Sermon Central
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Why People Do Not Come To Christ.
Contributed by Arlen Payne on Nov 24, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: What are the issues that keep people from coming to a relationship with the Lord?
Why People Do Not Come to Christ
Reading: Hebrews 3:1-6, 12-19
Intro: Jeremiah 8:20
One day the harvest will be past.
Those who had opportunity to receive Christ will
realize that it is too late.
The day will come when “the harvest is past”
The summer is ended…the time of harvest.
AND WE ARE NOT SAVED.
What a sad commentary on your life.
What a tragedy it will be when people pleaded with
you, prayed for you and tried everyway they know how
to bring you to Christ…and you would not come to
Him.
You heard the truth. – the Gospel
And yet you rejected God’s love,
-God’s provision (Christ),
-God’s pricking of your heart (conviction)
You have refused God’s Book,
--God’s man
--God’s plan.
Even Jesus met some who would refuse to follow Him.
Why do people refuse to come to the Lord?
Luke18: 18-27
I. Pride
A.What must “I” do.
B.To come to God people must humble themselves.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
-Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
B. Instead people reject Jesus because of their pride.
1.Proud of their achievements (this man was rich)
2. Proud of their name (“I’ve made a name for myself)
3. Proud of their sin.
4. Proud of their education. (professing themselves to be wise….)
5. Proud of their self righteousness…vs 9-14
6. Proud of their rebellion (I don’t need God)
c.God hates pride…
Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Isaiah 2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
II. Pre-conceived ideas of what it means to be a Christian.
A. What shall I do? Vs 18
B. Prejudice.
1. They have to clean up first.
2 They have to act like “Church Lady”
3. They have to stop “having fun”
4. They have to “get religion”.
5.You have to carry a BIG Bible and talk in King James
English.
C.Religion has ruined Christianity.
D. People refuse Christ because they have a twisted view of what it means to be a Christian.
1.T.V. Caricatures.
2. Holier then Thou Hypocrites.
E.They don’t understand that True Christianity is a
relationship with God not an empty religion.
III. Possessions
A. The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
B. This man would not come to Christ because of his
possessions. Vs. 23
C.We live in a day when what you have defines who you
are.
D.A person’s value is not in His character but in His Bank account.
E.There was such a man in the Bible…Luke 12:21(15)
F.It is hard for them who have riches to come to Christ.
Vs 24
G.But it is NOT impossible. Vs 26-27
Conclusion: What is keeping you from coming to Christ.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
It’s not too late for you…but one day…the harvest will be past, the summer will be ended and you will not be saved.
Don’t put it off any longer…
Receive Christ Today.
