A defense of the faith

This morning, as I read Paul's defense before king Agrippa in Acts 26, I came to Paul's words as he quoted Jesus on the day of his conversion. Here is Paul's defense based on Jesus' words,

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

The contrast between life and death, light and darkness couldn't be any clearer. Jesus tells Paul that the condition of mankind is one or the other. There isn't a third option. Here is the contrast from Jesus' words to Paul,

Man is either, -blind or seeing

-in darkness or in the light

-under the power of Satan

or under the power of God

-unforgiven or forgiven

-no place with God's people

or having a place among the saints

We all live in one of the two kingdoms. What a contrast. Two kingdoms, two rulers, two people groups. In Satan's kingdom is blindness, darkness, his rule in the lives of his people, sin unresolved and no place with God's people. It's not a pretty picture, not a kingdom anyone would claim with gladness, not a ruler who is kind or gracious.

Then, in the other kingdom ruled by God is sight, light, his loving rule in the lives of his people, forgiveness of every sin, a place with the saints. The choices are clear.

We all begin in the kingdom of Satan, blind, in darkness and unable to see where we are going, ruled by a wicked master, caring about the weight of sin and outside of God's family, but when anyone trusts Christ all of that changes.

That's Paul's defense before Agrippa, "I was in the kingdom of Satan but have now come into God's kingdom and I want everyone to join me." In the story of this encounter Agrippa says, "In a short time you would make me a Christian too!" And Paul replies, "yes, and everyone else as well."

Why wouldn't we want those we love to find sight, light, forgiveness, a new loving ruler and a wonderful family? Paul's defense of the Christian faith is based on the contrast between two kingdoms. Who wouldn't want to be part of God's kingdom? Who wouldn't want light, sight, forgiveness and life? When the choices are this clear it makes a discussion about Christianity a very simple one....which kingdom do you want to be part of?