And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, ‘Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.’” – Acts 24:25
Those same topics Paul discussed with the Roman governor remain alarming and unpopular today:
Righteousness. None of us are righteous on our own. We can’t be perfectly righteous no matter how hard we try, because we’re also naturally sinful, rebellious, selfish, cruel, petty, and unkind. We can’t earn righteousness, because even our motives in doing good things are tainted. However, Jesus Christ is righteous, and by His sacrificial death and resurrection, He makes all who believe in Him righteous. “For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Self-control. Though we’re made righteous and holy by the presence of Christ in us, Jesus also calls us to pursue holiness and practice self-control. Every follower of Jesus is called to change, radically, to become more like Him. Such change is made possible by His Holy Spirit, but we must desire and work for it by cultivating our life in the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control;” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Coming judgment. Jesus is coming back! At that time, He will judge all people who have ever lived. For those in Christ, we will be declared not guilty and welcomed into God’s presence forever and ever. For those apart from Christ, the sentence will be eternal separation from God and suffering. “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…”. (Hebrews 9:27)
These topics require a response. We cannot hear of them and remain unmoved. We must believe, we must strive, we must be prepared. Do you? Are you? Will you be?