0410. The Faith in Christ
The Faith in Christ
"He sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ" (Act_24:24).
We have before us a most interesting scene. Paul’s life had been threatened in Jerusalem. The Roman authorities had hurried Paul, protected by many soldiers and horsemen, unto Caesarea. They had got under way, the third hour of the night. They came to Caesarea and Paul was safely delivered into the charge of Felix, the governor.
Paul had received a full hearing before Felix concerning the charges against him. The Jews had sent down orators to present their claims against Paul and both they and Paul had spoken.
We have before us, in this lesson, a subsequent meeting. Felix had been greatly moved by Paul’s first address. He wanted to know more about the things Paul preached. He sent for him and heard him "concerning the faith in Christ."
1. Let us study the man who stood before Felix as a preacher. Did any one ever listen to a better minister of the Word? Did any one ever hear a man who spoke more in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power? Paul knew the Word, and he was, pre-eminently, a reasoner out of that Word.
Paul was a fearless preacher. He preached to Felix with the same liberty and power that he experienced when he faced the common people. He cared not for the faces of men.
Paul was a successful preacher. Whole cities had, more than once, been turned upside down under his ministry. Thousands upon thousands have been saved and turned to God under his ministry.
2. Paul’s subject. The greatest preacher of the day stood before Felix preaching the greatest message which could be brought to a poor lost sinner–the faith in Christ. Not faith in men, but in Christ. Paul did not press human means of salvation and human schemes of soul betterment; he kept to the beaten track of the Gospel–"Christ."
Paul preached faith in Christ. Nothing more than faith. Not faith plus works, nor faith plus morals, nor faith plus church-membership–simply faith in Christ. Paul preached nothing less than faith in Christ. He knew that nothing less than faith in Christ could save. Paul did not preach to Felix, the need of his mending his ways; the importance of quitting the primrose way, in order that he might be saved,–he did preach the faith in Christ, nothing more and nothing less than faith in Christ.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR