ALL INCLUDED

One thing I want to point out here in Acts 24 verses 14, 15, and 16 is that Paul was telling Felix his reason for believing and preaching the message the Lord had revealed in and to him. In verse 15 he tells them he believes all things written in the law and the prophets. We have to remember here that he is talking about the Old Testament scriptures as the New Testament had not been written at the time.

He goes on to say what the law and the prophets said and that was there would be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. I know the evangelical community will tell you this is talking about a future resurrection but this would be taking these verses out of context. He is talking to Felix about what the law and the prophets foretold and that was there would be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

I believe he was talking about the resurrection of Jesus three days after He died on the cross as it is made clear in many areas of the Bible that when Jesus rose again we were raised together with Him and are also seated together with Him in Heavenly places. If this was future then it would not be saying we were raised together with Him. To be raised together with Him has to be an event that happened at the same time Jesus resurrected.

If we leave to go somewhere and arrive there together, one does not arrive before the other one does. Together means at the same time. That is when the resurrection of the just and the unjust happened. Not at some future date that we have to wait for but when Jesus resurrected.

In verse 16 Paul further tells them that because there was a resurrection of the both the just and the unjust at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he now held a conscience void of offence toward God and men. There was no longer a “us and them” mentality with Paul as he knew all had resurrected and were now righteous…..both the just and the unjust because it had nothing to do with themselves.

The word “offence” means he saw men as now being faultless. No more looking at actions and deeds these people may still have been committing. No more seeing them as on their way to hell because they had not gone to an altar somewhere or said a prayer with some pastor. No, he now saw them as faultless because he knew both the just and the unjust had resurrected at the same time Jesus resurrected. When He resurrected, He resurrected the entire human race in righteousness. Yes, even the unjust.

Paul could look at everyone and know they had been resurrected with Christ and because of that he could not hold anything against anyone because he now saw them all as faultless. What Paul preached was called heresy (v.14) and the way of the cross is still called the same thing today. Let us see people in the proper light which is redeemed and put our judgment aside like Paul plainly said he did when he presented his case to Felix. Before the cross there were none righteous, no not one. After the cross there are none unrighteous, no not one. He resurrected both the just and the unjust and the finished product is a new race of people in Christ, already seated in heavenly places. It is finished.