Sermon Central
-
So Many People Believe They Can Be Right With ...
Contributed by Bret Toman on Dec 10, 2012 (message contributor)
So many people believe they can be right with God, they can have peace with God, they can deflect God’s anger from them by being good and doing good. They rightfully understand there’s a debt that they owe. But they don’t understand it’s a debt they could never repay. And to try to repay it does not bring them closer to God but farther because it adds insult to insult.
Suppose I owed more money than I could ever repay. My creditors are soon going to be coming to take my house, my car, my microwave, my Atari, everything. My children would be taken to work in a sweatshop and I would be thrown in a dungeon. But Bill Gates hears my story and is moved to write a check to cover everything I owe. Turns out he’s glad to do it. Then I meet up with Bill Gates and I tell him “Mr Gates, that was very kind of you to cover my debts but I’m going to repay you.” And I dig deep into my pocket and I pull out 37 cents and I hand it to him. There. That ought to do it. Might that be offensive to Mr. Gates? Why? I think, primarily because of my lack of appreciation for what he has done. He pays my enormous debt and I think 37 cents covers it?
This is what we do to God when we try to earn his favor. And we owe infinitely more than money and we have less to offer than 37 cents. All we have to offer is filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 says all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags. They’re disgusting and worthless in our attempt to make things right between God and us.
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
A Young Man Had Been Promoted To An Important ... PRO
Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Nov 1, 2004
A young man had been promoted to an important position in his company. He’d never dreamed he’d be in such a position, much less at such a young age. So he went to see the venerable old timer in the company, and said, "Sir, I was wondering if you could give me some ADVICE." The old timer came back ...read more
-
Gary Richmond, A Former Zookeeper, Had This To ... PRO
Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 6, 2004
Gary Richmond, a former zookeeper, had this to say: Raccoons go through a glandular change at about 24 months. After that they often attack their owners. Since a 30-pound raccoon can be equal to a 100-pound dog in a scrap, I felt compelled to mention the change coming to a pet raccoon owned by a ...read more
-
Do You Ever Feel Like Robert Orben Who Said, ... PRO
Contributed by Pat Cook on Nov 15, 2004
Do you ever feel like Robert Orben who said, “Sometimes I get the feeling the whole world is against me, but deep down I know that’s not ...read more
-
This Is A True Story, About A German Artist Named ... PRO
Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 18, 2000
This is a true story, about a German artist named Albrecht Durer and one of his famous drawings, "The Praying Hands." Durer’s Father was a goldsmith and apprenticed him in his early years to learn the family trade, but Durer loved painting and really wanted to be a painter. So his father ...read more
-
Perhaps You've Heard Of Watchman Nee. Watchman ... PRO
Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 13, 2003
Perhaps you’ve heard of Watchman Nee. Watchman Nee became a Christian in mainland China in 1920 at the age of seventeen and began writing in the same year. Throughout the nearly thirty years of his ministry, Watchman Nee was a unique gift from the Lord to the church. Though imprisoned for his ...read more
Related Sermons
-
The Righteous Shall Flourish
Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Mar 2, 2016
The promise of God is upon every righteous believer to prosper in all areas of life. This prosperity is being likened to the flourishing of the palm tree.
-
You Are What You Eat Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 6, 2017
Daniel and his friends were strangers in a strange land and were surrounded by paganism. How did they deal with standing up for God in that setting, and how can we stand up for God in an increasingly offensive world?
-
Think Before You Speak Series
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Feb 23, 2012
We have the glorious privilege to choose our words. This privilege is one of the main reasons we are to gain wisdom. The righteous speak wise words. Thus they are fitting or appropriate & give life to people & situations.
-
How Will You Finish?
Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Oct 13, 2018
When we accept Jesus as Lord there is an excitement. We want to save the world. But over time the world beats so many of us into silence. This message is about how the Apostle Paul refused to let circumstances keep him from finishing his race.
-
The Just Shall Live By Faith
Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Feb 24, 2017
To establish that the just shall live by faith and not by the observance or the works of the Law or any man's standards of righteousness. The just shall live by faith - through Jesus Christ. This lesson deals with faith and obedience in ones salvation.
