July 22, 2007

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

Non-Conversions in Acts

 

Introduction: We often rehearse the examples of conversions in the book of Acts. The purpose should be obvious; it is to see how those who were lost responded to the Gospel. There are many good lessons to be learned by studying the conversion accounts as the Gospel spread from Jerusalem to Rome. (Acts 1:8.) We should acknowledge that man’s response to the Gospel is not the Gospel. The Gospel is the story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is what precedes Acts in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These four accounts are often called the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Gospel is the good news of redemption through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

But Acts tells us two stories at the same time. It records both conversion and non-conversion accounts. Both are instructive and helpful. The non-conversion accounts are sad because the lost reject the Gospel and the means of their salvation. Jesus, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man. (Heb. 2:9.) But all men do not accept the good news of the death of Jesus on their behalf.

 

Paul’s reaction. Paul raised the question of why have not all obeyed? Is it because they have not heard? No, they have heard. Paul quoted Psalm 19 in answering: “Their sound went into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:4, Rom. 10:18.) Just as the sounds of nature are everywhere, Paul wrote, so also has the gospel been made known to all men. We can say the same today. Are people lost because they have not heard; because they do not have access to the gospel? There may be some isolated cases where that is true, but generally the gospel has been spread around the world. (Col. 1:23.) Paul said the reason was because the Jews were a disobedient and gainsaying (obstinate) people. (Rom. 10:21.)

 

Jesus’ words. Jesus also gave some insight into why all people do not obey the Gospel. He told a parable about a farmer sowing seed. (Luke 8:5-15.) This is one of the most comprehensive parables that Jesus ever spoke. He described the Gospel as seed falling onto four different types of soil. The soils represent four different kinds of heart. He called the soils: stony, thorny, wayside and good. The good soil is the only one that received the seed and brought forth a good harvest. Only one of the four was receptive. Three types of soil will bring forth non-conversions, or conversions that will not last. What Jesus said can be seen everywhere a teacher or missionary has gone preaching the word. The fault is not in the seed; it is not the fault of the missionary; it is not the fault of the environment in which people live. Sometimes the greater the adversity the greater the eagerness of people is to hear the word. Affluent cultures are usually not the most receptive; they feel that they do not need the Lord. They are like the rich Laodiceans in Revelation 3. We should not grow discouraged because the masses do not obey the Gospel. Jesus said, “Enter ye in the strait gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be that go in thereat. But strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:13-14.) See also John 3:16-21.

 

The Message of Jeremiah. The Lord told Jeremiah to go to the potter’s field. (Jer. 18.) There the prophet watched the potter take some clay and try to mold it into a vessel. Far from teaching that the clay has no say in the outcome, the Lord taught Jeremiah that Israel’s destiny was in their hands. If they repented of their evil ways, he would spare them destruction. But if they continued to disobey him, he would carry them away into captivity. Why does some clay mold easily into a good vessel and other clay spoils in the potter’s hands? It is because of the nature of the clay. If we are responsive and pliable, the Lord can make us into vessels suitable for the Master’s use. (2 Tim. 2:19-26.)

 

The message of Hebrews. The reason why many remain lost, according to the Hebrew writer, is because of unbelief. We must be careful that we do not fall after the same example of unbelief. “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Heb. 3:19.)

 

“But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6.) “The just shall live by faith,” declared the same writer, “but if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that draw back into perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (10:38.)

 

Faith is still the key issue in redemption. Non-conversions occur and some fall away because of unbelief. A continuing and abiding trust in the Savior is necessary. Repeatedly in Acts, Luke recorded that some believed and others did not believe the Gospel that was preached to them. (Acts 17:4, 5.) The book ends with these words: “Some believed the things which were spoken; and some believed not.” (Acts 28:24.)

 

Examples of Non-Conversions in Acts

 

Felix and Drusilla. (Acts 24:22-27.) Paul was examined before Felix at Caesarea. These Roman governors, Felix and Festus, were trying to determine what they should write to Caesar concerning the charges against Paul. Festus replaced Felix while Paul was bound. (Acts 25:1.)On the other hand, Paul’s mission was to testify to everyone along the way concerning Jesus Christ. Felix and his wife, Drusilla, are an interesting example of non-conversion. Who were they? What kind of people were they?

Josephus tells us.

 

Felix was a slave in the household of Antonia, the mother of Claudius, who was emperor of Rome. Antonia was fond of Felix and Pallas, his brother. Pallas became a man of influence under Claudius; Felix was appointed procurator of Judae. His name, Felix, means happy, but he was far from being happy.

 

Tacitus, the Roman historian, described Felix as one who “exercised authority as a king with the disposition of a slave.” Another author described him as cruel, corrupt, covetous, and compromising. He was ruthless in dealing with Jewish uprisings.

 

Drusilla, Felix’s wife, was a member of the infamous Herodian family. They had killed James the apostle, John the Baptist, and tried to kill Jesus when he was a baby. Herod had the children of Bethlehem slain in an effort to kill Jesus. Historians describe Drusilla as beautiful outwardly, but inwardly corrupt. She was Felix’s third wife and about twenty years old, but she was old in the ways of the world. Two people cannot stay married long with becoming much like one another. Felix and Drusilla were hardened sinners.

 

But Felix had some knowledge of Christianity, the Way, and was not swayed by the Jewish delegation from Jerusalem. (Acts 24:22.) As corrupt as Felix and Drusilla were, God wanted them to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9.) And Paul sought earnestly to convert them. He reasoned with them of righteousness, temperance and the judgment to come. (24:24-25.)  To a couple whose names were synonymous with injustice and wrongdoing, Paul spoke of righteousness. This word sometimes means: a) right doing, b) being counted right in the sight of God, and also c) justice, doing what is equitable and right as judge. To two people who were preoccupied with lustful living, Paul spoke about self-control. Kings and governors often lived excessive lives having more money than others. They lived in sensual pleasure. One who has self-control knows how to bring his fleshly body in subjection to the spirit. (1 Cor. 9:27, Gal. 5:24.) John the Baptist was beheaded for preaching such a message. Paul could just as easily have been ordered beheaded by Felix. But he continued to press the point about the judgment to come. That is, not only ought one have self-control morally and treat others fairly in life, but there is coming a judgment upon all those who do not. To his credit, Felix trembled when he heard Paul’s words. Another translation says that he was terrified (ASV). Felix was frightened. He said, When I have a convenient season, I will call for you. (24:25.) Luke explained that Felix hoped that a bribe would be given to him; so he talked with Paul often.

 

Here are two people in bold contrast. Paul once opposed the Way, putting the followers to death. But Paul was never a hardened sinner. He always tried to keep his heart and conscience right with God. He thought that he ought to oppose Christianity and uphold the Law of Moses. When he learned that Christianity was a fulfillment of the Law, he obeyed the Gospel. But Felix and Drusilla had a serious heart problem. What should a person do if they find out that they have a stony, thorny or wayside heart? Is it inevitable because God made them that way? Calvin would answer yes. But the Bible speaks of clearing away the stones as from a field. We should prepare our hearts and change our minds. A field that was once rocky and thorny can be a productive field. Farmers do that all the time. Felix and Drusilla were not willing to change their lives. As far as we know, they never obeyed the Gospel, even though they had the great apostle Paul standing before them encouraging and teaching them.

 

Felix was replaced by Festus. From secular sources, we know that Felix was deposed by Nero and summoned to Rome in 59 AD. There was a conflict in Caesarea between the Jews and Greeks.  There was a dispute over whether the city was a Jewish or Greek city.  Daggers were drawn on both sides. In the violence that ensued, the Jews beat back the Gentiles until Felix sent in Roman troops to kill the Jews. Thousands were killed and houses of wealthy Jews were looted. The Jews reported the matter to Rome since Caesarea was a Roman city. Felix left Paul bound in an effort to curry the favor of the Jewish leaders. Felix lost his position as governor and was saved from execution by the influence of his brother Pallas. Felix was banished to Gaul (France) where he died. Drusilla and their son later perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (69 AD). Thus ends the sad tale of a couple who tried to gain the world and yet lost their souls. (Matt. 16:26.)

 

Conclusion: The story of Felix and Drusilla has been repeated many times in the lives of others who refused the Gospel. Was it because they did not have an opportunity? No, they remained lost because they held onto the present moment in sin, wealth and pride.

 

What about you today? I am reasoning also of righteousness, temperance, and the judgment to come. As a young person, instead of having a sincere devotion to Christ, you are living for the moment. You are lost in your youthfulness, desiring the pleasures of sin for the moment. Others are confused and lost in the confusion of religion itself. Instead of studying the Book and following what you learn, you blame others for the sad state of religion. Some have learned of the life of Jesus Christ and what it means to follow Him, but have no intention of really changing your life. There is a judgment to come after death. (Heb. 9:27.) There is never a convenient time to give up sin. There is never a convenient time to repent. It will always be hard to do so. It will require determination and faith to follow the Christ.