The apostle realized that the gospel had a claim upon whoever might listen to his words; that one day they would stand either among the pure and holy around the great white throne, or with those to whom Christ would say, "Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:
23.He knew that he must meet every one of his hearers before the tribunal of heaven and must there render an account, not only for all that he had said and done, but for the motive and spirit of his words and deeds.
So violent and cruel had been the course of Felix that few had ever before dared even to intimate to him that his character and conduct were not faultless.But Paul had no fear of man.He plainly declared his faith in Christ, and the reasons for that faith, and was thus led to speak particularly of those virtues essential to Christian character, but of which the haughty pair before him were so strikingly destitute.
He held up before Felix and Drusilla the character of God--His righteousness, justice, and equity, and the nature of His law.He clearly showed that it is man's duty to live a life of sobriety and temperance, keeping the passions under the control of reason, in conformity to God's law, and preserving the physical and mental powers in a healthy condition.
He declared that there would surely come a day of judgment when all would be rewarded according to the deeds done in the body, and when it would be plainly revealed that wealth, position, or titles are powerless to gain for man the favor of God or to deliver him from the results of sin.He showed that this life is man's time of preparation for the future life.Should he neglect present privileges and opportunities he would suffer an eternal loss; no new probation would be given him.
Paul dwelt especially upon the far-reaching claims of God's law.He showed how it extends to the deep secrets of man's moral nature and throws a flood of light upon that which has been concealed from the sight and knowledge of men.What the hands may do or the tongue may utter --what the outer life reveals--but imperfectly shows man's moral character.The law searches his thoughts, motives, and purposes.The dark passions that lie hidden from the sight of men, the jealousy, hatred, lust, and ambition, the evil deeds meditated upon in the dark recesses of the soul, yet never executed for want of opportunity--all these God's law condemns.
Paul endeavored to direct the minds of his hearers to the one great Sacrifice for sin.He pointed to the sacrifices that were shadows of good things to come, and then presented Christ as the antitype of all those ceremonies--the object to which they pointed as the only source of life and hope for fallen man.Holy men of old were saved by faith in the blood of Christ.As they saw the dying agonies of the sacrificial victims they looked across the gulf of ages to the Lamb of God that was to take away the sin of the world.
God justly claims the love and obedience of all His creatures.He has given them in His law a perfect standard of right.But many forget their Maker and choose to follow their own way in opposition to His will.They return enmity for love that is as high as heaven and as broad as the universe.God cannot lower the requirements of His law to meet the standard of wicked men;neither can man in his own power meet the demands of the law.Only by faith in Christ can the sinner be cleansed from guilt and be enabled to render obedience to the law of his Maker.
