50. Why Are You Not A Christian?

SERMON 50

WHY ARE YOU NOT A CHRISTIAN?

(Acts 26:28)

Perhaps no greater question ever presented itself to the mind of man and demanded attention, than the one question, "Why are you not a Christian?" It is a question that may not present itself to us only once in a life time, but it comes to us in every way, at every turn, with equal importance, and with as great demand for our consideration at all stages in life. But before I consider the reasons why many are not Christians, it may be well to examine the inducements held out, and the advantage offered to those who are children of God.

• In becoming a Christian we have the promise of forgiveness of sins (1 John 2:12).

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• In becoming a Christian we become a new creature; old things are passed away, and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

• We are recognized as sons of God (1 John 3:1-3 ).

• We are heirs with Christ, with the promise of eternal life.

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• We are in Christ Jesus, having by faith been baptized into him (Galatians 3:26-27).

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• We were sinners, saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8). With these inducements held out before us for our good in this life, the final question now come. Why are you not a Christian?

None of the many excuses offered are plausible, neither will they stand to be examined the last day.

1. 1. Sometimes we hear the excuse, "I am waiting" for the operation of the Spirit. But has not the Spirit already operated on your heart? Did you ever think how and when the Spirit operated on the heart? Don't you remember that Jeremiah said the law must be written in our hearts? (Jeremiah 31:31). Paul quotes the language of the prophet and applies it to us. But you ask, "How does the Spirit write?" In all writing we need (1) the writer,(2) the pen, (3) the ink, and ( 4 ) the paper.

Then God is the writer, for he said he would write. The apostles were the pen, or instruments in the hand of God as taught by Paul (2 Corinthians 3:3). The Spirit was the ink (2 Corinthians 3:3). The heart was the table (2 Corinthians 3:3). So on the day of Pentecost, God was the writer of the new institution; to do the writing the apostles were the pen in the hands of God. But before writing with a pen it must first be filled with ink. So they waited until they were filled with the Holy Ghost. The paper was the hearts of the children of men. The Book says that when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts, and wanted to know what to do (Acts 2:37 ).

So it is with you, dear friend. Have you not heard the story of the cross? If true, then wait no longer for the Spirit to draw, but come.

2. "But," says one, "I am waiting for a change of heart." What kind of a heart have you, and how do you want it changed? Have you not a heart that desires to become a child of God, one that wishes to do God's will, and wishes to go to heaven when you die? Then having that kind of heart, I ask you, what kind of change you would want to have?

3. Says another, "I am not good enough." Are you not a sinner? If true, you are the kind that Christ came to save. Remember, he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Then if you are a sinner, are you not the kind to be saved? If true, what promise can you offer yourself in staying away?

.......4. "I am not old enough," says one. Are you old enough to know right from wrong? If you are, will you not begin to do right today? Did you never reason on the great danger in delay. The prophet says, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near (Isaiah 45:6). Remember, there may come a time when he may not be found, a time when he is not near.

Solomon tells you to "remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, 'I have no pleasure in them'." Remember, that every day you travel on the broad road, you have one day more of sins to give account of and one day less time to repent. As we grow older, we form habits much harder to give up than it is to turn from them now; and remember while you are waiting to get old enough to come to God the messenger of death may come and find you unprepared. Then why not come?

5. But another says, "I am too old 10 start now " Yes, brother, but remember that coming is your only salvation. Perhaps you have not sinned away your days of grace. You may be saved if you come; you can not be saved ii' you stay away. There is only one chance of salvation; why not accept that one for by it only can you hope to be saved?

6. Another one says, "I do not know enough. I want to wait to study on these things."

Do you not know as much as the three thousand knew on Pentecost? Do you not know that God has commanded you to have faith? Do you not know that God has commanded you to repent? Do you not know that God has commanded you to confess Jesus as his son before men? And do you not know that God has commanded you to be baptized by his authority? It you know that much, are you doing what God has commanded you when you refuse to obey these commands?

7. "I fear I can not hold out." That is not the question to settle now. Have you faith enough to start. Remember we walk by faith, not by sight. If you want to go to some town fifty miles away, you do not sit by the road side and wait till you can see all the way to that town, but every step you take in that direction you are enabled to see one step farther:and thus you walk, step by step, till you reach the journey's end. You may only have faith enough to see but a few steps ahead. If true God requires you to take those steps, and then you have faith enough to see farther than you could when you started.

8. "It is not convenient for me to make the start now; when I have a more suitable opportunity, I will come." Do you pretend to argue that it is not convenient to do good? Do you seek the opportunity to do right? Why not make your own opportunities, and do the things commanded of God?

9. Husbands wait for wives, and wives for husbands. But if it is right to be a Christian, why do you not set the example? Why not make the start? You will not wait one for the other when you come to die.

10. "I expect to start some day." Yes, but why not now? Is it not right to be a Christian? Then are you not willing to do right? How are you in business? If you mistreat your neighbor, and are convinced that you have done wrong, are you not willing to rectify that wrong? Are you not willing to do right? Does it hinder your business? Does it conflict with your duty? Does it deprive you of good society or of the best friends? If not, then why not accept God's will and be saved?

Finally, dear friend, we now come to say farewell. Remember that God requires nothing at our hands but that which is for our good. In time and in eternity life and death are set before you—heaven and hell, the broad and the narrow way. It is yours to make the choice which you will travel. You must decide where you will spend eternity, after the storms of life have passed. Then will you not today make your choice, remembering, Blessed are they who do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into The city," where we shall rest in the paradise of God