King Agrippa is a man who was given a clear presentation of the Gospel by Paul. He heard and understood all that Paul said. In light of all that, Agrippa still chose not to believe and be saved. In this tract we will discuss the unbeliever who hears but rejects the Gospel.
Here is the end of the story about King Agrippa. Previous to this the Apostle Paul has given Agrippa a long testimony.
Acts 26
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom
also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of
these things are hidden from him; for this thing was
not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know
that thou believest.
Agrippa was aware of what the Lord Jesus did. He was also aware of the Scriptures and the Old Testament prophets. Paul was aware of this and openly challenged King Agrippa.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
In this verse King Agrippa sealed his fate. His great and immortal confession of a lost person: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian". Almost, almost, almost!!!
King Agrippa had more than enough evidence and testimony to become a Christian. Still it was not enough so he said..."Almost"!
29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Paul again gave Agrippa a challenge and he earnestly hoped that Agrippa would get saved. Agrippa was given a clear presentation of the Gospel and his answer to Paul was: ALMOST!
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and
the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between
themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of
death or of bonds.
After the challenge King Agrippa got up and went aside for a discussion. He quickly put aside the things Paul had said and he returned to the business at hand. That business was deciding Pauls fate.
Agrippa had at this point made his decision. He heard the Gospel and Paul's testimony. He rejected the gospel and told Paul his famous words: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian"
LOST FOR GOOD
It is interesting to note that never again is Agrippa mentioned in the Bible after his encounter with the Apostle Paul. We can only assume that he went from that situation and continued to live his live in rejection of God and the Lord Jesus unto his perdition.
God was moving in King Agrippa's life. He had previous testimony and knowledge of the things of God. The Apostle Paul was used to sum it all up and to offer Agrippa a clear challenge to the gospel. Agrippa was brought to a major decision point in his life. He could accept the light God had given him, or he could reject it. Unfortunately, Agrippa chose to reject the Gospel. He made his choice and that choice was to reject the challenge to salvation made by the Apostle Paul... and the Holy Spirit!
The end result is there is no further record of God dealing with King Agrippa. The man chose the world and the devil over God. He made his choice and God honored that choice.
God does not force a person to be saved. God wants a person to be saved but He will not force salvation upon a person.
Isaiah 1
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
The issue is SIN. Everyone is a sinner and before God that sin must be paid for. There is only two ways that sin may be dealt with.
1) The Lord Jesus is God in human flesh. He came down from heaven and died on the cross and paid the penalty for sin. He now offers the gift of salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life to all who are willing to receive it with a humble and repentant heart. God wants people to be saved. He loves lost men and women so much that He became a man and personally paid for our sins. If a person wants the Lord Jesus to be His Saviour, God will honor that choice and the penalty for sin will be placed upon the Lord Jesus and what He did on the cross.
Rom 6
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- What is the wages of sin?...............................death
- What is the gift of God?.........................eternal life
- Through whom does one receive the gift?.................Jesus
Heb 9
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with
hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high
priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood
of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation
of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
2) A person may decide to pay for their own sins by themselves. This type of person does not want the Lord Jesus to pay the penalty for their sins. They feel they can pay the price by themselves. However, the price/penalty for sin is eternity burning in the lake of fire! If this is your choice, God will honor it.
Ezek 18
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so
also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth,
it shall die.
Rev 20
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from
whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was
found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and
the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is
the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and
hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were
judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is
the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was
cast into the lake of fire.
CONCLUSION
It is now your choice! What will you, reader, decide? Will you decide to accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour? Or will you decide to perish in hell by paying for your own sins?
Your choice... make it now!
Josh 24
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you
this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your
fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or
the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for
me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
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