- MAN MAY HEAR AND BE LOST.
- This was true of:
- The people in Antioch.
Acts
13:44-46 = "And the next Sabbath
day came almost the whole city together to hear
the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes,
they were filled with envy, and spake against those
things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting
and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold,
and said, It was necessary that the word of God
should first have been spoken to you: but seeing
ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy
of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."
- Felix.
Acts
24:24-25 = "And after certain days,
when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which
was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning
the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness,
temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled,
and answered, Go thy way for this time; when
I have a convenient season, I will call for thee."
- We are deceiving ourselves when
we hear and do that which we have heard.
James
1:22-25 = "But be ye doers of the
word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer,
he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in
a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way,
and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and
continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer,
but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in
his deed."
- MAN MAY BELIEVE AND BE LOST.
Comment:
This was true of the Jewish rulers.
John
12:42-43 = "Nevertheless among the
chief rulers also many believed on him; but because
of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they
should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the
praise of men more than the praise of God."
Matthew
10:33 = "But whosoever shall deny
me before men, him will I also deny before my Father
which is in heaven."
- KING AGRIPPA WAS ALMOST PERSUADED
TO BE A CHRISTIAN, BUT WAS
STILL LOST.
Acts
26:28 = "Then Agrippa said unto Paul,
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
- SIMON THE SORCERER WAS BAPTIZED AND
YET LATER WAS LOST.
Acts
8:13 = "Then Simon himself believed
also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip,
and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which
were done."
Acts 8:18-22 = "And when Simon saw
that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy
Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give
me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands,
he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto
him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought
that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for
thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore
of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."
- MAN MAY BE A DISCIPLE AND BE LOST.
- This was true of those who turned
back and did not continue to walk with Christ.
John
6:66 = "From that time many of
his disciples went back, and walked no
more with him."
- The ones that turn back are not
fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke
9:62 = "And Jesus said unto him,
No man, having put his hand to the plough,
and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
- JUDAS WAS CLOSE TO THE LORD FOR AWHILE,
BUT WAS LOST.
Luke
22:3 = "Then entered Satan into Judas
surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve."
Acts
1:25 = "That he may take part of
this ministry and apostleship, from which
Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his
own place."
Note: The
key that we must use to keep from being lost is to endure
faithfully unto the end of
life.
Matthew
10:22 = "And ye shall be hated of
all men for my name's sake: but he that
endureth to the end shall be saved."
Revelation
2:10 = "Fear none of those things
which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast
some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye
shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
- THE PHARISEES WERE RELIGIOUS, BUT
WERE CONDEMNED.
Matthew
23:1-4 = "Then spake Jesus to the
multitude, and to his disciples, Saying,
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All
therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for
they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens
and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's
shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with
one of their fingers."
Matthew 23:37-39 = "O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and
stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would
I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens
under her wings, and ye
would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
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."
- JESUS SAID THAT MANY WHO HAD DONE
WONDERFUL WORKS WOULD BE
CONDEMNED.
Matthew
7:21-23 = "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. 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? And then will
I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,
ye that work iniquity."
- This will be true for they did
not do the Father’s will.
Matthew
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."
- Obedience to the Lord is essential.
Hebrews
5:8-9 = "Though he were a Son, yet
learned he obedience by the things
which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became
the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him;"
Revelation
22:14 = "Blessed are they that do
his commandments, that they may have
right to the tree of life, and may enter in through
the gates into the city."
- MANY WHO HAVE GREAT ZEAL WILL BE
CONDEMNED BECAUSE THEY DID
NOT KNOW THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD
Romans
10:2 = "For I bear them record that
they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge."
Comment:
Knowledge precedes conversion.
Matthew
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."
John
8:32 = "And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free."
- FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS MADE SOME PREPARATION
TO MEET THE
BRIDEGROOM, BUT WERE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER INTO THE
WEDDING
CHAMBER.