TO FAIL, TO FALL, OR TO FINISH
II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
However, it clear from Scripture and history that many have perished, are perishing, and will perish.
Some will perish because they fail to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, totally rejecting his sinless sacrifice. Jesus himself said, “Ye must be born again” (John 3). Others will receive Christ initially, but in the end will fall and perish due to many factors. Some of those who perish will do so because of the cares of this life. Others fall away from Christ due to trials and tribulations. Some, after having received Christ, will go about to establish their own righteous and therefore will fall away and be lost. Only those who fight a good fight and finish their course will be saved.
All of mankind will be found in one of the three categories mentioned.
I. TO FAIL
A. To Hear the Gospel Message
1. It is clear that “neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
2. Many do not attend [pay heed] to it at all. They do not even “listen” respectfully to it. Multitudes go not near the place where the gospel is proclaimed; and many, when there, and when they “seem” to attend, have their minds and hearts on other things. Barnes’ Notes
a. Husbands go to church to please the wife or vice versa.
b. Children go to church to please parents.
c. Some go to church because it is good for business or political reasons.
3. Many do not “believe” it. They have doubts about the whole subject of religion, or about the particular doctrines of the gospel — and while they do not believe it, how can they be benefitted by it? Barnes’ Notes
B. To Respond to the Gospel Message
1. The Rich Young Ruler
Mark 10:21 “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (v. 22) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”
Doubtless he was perfectly sincere; but something within whispered to him that his keeping of the commandments was too easy a way of getting to heaven. He felt
something beyond this to be necessary; after keeping all the commandments he was at a loss to know what that could be; and he came to Jesus just upon that point. JFB
The rich young ruler must renounce self as an end and give his own life to the service of men. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Men undergo great agony of mind while they are in suspense between the love of the world and the love of their souls. Clarke
2. Felix, Festus and King Agrippa
a. Felix the Governor
Acts 24:24 “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. (v. 25) And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”
He was living in adultery with Drusilla, and for this Paul wished doubtless to bring him to repentance. Barnes’ Notes
In view of his past sins, and in the apprehension of the judgment to come. The Greek (emfobov) does not denote that his body was agitated or shaken, but only that he was alarmed or terrified. That such fear usually shakes the frame, we know; but it is not certain that the body of Felix was thus agitated. He was alarmed and terrified, and looked with deep apprehension to the coming judgment. This was a remarkable instance of the effect of truth on the mind of a man unaccustomed to such alarms, and unused to hear such truth. It shows the power of conscience when thus, under the preaching of a prisoner, the judge is thrown into violent alarm. Barnes’ Notes
b. Festus
Acts 26:24 “And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.”
In Festus we have a specimen of the manner in which the great, and the rich, and the proud usually regard Christianity. They esteem it to be a subject in which they have no interest a question about “one dead Jesus,” whom Christians affirm to be alive. Whether he be alive or not; whether Christianity be true or false, they suppose is a question which does not pertain to them. Strange that it did not occur to Festus that if he was alive, his religion was true; and that it was possible that it might be from God. And strange that the people of this world regard the Christian religion as a subject in which they have no personal interest, but as one concerning which Christians only should inquire, and in which they alone should feel any concern. Barnes’ Notes
c. Agrippa the King
Acts 26:28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
(Some argue that Agrippa was being sarcastic and Paul understood his comment.)
Curiosity thus draws multitudes to the sanctuary. In many instances they remain unaffected and unconcerned. They listen, and are unmoved, and die in their sins. Barnes’
This man is typical of a person who permits some wicked relative, or some lustful habit to keep him from trusting Christ Jesus. It probably was because of the presence of his sister Bernice and her influence upon him, that he decided to reject Christ. Dict. of Bible Types
This woman is surely a type of some pet sin which is nourished and protected in the life in order to keep a person from accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Her name means "I give victory." It occurs just these three times with no explanation. She was the blood sister of her husband, Agrippa. They had the same father and mother. Wherever Agrippa went, she went. When he came to hear Paul preach, she was there, and she went out with him to see that he did not choose Christ, but rather remain with her. She is a type of any besetting sin in the life which demands the love of the heart, and time, and affection which should be given to Christ. Many individuals have a "Bernice" in their lives which keeps them from trusting the Savior. Dict. of Bible Types
3. Israel when given a promise of rest.
Hebrews 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
They rejected and despised it, and were, therefore, excluded from the promised land. It exerted no influence over their hearts and lives, and they lived and died as though no such promise had been made. Thus, many persons live and die now. The offer of salvation is made to them. They are invited to come and be saved. They are assured that God is willing to save them, and that the Redeemer stands with open arms to welcome them to heaven. They are trained up under the gospel; are led early in life to the sanctuary; are in the habit of attending on the preaching of the gospel all their days, but still what they hear exerts no saving influence on their hearts. Barnes’ Notes
C. To Take Heed Due To Carnal Reasons
1. Ambition --> Not now, but perhaps later.
2. Self-righteousness --> Not convinced of sin.
3. Self-will
4. Resentment against God or Christians --> Supposing themselves to have been abused because something has been done by somebody, they fancy they do well to be angry. Thus they harbor a spirit directly opposed to the spirit of the gospel, and this suffices to overrule all the arguments which are presented to induce them to become Christians. Charles Finney
II. TO FALL
A. Falling due to trials and tribulations.
Mark 4:17 “And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.”
Affliction or persecution will make you better or make you bitter depending upon what it finds in you.
B. Falling due to the cares of this life.
Mark 4:19 “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
C. Falling due to self-righteousness.
Romans 10:3 “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
D. Falling due to sin.
Hebrews 10:26-27 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (v. 27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”
E. Falling due to worldly lusts and temptations.
1. Paul’s Concern
I Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
Paul the Apostle speaks with concern about the possibility that he could be a “castaway” himself even after preaching the gospel to others.
Ministers, like others, are in danger of losing their souls. If PAUL felt this danger, who is there among the ministers of the cross who should not feel it? If Paul was not safe, who is? Barnes’ Notes
2. Paul’s Friend Demas
With grief in his heart, Paul relays the piercing thought concerning his companion Demas who after traveling with him in the work of the Gospel “hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”
II Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”
I Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
III. TO FINISH
A. You Must Not Be Moved
I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
B. You Must Fight
II Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (v. 8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
C. You Must Follow
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
CONCLUSION
There are no exceptions: All who fail to receive Christ will be lost, all who fall after receiving Christ will be lost, and all those who finish with Christ shall be saved.
You need not fail to follow or fall away from following. You can finish. You must finish.
Revelations 3:11 “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
