(Rom 2:1 KJV) Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Title:
“Eleven Excuses that will not fly”
Introduction:
Every child of God has been called upon to “preach the gospel to every creature.” In our witnessing for the Lord, you will hear at least eleven different excuses for not getting saved by those who are still lost in their sin. In the first couple of chapters of the Book of Romans, the apostle Paul refutes every excuse. In today’s introduction verse, Paul says, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man!”
Excuse1. Who does God think he is anyway?
There are many who question the authority of God and the deity of Jesus Christ. Consider this verse:
(Rom 1:4 KJV) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
The trump card of Christianity is the resurrection of Christ from the dead. In this resurrection Jesus is “declared to be the Son of God!
Excuse 2. No one ever loved me?
Some people use their past lives to excuse themselves. They, therefore, live angry and embittered. After all, life has been hard on them. Why would God allow them or anyone to be so “unloved.”
Consider these verses:
(Rom 1:8 KJV) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
(Rom 1:9 KJV) For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Christ loved you enough to go to the cross to pay for the penalty of your sins. The apostle Paul loved the people of Rome so much that, as a missionary, he was willing to forsake all and come to Rome to share with them the good news of the gospel.
Even this email by this preacher is a loving attempt to bring you into the family of God. You cannot say that “No one ever loved you!”
Excuse 3. I am too bad to be saved?
Before the apostle Paul came to Christ, he was an unlikely candidate for salvation. His life is a testimony that God is able to save to the uttermost.
Consider this verse of scripture:
(Rom 1:16 KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The word “power” in this verse is “dynamite” power. Dynamite was used to build a road through the mountains. The gospel is powerful enough to move upon the stoney heart!
Excuse 4. Hey, I never met the man?
There are those who would say, show me Jesus and I will believe. I cannot do that. God requires a man to come to Christ by faith. Consider this verse:
(Rom 1:20 KJV) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Although I cannot show the physical image of Christ, his handiwork can be evidenced at every turn in life’s journey. A lost man is without excuse.
Just as an orphaned child knows that because he is, he must have an earthly father and mother or he could not exist, a lost man should come to the same conclusion. There is in the heart of every man a knowledge of the eternal. (Eccl. 3:11)
Excuse 5. I have something else that I believe in?
Darwin has his set of books. The lost world has educated God out of their minds. Even those who have a religious persuasion that does not include the cross, feel themselves too educated for the simplicity of the gospel.
Consider these verses:
(Rom 1:22 KJV) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(Rom 1:23 KJV) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Before a person will place there faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit through our witness must reveal to them that any other hope for salvation is a lie.
Excuse 6. I am just having too much fun?
There is pleasure in sin for a season. (Heb. 11:25) Many people have not yet come to end of their “season of sin.” They would say that they are having too much fun to be saved. Consider these verses:
(Rom 1:26 KJV) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
(Rom 1:32 KJV) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Note that the judgment of God will bring an end to their pleasure and come bearing down on them!
7. I have plenty of time to change?
Have you ever heard this line of thinking, “You are right about the gospel, I know that I should get saved, and I will, someday, not now, but later?”
Consider this verse:
(Rom 2:3 KJV) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
A lost man may be looking for the escape hatch just prior to his death, but if they have hardened their hearts in the “day of provocation,” they will have find that door of escape.
8. I did not have any particular reason to get saved?
In the blindness of a lost man, he fails to see God’s daily provisions of grace on his behalf. He simply does not understand why that he should pay any respect to God. “After all,” the lost man thinks, “I am successful and have accomplished all of my success without the help of God.”
Consider this verse:
(Rom 2:4 KJV) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
It is by the grace of God that any of us have life and breath!
9. I claim ignorance?
It is not because of ignorance that a man remains in his sin, it is because of his rebellion. The God who has created this world has but one commandment for us to obey in regards to our salvation, we must do homage to Christ. We must bow our knee and confess him as Lord. To not do this, is to live in rebellion against the one commandment of God.
Consider this verse:
(Rom 2:8 KJV) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
A rebellious heart must become a repentant broken heart before salvation can occur!
10. I thought that my good works were good enough?
You may think that you“look good” in your outward appearance to others, but compared to the holiness of Christ, your righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God.
Consider these verses:
(Rom 2:12 KJV) For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
(Rom 2:24 KJV) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Note that the Jews thought of themselves as being religiously righteous. Then note that the gentiles thought of them otherwise. The gentiles saw the Jews as a hypocritical sinful nation. They blasphemed God because of them!
You may think highly of yourself, and that you are not in need of salvation. If you could only see yourself through the eyes of Christ, you would know of how woefully inadequate you stand in his presence. You would plead to God for the mercy of the Cross!
11. I thought that I was saved?
Finally, there are those who have gone through some kind of religious ceremony and have been told that, because of this, they are assured of their future salvation. Hear these words, “THE CHURCH CANNOT SAVE YOU!”
Read this verse:
(Rom 2:25 KJV) For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
The Jews thought themselves saved because their parents had them circumcised when they were only eight days old. Circumcision cannot save a person from the penalty of sin, but it a picture of what can you. We are to have no confidence in the flesh. That hope must be cut away. Our faith must be in the shedding of blood. The only blood that can save us is the incorruptible blood of Christ, the Lamb of God. Only his blood has the power to “take away the sins of the world.”
Baptism, communion, confession, conformation, etc… cannot save you. You must “Call upon the name of the Lord to be saved!” (Romans 10:13)
Conclusion:
As long as you keep justifying your sin, God cannot justify you!
Final verse of scripture:
(Rom 3:19 KJV) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Question: Have you been saved?
