TITLE: HINDERANCES TO SALVATION
TEXT: ACTS 24:24 - 25
INTRO:
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT EVERYONE HERE TODAY IS SAVED AND ON THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN. HOWEVER ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT EVERYONE HERE IS SAVED. NOW IT IS NOT BECAUSE GOD DOESN’T WANT YOU TO BE SAVED – HE DOES! THE REASON SO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT SAVED TODAY IS BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING IN THEIR LIFE THAT “HINDERS” THEM FROM BEING SAVED.
THROUGH THE AVERAGE INDIVIDUALS LIFE, THEY ARE OFFERED GOD’S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION AT LEAST ONCE – FOR SOME IT IS MORE THAN ONCE BUT FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER THEY REJECT GOD’S GIFT AND GO ON ABOUT THEIR WAY HEADED FOR HELL.
WELL, HERE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, SEVERAL TIMES PAUL STANDS IN JUDGMENT FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES AND FOR THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
NOW WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THIS MESSAGE TODAY IS SIMPLY POINT OUT SOME 3 DIFFERENT TYPES IN 3 DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND SHOW YOU WHAT IT WAS THAT KEPT THEM FROM EVER BEING SAVED – AND THEN MAKE IT APPLICABLE TO US TODAY.
I BEGIN MY MESSAGE THIS MORNING WITH A MAN BY THE NAME OF -
I. FELIX
HERE IN CHAPTER 24, PAUL HAS ALREADY TESTIFIED BEFORE FELIX OF THE FALSE ACCUSATIONS THAT WERE AGAINST HIM. HE WAS ACCUSED BY THE HIGH PRIEST AND THE ELDERS FOR STIRRING UP TROUBLE IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND AMONG THE PEOPLE. WELL SEVERAL DAYS HAS PASSED BY AND FELIX ALONG WITH HIS WIFE DRUSILLA HAD SENT FOR THE APOSTLE PAUL TO HEAR HIM CONCERNING THE FAITH. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY CALLED PAUL AND PAUL PREACHED TO THIS MAN A MESSAGE THAT BROUGHT DEEP CONVICTION IN HIS HEART.
IN V.25 AS PAUL PREACHED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, TEMPERANCE AND JUDGMENT, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT FELIX TREMBLED. AS FELIX HEARD PAUL PREACH THE WORD OF GOD –
· HIS HEART BEGAN TO MELT
· DEEP CONVICTION SET INTO HIS SOUL
· THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD WAS REALLY WORKING HIM OVER
· FELIX KNEW THAT EVERYTHING THAT PAUL WAS SAYING WAS TRUE.
HERE WAS A MAN –
· WHO WAS MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN’S WIFE
· HIS VERY NAME MEANS “PLEASURE”
· WHO WAS LICENTIOUS, HIS PASSION WENT UNRESTRAINED!
· HE LIVED HIS LIFE WITH THE ATTITUDE – GET ALL YOU CAN WHILE YOU CAN! EAT, SLEEP, DRINK AND BE MERRY
HERE WAS A POOR DEPRAVED LOST SINNER WHO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AND LISTEN TO A GREAT MAN OF GOD – YET WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, FELIX ALLOWED HIS LOVE FOR SIN TO KEEP HIM FROM GETTING SAVED!
Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
HOW STUPID! HOW DUMB!
LET ME BE CLEAR BY SAYING THIS:
· YOU CAN’T GET SAVED IN A TIME OF YOUR CONVENIENCE
· YOU CAN’T GET SAVED WHEN YOU THINK YOUR READY
I’VE HAD MANY PEOPLE SAY TO ME –
· I’LL GET SAVED GOD WHEN I GET READY
· I’LL GET SAVED WHEN I GET MY LIFE STRAIGHTENED OUT
LISTEN FOLKS, IF YOUR GONNA GET SAVED – DO IT NOW!
2 CORINTHIANS 6:2
For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation
ISAIAH 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near
BUT NOW SITTING BESIDE THIS MAN WAS HIS WIFE DRUSILLA. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SEEN FIT THAT IT WAS MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS A JEWESS. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS BY HER FIRST MARRIAGE A MEMBER OF THE HERODIAN FAMILY – SHE WAS STILL A JEW, BUT HAD FORSAKEN HER JEWISH BELIEFS! SHE KNEW HER LIFESTYLE WAS WRONG, SHE KNEW ACCORDING TO THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW THAT SHE WAS LIVING IN SIN! NOW HERE’S WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE. WHEN PAUL PREACHED, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT FELIX TREMBLED, BUT IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT HIS JEWISH WIFE! I SINCERELY BELIEVE AS I STUDIED THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE THAT THIS DEAR WOMAN HAD HARDENED HER HEART AGAINST THE TRUTH FOR SO LONG THAT PAUL’S PREACHING HAD LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON HER AT ALL!
OH WHAT A TRAGIC SITUATION SHE WAS IN! MY FRIEND IF YOU EVER COME TO THE POINT THAT YOUR HEART IS NO LONGER CONVICTED WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS BEING PREACHED – YOU ARE IN TROUBLE!
ILL. DR. GEORGE W. TRUITT MANY YEARS AGO HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS A LAWYER IN DALLAS TEXAS. HE CAME TO DR. TRUITT ONE DAY AND SAID, “GEORGE, YOU AND I CAME HERE TO DALLAS AT THE SAME TIME. YOU WERE A YOUNG PREACHER AND I WAS A YOUNG LAWYER. I MUST CONFESS THAT WHEN I FIRST HEARD YOU, I WAS MOVED A GREAT DEAL BY YOUR SERMONS. VERY FRANDLY, THERE WERE NIGHTS WHERE I COULDN’T SLEEP. BUT AS THE YEARS WORE ON, I COULD LISTEN TO YOU AND IT DIDN’T DISTURB ME ANY MORE.” HE CHUCKLED AND SAID, “AND YOU ARE A LOT BETTER PREACHER NOW THAN YOU WERE THEN.”
HOW TRAGIC THAT IS! YOU SEE FOLKS, THE MORE YOU KNOWINGLY LIVE IN SIN – THE LESS AND LESS THE TRUTH WILL BE ABLE TO CONVICT YOUR HEART.
EPHESIANS 4:19
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasci-viousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
II. FESTUS – IT WAS HIS FEAR OF MAN
IN VERSES 19-20 WE CAN SEE THAT DURING THE TIME HE HAD SPENT WITH FESTUS HE HAD SURELY WITNESSED TO HIM. IN VERSE 19 THE BIBLE SAYS PAUL HAD AFFIRMED JESUS WHO FESTUS KNEW WAS DEAD TO BE ALIVE. PAUL HAD TOLD FESTUS THAT JESUS WAS THE CHRIST WHO ROSE FROM THE DEAD. IN VERSE 20 WE SEE THE REPLY OF FESTUS TO THE GOSPEL. FELIX USED PROCRASTINATION AS HIS TICKET TO HELL AND NOW FESTUS USES UNBELIEF. THE BIBLE SAYS IN VERSE 20 THAT HE DOUBTED OF SUCH MANNER OF QUESTIONS.
I AM GOING TO GO WAY OUT ON A LIMB HERE HUMM, AND SAY THAT THIS MAN DOUBTED HIS WAY TO HELL WITH ALL THE REST OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN UNBELIEF OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. JESUS INDEED ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND THIS SHOWS HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS LORD. I LIKE THE SONG THAT SAYS THEY BURIED HIM BUT I TALKED TO HIM TODAY. THEY PUT HIM IN A TOMB ALMOST 2000 YEARS AGO THINKING HIM TO BE DEAD FOREVER BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW I TALKED TO HIM TODAY. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHOSOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT HE IS THE RISEN LORD AND YOU WILL SUBMIT TO HIM NOW OR YOU WILL SUBMIT TO HIM WHEN HE JUDGES YOUR SIN AND CAST YOU INTO HELL. ACTS 4:12 SAYS "NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED." PHILIPPIANS 2:10-11 SAYS "THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, OF THINGS IN HEAVEN, AND THINGS IN EARTH, AND THINGS UNDER THE EARTH; AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
III. AGRIPPA – IT WAS HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD TIME
3. AGRIPPA- FINALLY WE SEE A THIRD REJECTION OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST BY A ROMAN POLITICIAN. IN ACTS 26: 1-26 YOU CAN SEE THAT AGRIPPA HAD A DECENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES AND THE RELIGION OF THE JEWS. PAUL TELLS HIM THAT HE WILL GLADLY TELL THIS HIGH PLATFORM POLITICIAN HIS TESTIMONY. PAUL PROCEEDS TO TELL AGRIPPA HOW HE PERSONALLY MET THE LORD ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS. HE THEN TELLS AGRIPPA THAT CHRIST WAS SUPPOSED TO SUFFER AND DIE AND THAT HE WOULD BE THE FIRST THAT SHOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD. AGAIN, PAUL PRESENTS A RISEN LORD AND SAVIOR FOR ALL MANKIND, INCLUDING THE GENTILES. PAUL THEN ASKS AGRIPPA THE MAGIC QUESTION AND SAYS, KING AGRIPPA, BELIEVEST THOU THE PROPHETS? AGRIPPA GIVES A SAD RESPONSE THAT IS SHARED BY MANY PEOPLE OF ALL KINDS TODAY. HE SAYS, PAUL, ALMOST THOU PERSUADEST ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
WE ALL KNOW THAT ALMOST ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH BUT IN HORSESHOES AND HANDGRANADES. ALMOST SAVED IS ALL THE WAY LOST. ALMOST SAVED IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HELL. AGRIPPA NO DOUBT WAS ALSO UNDER CONVICTION OF THE HOLY GHOST JUST AS FELIX WAS AND INSTEAD OF PROCRASTINATION HE JUST FLATLY REJECTS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WITH AN ALMOST YOU PERSUADED ME.
ALL THREE OF THESE MEN ARE CRYING OUT IN THE MIDST OF WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH IN THE PLACE WE KNOW AS HELL. THEY ARE SUFFERING ETERNALLY FOR PROCRASTINATING SALVATION, NOT BELIEVING SALVATION, AND FLATLY REJECTING SALVATION. IF YOU COULD TALK TO THESE MEN RIGHT NOW AS THEY FRY LIKE A PIECE OF BACON I’M SURE THAT YOU WOULD SAY TO THEM, WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST GET SAVED. THERE YOU ARE BURNING AND TOTALLY DEPRAVED OF HOPE AND NEVER WILL YOU KNOW ANYTHING OF GOD, ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM HIS AID. WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST GET SAVED.
I ASK THE SAME QUESTION OF MANY OF YOU TODAY. WHY DON’T YOU JUST GET SAVED. WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK. WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING TO THAT WOULD BE WORTH AN ETERNITY IN HELL. I WANT TO GIVE YOU 5 THINGS I BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE HOLDING ON TOO THAT HAS KEPT THEM FROM ACCEPTING GOD’S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION. THIS SHOULD NOT TAKE LONG, SO PLEASE BARE WITH ME AND READ THEM. MANY, MANY LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERS AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE IN THE WORLD WILL GO TO HELL BECAUSE THEY REJECT THE GIFT OF GOD FOR ONE OR MORE OF THESE 5 THINGS.
1. PRIDE: I BELIEVE THAT PRIDE IS THE BIGGEST SIN THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT KEEPS THEM FROM BEING SAVED. THEY ARE SIMPLY TO PROUD TO BOW. TO PROUD TO SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY AND LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST.
A. PRIDE IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF SATAN. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT SATAN FELL BECAUSE OF PRIDE (ISAIAH 14: 12-23). THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THOSE WHO ARE NOT SAVED OR BORN AGAIN ARE THE CHILDREN OF SATAN. CHILDREN OFTEN SHARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR FATHER SO THIS IS NO SURPRISE. YOU AND THE DEVIL HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON AND THAT IS YOUR STINKING PRIDE. YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR REPUTATION OR WHAT PEOPLE WILL THINK AND YOU WILL END UP IN HELL BECAUSE OF IT.
B. THE BIBLE CALLS YOU WICKED. LISTEN, IF GOD SAYS YOU ARE WICKED BECAUSE OF PRIDE THEN YOU ARE WICKED. PSALMS 73:3 TALKS ABOUT THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED AND THEN IN VERSE 6 WE SEE THERE MAIN CHARACTERISTIC. IT IS THE SAME AS YOURS AND THE SAME AS SATAN’S. "THEREFORE PRIDE COMPASSETH THEM ABOUT AS A CHAIN; ........" THE BIBLE SAYS THAT YOUR PRIDE HAS YOU BOUND UP LIKE A CHAIN AND JESUS SAID THAT IF YOU WILL GET IN HIM THAT HE WILL SET YOU FREE.
C. PRIDE WILL KEEP YOU FROM GETTING SAVED. THE BIBLE SAYS IN PSALMS 10:4 "THE WICKED , THROUGH THE PRIDE OF HIS COUNTENANCE, WILL NOT SEEK AFTER GOD: GOD IS NOT IN ALL HIS THOUGHTS." EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOT SEEKING GOD BECAUSE YOU ARE TO PROUD TO GET SAVED I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT HE IS SEEKING AFTER YOU. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST. YOU ARE LOST AND IF YOU WILL DROP THAT CHAIN OF PRIDE AND TURN TO HIM HE WILL SAVE YOU. JUST GET SAVED. DON’T HOLD ON TO YOUR PRIDE, IT’S NOT WORTH IT. IT’S NOT WORTH AN ETERNITY IN HELL AND THEN THE LAKE OF FIRE.
2. PLEASURE: A LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD SO MUCH AND WHAT THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO LIVE FOR GOD AND GET SAVED. PEOPLE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP ALL THE FUN THEY ARE HAVING TO BECOME SOME KIND OF JESUS FREAK. WELL, THE BIBLE SAYS YOUR PLEASURE WILL NOT LAST BECAUSE THERE IS COMING A PAY DAY WHEN YOU WILL SUFFER AN ETERNITY IN HELL FOR REJECTING THE SON OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AS YOUR TICKET TO HEAVEN. IT’S NOT WORTH IT.
A. PLEASURE WILL NOT SATISFY YOU. HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW EVEN YOUR BEST OF TIMES ENJOYING THE PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD HAVE TO BE REPEATED. THE PLEASURE YOU GOT FROM DOING SOMETHING WILL NOT LAST AND IS FORGOTTEN BEFORE YOU KNOW IT. ECCLESIASTES 2:1 SAYS "I SAID IN MINE HEART, GO TO NOW, I WILL PROVE THEE WITH MIRTH, THEREFORE ENJOY : AND BEHOLD THIS ALSO IS VANITY." THE WISEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED (SOLOMON) SAYS THAT PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD ARE VANITY. LET ME SAY THAT I CAN PROCLAIM WITH NO ILL TO MY CONSCIENCE THAT SINCE I GOT SAVED, BORN AGAIN, I AM SATISFIED WITH JESUS. PLEASURE WILL NOT SATISFY BUT JESUS WILL.
B. PLEASURE IS SHORT-LIVED. AS WE SAID BEFORE, PLEASURES OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE OR HAVE DONE IN THIS WORLD WILL NOT LAST. THEY ARE SOON FORGOTTEN. HEBREWS 11: 24-26 "BY FAITH MOSES, WHEN HE WAS COME TO YEARS, REFUSED TO BE CALLED THE SON OF PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER; CHOOSING RATHER TO SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THAN TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON. ESTEEMING THE REPROACH OF CHRIST GREATER RICHES THAN THE TREASURES IN EGYPT, FOR HE HAD RESPECT UNTO THE RECOMPENSE OF THE REWARD."
C. PLEASURE WILL SEAL YOUR FATE. 2ND THESSALONIANS 2:12 SAYS "THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS." THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE PLEASURES OF SIN AND OF THIS WORLD WILL ONLY LAST FOR A SHORT SEASON AND THEN COMES JUDGEMENT DAY. YOU MAY BE HAVING PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS NOW BUT IN ETERNITY, WHILE YOU ARE SUFFERING THE TORMENTS OF HELL, YOU WILL WISH YOU COULD COME BACK AND RECEIVE THE FREE GIFT GOD IS OFFERING THROUGH HIS SON. THIS GIFT IS ETERNAL LIFE. JUST GET SAVED.
3. PEOPLE: THE BIBLE SAYS IN PSALMS 118:8 THAT "IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD, THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN." A LOT OF YOU WHO ARE READING THIS MESSAGE ARE GOING TO END UP IN HELL BECAUSE OF THE INFLUENCE PEOPLE HAVE ON YOUR LIVES. YOU MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN A MINISTER WHO IS TELLING YOU THAT YOUR WORKS ARE GOING TO GET YOU INTO HEAVEN OR ARE THE REASON YOUR SAVED. YOU MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN A CHURCH AND WHAT IT TEACHES. YOU MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF . PEOPLE ARE A BIG REASON THAT OTHERS WILL NOT RECEIVE THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION.
A. FRIENDS- SOME OF YOU ARE AFRAID THAT YOU WILL LOSE YOUR FRIENDS. YOUR RIGHT. YOU WILL LOSE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHEN YOU GET BORN AGAIN, BUT YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY WERE NOT REALLY FRIENDS ANYWAY. JAMES 4:4 SAYS "YE ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES; KNOW YE NOT THAT THE FRIENDSHIP OF THE WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD? WHOSOEVER THEREFORE WILL BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD." I’D RATHER HAVE GOD ON MY SIDE THAN ALL THE FRIENDS THIS WORLD COULD OFFER. JUST GET SAVED AND YOU WILL GET SOME NEW FRIENDS. SOME REAL ONES. YOU WILL HAVE JESUS AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE IS A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER. YOU WILL HAVE SOME CHURCH FOLKS THAT WILL BECOME YOUR FRIENDS AND EDIFY AND ENCOURAGE YOU IN YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD.
B. FAMILY- I HAVE WITNESSES TO MANY PEOPLE WHO SHRUG OFF THE GOSPEL BY CHANGING THE SUBJECT TO SOME FAMILY MEMBER OR GROUP IN THEIR FAMILY WHO GOES TO THIS CHURCH OR FOLLOWS THIS BELIEF. THE PEOPLE THEY ARE CLOSEST TOO ARE THERE EXCUSE FOR NOT GETTING SAVED. THEY SAY WELL MY GRANDFATHER WAS A PREACHER OR MY UNCLE PREACHES DOWN AT THE METHODIST CHURCH. THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE TIGHT NIT FAMILIES AND THEY KNOW IF THEY GET SAVED THAT THEY WILL BE AN OUTCAST TO THE FAMILY. THEY HAVE FAMILY REUNIONS AND PARTIES THAT ANY SAVED PERSON WOULD NOT FIT IN. I SAY DROP EM PRAISE GOD AND JUST GET SAVED. NOBODY IS WORTH GOING TO HELL OVER. THE BIBLE SAYS IN MATTHEW 10:37 "HE THAT LOVETH FATHER OR MOTHER MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME; AND HE THAT LOVETH SON OR DAUGHTER MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME." JUST GET SAVED AND WIN YOUR FAMILY TO GOD MAN. THEN YOU CAN ALL ENJOY THAT SWEET REUNION WITH THE LORD IN THE BY AND BY.
C. FOES- A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT IF THEY GET SAVED THAT IT WILL LEND THEIR ADVERSARIES MORE AMMUNITION AGAINST THEM. THEY WANT TO HOLD UP THEIR REPUTATION TO THERE ENEMIES. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT OUR REAL ENEMY IS SATAN AND THAT WE FIGHT NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD BUT AGAINST HIS POWERS. HEBREWS 6:12 "FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES." YOUR REAL ENEMY IS SATAN WHO ROAMS ABOUT SEEKING WHO HE MAY DESTROY. HE WANTS YOU TO CONTINUE LIVING FOR HIM AND FULFILLING HIS LUST AND BY DOING SO YOU WILL END UP IN THE PLACE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PREPARED FOR HIM (HELL).
4. PAST: A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR DAY SEEM TO THINK THAT THE SINS THEY HAVE COMMITTED IN THE PAST AND ARE COMMITTING NOW ARE TO SEVERE FOR THEM TO BE SAVED. THEY THINK THAT THEY ARE BEYOND SAVING.
A. PAST SINS- THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS’S BLOOD PAID FOR ALL OUR SINS; PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. EPHESIANS 1:7 SAYS "IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE." JESUS BLOOD DID NOT JUST PAY FOR SMALL SINS BUT ALL SINS
B. PAST FAILURES- A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT BECAUSE THERE TRACK RECORD IS FILLED WITH FAILURES THAT GOD CANNOT USE THEM AND THAT THERE IS NO REASON TO GET SAVED AND LIVE FOR HIM. I SAY JUST GET SAVED AND GOD WILL MAKE A WINNER OUT OF YOU. THE BIBLE SAYS IN 2ND CORINTHIANS 5:17 "THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS BECOME NEW." THAT’S RIGHT FRIEND. IF YOU WILL GIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE LORD AND GET SAVED HE WILL MAKE YOU A TOTALLY NEW CREATION AND ALL YOUR PAST FAILURES WILL BE GONE THAT HE CAN MAKE YOU NEW.
C. PAST COMMITMENTS- THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE EVEN MADE PACTS AND VOWS WITH SATAN AND BECAUSE OF THIS THEY THINK THEY ARE BEYOND SAVING. I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT THEY ARE IN DANGER OF REPROBATION BUT IT MAY NOT BE TO LATE. ANY PACT WITH THE DEVIL OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER THAT WOULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO PASS UP ON THE GIFT OF SALVATION IS OVERRULED BY THE WORD OF GOD. THE BIBLE SAYS IN 2ND PETER 3:9 "THE LORD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, AS SOME MEN COUNT SLACKNESS; BUT IS LONG-SUFFERING TO US-WARD, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE."
5. THE PRICE: FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THAT JESUS PAID IT ALL. WHEN CHRIST BLED AND DIED ON THE CROSS HE PAID THE SIN PENALTY FOR ALL WHO WILL COME TO HIM. HE WAS THE PROPITIATION FOR THE WHOLE WORLD IS WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. JOHN 3:16 SAYS "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."
SECONDLY, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO REPENT AND GET SAVED. THE BIBLE SAYS IN LUKE 13:3 AND AGAIN IN LUKE 13:5 "I TELL YOU NAY, BUT EXCEPT YE REPENT, YOU SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH." YES, JESUS PAID THE PRICE TO GET TO HEAVEN BUT YOU MUST BE WILLING TO LET IT ALL GO AND TURN TO HIM. SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO HIM AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. IT’S A PROMISE. JUST GET SAVED. YOU’LL NOT REGRET IT. IT’S THE GREATEST THING BY FAR THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO THIS OLD COUNTRY BOY AND IT WILL BE THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENS TO YOU NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.
