Overcoming Excuses Overcoming Excuses not to Obey the Gospelnot to Obey the Gospel

“Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!” (Luke 14:15-24)

“Please consider me excused.”

Only a person with a “good and honest heart”

(Luke 8:15) will set aside their excuses.

The Gospel is to be Believed and Obeyed.

Believing in the gospel is essential for salvation (Rom. 1:16).

Believing in the good news of Christ, of His death, burial, and resurrection is of first importance (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

Obeying the gospel is also essential for salvation!

Becoming a Christian requires obedient faith (e.g., Rom. 6:17-18; 16:25-26).To be become a Christian then

requires not only belief in Christ (John 3:16), but also a confession of faith (Rom. 10:9-10), repentance and baptism into Christ (Acts 2:38).

2 Thessalonians 1:7b-8 (NASB)2 Thessalonians 1:7b-8 (NASB)

7 … the Lord Jesus shall be 7 … the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and who do not know God and to those to those who do not who do not obeyobey the gospel of our the gospel of our Lord Jesus.Lord Jesus.

The Most Common Excuses Used Today not to Obey the Gospel.

“I am too young.”

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NASB)Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NASB)

Remember also your Creator in Remember also your Creator in the days of your youththe days of your youth, before the , before the evil days come and the years draw evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no near when you will say, "I have no delight in them"; delight in them"; - cf. Gal. 6:7- cf. Gal. 6:7

1 Timothy 4:12 (NASB)1 Timothy 4:12 (NASB)

Let no one look down on your Let no one look down on your youthfulnessyouthfulness, but rather in speech, , but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those show yourself an example of those who believe.who believe.

Psalm 119:100 (NASB)Psalm 119:100 (NASB)

“I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Thy precepts.”

The Most Common Excuses Used Today not to Obey the Gospel.

“I am not good enough to be a Christian.”Many mistakenly equate repentance

with perfection or some imagined high standard of righteousness.

If we had to wait to be “good enough” no one would ever be ready! (Rom. 3:10, 23; cf. Acts 2:38).

Matthew 9:13 (NASB)Matthew 9:13 (NASB)

"But go and learn what this means, "But go and learn what this means, 'I desire compassion, and not 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice, sacrifice, 'for I did not come to call 'for I did not come to call the righteous, but the righteous, but sinnerssinners."."

We must always remember that Christ died for us while we were

all not “good enough” to be children of God (Rom. 5:8).

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NASB)1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NASB)

30 But by His doing 30 But by His doing you are you are inin Christ JesusChrist Jesus, who became to us , who became to us wisdom from God, and wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 that, just as it and redemption, 31 that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.“ boast in the Lord.“ – cf. Gal. 3:27– cf. Gal. 3:27

The Most Common Excuses Used Today not to Obey the Gospel.

“My sins are too great, I cannot change.”

What if Paul thought that way?What if Paul thought that way?

Acts 9:5-7 (NASB) 5 And he said, Acts 9:5-7 (NASB) 5 And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said, said, "I am Jesus whom you are "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,persecuting, 6 but rise, and enter 6 but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. “ what you must do. “ – cf. 1 Tim. 1:12-15– cf. 1 Tim. 1:12-15

Change is not easy, but with the Lord’s help it can be done!

(e.g., 1 Cor. 6:9-11)

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And kingdom of God. 11 And such such werewere some of you some of you; ; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

Therefore if any man is in Christ, Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is he is a new creaturea new creature; the old things ; the old things passed away; passed away; behold, new things behold, new things have come.have come.

The Most Common Excuses Used Today not to Obey the Gospel.

“I am good enough to enter Heaven.”

No matter how “good” or upright you are, good morality alone will save no one (e.g. Acts 10:1-2, 34-48).

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

8 For by grace you have been saved 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and through faith; and that not of that not of yourselvesyourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 , it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of worksnot as a result of works, that no , that no one should boast.one should boast.

The Most Common Excuses Used Today not to Obey the Gospel.

“I am too busy.”

““I am too busy.”I am too busy.”

Many use their work or career as a continual excuse not to obey

(Luke 14:18-19)

““I am too busy.”I am too busy.”

Others occupy their time with worldly activities that choke the

Word out of their hearts (Lk 8:14).

2 Peter 3:4, 10 (NASB)2 Peter 3:4, 10 (NASB)

4 4 "Where is the promise of His coming?"Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." … 10 But of creation." … 10 But the day of the Lord the day of the Lord will come like a thiefwill come like a thief, in which the heavens , in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.burned up.

The shortness and brevity of life teaches us that we should never be too busy for matters that pertain to Eternity! (James 4:14; Heb. 9:27).

The Most Common Excuses Used Today not to Obey the Gospel.

“My Family and/ or Friends Object.”

Family members must not be given more importance than the will of

the Lord! (e.g., Luke 14:20)

Matthew 10:37 (NASB)Matthew 10:37 (NASB)

““He who loves father or mother He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of more than Me is not worthy of Me.”Me.”

Obeying the gospel may mean Obeying the gospel may mean replacing old friends with new ones.replacing old friends with new ones.

2 Cor 6:14 (NASB) Do not be 2 Cor 6:14 (NASB) Do not be bound together with unbelievers; bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with what fellowship has light with darkness?darkness?

Remember, you will have to give an answer before God on why you did

not obey and those who objected will not be able to answer for you!

(Rom. 14:12).

The Most Common Excuses Used Today not to Obey the Gospel.

“People will ridicule (persecute) me.”

Many do not obey the gospel for fear of what the world may think;

they want to maintain “friendship with the world” (Jas

4:4).

To be sure, being a Christian will involve persecution

(John 15:19; 2 Tim. 3:12).

1 Peter 4:14 (NASB)1 Peter 4:14 (NASB)

If you are reviled for the name of If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because Christ, you are blessed, because the the Spirit of glory and of God rests Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.upon you. - cf. Mat. 5:10-12- cf. Mat. 5:10-12

John 16:33 (NASB)John 16:33 (NASB)

"These things I have spoken to "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but tribulation, but take courage; take courage; I have overcome the world." I have overcome the world."

The Most Common Excuses Used Today not to Obey the Gospel.

“I am afraid of a long-term commitment.”

To spend our entire lives in service to God may seem like a lot to commit to, yet it is nothing in

comparison to Eternity.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NASB)2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NASB)

17 For momentary, light affliction is 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us producing for us an eternal weight of an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparisonglory far beyond all comparison, 18 , 18 while we look not at the things which while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.not seen are eternal.

Romans 8:18 (NASB)Romans 8:18 (NASB)

For I consider that the sufferings of For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are this present time are not worthy to not worthy to be comparedbe compared with the glory that is with the glory that is to be revealed to us.to be revealed to us.

Revelation 21:3-4 (NASB)Revelation 21:3-4 (NASB)3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and and they shall be His people, and God God Himself shall be among themHimself shall be among them, 4 and He shall , 4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. "or pain; the first things have passed away. "

Revelation 21:8 (NASB)Revelation 21:8 (NASB)

"But for the cowardly and "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in their part will be in the lake that the lake that burns with fire and brimstoneburns with fire and brimstone, which , which is the second death." is the second death." - - cf. Rom. 6:23a; 2 Thes. 1:9

The Call of the Gospel Overrides All Our Excuses

(Luke 9:57-62).