CREDITS

Edited, Expanded, Reorganized and Digitized for personal use by Lloyd H. Gardner.

INTRODUCTION

To the born-again child of God, there is no joy comparable to that of
leading a soul to Christ. Yet many Christians know nothing experimentally
of this blessed experience. The reason for their failure is found in the
fact that they are not sufficiently familiar with the Bible to use it
readily in dealing with others.

“The entrance of Thy Word giveth light;” therefore, he who would be a
soul-winner must use the Word of God constantly, intelligently, and
convincingly.

This booklet has been compiled with that purpose in view. It does not
claim to be original or exhaustive. Rather, it is a practical handbook for
the beginner in personal evangelism. Under easily located headings it
presents the questions which years of experience have shown to be the ones
most often encountered in the course of dealing with individuals, and it
provides a group of Scripture verses appropriate to each case.

The texts are not printed in full; enough is given to recall the passage to the mind of one who has memorized it.

The texts are given in full – Lloyd Gardner

May the Holy Spirit use the Word of God, which is presented here, to awaken
Christians to their responsibility to the lost and to enable them to
witness ever more effectively for Christ.

M.E.Z.

Copyright 1948 by IMMANUEL MISSION TO SHUT-INS, INC. All Rights Reserved.

I have tried, without success, to contact the copyright owner for permission to republish this edited booklet in electronic form. I have assumed that the copyright has expired and that it is now in the public domain. If you are the owner of this copyright, please contact me.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD.

1 God is too good to send anyone to hell.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“GOD IS TOO GOOD TO SEND ANYONE TO HELL.”

God does NOT damn anyone. Man damns himself when he refuses to believe
on Christ. He closes the doors of heaven in his own face.
… Isaiah 57:21
57:21 [There is] no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

… Ezekiel 33:11
33:11 Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no
pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his
way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die,
O house of Israel?

… Mark 16:16
16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.

… Luke 13:3
13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.

… John 3:18
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.

… John 3:36
3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him.

… John 5:40
5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

… John 8:21,24
8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek
me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if
ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.

… Romans 2:4,5
2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?
2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto
thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God;

… 2 Peter 2:4,6,9
2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down
to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved
unto judgment;
2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned
[them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after
should live ungodly;
2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and
to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

2 I cannot forgive others.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I CANNOT FORGIVE OTHERS.”

… Matt 6:15
6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.

… Mark 11:25,26
11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any:
that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in
heaven forgive your trespasses.

… Eph 4:32
4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

… Phil 4:13
4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

… 1 John 4:20
4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:
for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God
whom he hath not seen?

3 I cannot give up my companions.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I CANNOT GIVE UP MY COMPANIONS.”

They’ll give YOU up if you are really born again!
… Psalm 1:1
1:1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of
the scornful.

… Proverbs 1:10-15
1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
1:11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk
privily for the innocent without cause:
1:12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those
that go down into the pit:
1:13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses
with spoil:
1:14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from
their path:

… Proverbs 13:20
13:20 He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise: but a companion of
fools shall be destroyed.

… Proverbs 24:1,2
24:1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with
them.
24:2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of
mischief.

… Proverbs 27:7
27:7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every
bitter thing is sweet.

… Proverbs 29:25
29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in
the LORD shall be safe.

… 1 Corinthians 15:33
15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

… James 4:4
4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the
world is the enemy of God.

… 1 John 1:3
1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also
may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 I cannot understand the Bible.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE.”

Of course you cannot understand. No unregenerate person can. God gives
the reason for this in His Book, the Bible.

… Psalm 119:18
119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of
thy law.

… Isaiah 55:8,9
55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways
my ways, saith the LORD.
55:9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

… John 7:17
7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.

… John 12:48
12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that
judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the
last day.

… Romans 11:33
11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

… 1 Corinthians 2:14
2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because
they are spiritually discerned.

… 1 Corinthians 13:11,12
13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish
things.
13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

… 2 Corinthians 3:14,16
3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the
same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [veil]
is done away in Christ.
3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be
taken away.

… 2 Corinthians 4:3,4
4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them.

… 2 Peter 1:21
1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

… 2 Peter 3:16-18
3:16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things;
in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are
unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures,
unto their own destruction.
3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before,
beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall
from your own stedfastness.
3:18 But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.

5 I don’t believe ‘Once saved – Always saved’.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T BELIEVE ‘Once saved – Always saved’.”

We may KNOW that our sins are forgiven.
… Exodus 12:13
12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where
ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague
shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.

… Numbers 23:19
23:19 God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man,
that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he
spoken, and shall he not make it good?

… Isaiah 43:25
43:25 I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for
mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

… Isaiah 44:22
44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as
a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

… Luke 1:77
1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of
their sins,

… John 3:36
3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him.

… John 5:24
5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come
into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

… John 6:47
6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath
everlasting life.

… John 10:28-30
10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
10:29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no
[man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand.
10:30 I and [my] Father are one.

… Acts 10:43
10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

… Acts 13:39
13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from
which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

… Romans 8:1
8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

… Romans 8:16
8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:

… Romans 10:9,10
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.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.

… 2 Corinthians 5:17
5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

… Galatians 5:22-24
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.

… 2 Timothy 1:12
1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am
not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

… 2 Peter 1:10
1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your
calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never
fall:

… 1 John 3:14
3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love
the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.

… 1 John 5:13
5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of
the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the name of the Son of God.

“THE SPIRIT BEARETH WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT, THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD.”

What is meant by the Witness of the Spirit? Is it a feeling
within by which we know we are the children of God? Certainly not! The
Word of God is the testimony of the Spirit. What God has written in His
Word concerning our redemption, justification, security, etc., these are
the witness, or testimony of the Spirit. The evidence of ownership of a
home is not the way you feel, or the fact that you see it, but the Deed,
and what is written therein. The Word of God is His Deed. This never
changes and never fails.

6 I don’t believe Christ is soon coming again.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T BELIEVE CHRIST IS SOON COMING AGAIN.”

How did Christ come the first time?
… Matthew 1:18-23
1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother
Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found
with child of the Holy Ghost.
1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to
make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the
Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David,
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost.
1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name
JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God
with us.

… John 1:14
1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld
his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of
grace and truth.

… Galatians 4:4
4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law,

… Philippians 2:6-8
2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God:
2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

What He said about His going away:
… John 7:33
7:33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and
[then] I go unto him that sent me.

… John 17:5
17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the
glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Did He return to heaven never again to return to earth? Here are His own
words:
… Matthew 16:27
16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

… Matthew 23:39
23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall
say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

… Matthew 24:3-7
24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto
him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what
[shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man
deceive you.
24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall
deceive many.
24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not
troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not
yet.
24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers
places.

… Matthew 24:27-31
24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even
unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered
together.
24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall
from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and
then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son
of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and
they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of
heaven to the other.

… Matthew 24:36-51
24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of
heaven, but my Father only.
24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the
Son of man be.
24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating
and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe
entered into the ark,
24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the
other left.
24:41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be
taken, and the other left.

… Matthew 25:3-13
25:3 They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with
them:
25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom
cometh; go ye out to meet him.
25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our
lamps are gone out.
25:9 But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough
for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for
yourselves.
25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that
were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open
to us.
25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein
the Son of man cometh.

… Matthew 26:63,64
26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said
unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou
be the Christ, the Son of God.
26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto
you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of
power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

… Mark 8:38
8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be
ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

… Mark 13:24-27
13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in
heaven shall be shaken.
13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with
great power and glory.
13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his
elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the
uttermost part of heaven.

… Mark 13:32-37
13:32 But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the
angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
13:34 [For the Son of man is] as a man taking a far journey, who left
his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work,
and commanded the porter to watch.
13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house
cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the
morning:
13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

… Mark 14:61,62
14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high
priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the
Blessed?
14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on
the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

… Luke 9:26
9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept
[it] close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they
had seen.

… Luke 12:35-46
12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and [your] lights burning;
12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he
will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may
open unto him immediately.
12:37 Blessed [are] those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall
find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and
make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third
watch, and find [them] so, blessed are those servants.
12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what
hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered
his house to be broken through.
12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour
when ye think not.
12:41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto
us, or even to all?
12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward,
whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their]
portion of meat in due season?
12:43 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall
find so doing.
12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all
that he hath.
12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his
coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat
and drink, and to be drunken;
12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not
for [him], and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in
sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

… Luke 13:34,35
13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest
them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy
children together, as a hen [doth gather] her brood under [her] wings,
and ye would not!
13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say
unto you, Ye shall not see me, until [the time] come when ye shall say,
Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

… Luke 17:20-37
17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of
God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not
with observation:
17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the
kingdom of God is within you.
17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall
desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see
[it].
17:23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after
[them], nor follow [them].
17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one [part] under
heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so shall also the Son
of man be in his day.
17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this
generation.
17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days
of the Son of man.
17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood
came, and destroyed them all.
17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they
drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and
brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all.
17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff
in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in
the field, let him likewise not return back.
17:32 Remember Lot’s wife.
17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and
whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two [men] in one bed;
the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
17:35 Two [women] shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,
and the other left.
17:36 Two [men] shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the
other left.
17:37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said
unto them, Wheresoever the body [is], thither will the eagles be gathered
together.

… Luke 18:8
18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when
the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

… Luke 19:11-27
19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable,
because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the
kingdom of God should immediately appear.
19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to
receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds,
and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying,
We will not have this [man] to reign over us.
19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received
the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to
whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had
gained by trading.
19:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten
pounds.
19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast
been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
19:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five
pounds.
19:19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
19:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound,
which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
19:21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest
up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee,
[thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up
that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
19:23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my
coming I might have required mine own with usury?
19:24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and
give [it] to him that hath ten pounds.
19:25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
19:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be
given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away
from him.
19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over
them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me.

… Luke 21:25-36
21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the
stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea
and the waves roaring;
21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those
things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be
shaken.
21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with
power and great glory.
21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and
lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the
trees;
21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves
that summer is now nigh at hand.
21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye
that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till
all be fulfilled.
21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass
away.
21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and
[so] that day come upon you unawares.
21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face
of the whole earth.
21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand
before the Son of man.

… John 14:1-3
14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
me.
14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

… John 14:28
14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again]
unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the
Father: for my Father is greater than I.

… John 21:2-24
21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and
Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of
his disciples.
21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We
also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately;
and that night they caught nothing.
21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but
the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They
answered him, No.
21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship,
and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to
draw it for the multitude of fishes.
21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is
the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his]
fisher’s coat [unto him], (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into
the sea.
21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not
far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with
fishes.
21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals
there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now
caught.
21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great
fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many,
yet was not the net broken.
21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come [and] dine. And none of the disciples
durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish
likewise.
21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his
disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son]
of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas,
lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love
thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest
thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time,
Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou
knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou
girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt
be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee,
and carry [thee] whither thou wouldest not.
21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.
And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved
following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord,
which is he that betrayeth thee?
21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man
[do]?
21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what
[is that] to thee? follow thou me.
21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that
disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die;
but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?
21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote
these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

When He comes again, He will be SEEN with our bodily eyes.
… Matthew 24:27
24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even
unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

… Luke 17:24
17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one [part] under
heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so shall also the Son
of man be in his day.

… Philippians 3:20,21
3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for
the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto
his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to
subdue all things unto himself.

… 1 Thessalonians 4:16
4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:

… 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall
be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be
admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was
believed) in that day.

… 1 John 3:2
3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be
like him; for we shall see him as he is.

… Revelation 1:7
1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and
they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail
because of him12. Even so, Amen.

His second coming will be physical and outward.
… Acts 1:9-12
1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was
taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up,
behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into
heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so
come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet,
which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.

… 1 Thessalonians 4:15
4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which
are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
which are asleep.

… Revelation 1:7
1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and
they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail
because of him12. Even so, Amen.

7 I don’t believe in Heaven.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T BELIEVE IN HEAVEN.”

Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people.
… 1 Chronicles 29:11
29:11 Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory,
and the victory, and the majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in
the earth [is thine;] thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art
exalted as head above all.

… Psalm 23:6
23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

… Matthew 6:9-15
6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
6:13 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.
6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you:
6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.

… Matthew 6:20
6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

… John 14:2,3
14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

… 1 Corinthians 2:9
2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared
for them that love him.

… 2 Corinthians 5:1,8
5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were
dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
5:8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the
body, and to be present with the Lord.

… Ephesians 1:20,21
1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and
set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],
1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion,
and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that
which is to come:

… 1 Thessalonians 4:17
4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord.

… Hebrews 11:10,16
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker [is] God.
11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared
for them a city.

… Hebrews 13:14
13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

… 2 Peter 3:13
3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

… Revelation 3:12
3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my
God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which
cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new
name.

… Revelation 5:13
5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under
the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I
saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

… Revelation 7:16
7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall
the sun light on them, nor any heat.

… Revelation 21:2,10
21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God
out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high
mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending
out of heaven from God,

Heaven: A place of wonderful description – marvelously built:
… Revelation 21:10
21:10 And He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high
mountain, and showed me that great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending
out of heaven from God.

Gloriously lighted:
… Revelation 21:33
21:33 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to
shine in it; for the Glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the
light thereof.

Righteously Governed:
… Revelation 22:3
22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the
Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him.

Perfect Purity:
… Revelation 21:27
21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth,
neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they
which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

8 I don’t believe in Hell

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T BELIEVE IN HELL.”

Christ says there is a hell.
… Psalm 9:17
9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, [and] all the nations that
forget God.

… Mark 9:43
9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to
enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the
fire that never shall be quenched:

… Luke 12:5
12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after
he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear
him.

Where is Hell? At the end of a godless life.
… Proverbs 15:24
15:24 The way of life [is] above to the wise, that he may depart from
hell beneath.

… Matthew 11:23
11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be
brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in
thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Hell is away from God.
… Matthew 25:41-46
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:
25:42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and
ye gave me no drink:
25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me
not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee
an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison,
and did not minister unto thee?
25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not
to me.
25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal.

Hell is where Heaven is not:
Abraham speaks of the rich man in hell and says:
… Luke 16:26
16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my
tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

The Bible plainly teaches that hell is somewhere: Beneath, Down, Away
from God, Where heaven is not.
The Way to Hell.
… Matthew 7:13
7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad
[is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat:
It is easily found: Wide is the gate.
Not difficult to keep in it. Broad is the way.
It is jammed with travelers. Many there be which go in thereat.

… Matthew 25:30
25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

… 2 Peter 2:4-13
2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down
to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved
unto judgment;
2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a
preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the
ungodly;
2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned
[them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after
should live ungodly;
2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the
wicked:
2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing,
vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] unlawful deeds;)
2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and
to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of
uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], selfwilled,
they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not
railing accusation against them before the Lord.
2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and
destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall
utterly perish in their own corruption;
2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that
count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and
blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast
with you;

… Jude 13
1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering
stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

… Revelation 14:10
14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is
poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall
be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels,
and in the presence of the Lamb:

… Revelation 21:8
21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death.

Hell was not made for man, but for the devil and his angels.
… Matthew 25:41
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:

9 I don’t believe the Bible is God’s Word.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS GOD’s WORD.”

We know that the Bible is the Word of God because of its own claim to
inspiration. Expressions like “The Lord said,” “The Lord Spake,” “The
Word of the Lord Came,” “Thus saith the Lord,” occur over 3000 times in
the Bible.

All men that wrote the Bible were inspired of God.
Moses and Aaron:
… Exodus 4:15
4:15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I
will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye
shall do.

King David:
… 2 Samuel 23:2
23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my
tongue.

… Acts 1:16
1:16 Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled,
which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas,
which was guide to them that took Jesus.

Prophet Ezekiel:
… Ezekiel 12:21
12:21 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles:
… 2 Timothy 3:16,17
3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is]
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all
good works.

… 1 Thessalonians 2:13
2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye
received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as]
the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which
effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Peter, the apostle to the Jews:
… 2 Peter 1:21
1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

The testimony of Christ Himself proves the Divine Authority of:
The Old Testament Scriptures:

… Luke 24:27,44
24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto
them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
24:44 And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto
you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the
psalms, concerning me.

Here Jesus brings in the three divisions of the Old Testament, accepting
them all as being the Word of God.

The New Testament:
… Matthew 5:18
5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

… Matthew 24:35
24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away.

… Luke 24:27-44
24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto
them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he
made as though he would have gone further.
24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward
evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread,
and blessed [it], and brake, and gave to them.
24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished
out of their sight.
24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us,
while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the
scriptures?
24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and
found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
24:35 And they told what things [were done] in the way, and how he was
known of them in breaking of bread.
24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them,
and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.
24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they
had seen a spirit.
24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts
arise in your hearts?
24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and
see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he showed them [his] hands and [his]
feet.
24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said
unto them, Have ye here any meat?
24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
24:43 And he took [it], and did eat before them.
24:44 And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto
you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the
psalms, concerning me.

… John 8:47
8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear [them]
not, because ye are not of God.

… John 10:35
10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the
scripture cannot be broken;

… John 14:26
14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things
to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

… 2 Peter 1:19-21
1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well
that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until
the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any
private interpretation.
1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

… 1 John 5:10
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.

10 I don’t believe the Bible.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T BELIEVE THE BIBLE.”

Experience is the best test!
… Psalm 25:14
25:14 The secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will
show them his covenant.

… Mark 16:16
16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.

… John 3:18
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.

… John 3:36
3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him.

… John 7:17
7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.

… John 8:21-24
8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek
me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
8:22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith,
Whither I go, ye cannot come.
8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye
are of this world; I am not of this world.
8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if
ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.

… John 12:46
12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me
should not abide in darkness.

… John 16:8,9
16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of
righteousness, and of judgment:
16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

… 1 Corinthians 1:18
1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

… 1 Corinthians 2:14
2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because
they are spiritually discerned.

… 1 Corinthians 3:19
3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is
written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

… 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them.
4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath
shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

… 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall
be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

… Hebrews 2:3
2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them
that heard [him];

… Hebrews 10:28,29
10:28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three
witnesses:
10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the
blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and
hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

… Revelation 20:15
20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire.

11 I don’t believe you can know there is a God.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T BELIEVE YOU CAN KNOW THERE IS A GOD.”

HOW WE KNOW THERE IS A GOD:
By Creation:
… Psalm 14:1
14:1 To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David. The fool hath said in
his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable
works, [there is] none that doeth good.

… Psalm 19:1
19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the
glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.

… Romans 1:19-22
1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for
God hath showed [it] unto them.
1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen3, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his
eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened.
1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

By Revelation (His Word, the Bible):
… Exodus 20:1
20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,

… Hebrews 1:1
1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past
unto the fathers by the prophets,

Through His son, the Lord Jesus Christ:
… John 14:10,11
14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father
that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
14:11 Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or
else believe me for the very works’ sake.

… John 17:5
17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the
glory which I had with thee before the world was.

… 2 Corinthians 8:9
8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was
rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty
might be rich.

… 1 Timothy 3:16
3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was
manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached
unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

… Philippians 2:6,7
2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God:
2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

By His Miracles — Old Testament:
The Flood:
… Genesis 7:17-24
7:17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters
increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
7:18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the
earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the
high hills, that [were] under the whole heaven, were covered.
7:20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains
were covered.
7:21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of
cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the
earth, and every man:
7:22 All in whose nostrils [was] the breath of life, of all that [was]
in the dry [land], died.
7:23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face
of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the
fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only
remained [alive], and they that [were] with him in the ark.
7:24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

Diversity of languages:
… Genesis 11:6-9
11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all
one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be
restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that
they may not understand one another’s speech.
11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all
the earth: and they left off to build the city.
11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did
there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the
LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah:
… Genesis 19:24,25
19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and
fire from the LORD out of heaven;
19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the
inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Birth of Isaac
… Genesis 21:5
21:5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born
unto him.

Miracles of Moses in Egypt:
… Exodus 10:1,2
10:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have
hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show
these my signs before him:
10:2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s
son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done
among them; that ye may know how that I [am] the LORD.

… Exodus 11:10
11:10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the
LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of
Israel go out of his land.

… Exodus 12:30,31
12:30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and
all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for [there was]
not a house where [there was] not one dead.
12:31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up,
[and] get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of
Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.

By His Miracles — New Testament:
Virgin Birth of Christ:
… Matthew 1:20-25
1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the
Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David,
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost.
1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name
JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God
with us.
1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord
had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and
he called his name JESUS.

Descent of Holy Spirit as Dove:
… Mark 1:10,11
1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens
opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Multitude of Fishes:
… Luke 5:4-8
5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into
the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the
night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down
the net.
5:6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of
fishes: and their net brake.
5:7 And they beckoned unto [their] partners, which were in the other
ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both
the ships, so that they began to sink.
5:8 When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,
Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Water turned to wine:
… John 2:7-11
2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they
filled them up to the brim.
2:8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of
the feast. And they bare [it].
2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made
wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water
knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good
wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: [but] thou
hast kept the good wine until now.
2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Impotent man healed:
… John 5:5-9
5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and
eight years.
5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time
[in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water
is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another
steppeth down before me.
5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and
walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Feeding of multitudes:
… John 6:10-13
6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in
the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he
distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set
down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the
fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
6:13 Therefore they gathered [them] together, and filled twelve baskets
with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and
above unto them that had eaten.

Raising of Lazarus:
… John 11:38-44
11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It
was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him
that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he
hath been [dead] four days.
11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou
wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
11:41 Then they took away the stone [from the place] where the dead was
laid. And Jesus lifted up [his] eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that
thou hast heard me.
11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people
which stand by I said [it], that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus,
come forth.
11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with
graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith
unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Resurrection of Christ:
… John 20:1-8
20:1 The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it
was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the
sepulchre.
20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other
disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the
Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to
the sepulchre.
20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun
Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
20:5 And he stooping down, [and looking in], saw the linen clothes
lying; yet went he not in.
20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the
sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen
clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the
sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

… John 20:24,29
20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them
when Jesus came.
20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou
hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have
believed.

Lame man healed:
… Acts 3:1-10
3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of
prayer, [being] the ninth [hour].
3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom
they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to
ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an
alms.
3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have
give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted [him] up: and
immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the
temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful
gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at
that which had happened unto him.

By Godly Men:
… Romans 1:16
1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek.

… Hebrews 11
11:1 Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
11:3 Through FAITH we understand that the worlds were framed by the
word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which
do appear.
11:4 By FAITH Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than
Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying
of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
11:5 By FAITH Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and
was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation
he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
11:6 But without FAITH [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him.
11:7 By FAITH Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet,
moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which
he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by
FAITH.
11:8 By FAITH Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which
he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not
knowing whither he went.
11:9 By FAITH he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange
country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him
of the same promise:
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker [is] God.
11:11 Through FAITH also Sara herself received strength to conceive
seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she
judged him FAITHful who had promised.
11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so
many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by
the sea shore innumerable.
11:13 These all died in FAITH, not having received the promises, but
having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced
[them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a
country.
11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence
they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared
for them a city.
11:17 By FAITH Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he
that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son].
11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
11:19 Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the
dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
11:20 By FAITH Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
11:21 By FAITH Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of
Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.
11:22 By FAITH Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of
the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
11:23 By FAITH Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his
parents, because they saw [he was] a proper child; and they were not
afraid of the king’s commandment.
11:24 By FAITH Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called
the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than
to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
11:27 By FAITH he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for
he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
11:28 Through FAITH he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood,
lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
11:29 By FAITH they passed through the Red sea as by dry [land]: which
the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
11:30 By FAITH the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were
compassed about seven days.
11:31 By FAITH the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed
not, when she had received the spies with peace.
11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of
Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David
also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets:
11:33 Who through FAITH subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out
of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight
the armies of the aliens.
11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
11:36 And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea,
moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were
slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;
being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and
[in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.
11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through FAITH,
received not the promise:
11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without
us should not be made perfect.

12 I don’t have to accept Christ openly.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T HAVE TO ACCEPT CHRIST OPENLY.”

Christ says you do!
… Psalm 51:15
51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy
praise.

… Matthew 10:32
10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

… Acts 2:21
2:21 And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name
of the Lord shall be saved.

… 2 Timothy 1:8
1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of
me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel
according to the power of God;

… 1 John 4:15
4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth
in him, and he in God.

He died OPENLY for you; you confess Him OPENLY!

13 I don’t have to go to church.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH.”

But you will want to!
It is only natural for the child of God to be in the house of God, his
Father.
… Acts 2:42,44,46
2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and
breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and
singleness of heart,

… Hebrews 10:25
10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner
of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye
see the day approaching.

… 1 John 1:3
1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also
may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

True enough one does not have to go to church to be a Christian. One
needs the fellowship the church provides, especially since we mingle with
the world during the week. You need the church – the church needs you.
Where are they looking for you? “Birds of a feather flock together”.

They found Christ in the temple.
… Luke 2:42-49
2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after
the custom of the feast.
2:43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child
Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not [of
it].
2:44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s
journey; and they sought him among [their] kinsfolk and acquaintance.
2:45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem,
seeking him.
2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the
temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and
asking them questions.
2:47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and
answers.
2:48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto
him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have
sought thee sorrowing.
2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not
that I must be about my Father’s business?

14 I don’t know God’s plan of salvation.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T KNOW GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION.”

YOU NEED TO BE SAVED!
… Ecclesiastes 7:20
7:20 For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and
sinneth not.

… Isaiah 53:6
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to
his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

… Isaiah 64:6
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.

… Jeremiah 17:9,10
17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately
wicked: who can know it?
17:10 I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give
every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his
doings.

… Luke 13:3
13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.

… John 3:3
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

… Romans 3:23
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

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

YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF
… Proverbs 14:12
14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof [are] the ways of death.

… Isaiah 55:8
55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways
my ways, saith the LORD.

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

… Romans 3:20
3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

… 1 Corinthians 1:21
1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not
God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe.

… Galatians 2:16
2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but
by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that
we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the
law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

… Titus 3:5
3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of
the Holy Ghost;

… James 2:10
2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one
[point], he is guilty of all.

GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR YOUR SALVATION
… Romans 5:8
5:8 But God commendeth His love for us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.

… 1 Corinthians 15:3,4
15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:

… 2 Corinthians 5:18,19,21
5:18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by
Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto
us the word of reconciliation.
5:21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the righteousness of God in him.

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

… 1 Peter 2:24
2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that
we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes
ye were healed.

BELIEVE GOD’S WORD AND BE SAVED
… John 5:24
5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come
into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

… John 6:29
6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that
ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

… 1 John 5:12,13
5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of
God hath not life.
5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of
the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the name of the Son of God.

MUST CONFESS JESUS BEFORE MEN
… Matthew 10:32,33
10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father which is in heaven.

… Luke 9:26
9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall
the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in
his] Father’s, and of the holy angels.

SAVING FAITH PRODUCES GOOD WORKS
… Joshua 24:15
24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this
day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that
[were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in
whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

… Romans 14:12
14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

… Philippians 2:13
2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his]
good pleasure.

… Titus 3:8
3:8 [This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou
affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful
to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

… Hebrews 9:27
9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:

… James 2:14-18
2:14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and
filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful
to the body; what [doth it] profit?
2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy
faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

15 I don’t know how to be saved.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T KNOW HOW TO BE SAVED.”

I. Repent. Repent means sorry enough to quit. A change of mind and
heart.
… Psalm 51:3
51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before
me.

… Isaiah 55:7
55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon
him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

… Matthew 3:8
3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

… Acts 2:38
2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

… 2 Corinthians 5:17
5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

… 2 Corinthians 7:10
7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be
repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

… 2 Timothy 2:19
2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this
seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Man’s Lost Condition:
… Psalm 51:5
51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother
conceive me.

… Isaiah 53:6
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to
his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

… Luke 19:10
19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was
lost.

… Romans 3:10,12
3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

… Romans 3:23
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

II. Be Converted. Conversion means turned about. Two ways: The way of
Life and the way of Death.
… Matthew 7:13
7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad
[is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat:

… Matthew 18:3
18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

… Acts 3:19
3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of
the Lord;

III. Believe. Believe means: depend upon, trust.
… John 1:12
1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

… John 3:16
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.

… Acts 16:31
16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt
be saved, and thy house.

IV. Be Born Again from Above.
… John 3:3
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

… Ephesians 2:1,5,6
2:1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins:
2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in
heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:

V. Confess Christ as Savior and Lord.
… Psalm 116:12-14
116:12 What shall I render unto the LORD [for] all his benefits toward
me?
116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the
LORD.
116:14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his
people.

… Malachi 3:16,17
3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the
LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written
before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when
I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son
that serveth him.

… Matthew 10:32,33
10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father which is in heaven.

… Matthew 28:19,20
28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world.
Amen.

… John 1:40-42,45-49
1:40 One of the two which heard John [speak], and followed him, was
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We
have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said,
Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by
interpretation, A stone.
1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him,
of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth,
the son of Joseph.
1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of
Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered
and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under
the fig tree, I saw thee.
1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of
God; thou art the King of Israel.

… John 4:39
4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the
saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

… Acts 1:8
1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The Gospel:
… 1 Corinthians 15:1-5
15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached
unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached
unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:
15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

Christ crucified for me, a sinner.
Christ Buried – the believer’s sin blotted out.
Christ risen – He is able to save completely.
Christ manifested – He is coming again.

16 I don’t know how to believe.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I DON’T KNOW HOW TO BELIEVE.”

Believing means RECEIVING – HIM!
… Isaiah 35:3,4
35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
35:4 Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not:
behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a
recompense; he will come and save you.

… John 1:12
1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

… John 3:16
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.

… John 6:40-47
6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which
seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I
will raise him up at the last day.
6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread
which came down from heaven.
6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father
and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from
heaven?
6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among
yourselves.
6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw
him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of
God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father,
cometh unto me.
6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he
hath seen the Father.
6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath
everlasting life.

I. Repent:
… Mark 16:16
16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.

… Acts 2:38
2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

… Acts 3:19
3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of
the Lord;

II. Be Converted:
… Matthew 13:15
13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull
of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should
see with [their] eyes and hear with [their] ears, and should understand
with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

… Matthew 18:3
18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

III. Believe and Be Born Again:
… John 1:12
1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

… John 3:3
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Believe what God says is TRUE.

17 I feel saved.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I FEEL SAVED.”

Depending on Feeling is not Faith.
… Proverbs 14:12
14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof [are] the ways of death.

… Jeremiah 17:9
17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately
wicked: who can know it?

… Luke 18:9-14
18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, and despised others:
18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and
the other a publican.
18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank
thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers,
or even as this publican.
18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as
[his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be
merciful to me a sinner.
18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather]
than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and
he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

… John 3:36
3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him.

… Titus 1:2
1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised
before the world began;

… Hebrews 11:6
11:6 But without FAITH [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him.

It is not what we FEEL, but what GOD SAYS!

Many FEEL saved depending on feeling — it is not feeling that saves, but
the fact of the new birth.

18 I have always been a Christian.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CHRISTIAN.”

If you were, Christ would not have told you:
… Psalm 51:5
51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother
conceive me.

… Ecclesiastes 7:20
7:20 For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and
sinneth not.

… Isaiah 53:6
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to
his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

… Isaiah 64:6
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.

… John 1:12
1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power (which means
right or authority) to become the sons of God, [even] to them that
believe on his name:

… John 3:3
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

… Romans 3:23
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

… Romans 5:8
5:8 But God commendeth His love for us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.

If you were always a Christian you would not have to become one as Christ
here distinctly says.

19 I have committed the unpardonable sin.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I HAVE COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN.”

… Matthew 12:31,32
12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall
be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall
not be forgiven unto men.
12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be
forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not
be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.

This describes those who, knowing the work is the work of the Holy
Spirit, deliberately describe it as the work of Satan.

I do not believe that this specific act can be performed today. If I
felt that you had committed this sin, I would not bother trying to win
you to faith in Christ.

However, while you continue in a state of UNBELIEF, you are in an
unpardonable state. If you are genuinly concerned about this you need to
stop rebelling against the Holy Spirit and accept His revelation of
Christ through His Word, the Bible.

20 I have no feeling.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I HAVE NO FEELING.”

What feeling do you expect?
… Ecclesiastes 7:20
7:20 For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and
sinneth not.

… Isaiah 53:6
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to
his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

… Isaiah 55:1,7
55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that
hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon
him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

… Acts 5:32
5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the
Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

… Acts 16:17
16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are
the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of
salvation.

… Eph 1:13
1:13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

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

… 1 John 5:12
5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of
God hath not life.

Christian’s Joy:
… Matt 10:32
10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

… Acts 5:32
5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the
Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

… Rom 10:9,10
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.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.

… Gal 5:22
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,

Not feeling, but faith in Christ:
… Isaiah 45:22
45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I
[am] God, and [there is] none else.

… John 1:12
1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

21 I have not finished sowing wild oats.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I HAVE NOT FINISHED SOWING WILD OATS.”

… Proverbs 27:1
27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day
may bring forth.

… Ecclesiastes 11:9
11:9 REJOICE, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee
in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the
sight of thine eyes: but know that, that for all these [things] God will
bring thee into judgment.

… Galatians 6:7
6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.

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

… Romans 8:6
8:6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded
[is] life and peace.

… James 1:15
1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin,
when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

… James 4:4
4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the
world is the enemy of God.

22 I have tried Christianity once but failed.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I HAVE TRIED CHRISTIANITY ONCE BUT FAILED.”

But I could not hold out! You are not asked to hold out.
… Psalm 37:23,24
37:23 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he
delighteth in his way.
37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD
upholdeth [him with] his hand.

… Hosea 14:4
14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine
anger is turned away from him.

… Luke 19:10
19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was
lost.

… John 10:27-29
10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
10:29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no
[man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand.

… 1 Corinthians 10:13
10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that
ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape145,
that ye may be able to bear [it].

… 2 Corinthians 9:8
9:8 And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,
always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good
work:

… Galatians
2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come]
by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

… Philippians 1:6
1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

… Hebrews 7:25
7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come
unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

… 1 Peter 1:5
1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time.

… 1 Peter 4:19
4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit
the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful
Creator.

… Jude 24
1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
[you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

If you have made a full surrender to God, you will not fail. Many fail
because they do not confess Christ in their lives.

23 I love my worldly amusements.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I LOVE MY WORLDLY AMUSEMENTS.”

… Proverbs 21:17
21:17 He that loveth pleasure [shall be] a poor man: he that loveth
wine and oil shall not be rich.

… Matthew 13:22
13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth
the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches,
choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

… Luke 14:33
14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that
he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

… 1 Corinthians 10:21
10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye
cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

… 1 Corinthians 10:31
10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all
to the glory of God.

… Philippians 3:7
3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

… 1 Timothy 5:6
5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

… Hebrews 11:24
11:24 By FAITH Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called
the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

… James 4:4
4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the
world is the enemy of God.

… 1 John 2:15-17
2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If
any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of
the world.
2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that
doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The trouble is the pleasures of this world are not innocent. They choke
the Gospel, hindering Salvation and service.

24 I must get better first.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I MUST GET BETTER FIRST.”

… Isaiah 45:22
45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I
[am] God, and [there is] none else.

… Matt 9:13
9:13 But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and
not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.

… Luke 15:18-24
15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father,
I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy
hired servants.
15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great
way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his
neck, and kissed him.
15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven,
and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe,
and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:
15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat,
and be merry:
15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
found. And they began to be merry.

… Luke 18:10-14
18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and
the other a publican.
18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank
thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers,
or even as this publican.
18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as
[his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be
merciful to me a sinner.
18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather]
than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and
he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

You must take first things first. Christ said:
… Matt 6:33
6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you.

The story of the lost sheep:
… Luke 15:1-7
15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear
him.
15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth
sinners, and eateth with them.
15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them,
doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that
which is lost, until he find it?
15:5 And when he hath found [it], he layeth [it] on his shoulders,
rejoicing.
15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together [his] friends and
neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep
which was lost.
15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one
sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which
need no repentance.

You cannot improve yourself – Christ alone can save you. Come just as
you are.

25 I will not be accepted.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.”

… 2 Chronicles 33:13
33:13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his
supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then
Manasseh knew that the LORD he [was] God.

… Psalm 103:12
103:12 As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed
our transgressions from us.

… Isaiah 1:18
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.

… Isaiah 43:25
43:25 I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for
mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

… Isaiah 44:22
44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as
a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

… Matthew 9:13
9:13 But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and
not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.

… Luke 19:10
19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was
lost.

… Romans 5:8
5:8 But God commendeth His love for us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.

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

… 1 Timothy 1:15
1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and
[of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:

… Revelation 22:17
22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth
say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him
take the water of life freely.

26 I’m a church member.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M A CHURCH MEMBER.”

You are depending upon your profession.
… Matt 6:24
6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and
love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

… Matt 7:21,22
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven.
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works?

… Matt 10:32
10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

… Matt 15:7,8
15:7 [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth
me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.

… Matt 18:3
18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

… Luke 14:11
14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted.

… John 3:3
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

… Rom 11:6
11:16 For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and
if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches.

… Gal 2:16
2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but
by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that
we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the
law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

… Eph 2:8,9
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
… 2 Tim 1:9
1:9 Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

… Titus 1:16
1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him],
being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

… Heb 12:14
12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord:

… James 2:14
2:14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

… 1 John 3:21
3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence
toward God.

You must be born into God’s family.
… Heb 12:2
12:2 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for
the joy that was set before HIM endured the corss, despising the shame,
and is set on the right hand of the throne of God.

27 I’m a Jew

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M A JEW.”

WE JEWS CANNOT BELIEVE IN 3 GODS
… Genesis 1:26
1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of
the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

… Deuteronomy 6:4-6
6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD:
6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine
heart:

… Isaiah 48:16
48:16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret
from the beginning; from the time that it was, there [am] I: and now the
Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

… 1 Timothy 2:5
2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus;

GOD CAN HAVE NO SON
… Psalm 2:7
2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art]
my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

… Proverbs 30:4
30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered
the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath
established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is]
his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

… Isaiah 9:6
9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace.

MESSIAH IS NOT TO BE GOD
… Isaiah 9:6
9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace.

… Jeremiah 23:5
23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto
David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall
execute judgment and justice in the earth.

… Micah 5:2
5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that
is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old,
from everlasting.

WE CANNOT BELIEVE IN A VIRGIN BIRTH
… Genesis 2:7
2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul.

… Genesis 3:15
3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his
heel.

… Isaiah 7:14
7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

MAN DOES NOT INHERIT A SIN NATURE
… Genesis 5:3
5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in
his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

… Genesis 6:5
6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth,
and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil
continually.

… Isaiah 53:6
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to
his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

… Jeremiah 17:9
17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately
wicked: who can know it?

SALVATION CAN ONLY COME THRU WORKS
… Genesis 15:6
15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for
righteousness.

… Psalm 2:11,12
2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when
his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their
trust in him.

JESUS IS NOT OUR MESSIAH
… Isaiah 53:1-12
53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD
revealed?
53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root
out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall
see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was
despised, and we esteemed him not.
53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we
did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for
our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with
his stripes we are healed.
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to
his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his
mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before
her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare
his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the
transgression of my people was he stricken.
53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his
death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his
mouth.
53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to
grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see
[his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD
shall prosper in his hand.
53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be
satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for
he shall bear their iniquities.
53:12 Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his
soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare
the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

28 I’m a Roman Catholic.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M A ROMAN CATHOLIC.”

No matter what you are, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN (from above).
… John 1:12
1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

… John 3:3-8
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can
he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit.
3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is
every one that is born of the Spirit.

… 2 Corinthians 5:10
5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that
every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that
he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

… 2 Corinthians 5:17
5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

… Hebrews 9:27
9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:

… 1 Peter 1:23
1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,
by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

… 1 John 2:29
2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth
righteousness is born of him.

… 1 John 5:4
5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the
victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.

SALVATION IS NEVER OF WORKS:
… Romans 4:5
4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

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

… 2 Timothy 1:9
1:9 Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

God’s children have joy of assurance:
… John 5:39
5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of me.

… Acts 13:38-39
13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men [and] brethren, that through
this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from
which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

… Acts 17:11
17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures
daily, whether those things were so.

… 1 Timothy 2:5
2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus;

… 1 Peter 2:1,2
2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies,
and envies, and all evil speakings,
2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may
grow thereby:

… 1 John 1:9
1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our]
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Are you trusting in Christ or the church?
… Acts 4:12
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.

… 1 Corinthians 3:11
3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is
Jesus Christ.

… Hebrews 10:1-3
10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the
very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they
offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that
the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
10:3 But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of
sins every year.

… Hebrews 10:11,12
10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for
ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

… Hebrews 10:19,20
10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus,
10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us,
through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

29 I’m an Atheist.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M AN ATHEIST.”

30 I’m an earnest-minded skeptic.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M AN EARNEST-MINDED SKEPTIC.”

… Psalms 25:14
25:14 The secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will
show them his covenant.

… Luke 16:31
16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

… John 1:45-49
1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him,
of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth,
the son of Joseph.
1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of
Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered
and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under
the fig tree, I saw thee.
1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of
God; thou art the King of Israel.

… John 3:19
3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
… John 6:40
6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which
seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I
will raise him up at the last day.

… John 7:17
7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.

… John 20:24-29
20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them
when Jesus came.
20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the
Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of
the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my
hand into his side, I will not believe.
20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas
with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the
midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you.
20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my
hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be
not faithless, but believing.
20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou
hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have
believed.

… John 20:31
20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his
name.

… Acts 26:9-20
26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I
shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and
when they were put to death, I gave my voice against [them].
26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled [them]
to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted [them]
even unto strange cities.
26:12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission
from the chief priests,
26:13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above
the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which
journeyed with me.
26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice
speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest.
26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee
for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these
things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will
appear unto thee;
26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, unto
whom now I send thee,
26:18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light,
and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness
of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is
in me.
26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the
heavenly vision:
26:20 But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and
throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that
they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

… Romans 11:33
11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

… 1 Corinthians 2:14
2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because
they are spiritually discerned.

… 2 Corinthians 3:3,4
3:3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of
Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the
living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.
3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

… 2 Corinthians 3:14-16
3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the
same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [veil]
is done away in Christ.
3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their
heart.
3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be
taken away.

… Ephesians 1:9-18
1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his
good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which
are on earth; [even] in him:
1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel
of his own will:
1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in
Christ.
1:13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of
the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus,
and love unto all the saints,
1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers;
1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may
give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
him:
1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know
what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his
inheritance in the saints,

… 2 Timothy 2:12,13
2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he
also will deny us:
2:13 If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny
himself.

31 I’m doing the best I can.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M DOING THE BEST I CAN.”

The “Best you can” is to repent, receive Christ, and serve Him.
… Matthew 5:20
5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed
[the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case
enter into the kingdom of heaven.

… Matthew 22:27,38
22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

… Mark 2:17
2:17 When Jesus heard [it], he saith unto them, They that are whole
have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call
the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

… Luke 13:3,5
13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent1, ye shall all likewise
perish.
13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.

… Romans 2:4
2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?

… Romans 3:19-24
3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to
them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the
world may become guilty before God.
3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,
being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ
unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus:

… Galatians 3:20
3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:
for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all
things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

… James 2:10
2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one
[point], he is guilty of all.

32 I’m just a backslider.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M JUST A BACKSLIDER.”

The Backslider’s life is a constant reproach to himself.
… Deuteronomy 4:28-31
4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and
stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt
find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon
thee, [even] in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and
shalt be obedient unto his voice;
4:31 (For the LORD thy God [is] a merciful God;) he will not forsake
thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which
he sware unto them.

… 2 Chronicles 7:14
7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal
their land.

… 2 Chronicles 15:4
15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of
Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

… 2 Chronicles 33:12,13
33:12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and
humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
33:13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his
supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then
Manasseh knew that the LORD he [was] God.

… Psa 32:5
32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid.
I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou
forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

… Isaiah 44:22-25
44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as
a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done [it]: shout, ye lower
parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and
every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified
himself in Israel.
44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from
the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth
the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners
mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge
foolish;

… Jeremiah 2:5,13,19
2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me,
that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are
become vain?
2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the
fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken
cisterns, that can hold no water.
2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings
shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing]
and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear
[is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

… Jeremiah 3:12-14,22
3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return,
thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine
anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will
not keep [anger] for ever.
3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed
against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers
under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married
unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I
will bring you to Zion:
3:22 Return, ye backsliding children, [and] I will heal your
backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou [art] the LORD our God.

… Hosea 14:4
14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine
anger is turned away from him.

… Amos 4:11,12
4:11 I have overthrown [some] of you, as God overthrew Sodom and
Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have
ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
4:12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: [and] because I will
do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

… Luke 15:13-24
15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together,
and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance
with riotous living.
15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that
land; and he began to be in want.
15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and
he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the
swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of
my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father,
I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy
hired servants.
15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great
way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his
neck, and kissed him.
15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven,
and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe,
and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:
15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat,
and be merry:
15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
found. And they began to be merry.

… 2 Pet 2:20
2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through
the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than
the beginning.

… 1 John 1:9
1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our]
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

… 1 John 2:1
2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous:

… Rev 3:16
3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will spue thee out of my mouth.

Joy, power for service await returning backslider
… Psalm 51:12,13
51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with
thy] free spirit.
51:13 [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be
converted unto thee.

33 I’m not a sinner – I’m good enough.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M NOT A SINNER – I’M GOOD ENOUGH!”

34 I’m not ready now – I have plenty of time.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M NOT READY NOW – I HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.”

35 I’m too great a sinner.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M TOO GREAT A SINNER.”

36 I’m trying to be a Christian.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“I’M TRYING TO BE A CHRISTIAN.”

37 It doesn’t matter what I believe as long as I’m sincere.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT I BELIEVE AS LONG AS I’M SINCERE.”

Christ said it makes all the difference in the world:
… Mark 16:16
16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.

May be sincerely wrong:
… Prov 16:25
16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof
[are] the ways of death.

… John 11:25
11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

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

… John 20:31
20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his
name.

… Rom 4:5
4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

All damned who believe not the truth:
… John 3:3
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

… John 3:18
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.

… John 3:36
3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him.

… John 12:48
12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that
judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the
last day.

… Acts 13:39
13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from
which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

… Rom 10:4,10
10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.

… 2 Cor 5:17
5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

… 2 Thes 2:10-12
2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might
be saved.
2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie:
2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.

38 It is too late for me.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“IT IS TOO LATE FOR ME.”

39 It would cost me too much.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“IT WOULD COST ME TOO MUCH.”

40 My friends would persecute me.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“MY FRIENDS WOULD PERSECUTE ME.”

41 There are too many Hypocrites in the church.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“THERE ARE TOO MANY HYPOCRITES IN THE CHURCH.”

It is better to spend a short while with some of the hypocrites here on
earth, rather than spend a long eternity with all of them in hell! All
hypocrites will pershish.
… Job 8:13
8:13 So [are] the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s
hope shall perish:

Christ alone is the pattern.
… Isaiah 45:22
45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I
[am] God, and [there is] none else.

… Ezekiel 18:4
18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the
soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

… Hosea 4:9
4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish
them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

… Matthew 7:1-5
7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what
measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but
considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out
of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye?
7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and
then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s
eye.

… Matthew 23:10
23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even]
Christ.

… Matthew 24:51
24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the
hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

… John 7:24
7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous
judgment.

… John 21:21,22
21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man
[do]?
21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what
[is that] to thee? follow thou me.

… Romans 2:1-5
2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that
judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for
thou that judgest doest the same things.
2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth
against them which commit such things.
2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such
things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?
2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto
thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God;

… Romans 10:3
10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God.

… Romans 14:12
14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

… 2 Corinthians 10:18
10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord
commendeth.

… 1 Peter 4:17
4:17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of
God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them
that obey not the gospel of God?

42 What about the heathen?

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD:
“WHAT ABOUT THE HEATHEN?”

The Bible says they are without excuse:
… Romans 1:18-32
1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness;
1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for
God hath showed [it] unto them.
1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his
eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened.
1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made
like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and
creeping things.
1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts
of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served
the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even
their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which
is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error
which was meet.
1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient;
1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,
1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors
of evil things, disobedient to parents,
1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful:
1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such
things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in
them that do them.

… Romans 2:1-16
2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that
judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for
thou that judgest doest the same things.
2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth
against them which commit such things.
2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such
things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?
2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto
thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God;
2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and
honour and immortality, eternal life:
2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of
the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to
the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without
law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
2:13 (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the
doers of the law shall be justified.
2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the
things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto
themselves:
2:15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while
accusing or else excusing one another;)
2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ
according to my gospel.

All the heathen are lost.
… John 5:22-29
5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment
unto the Son:
5:23 That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the
Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath
sent him.
5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come
into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is,
when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear
shall live.
5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the
Son to have life in himself;
5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he
is the Son of man.
5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that
are in the graves shall hear his voice,
5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection
of damnation.

CONCLUSION

SEEK YE THE LORD while He may be found, CALL YE UPON HIM while He is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and
let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our
God, for He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6,7

So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return
unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:35

3 Responses to Soul Winners Guide

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Soul Winners Guide

Copyright 1948 by IMMANUEL MISSION TO SHUT-INS, INC. All Rights Reserved.

I have tried, without success, to contact the copyright owner for permission to republish this edited booklet in electronic form. I have assumed that the copyright has expired and that it is now in the public domain. If you are the owner of this copyright, please contact me.

EXCUSES OFFERED FOR NOT BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD.

1 God is too good to send anyone to hell.

2 I cannot forgive others.

3 I cannot give up my companions.

4 I cannot understand the Bible.

5 I don’t believe ‘Once saved – Always saved’.

6 I don’t believe Christ is soon coming again.

7 I don’t believe in Heaven.

8 I don’t believe in Hell

9 I don’t believe the Bible is God’s Word.

10 I don’t believe the Bible.

11 I don’t believe you can know there is a God.

12 I don’t have to accept Christ openly.

13 I don’t have to go to church.

14 I don’t know God’s plan of salvation.

15 I don’t know how to be saved.

16 I don’t know how to believe.

17 I feel saved.

18 I have always been a Christian.

19 I have committed the unpardonable sin.

20 I have no feeling.

21 I have not finished sowing wild oats.

22 I have tried Christianity once but failed.

23 I love my worldly amusements.

24 I must get better first.

25 I will not be accepted.

26 I’m a church member.

27 I’m a Jew

28 I’m a Roman Catholic.

29 I’m an Atheist.

30 I’m an earnest-minded skeptic.

31 I’m doing the best I can.

32 I’m just a backslider.

33 I’m not a sinner – I’m good enough.

34 I’m not ready now – I have plenty of time.

35 I’m too great a sinner.

36 I’m trying to be a Christian.

37 It doesn’t matter what I believe as long as I’m sincere.

38 It is too late for me.

39 It would cost me too much.

40 My friends would persecute me.

41 There are too many Hypocrites in the church.

42 What about the heathen?

3 Responses to Soul Winners Guide

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