Righteousness, Self-Control, and The Judgment
This morning in my Bible reading I came across the verse that I heard Ravi Zacharias teach on a few years ago. It was Acts 24:25 which tells us what Paul discussed with the Roman ruler, Felix, while he was imprisoned in Caesarea. He spoke to him about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. I believe this verse gives us incredible insight into how to speak to non-Christian people.
What has to happen before a person can be saved from their sins? They have to know that they are lost and in need of salvation. What better to discuss with them to prove that than righteousness and self-control? Those two things are a large part of our failure to follow God's will, which results in sin. Then, what is one of the motivations to be saved? It is the fact that one day we will stand before the Lord in judgment. It can either be the Great White Throne Judgment for those who don't know Christ right before they go to the Lake of Fire, or it can be the Judgment Seat of Christ for those who do know Him. These Judgments show that there are great consequences to what we decide to do in life.
Now, the next time you wonder what to say to bring a person closer to knowing Christ, you will know just what to say. When you talk about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, the Holy Spirit will be able to come and do His work of conviction even more. (John 16:8-11) Hopefully, the person to whom you are speaking will respond in a different way than Felix did. Hopefully, the person you are speaking with will turn to Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 35-36 and Acts 25.
What has to happen before a person can be saved from their sins? They have to know that they are lost and in need of salvation. What better to discuss with them to prove that than righteousness and self-control? Those two things are a large part of our failure to follow God's will, which results in sin. Then, what is one of the motivations to be saved? It is the fact that one day we will stand before the Lord in judgment. It can either be the Great White Throne Judgment for those who don't know Christ right before they go to the Lake of Fire, or it can be the Judgment Seat of Christ for those who do know Him. These Judgments show that there are great consequences to what we decide to do in life.
Now, the next time you wonder what to say to bring a person closer to knowing Christ, you will know just what to say. When you talk about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, the Holy Spirit will be able to come and do His work of conviction even more. (John 16:8-11) Hopefully, the person to whom you are speaking will respond in a different way than Felix did. Hopefully, the person you are speaking with will turn to Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 35-36 and Acts 25.