## Excuses That Will Not Do

## Proverbs 16:25

(PROV 16:25) "THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN, BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH."

There are many people who are in the "excuse making" business. When a person excuses themselves, there is an effort to exonerate or remove one's self from responsibility. That is a serious thing in any area, but especially when it comes to spiritual matters.

Every one of us will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and we will be judged. Those who are saved will stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and those who are unsaved will stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment. Two different judgments, two different times, two different groups of people and two different results. But you must understand this morning that no one will be excused from His judgment!

(HEB 9:27) "AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT:"

For a few minutes this morning I want to give you some excuses that simply will not work!

When you talk to folks about the Lord they have all kinds of things to say in response to your message to them. Many will say, I think this or that. But it really doesn't matter what we think about the matter of judgment...it only matters what the Word of God says!

I. I Believe That All Will Be Saved.

(MAT 7:13-14) "ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE: FOR WIDE IS THE GATE, AND BROAD IS THE WAY, THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY THERE BE WHICH GO IN THEREAT: {14} BECAUSE STRAIT IS THE GATE, AND NARROW IS THE WAY, WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE, AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT."

A. It is evident from that passage of Scripture that the majority of folks in this world are headed down the broad road that leads to destruction.

1. All too often even Christians delude themselves into thinking that most of their friends and loved ones will be alright.

2. That is just not true!

3. It is a lie of the devil.

B. Those who are without Christ will spend an eternity in the Lake of Fire.

(REV 21:8) "BUT THE FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING, AND THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND WHOREMONGERS, AND SORCERERS, AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH."

C. Note two key words in this verse.

1. Unbelieving.

a. It is not only the whoremongers and murders who will spend eternity in Hell.

b. Those who reject the truth of the gospel will also be cast into the lake of fire.

2. The Second Death

a. Generally when we think of death we think of separation of the soul and spirit from the body.

b. The "second death" speaks of separation of a person from God and heaven forever.

C. Everyone is not saved and going to heaven.

1. Only those who have been born again, will find the paradise of God after this life is over.

2. Everyone else will spend eternity separated from God in a place of continual torment.

II. I Believe There Will Be Another Chance After Death

(PROV 29:1) "HE, THAT BEING OFTEN REPROVED HARDENETH HIS NECK, SHALL SUDDENLY BE DESTROYED, AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY."

A. The person who dies without the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior has no "remedy" whatsoever.

1. Man's basic problem is sin.

(ROM 3:23) "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD;"

2. There has to be a remedy, but it is only in this life that it is possible.

Note: Some teach that you can pray a person's soul into heaven. The only problem is there is no "in-between" place after death.

3. Immediately when a person dies they either go to heaven or to hell.

4. That is why when God says to "Come," you would be wise to listen and come while you have time and opportunity.

5. One day all opportunities to come to Christ will be gone.

B. God's message to Thessalonians reminds us that there is no second chance.

(2 TH 2:12) "THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS."

1. If a person rejects the truth of God's Word...

2. And the provision He has made for salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary...

3. There is no other chance for them to be saved!

III. I Must Get Better Before I Become A Christian

(ISA 64:6) "BUT WE ARE ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING, AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE AS FILTHY RAGS; AND WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF; AND OUR INIQUITIES, LIKE THE WIND, HAVE TAKEN US AWAY."

(EPH 2:8-9) "FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: {9} NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST."

A. God does not look for a "clean life" before He saves a person.

1. None of us are clean before God.

2. There is none that doeth good no not one. cf Rom. 3:12b

B. What God looks for is someone who is willing to put their faith and trust in Him.

1. God looks for faith not for works when a person is saved.

2. Salvation is the 'gift of God'.

a. You do not earn a gift.

b. It is given out of love from someone who cares very much about us.

(TITUS 3:5) "NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST;"

C. Salvation Is For All Who Will Come To Christ.

(REV 22:17) "AND THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, COME. AND LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY, COME. AND LET HIM THAT IS ATHIRST COME. AND WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY."

(JOHN 3:36) "HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE; BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM."

(JOHN 5:24) "VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, HE THAT HEARETH MY WORD, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT SENT ME, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, AND SHALL NOT COME INTO CONDEMNATION; BUT IS PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE."

Excuses. People come up with all kinds of them, but none of them will work. Don't make excuses for not coming to God. Come to Christ today and accept Him as your Savior. Christian, don't make excuses for why you can't serve the Lord. Serve Him with a willing heart.

We need to make sure what we believe is right according to God's Word. Are you trusting Him today? If not, come now and receive Him.