When building our new building I became aware of a number of laws that are now in place to minimize barriers to those who must deal with handicaps. We had to install ramps, and larger bathrooms to make our building wheelchair accessible. If you would like to have an eye opening experience, borrow one of the wheelchairs out here for a while. Try getting from one point to another. It isn't easy! I am sure that you will encounter several barriers that will prevent you from doing what you want to do. The fact is that there are many kinds of barriers in this world. Some we can see, others we cannot. There are physical barriers, social barriers, educational barriers, racial barriers, and this morning, I want to talk about spiritual barriers. Now we know that God loves us. He tells us time and again that He does. He has shown us how much He loves us by giving His only Son, Jesus to die in our place. His desire is that we all go to heaven when we die. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance.
Friday evening I was called to come to the hospital to minister to a family whose father was not expected to live. As I prayed with them and tried to offer comfort, their father lay in the bed connected to a variety of machines monitoring every vital statistic. With each minute he grew closer to eternity. Just as he passed away, one daughter took my hand and asked me to pray that he would go to heaven. I did my best to give them comfort at such a difficult time. But I could not give her assurance that her father would be in heaven. You see there is a barrier between heaven and earth. There is something that will keep everyone of us here today from entering into heaven. That barrier is SIN. The only assurance that we will overcome that barrier is found in our faith in Jesus Christ.
Read: 1 John 5:1-13
The only way to remove the barrier of sin is to accept the forgiveness of God. But there are some barriers to forgiveness that must be overcome.
I. The Barrier of Denial.
(1 John 1:8) "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
A. Forms of denial.
1. Denial when told we have a serious illness. (my mother)
2. Alcoholics deny their true condition.
3. Perhaps the most common denial is of our sinfulness.
B. Justifying ourselves spiritually.
1. We don't want to face guilt.
2. We don't want to take blame.
3. We don't want to accept responsibility.
4. We justify in order to protect ourselves.
C. Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit.
(John 16:8) "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"
1. God uses guilt to reach us when we violate his Word.
2. We can hide from it, or we can admit it.
3. Barrier-free access to God means over-coming denial that we have any problems, needs, or sin.
II. Confession of Our Sin. (1 John 1:9) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
A. The second barrier is our inability to confess our failure to God.
1. Once we admit to ourselves that we are sinners, then we must be willing to admit that to God.
2. Confession = saying the same thing, or agreeing with God has already revealed to us about ourselves.
3. We need to confess (say it out loud) before God.
4. This is where we really struggle.
a. It is hard for us to be vulnerable and admit weakness.
b. We struggle with our pride most in this.
c. But it is important that we confess our sins to God.
d. We must say we are sorry for sin, and be specific.
B. God knows our limits.
1. He loves us while we are sinners.
(Rom 5:8) "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2. Other people can help us as counselors and encourage us to get right with God.
3. But it must be within us, in our hearts…
(Rom 10:10) "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
4. It isn't just the words, it is a matter of faith and trust.
C. This applies to believers as well.
1. When we have sinned against a brother or sister in Christ we must deal with the same barriers.
2. We tend to deny that we have sinned.
3. We are prideful and do not want to confess our sin and seek forgiveness.
4. Often we forget that when we sin against another, we have sinned against God.
5. David understood this when he had sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah, her husband.
(Psa 51:3-4) "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. {4} Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." (Psa 51:10) "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psa 51:12) "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."
III. The Final Barrier is to Accept Forgiveness.
(Mat 6:12-15) "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. {13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. {14} For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: {15} But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
A. We often have trouble accepting God's forgiveness.
1. But this is a matter of faith, not feeling.
2. We can be forgiven, and yet not feel it.
3. Again it is a matter of trust…do we believe God is a liar?
(1 John 5:10) "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son."
B. It is easier to persecute ourselves than to accept God's forgiveness.
1. Our fallen nature wants to do something to "help God out".
2. Note the religions of the world…or even many churches today.
3. They cannot get a hold of this simple truth, "Jesus paid it all."
4. That means there is nothing for us to do other than accept His payment on Calvary.
C. Claim God's forgiveness.
1. We don't deserve it, but He gives it to us anyway; this is GRACE.
2. We deserve an eternity in Hell, but we get to go to heaven instead; this is MERCY.
3. God calls us to "walk in light, not darkness."
a. Means living under God's care, and with His standards.
b. This doesn't mean we are perfect!
c. It doesn't mean we will not sin
d. All it means is that we will walk with Jesus and make things right as He reveals them to us through His Holy Spirit.
Good news, barriers can be overcome! All of these that I have mentioned today can be overcome in our lives. Will you come this morning admitting your need as sinner out of fellowship with God? Will you confess your sin and receive God's wonderful forgiveness? Will you accept it as a free gift from Him because of His great love for you? Christian, are we walking in fellowship with God? Are they those that we need to forgive or perhaps those who we need to go to and ask their forgiveness? Don't allow these barriers to keep you from doing what God wants you to do today. Come now.