do not acknowledge God in their hearts. They are separated from God. The result of being separated from God is death. Therefore, Paul declares in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Beloved church, then, becoming a righteous people is surprisingly simple to conclude. What is it? It is to resolve the issue of sin. If sin is resolved, one becomes a righteous people. However, there is a significant problem: sin cannot be resolved by humans. Why? Because, as I mentioned, all have sinned. Humans who commit sin ultimately live with sin, so this problem cannot be resolved. Therefore, there is only one way to become righteous: a sinless being must pay for that sin. This is atonement. This is very important. So who can pay for this sin? It must be a sinless being, and that is God sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place and pay for our sins. This is the grace of redemption from sin. Thus, 1 Peter 2:24 clearly explains the death of Christ on the cross and the salvation event in the Scriptures: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." Indeed, the event where a being destined to die eternally because of sin is saved by the one who was hung on the tree is righteousness. Therefore, becoming a righteous people means that there is nothing from the human side. There is no will, no effort, no ability, no goodness. It is not about living well. Paul testifies in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Yes, righteousness is a gift from God. If you say, "I lived this way," or "I showed this mercy," or "I am saved because of my own efforts," then you can boast. However, if salvation comes from my good deeds, efforts, and zeal, then there was no need for Jesus Christ to die on the cross. If that were the case, wouldn’t we not need to believe in Jesus? But salvation is only found in the righteousness that is in faith in God. It is about accepting that. In the text, Paul was not speaking about the righteousness exercised by the governor Felix. No matter how much humans shout righteousness, they are corrupt and decaying due to their sinful nature, leading to destruction. So who can make this earth righteous? Paul proclaims that only Christ can make righteousness. Only Jesus is the salvation of this earth, and only Jesus is our righteousness. I bless you that your life may walk with this righteous Lord.

mindmap
  root(("Let us reflect on life through righteous"))
    ("Understanding the Couple Felix")
      ("Acts 24:24")
    ("Bringing It to Our Life Context")
      ("Matthew 4:17")
    ("Paul's Testimony on Righteousness")
      ("Romans 1:17")
    ("Paul's Testimony on Self-Control")
      ("Galatians 5:22")
    ("Paul's Testimony on Judgment")
      ("Hebrews 9:27")
    ("Prayer")

Paul’s Testimony on Self-Control

Secondly, what Paul proclaimed was self-control. After speaking about righteousness, Paul talked about self-control. At first glance, one might wonder how righteousness and self-control are connected. However, it is a very important proclamation. Why did Paul speak about self-control? Here, self-control could refer to living in a way that is limited to appropriate actions, but considering that the audience listening to Paul’s sermon were Felix and Drusilla, who were immoral, corrupt, and fond of bribery, one might say that Paul proclaimed this because of their character. However, there is a much deeper meaning here. This clearly signifies that self-control is about the life that all believers must live as they accept righteousness through faith. It speaks about the Christian life.

Paul states in Philippians 1:27: "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ." This means that whether I come to see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. Here, Paul is not just saying to live by the gospel of Christ; he is saying to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. In other words, the gospel is not merely a life satisfied with being saved by believing in Jesus Christ. The gospel means that for those who are saved, there is a life worthy of that salvation. This is the life of a believer. A saved believer lives a life that transcends the waves of the world, conquering and ruling over the world. Thus, the Apostle James says, "Faith without works is dead." He is saying that faith without works is dead. This is a very important core of the gospel.

Now, among the nine fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23 mentions self-control as the last fruit, which deeply resonates with me. This verse is familiar, but let’s read it together: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Now, think about this. What happens if we think about these without self-control? There is a remarkable secret here. What happens to love without self-control? It leads to a life of indulgence. Thus, it leads to adultery, immorality, and sexual depravity. What about joy without self-control? It becomes impulsive, chasing after stimulation and pleasure rather than true joy or gratitude. This can lead to addiction, avoidance of responsibility, and causing harm to others. What about peace without self-control? It may seem to pursue peace outwardly and appear gentle, but peace without self-control compromises by avoiding conflict. Sometimes, it shows a tendency to become complacent and avoid responsibility. What about patience without self-control? If patience loses self-control, one may avoid the situation or become unable to contain emotions, using their emotions to attack others, and sometimes displaying a cynical attitude. What about kindness without self-control? Rather than bearing warm and beautiful fruits of service and dedication, kindness without self-control may lead to pitying others and sometimes harming one’s own time and health. What about goodness without self-control? The intention may be pure and good, but it can manifest as indiscriminate kindness that ultimately harms oneself and others. This can lead to others becoming overly dependent on the person showing goodness, damaging their lives and leaving deeper wounds. What about faithfulness without self-control? It can lead to blind obsession or destructive tendencies. It can prevent balanced critical thinking, leading to the idolization of the object of faithfulness, and without self-control, one may judge in ways that are not justified. What about gentleness without self-control? The original meaning of gentleness is 'power under control.' It refers to controlled strength. If one loses self-control, their life becomes passive. They become weak and live a life that is dragged along by others.

I have briefly mentioned the fruits of the Spirit that lack self-control. Has anything resonated with you? In your family, have you lost self-control? If you feel that way, I encourage you to reflect on the Word. Self-control is important. When a saved believer lives the life of the gospel, the importance of bearing fruit through self-control is also revealed among the fruits of the Spirit. Why does the world mock us believers? Why does the world criticize and despise the church? It is because we lack self-control. It is because we do not live with Christ in our lives. Therefore, it is not enough to be satisfied with merely believing in Jesus; we must follow Jesus, testify of Jesus, and live the life that Jesus lived. This is the life that Paul is proclaiming.

Beloved, fundamentally ask yourself this question: Am I not only believing in Jesus but also living in self-control, testifying to the Lord’s Word, and living according to the Lord’s will? Ask yourself if you are living a life worthy of the gospel.

Paul’s Testimony on Judgment

Thirdly, Paul testifies about judgment. Hebrews 9:27 states, "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." This is the conclusion of judgment. Sometimes we think of death as just the end. But look closely at the Word. What comes after death? Judgment. People think, "When I die, that’s it. When my body dies, it just becomes a corpse, so what can I think about?" But that is not true. Death opens the door to God’s judgment. Death is not the end; it is the beginning of the judgment that leads to God. If death were the end, we could say that it is over. But it is not. The Lord says in John 5:29, "And come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." After death, there is an eternal resurrection, and the resurrection is divided into two. It speaks of whether one will come out to the resurrection of eternal life or to the resurrection of judgment. However, do not misunderstand. Doing good is not merely about performing moral good deeds or accumulating good works. If we look at verse 9 and the overall context, doing good here refers to believing and following the will of God, who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. It speaks of believing in Jesus as the one who does good. Therefore, the life of a believer saved by faith participates in the resurrection of eternal life, while those who turn away from God’s Word and do not accept Jesus by faith are in the judgment of eternal destruction.

When I was in college, I participated in a nationwide student retreat through a campus ministry. Every year, a region is selected for this joint retreat. The Christian organization I was part of was CCC. After the retreat, there was a program where we formed evangelism teams for about three days to evangelize in that city. Participation was voluntary, and I participated once. I remember it was in Ansung. We had an incredible experience there. Our team went to a village, and when we preached the gospel, an elderly woman said, "Why did you come now? Why did you come now?" She accepted Jesus. We were so joyful. However, when we went to another village and preached the gospel, a man came after us with a knife, trying to kill us. It was an experience of extremes. At that moment, why do people have such extreme reactions to the gospel? It is simple: because the gospel is life. Accepting Jesus Christ as our salvation means eternal life, while rejecting it means eternal judgment. People are afraid. When the life-giving work of the gospel is present, people either accept it or reject it. This is because it is life.

Reflecting on this extreme reaction, I could not help but think of Felix again. Felix heard the gospel but did not accept it. He was afraid. He was afraid but did not accept the gospel. Why? Because through Paul, his aim was money, and he sought to win the favor of the Jews. Think about it. Did Felix lack time to accept the gospel? No. Did he lack the opportunity to hear the truth of the gospel? No. However, Felix had too much to lose to accept the gospel. He had honor, wealth, power, and many desires. He had fears that prevented him from accepting the gospel, but he also had many things that kept him from accepting it.

If the message of righteousness, self-control, and judgment that Paul preached were delivered in our time, how should we, and our community, each respond to this message? I want to examine this message from Paul through two responses in our lives. First, do not postpone this gospel to tomorrow. Do not let the gospel delivered today become tomorrow’s gospel. When Paul spoke of righteousness, self-control, and judgment, Felix was afraid. But do you know what he said to Paul? "Go away for the present." He did not accept it. He told Paul to go away. He was postponing the opportunity to accept the gospel. If you postpone to tomorrow, the opportunity will not come again. I urge everyone participating in today’s worship to believe in the life-giving work of Jesus Christ. There is no tomorrow. The time today, the time right now, will not repeat. If you feel that your joy in the gospel and your faith in salvation are weak, it is likely because you still have more in your life than the Lord. You have more material possessions than the Lord, more desires than the Lord, and more things than the Lord. There is no room for the Lord.

Felix turned away from the grace of the gospel and sought to extract money from Paul and pursue honor from him. Likewise, we must reflect on whether we are more interested in things other than the grace of Christ than in the grace of salvation. Many of you may know this story, but one day the devil held a meeting. He gathered demons and discussed how to destroy Christians. How can we eliminate Christians? One demon suggested, "Let’s persecute them." They decided to persecute Christians. But the other demons said, "No, persecution only makes them believe stronger; it’s useless." Then another demon suggested, "Let’s take away their money. Money is the most important thing." But the other demons replied, "Even if we take their money, they will still praise, pray, and worship. How can we do that?" At that moment, the devil smiled and said, "Let them worship, pray, and give offerings. But let them postpone it to tomorrow." This is their strategy. The world and the devil cunningly provoke us like this: "Isn’t it okay to do it tomorrow? You can do it tomorrow." The topics of righteousness, self-control, and judgment are uncomfortable and heavy. It may seem difficult to accept them now. "Pastor, I’m not ready yet. I still need some time. Right now, what’s important is making a living." There are many important matters, meetings, and various things to attend to. "Can’t I do it later?" No. No. We must not forget that if we do not accept the life of the gospel regarding righteousness, self-control, and judgment today, we may drift away from the truth of eternal life. Please take this message seriously. Reflect on whether there are things in your life that are being postponed over the event of Jesus’ life. Look back and ensure that today, you and I do not postpone but accept the blessed news of the gospel regarding righteousness, self-control, and judgment without turning away.

Secondly, our response should be to believe in the resurrection of Jesus and live as believers of that resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is not a fabrication or a made-up rumor. Of course, when Jesus died on the cross and rose again, the soldiers guarding the tomb were terrified when they saw the empty tomb. They knew they would die for failing to guard the prisoner, so they went to the priests to inform them. They reported the incident before telling Governor Pilate. At that time, the priests said, "Let’s spread the rumor that Jesus’ disciples stole the body." So they spread that rumor. But how this falsehood will be revealed is only a matter of time. Do you know how it will be revealed? First, the women were the first to see the empty tomb. In the Roman and Jewish courts of that time, women were not allowed to be witnesses in trials because they were considered unreliable. I apologize to the sisters, but that was the perception back then. However, women were made witnesses of the resurrection. If the Bible were false, there would be no reason to include women as witnesses. It would be more effective to use men. But women were made witnesses of the resurrection. Jesus appeared to the disciples, to many people, and even to Paul. Countless witnesses of the resurrection continued to arise. Thus, Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." Paul testifies in 1 Corinthians 15:13-14: "But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." Indeed, if there is no resurrection of Christ, our faith is false. Our faith becomes false. The disciples who witnessed this resurrection event and the early church believers did not spare their lives. They lived as witnesses of the resurrection event, and even now, 2,000 years later, resurrection events continue to occur. This is the event of resurrection. Living in faith in the risen Lord Jesus. Living in faith in the resurrection of the Lord means, as Paul testified, accepting the righteousness of faith, living the life of the gospel, and believing in the Christ Jesus who will return as the judge of judgment. This is what it means to live in faith in the resurrection event.

Therefore, Paul boldly states in 1 Corinthians 15:56-58. I hope this proclamation becomes your confession and declaration of faith. Let’s read it together: "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." Amen. Beloved, let us give thanks to the Lord who saves us and gives us victory. Do not be shaken by the life of this earth. Even if the world tries to hinder the gospel and seeks to destroy us, let us look to the righteousness of the Lord and accept it with the faith of salvation, and let us approach the Lord daily in self-control, proclaiming the gospel that there will be judgment on this earth. When I, and you, live as witnesses of the resurrection event, this earth will be filled with fear, and the people of this earth will be used by the Lord to encounter the amazing glory of God. This gospel event is not in vain. Your labor is not in vain. May you and I go forth, engraving this resurrection event in our hearts. I bless you in the name of the Lord. Amen.

Prayer

Beloved, at this time, I want to ask you something. Today’s message spoke of the salvation and judgment of our Lord Jesus and self-control. However, are there any among us who, after hearing the message, still do not believe in the risen Lord Jesus? Are there those who live by believing in our Lord Jesus but still allow the possessions and honors of this world to take the place of Jesus in their hearts? If so, at this moment, I invite you to raise one hand and say, "I want to believe in the Lord Jesus. Help me to become a child of God who believes in the risen Lord and makes Him my Lord." If you wish to pray that prayer, please raise your hand. Romans 10:10 states, "For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." You must confess with your mouth if you believe in your heart. If there are those among us who wish to confess with their mouths and meet the Lord, I urge you again. No one is watching you; just raise your hand. It is not too late. We must make a decision today. There is no time to postpone. We will pray together now. For those who raised their hands, place your hand over your heart. Let us all pray together, following my lead, as we confess together.

"Living God. I have been the master of my life until now. Please forgive me. I repent. May the Lord Jesus be my master. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose again according to the Scriptures. I open the door of my heart at this time. I receive Jesus as my Savior and my Lord. Thank you for forgiving all my sins and making me a child of God. Please use me according to Your will. Please use me according to Your will. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen."