YOUR PAGE TITLE HERE

Contributions?

Those interested in submitting doctrinally sound outlines, articles, audio sermons or information you would like to contribute to this site may E-mail them to us for review. All content will be reviewed by the website administrator prior to publication for content and scriptural soundness.

Why Aren’t You A Christian?

Intro.

A. If you are not a Christian, it would be a good question to ask yourself.

B. Old gospel preacher once, who always asked those with whom he came in contact if they were Christians.

1. If they said they were not, he would ask them why they were not.

2. If they said they were, he would say, "How do you know you are."

3. He converted a lot of people that way. We need more like him.

C. In this lesson we want to consider some reasons why some aren't Christians.

I. Some Are Not Christians Because They Are Afraid Of Ridicule

A. Some are afraid of ridicule from friends and associates.

1. The church is unpopular with most; It will always be ridiculed by some. 1 Pet. 4:4

a. Must not be ashamed of ridicule and persecution. Luke 9:26

(1) It is a terrible thing for us to be ashamed of Him and His words.

(2) Do you refuse to be a Christian because you are ashamed of Him?

B. Some are afraid of the ridicule from parents or relatives. Often their ridicule is the harshest.

1. Again, listen to Jesus - Matt. 10:34-37

a. We cannot obey parents when their wishes are in opposition to the will of God.

(1) What if they asked you to steal, lie or kill?

(2) No less matter if they wish you to not obey gospel; their wishes in opposition to will of God.

b. Remember, you shall give an account of yourself in that last great day. Rom. 14:10-12

II. Some Are Not Christians Because They Are Waiting For A Special Call

A. This comes from a misunderstanding of the Scriptures; it has its roots in errors of denominationalism.

1. God makes no "special calls" to men and women today. God does not operate a department store.

a. Men called by gospel. 2 Thess. 2:14- These had been called by the gospel, as it is with all men.

b. Men are to come to Jesus. Matt. 11:28-30

c. In parable of great supper, the servant was sent out to invite. Luke 14:17

d. Heaven invites. Rev. 22:17 - This is the way the book of God ends. It’s heaven's invite to all to come. God invites. The Lord invites. The Holy Spirit invites. The church invites.

2. Do not sin by saying this isn’t enough; that we’re waiting for "special call." Lord running no "specials."

III. Some Make Excuses On Their Own Weaknesses For Not Becoming A Christian (If one has weaknesses, that's all the more reason he ought to obey!)

A. "I'm not good enough."

1. Becoming a Christian is what makes us "good."

a. The betrayers and murderers of Christ were not very "good" but by the gospel they were pricked in their hearts and were told what to do. Acts 2:37-38

b. All men have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and if you are ever saved, it will be because you have obeyed from the heart the gospel - Rom. 6:17-18

2. If you were already "good enough," Christ did not need to die.

a. Christ died for sinners (Rom. 5:8), even the chiefest (1 Tim. 1:15).

b. Jesus said - Matt. 9:13

B. "I don't know enough."

1. If one waits until he knows all the Bible, he will never obey.

a. If you are of the age of accountability, and have average intelligence, you will hear enough in this one sermon to obey.

b. The Eunuch (Acts 8), the Pentecostians (Acts 2), Cornelius and his household (Acts 10), Lydia and the jailor (Acts 16), all heard only one sermon, and they understood enough to obey.

2. Obey, to be put into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27) and then grow as babes in Christ (1 Pet. 2:2).

C. "I couldn't hold out."

1. Jesus would answer by saying, "O, ye of little faith."

a. The Lord gives strength and help. Phil. 4:13; 1 Cor. 10:13. To think otherwise is to distrust God.

b. Christians are kept by the power of God through faith. 1 Pet. 1:5; Phil. 2:13

c. God commands nothing that is impossible for us to do. His commands are not unreasonable. Rom. 12:1 - He does not ask too much. 1 John 5:3

d. He will help us. Isa. 41:13

e. He knows we will not be perfect, but he wants us to try to do our best.

2. Sometimes people must drive their cars toward home on a dark and treacherous night. They can't see all the way home before they start, neither can they see every curve, dangerous place, or the on-coming traffic from the beginning, but they start. They will pass over those things as they come to them, and through the blessing of God they return home safely. So it is in living the Christian life.

IV. Too Many Hypocrites

A. Some say they are not Christians because there are so many hypocrites in the church.

1. There is no sound reasoning to this excuse.

a. Sure, there are some hypocrites in the church, but there are even more out of the church.

b. If needed job, & was offered in factory, wouldn't say, "I won't work there, there are hypocrites there."

(1) Groceries, & had money to buy, he wouldn't say, "I won't go there, there are hypocrites there."

c. The excuse of hypocrites in the church will be a very weak excuse in the day of judgment.

(1) Does one expect to be given heaven because of the hypocrisy of others?

(2) Will he say, "Lord, I didn't serve you because of hypocrites & therefore I deserve heaven."

2. Better to put up with few hypocrites in the church for little while, than be with all hypocrites for eternity.

a. We are not minimizing hypocrites; God has a place for them (Matt. 18:6-7), but as we said, it is better to put up with them for a little time than forever.

V. Too Young, Too Old

A. Some make decision too young (acceptable decision very young); five/ten years later still abiding by decision

1. There are some fundamentals that the young need to know and experience.

a. They need to know they are sinners and feel the conviction of guilt--i.e., laboring under the guilt of sin. Matt 11:28-30

b. Must know Jesus died to save them; then must know some fundamentals of atonement sacrifice of Christ

c. They must know what obeying the gospel does for them--that it adds them to the church; thus, they must know some basics about the church.

B. Some make the excuse that they are too old.

1. Older lady, after receiving much teaching, made excuse, "I'm just too old to be active in the church."

2. Many have obeyed at eleventh hour & can receive reward Matt. 20:6-9

VI. Not Ready Yet

A. It’s evident that they are not ready yet or they would obey. Lack of faith is the only thing holding them back.

1. Let us ask, "If you are not ready, how long will it take you to get ready?"

a. It would not take you long to get ready if you wanted to.

2. If you are not ready, you should get ready and stay ready. Matt. 24:44

a. Be careful lest the cares, riches and pleasures of this world keep you from getting ready. Luke 8:14

b. Careful not to be "cumbered about much serving" & fail to "choose that good part." Luke 10:38-42

c. Careful not to be like the five foolish virgins who were not ready when the time came. Matt. 25:1-13

3. May be too busy to get ready to become a Christian, but wont' be too busy to die & face God.

a. When will you be ready? Next week? Next month? Next year? We hope that God will grant you that much time, but no one has the promise of that much time.

VII. Some Think They Are Already A Christian

A. Many do not become Christians because they think they are already Christians.

1. They have been deceived by the man-made doctrine of "salvation before baptism."

a. This is the very prevalent doctrine of "faith alone" or "accept Christ as your personal Savior."

b. Have been baptized, but only into particular denomination. Thought saved before baptized.

2. One is raised to walk in newness of life. Rom. 6:3-4 He does not have the new life before baptism.

a. One has remission of sins when baptized, not before. Acts 2:38

b. We are baptized "into" Christ. Gal. 3:26-27 Thus, one is not in Christ before baptism.

c. One is made free from sin when he obeys from the heart. Rom. 6:17-18

B. This is a serious problem and everyone needs self-examination about their own condition. 2 Cor. 13:5

1. Many need to be baptized again to become Christians.

2. We are not emphasizing "re-baptism," but "right-baptism." One is the baptism of men, the other the baptism of Christ. One will save; the other will condemn.

3. We encourage you to receive the baptism of Christ so that you can become a Christian.

Concl.

A. Why aren't you a Christian?

1. "All things are now ready."

B. Don't hide behind feeble excuses; they will not stand in the judgment.

1. Obey the gospel and thereby become a Christian.