## Excuses

## Acts 26:24-32

There are many people who are in the "excuse making" business. When a person excuses themselves, it is an effort to exonerate or remove one's self from responsibility. King Agrippa was a Roman ruler who heard Paul's case while he was imprisoned because of the Jews. Paul shared in great detail his amazing testimony from being a Pharisee to becoming an Apostle to the Gentiles. Afterward, Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." How sad that this man was almost persuaded to accept Christ, but came up with an excuse. Like many people today, he was looking for a reason NOT to get saved! Is that you today? Are you here this morning with an excuse for why you should remain as you are? Many Christians make excuses as well. They are looking for reasons why they should NOT serve God with their lives. Several years ago the Kingsmen had a very popular gospel song entitled 'Excuses'. The chorus of the song says this,

Excuses, excuses, you'll hear them every day. And the Devil he'll supply them, if the church you stay away. When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses.

I have heard many excuses for why a person will not trust the Lord, but one that will simply not stand the test is that the Gospel message is too difficult to understand. God knew exactly what He was doing when He put together the plan of redemption for mankind. He made it so simple that even a little child could understand. There are six verses from the book of Romans that work together like links in a chain that will lift a lost sinner from sin and give them a new life in Christ. Remember these Gospel links!

Link #1 - Everyone is a sinner.

Rom.3:10, "There is none righteous, no, not one."

Rom.3:23. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Link #2 - We cannot earn salvation it is a gift.

Rom.6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Link #3 - We must express faith in the resurrected Christ.

Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." [3]

Link #4 - Salvation is available for all who will trust.

Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

There is no way that we could have time to consider every excuse that has ever been given, but let me share just a few of them this morning.

I. I Want to Enjoy My Life.

A. Some people have the idea that there is no joy in the Christian life.

1. Where do they get such an idea?

2. Unfortunately they get that from Christians who mope around through life like they are just barely existing.

3. They sing about how great heaven will be, but miss the truth that God wants us to enjoy the life He has provided for us in the here and now!

4. People need to understand that life in Christ is a joy beyond anything this world can offer. Write down these passages.

(John 10:10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

(Philippians 3:7-8) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

(Mark 8:36) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

II. What Will My Friends Think?

A. Some people are "approval addicts."

1. They change by the whim of the crowd.

2. They are constantly seeking approval from those they are around.

3. But this person needs to understand that what God thinks is so much more important that what any man thinks.

4. 100 years from now, it will make little difference what people thought but what God thinks will matter for eternity.

(Galatians 1:10) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

(1 Peter 4:14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

III. I've Always Tried to Be Good.

A. Some people believe that their good deeds will outweigh their evil actions and God will accept them in the end.

1. They compare themselves to the most evil people and feel that they are doing alright.

2. They need to understand that they cannot be good enough for God.

(Isaiah 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.

(Ephesians 2:8-9) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

IV. I Don't Want To Be A Hypocrite!

A. No one wants to be a hypocrite.

B. We all know someone who fits that description.

C. But this is nothing more than another excuse!

1. They need to understand that we will be judged by God's standards, not the standards of men.

2. It isn't about what we think…or what someone else thinks… it is about what God thinks!

(Proverbs 21:2) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

(1 Samuel 16:7b) "… for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

V. God Could Never Forgive Me.

A. Some people feel that they have done so many things wrong or done something so evil that God can never forgive them.

B. This person needs to know that "whoever" comes to the Lord will be saved.

(Isaiah 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

(Psalms 103:12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

VI. A Loving God Will Not Send Us to Hell.

A. Some people want to think that since God is love He will just wink at our sins and accept us like some white-haired old grandpa.

B. They need to realize that God never sends anyone to hell.

C. People go to hell because they reject His gift of salvation.

(Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

(Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

(Matthew 25:41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

What about it this morning? Are you making excuses for why you shouldn't trust Christ as your personal Savior? Maybe you have another excuse, but it doesn't matter…it is just an excuse! If you are without Christ this morning, will you come and allow us to show you from God's Word how you can have eternal life? Come now and do not delay.

Christian, are we making excuses for why we are not committed to Him? Why we don't come to church? Why we won't serve Him faithfully with out lives? Why we won't turn from our sin? Quit making excuses and re-commit your life to Him today. Come now and meet with Him at this altar!

(Acts 26:28) Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.