Tribulations of Love

02.19.10
J.A. Matteson

“But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.’” Acts 24:25

As pilgrims labor to broadcast the gospel in the world, responses to it are unpredictable and diverse. It is not the disciple’s business to know whom the Lord has appointed to eternal life, to know whom He foreknew before the foundation of the world, who He by grace decreed would be effectually called to faith, and whom He will sanctify by His Spirit for glory. In as much as the Lord is sovereign in salvation, taking the initiative in redemption, so it has pleased the Lord of heaven to save certain men—those who believe, for all men are responsible to respond in repentance to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and those who reject it seal their own fate.

As was his pattern the Apostle Paul outlines the gospel before Felix, carefully delineating the Law of God’s righteousness, regeneration and the sanctification resulting in self-control, and the resurrection of the dead with the final judgment of the righteous and wicked including their respective eternal dwelling places of heaven or hell. The same message of grace that works to soften the hearts of those whom eternal life has been decreed has the opposite effect—hardening—in those for whom the Lord has purposed to pass over, leaving them to themselves.

In Philippi the response by Paul’s jailer was an unpredictable softening, “And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:29-31). While shackled that evening, God’s ambassadors patiently shared with their jailer the Gospel of righteousness, self-control, and judgment unaware of the condition of the soil in which their seed was sewn, but assured of the promise of the Lord, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).

In contrast to the reprobate who die in disbelief, Paul and Silas understood that the elect would believe their message and turn to Christ in repentance, for it was for the sake of the invisible elect or chosen that they labored tirelessly, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory” (2 Tim. 2:10). And to this end Paul recounts his trials and tribulations of love on behalf of the elect who believed and those who would be awakened to believe, “Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:24-30). But the pilgrim must not conclude that an initial rejection of the gospel indicates a person is ordained to death, for Saul (Paul) was acquainted with the gospel and his response was to persecute the people of the Way. Yet the Lord had an appointed time when He would confront the proud Pharisee to humble and convert him as an instrument for His glory.

Therefore, beloved, as long as a man has breath he is not beyond the reach of the redemption which comes by the grace of God. Felix is mentioned once more in chapter 25 and there is no mention of him ever turning to Christ in repentance either in Acts or the rest of the New Testament. Had he been converted it is likely the event would have been recorded as a testimony to the world and an encouragement to the Church. Yet it appears he went the way of Judas Iscariot, Balaam, and Pharaoh, men of depraved minds who rejected the grace of God in Christ Jesus, deriding the Law of God, puffed up arrogant dogs whose condemnation was known before the foundation of the world, for whom the darkest and hottest reaches of hell were reserved, whose destruction was decreed before time began, men who would reject the Truth, “’A stone of stumbling and a rock of offence’; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed” (1 Pet. 2:8), and “…God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?” (Rom. 9:22).

What can be said in response to the marvelous and terrible mercy and judgment of God? Merely this: to those who name the name of Christ Jesus let them make their calling and election sure by daily seeking Him in humility and repentance, and let those to whom the message of salvation comes not harden their hearts and perish in their contempt for and disobedience to the gospel of the grace of God.

Copyright (c) 2010 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever..." Isa. 40:8).