Sunday, November 27, 2016 am
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
CHRISTIAN (3)
Hindrances to Becoming a Christian
Last week, we addressed obeying the gospel.
Not only did we address what one must do to become a Christian,
we also noted some of the benefits of becoming a Christians, and that we
must remain faithful and realize that becoming a Christian comes with a
cost. There are many things
that obeying the gospel will not do – miraculously change your heart,
remove temptations, keep you from committing sins, remove all your
struggles and difficulties, remove the consequences of sin, including
relationships, and will not guarantee your salvation (make it impossible
to fall away), etc.
While the commitment is serious, many still refuse to obey the gospel.
In fact, it seems that fewer people within our society seem to be
interested in the Bible and salvation through Jesus.
It seems that as time goes on, the wayside is adding lanes (Luke
8:5, 12) that lead to destruction (Matthew 7:13) to accommodate the
increasing masses that most are just not interested in the gospel.
Meanwhile, the road to life (heaven) continues to be “straight
and narrow” and it seems to be more and more lonely (Matthew 7:14).
In
Acts 8:36 we find a question the Eunuch asks Peter, “See here is water,
what hinders me from being baptized?”
As he was taught, he saw that he needed to do something and that
prompted the question. We
greatly anticipate those who ask such questions as they afford
opportunities to teach, but more often today there ARE hindrances to
obeying the gospel. In this
lesson, we want to notice a few of them.
Understanding these things can help us to anticipate and prepare
for such objections.
a.
We are
living in times when fewer believe in the Bible, or even God. Beyond
that even more do not believe it is necessary to follow the Bible’s
teaching on righteousness (obedience – cf. 1 John 3:7). Furthermore,
humanism (emphasis on the importance of the human rather than God) has
degraded the accountability that comes with belief in God and a divine
pattern of morality.
That presents a challenge.
Often, in trying to reach the lost, we cannot even begin opening
a Bible until we address these issues.
At time, they are deeply rooted and hidden from the surface.
b.
Add to
this the confusion that is present because of the plethora of world
religions, world views ecumenism, and antagonism toward God
(challenges). There’s
confusion – religious and otherwise.
c.
Yet the
Bible is clear that one MUST believe in order to be saved.
The whole system of faith is sometimes included in the word
“believe”.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 speaks of the gospel being “veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has
blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
In the parable of the sower, we read of
wayside being hardened hearts that just refuse to accept the truth.
(Luke 8:5, 12)
Jesus dealt with many unbelievers, including the Jewish leaders (John
12:37-40 - in spite of the
signs Jesus did, “they did not believe Him” so that the prophecy of
Isaiah about blindness would be fulfilled (Isa. 53:1, 6:9-10).
Even among those following around, Jesus knew there were some
who didn’t believe (John 6:64).
2 Thessalonians 2:12 speaks of those who are deluded because they
believe the lie, “that they may
all be condemned who did not
believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
d.
There’s
not much we can do for one who has a hard heart and doesn’t want to
believe until you can get him to rethink these things.
a.
Contributing to unbelief, others are simply thinking wrong about
themselves and what they need to do.
In our society, many believe that Jesus saves, but they don’t
need to or want to obey the gospel.
They just think wrong – Psalm 94:11,
The Lord knows the thoughts of
man, That they are futile.
Romans 1:21 speaks, because,
although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were
thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish
hearts were darkened.
b.
Some say:
“I’m not good enough” (a true statement, but still a
misunderstanding of scripture) – our salvation is not based upon our
perfect law keeping. While
we must seek after righteousness, we are saved by the blood of Jesus.
Titus 3:4-5 speaks of the kindness and love of God appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His
mercy He saved us…
Furthermore, Christ died for sinners – Romans 5:8.
“I’m good enough” as if to say I don’t need to obey the God
because God is going to accept me like I am.
Isaiah 64:6 describes it,
All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.
Romans 3:10 – there is none righteous.
Again consider Titus 3:5, we are not saved by works of
righteousness
“I have plenty of time” is said of those who know they need to
take seriously the gospel, but not right now.
Sadly, this mindset often becomes permanent (there’s always an
excuse to put it off) or meets a tragic ending.
We are warned that our life is a vapor – James 4:14.
“I hate God” and blame Him for all their troubles.
They are bitter and miserable.
While some have been given unpleasant circumstances, their
quality of life is determined by their thinking.
“I’m not lost” – many have been lied to about what they need to
believe and do. Some reject
the need for obeying the gospel in favor of “faith only”.
Matthew 7:21-23 notes it not enough to say “Lord, Lord”, but you
must obey.
c.
Obeying
the gospel begins with proper thinking - Bringing every thought into
captivity – 2 Corinthians 10:5. In Acts 2:37, they were cut to the heart
and asked what shall we do.
d.
But sadly,
faulty thinking will keep many from becoming Christians and thus leave
them in their lost state.
Proverbs 27:3 says, For as he
thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his
heart is not with you.
While dealing with a miser, the point of the attitude applies much
broader.
a.
To become
a Christian, you must give up living in sin.
1 John 3:9 tells us that as Christians we cannot sin.
Paul emphasizes this in Romans 6:1-2 where he proceeds to remind
them they had put to death the man of sin.
b.
We have a
sin problem in this society.
But that is nothing new. Often it keeps one from becoming a Christian.
Far too many are unwilling to give up sinful behavior.
They love their ungodly
lifestyles – whether it be sensual lust, pride, materialism, profanity,
illicit substances and behaviors, etc.
Some love to crush others and live as if they are better than
everyone else. Some are
arrogant and selfish. The
list is endless and far too many love this world and the things of the
world too much (1 John 2:15-17).
c.
Jesus in
John 3:18-19 spoke of how men loved darkness and hated the light,
seeking to destroy those who expose their evil deeds.
And this is the
condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone
practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his
deeds should be exposed.
Job 24:13-17 said, “There are
those who rebel against the light; They do not know its ways Nor abide
in its paths. The murderer rises with the light; He kills the poor and
needy; And in the night he is like a thief. The eye of the adulterer
waits for the twilight, Saying, ‘No eye will see me’; And he disguises
his face. In the dark they break into houses Which they marked for
themselves in the daytime; They do not know the light. For the morning
is the same to them as the shadow of death; If someone recognizes them,
They are in the terrors of the shadow of death.”
Paul warned Timothy that perilous times would come (1 Tim. 3:1-5).
d.
This love
for sin has caused many problems as some seek to water down the gospel
to accommodate sinful conduct, or they ignore the whole counsel of God
to appease ticking ears (cf. Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).
The result is a class of professed believers who have not obeyed
the gospel.
NOTE: This goes back to our emphasis on repentance in a previous lesson.
IV.
Consequences of obeying the gospel–
a.
There are
others who will hear the truth and understand it.
They realize that becoming a Christian comes with a cost, as we
have already addressed, and are unwilling to pay that cost.
b.
Many
realize that accepting the Bible means you will be resisting society.
Being a Christian today is politically incorrect and comes with
labels. Accurately following the
Bible is villainized today by our society.
If we take a moral stand true to God’s word, we are likely to be
mocked and maybe worse. Some
have even faced persecutions (lost businesses, fines, etc.).
Many just don’t want to face such ridicule.
John 12:43 notes that even among the rulers, many believed in
Jesus but would not confess Him for fear of being put out of the
synagogue.
c.
It may
cost you your job – what if
you are doing something that supports sinful behavior (working for a
brewery, in a casino, a bar, etc.)? What if your job requires you to lie
or be deceitful? What if the
job conflicts with your new found Biblical principles?
d.
It may
cost you family and friends –
Jesus directly warned this might happen – Matthew 10:34-38 – He came,
not to bring peace, but a sword – families would be divided!
There are some who realize that following Jesus might mean
rejecting a system of faith you grew up with and others who hold to
that. But we must put God
first.
Another thought – some realize that by accepting the truth, it
might mean their family is not saved.
While such is put in God’s hands, that doesn’t change what you
must do, and if they genuinely care what they would want you to do! (cf.
Luke 16:27-28)
As to friends, you may lose some of them as well - “They think it
strange…” – 1 Peter 4:4.
e.
Jesus said if we’re not willing to pay the price we cannot be His
disciple.
Luke 14:33
Jesus also paid the price saying (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 2:24).
He told His disciples there is a price, “if the world hated me It will
hate you too” – John 15:18.
f.
What
profit is it to a man, if he gains the world? Matthew 16:26.
The cost of rejection is greater!
a.
God
despises hypocrisy. It is
contrary to everything that is the life of a Christian.
The word is NEVER used in a good sense in scripture.
James 3:17 tells us the wisdom from above is without hypocrisy.
b.
Right or
wrong, when we are not what we ought to be, the world takes note and
judges. Sometimes it
turns people away. What a
tragedy that is.
It also gives justification to critics of truth.
Example: When “Christians” are filled with divorce and other
sins, what does this say to Muslims, atheists, etc.?
We judge them for their abortion, homosexuality, etc.
We’re not consistent!
c.
Hypocrisy
is something we CAN control and remove it as a reason!
Be sincere. Romans
12:9, our love is to be without hypocrisy.
a.
One reason
many don’t obey, is because they have never heard the truth.
OR what they have heard is so far from truth they are ignorant to
it.
b.
Ignorance
will NOT save anyone! Act
17:30-31
c.
This is
one of those areas, where we can do something.
Furthermore, if we don’t tell others, who will?
a.
Finally,
consider the rich, young ruler.
Luke 18:22, “You still lack one thing”.
His love of money and things stood in his way of inheriting
eternal life. Sadly he
went away sorrowful because of his great possessions
b.
For many
today, they lack that “one thing”.
It may be different for everyone, but often it is “one thing”
that they need to change.
Whatever it is, if possible we need to help them see it and overcome.
Some call these reasons, but in reality they are all excuses.
The real reason many fail to obey the gospel is because they
refuse to. As Jesus told the
Jews in John 5:39-40, You search
the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these
are they which testify of Me. But
you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
The
truth is one day we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ
and give an accounting for whether or not we have obeyed the gospel.
And where you stand after judgment will be determined by your
decisions in this life.
Don’t let your excuses and selfish desires keep you from heaven.
Think about it.