Passage Read: Acts 24-25
Meditation Verses: 24:14-16
Thought
This is an example of conversation seasoned with salt. It is not a detailed explanation of the Gospel itself, but the big picture of the Gospel and its implications. The Gospel agrees with everything written in the Law and Prophets, which means I must too. Not everything people have added to the Law and Prophets, but everything written in them. The Gospel teaches about a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked, which implies a judgment and that there are righteous people and wicked people and they will rise from the dead to remain eternally, either condemned or blessed. That should provoke hearers to wonder where they stand, who will judge and where they would stand in that judgment. In fact, the Truth of the Gospel should result in a commitment to keeping my conscience clear before God and men; that again calls back to the standard of judgment all men will face. This should be enough to prick any man's conscience and compel him to find answers to the questions raised.
Application
I may not have time or inclination to explain the details of the Gospel, but I should be able to speak such things that point to the Gospel and reveal its implications. I want to at least whet someone's appetite to seek to know the truth regarding life after death and the judgment to come. Paul doesn't even say that Felix needs to believe these things, but only that Paul Himself is firmly convinced of them. Felix later often asked Paul to come and speak with him, and Paul then had opportunity to explain all the details. Sadly, Felix refused to believe and find relief from fear, rather he let his fear control him and drive away his only hope for salvation. The same will be true for me: Some will express an interest, but they have ulterior motives and are not genuinely interested in solving their judgment problem.