Three Descions You Will Make Today.
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Baptisms - Explain. Excited. Seems to have been a church record? I am thankful that God uses me. I am thankful for the baptism team.
To cut to the chase this morning - every person in this room today has made OR will make 1 of 3 decisions about Jesus today.
Pontus Pilat proclaimed at the trial of Jesus - the most important question you will ever hear in your life - “What will you do with Jesus” - you must answer that question and you must do so today.
Turn in God’s word, the bible with me to Act 17
Acts 17:30–34 (NKJV)
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed,
Things are not always what they seem at first sight. When Paul visited Athens, he found the inhabitants to be very religious, but their religion was mere superstition.
In their ignorance they worshipped an unknown god. No wonder Paul preached to them about the one, true, living God, the creator of the world and all mankind.
The climax of his sermon was his call to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, whom God had raised from the dead.
There were three reactions, common whenever the gospel is preached:
You Mock
You Mock
Acts 17:32 (NKJV)
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked,
The word mocked implies both words and actions.
today non-believers shrug their shoulders
look at believers as if they have lost their minds.
It was done even by those that passed by the cross - they mocked.
did you ever stop to think that Jesus stood before Pilate to be judged and was sentenced to death - but one day Pilate will stand before Almighty God to be judged.
So, will you be judged before Holy God and you will either be found in the righteousness of Christ by salvation or guilty of MOCKING Christ Jesus and going to hell.
there is no middle ground, it is in fact heaven or hell - that is the choice you are making today.
ARE YOU A MOCKED OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? SOME ARE!
You Will Put It Off.
You Will Put It Off.
Look again at acts 17:32
Acts 17:32 (NKJV)
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”
There was no urgency.
They thought just maybe there was something of importance to what Paul was saying - but they say = we will hear this again.
They wanted to wait for a more convenient time in their lives - the thing is - it is never convenient to repent.
Today it may sound like this: You’re only young once, I will deal with Jesus when I am older and I have made my own way of life.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is the day - you must not put this off any longer.
I know that there are many here that are saved - but I also know there are those here today with a FALSE SENSE of Salvation.
You have your name on the church roll, maybe even in a small group, or class, you have learned a creed but you have never met Christ.
Or you are depending on your own goodness - but the word of God says to us all - Romans 3:10
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
Simply put - you do not know if this will be the last chance you get - the last time the preachers voice burns in your ears - the last time you say, maybe tomorrow.
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Today just might be your last day - then you stand before Holy God without excuse - wishing you had taken the step, committed your life to Christ Jesus while you had the chance to do so.
I beg you - to it today! Be saved, Repent, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
You Believe
You Believe
I pray desperately that this is what has happened in your life OR that it is what you will do today.
Perhaps you have mocked, maybe you have delayed - God is ready to receive you,
You are the workmanship of God in Christ Jesus.
You are made for a relationship with God.
He is not judging you - He is calling you to forgiveness of every wrong you have ever committed without question.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Listen - while some mocked, while some put it off - SOME ACCEPTED AND BELIEVED (were saved)
Acts 17:34 (NKJV)
34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
The man was a city councilor, a cultured and educated man - but he came to Jesus as a child, by faith, a sinner in need of a savior (expound for each)
perhaps this is also his wife - we cannot be sure - but they and other came in faith. Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The point is - they decided. There MUST be a decision made today - you must decide.
By the way - deciding not to decide today is a decision to reject Christ one more time. In not deciding you have in fact decided.
The Apostle Paul, after offering Christ to his hearers, always asked them to decide right there and then. He believed with James Lowell that, “Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide.”
We all have to decide, for or against Jesus Christ.
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
God demands repentance.
But He also freely offers forgiveness.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
What must you believe
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
Repent and be saved today. Repent and be baptized at Peter put it.
YOU MUST DECIDE - DO IT TODAY.
