Why You Will Not Come To Christ

Q: What does the Bible say about coming to Christ?

The Bible states that coming to Christ is essential for salvation, as He promises to save all who come to Him (John 5:40). The Scriptures consistently affirm that coming to Christ is pivotal for salvation. In John 5:39-40, Jesus addresses the religious leaders who searched the Scriptures expecting to find eternal life in them, yet failed to recognize that these Scriptures testify about Him. He declares, 'You will not come to me that you might have life.' This passage clearly emphasizes that faith in Christ, which involves coming to Him for salvation, is a necessity. Jesus is depicted as the source of life and healing for all who reach out to Him in faith, showcasing the depths of His grace and the assurance that no one who approaches Him in genuine need will be turned away.

Q: How do we know that God's sovereignty affects salvation?

God's sovereignty in salvation is evident through His eternal election and the necessity of divine grace for faith (Romans 9:11). The doctrine of God's sovereignty in salvation underscores the belief that salvation is God's work from start to finish. Romans 9:11 expresses that God's purposes in election stand firm, not based on human actions, but purely on His will. This principle is crucial because it reminds us that no one can come to Christ unless drawn by the Father (John 6:44). Salvation, therefore, is not contingent upon human merit or decision but is rooted in God's mercy, emphasizing that those whom He has chosen will inevitably come to faith. This highlights the majestic sovereignty of God, who reigns supremely over all aspects of salvation, granting faith and repentance to His chosen people.

Q: Why is faith in Christ important for Christians?

Faith in Christ is the means by which believers receive salvation and eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith in Christ holds paramount importance for Christians, as it is through faith that salvation is received. Ephesians 2:8-9 articulates that we are saved by grace through faith, underscoring that it is not of ourselves but is a gift from God. This faith is not a mere acknowledgment of Christ's existence but is an active trust in His finished work on the cross for redemption. As believers, our faith is characterized by reliance on Christ's righteousness and His sacrifice, enabling us to be reconciled to God. This trust brings about transformation in our hearts and lives, granting us the assurance of our salvation and the continual assurance of our relationship with God.

Q: What does it mean to be spiritually blind according to the Bible?

Spiritual blindness refers to an inability to perceive and accept the truth of the gospel, hindering one's coming to Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Spiritual blindness is a condition described in Scriptures that signifies a lack of understanding and awareness of God's truth. As noted in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the gospel is hidden to those who are perishing, and the god of this world has blinded their minds. This blindness prevents them from recognizing their need for salvation and the glorious truth found in Christ. It is an indictment of human depravity, suggesting that individuals, apart from the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit, are unable to see the beauty and necessity of the gospel. The remedy for this condition lies not in human effort but in God's grace, which opens blind eyes and enables people to see the light of Christ.

Q: Why do some people refuse to come to Christ?

Many refuse to come to Christ due to spiritual blindness, hatred for God, and reliance on false refuges (Romans 1:28). The refusal to come to Christ can be attributed to various spiritual and moral barriers. According to Romans 1:28, people can become so entrenched in their sinfulness that God gives them up to a reprobate mind, which results in their rejection of the truth. This rejection stems from spiritual blindness, which makes individuals oblivious to their condition and the solution provided in Christ. Additionally, there is often a deep-seated hostility towards God, as the carnal mind is enmity against Him. Many people cling to false refuges, like works or religion, believing that these can secure their standing before God rather than resting in the finished work of Christ. Ultimately, their unwillingness to embrace the grace offered through faith in Christ leads to their spiritual demise.

I suppose that I have never read
the writings of any man outside the book of God that had been
more delightful to me and in many ways more instructive than
the writings of Robert Hawker. I've been greatly influenced
by his poor man's commentary, his poor man's morning and evening
portions, and the other things I've read by his pen. Hawker
was a highly reputed preacher who lived until 1827, I believe
it was he died, and pastored in Plymouth, England for 53 years. I was surprised reading his biography
to discover that his wife never had any interest in the gospel,
never had any concern for the things of God. She was not vicious. She was not mean. They had a
very, very good relationship with one another. She wasn't
a believer. She lived in the house of a man
God used to minister to thousands. And she never heard the Savior's
voice. She never believed on the Son of God, so far as anyone
knows. on this earth. She assisted her
husband in works of philanthropy. She assisted him in charitable
work. She assisted him in lots of things
he did, just never any interest in worshiping God. Now that's a matter of her responsibility,
but it's also a matter of God's sovereignty. How often we sometimes tend,
rather than being brokenhearted for our children, someone asks,
is your son a believer? Is your daughter a believer?
And you have to answer, no, I don't think so. You feel a little embarrassed.
What did I do wrong? Listen carefully to what I've
got to say this morning. Salvation doesn't come to anyone
because you will it. or because of their relationship
to you, or because of your abilities as a teacher, a preacher, a mother,
or a father. Salvation comes by God's mighty
operations of grace, only by God's will. Faith in Christ is
set before us in many, many ways in scripture. Faith is set before
us as looking to Christ, looking to me and be you saved all the
ends of the earth for I'm God beside me, there is none else.
Faith is spoken of as trusting Christ. Blessed is the man that
trusteth in thee, trusting Christ. Faith is sometimes spoken of
as seeking the Lord. He that seeks Him with all his
heart shall find Him. And they that seek Him, seek
Him all their days. Faith is spoken of as laying
hold on Christ. Stirring up our hearts and laying
hold on Christ. As one lays hold on a lifeline
thrown to him. And faith, perhaps more than
anything else, is described as coming to Christ. The Lord Jesus
is able to save unto the uttermost all them that come unto God by
him. Believers are described like
this by the Apostle Peter. He said, we are people with regard
to Christ to whom coming. I have come to him. I shall come
to Him and I am coming to Him. How often poor needy sinners
came to Christ or were brought to Him in desperate need while
He walked on this earth. The reason I read to you Matthew
chapter 9 and commented a little bit about chapter 8 at the beginning
of our worship service was to show you and remind you again
how often Poor needy souls came to Christ or were brought to
him in their desperate need. And every single one that came
to him or was brought to him obtained exactly what they needed. No exception. Everyone he healed. Every sick soul came in contact
with him. He healed as many as had need
of healing. Every one of them, no exceptions.
The leper came, fell down at his feet, worshiping him, said,
Lord, if you will, you can make me whole. He said, I will. And
he made whole. They brought a man, four fellows,
brought a friend, a paralyzed man, to the Lord Jesus, led him
down to the tiling in the roof, knowing if the Lord would, he
could heal him. And when the Lord Jesus saw their faith, he
said to that man, your sins are forgiven you. And he said, by
the way, take him to bed and walk on home. Everyone up, everyone
up. As often as needy souls came
to the Savior, our omnipotent, ever gracious, all merciful Redeemer
gave them the healing that his power and his grace alone could
give. Now, are you listening to what
I've said? Mark these things down. Salvation is obtained by
coming to Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is able
to save all who come to Him. That's good. Here's the third
thing, even better. He promises that He will save. all who come to him. That's problems. Here's something that gets even
better. Nobody ever came to him who wasn't healed. Nobody ever
came to him who wasn't saved. Why don't you come? Why don't you come? Why don't you come? John chapter 5, verse 39. The Lord Jesus is talking to
religious folks. He's talking to Bible-thumping,
conservative, religious, church-going men and women, people who read
and studied and memorized scripture. People who governed their lives
by scripture. People whose religious activity
was of such a nature that they were known everywhere for the
things they did as religious people. The master says in verse
39, search the scriptures. For in them you think you have
eternal life. read it this way read it this
way you search the scriptures because
you think by your searching of the scriptures you have eternal
life you search the scriptures because
you think by the things that you have discovered and learned
in religious exercise you think that by your outward form of
godliness you have eternal life and you miss the whole thing
they are they which testify of me now watch this and ye will
not come to me that ye might have life Throughout the Word
of God, throughout the scriptures, there is a clear, unmistakable
message of redemption. Redemption through the precious
blood of Jesus Christ. There's absolutely no salvation
from sin apart from or except by the substitutionary sacrifice
of the Son of God. Yet, like these Pharisees, there
are many today. who state their belief in a supreme
being, who say, I believe in God. They believe in a divinely
inspired Bible. They believe in the verbal plenary
inspiration of Holy Scripture. They trust in a supreme being. They're religious. They believe
in an eternal heaven and a burning hell. They're religious. And
yet, They perish in their sins for one reason. They just won't
come to Christ. They just won't come to Christ. Ye will not come to me that you
might have life. The word of God clearly declares
without shedding of blood is no remission. But still. Folks won't come to Christ. They won't come because they
think they have salvation in something they have done or can
do or shall do. Christ is the way. Without him,
men are lost and wandering in the wilderness of sin. Christ
is the truth. Men and women without him live
a lie. Christ is the life. All who are
without Him are dead in trespasses and in sins. Christ is the light. And if you live without Him,
you live in darkness. You grope about in gross darkness. You have no light to guide your
life. No light to guide your feet.
Christ alone is life and salvation. Without Him, you have none. He's the rock. But without Him,
Soon the storm of God's wrath is going to sweep away your refuge.
When these things are plainly written in the Word of God, plainly
recorded in the Book of God, faithfully preached, preached
to you in this place four times every week, all the time, preached
over the radio, television, through the internet, with tapes, CDs,
DVDs, in print, faithfully declared, And yet, folks turn a deaf ear
and will not come to Christ. I have to ask why. I've been
preaching to some of you for 30 years. Better part of it,
for 29 years this month. And you believe not. What could I have done different?
What can I do different? How can I persuade you to believe
on the Son of God? You live here among people who've
been walking with God by faith in Christ. Let me ask you something. Have you ever met in your life
in this assembly or anywhere else? Have you ever met or heard
tell of anyone anyone who commits his life day after day after
day to Christ's glory, his gospel, his kingdom. I'm talking about
commits himself to Christ who regrets it. Have you ever found
anything like that? Well, please tell me then, why
don't you come to Christ? Why don't you come? Why won't
you come? Why won't you come? I'm going
to show you five reasons. I'm going to show you five reasons
why you choose not to come to Christ. And it is a matter of
your responsibility. Our Lord says here in John 5
40, ye will not come to me. That does not imply that you
have the ability to come, but it does imply, as the scriptures
everywhere declare, that it is your responsibility to come.
And if you refuse to come, you will meet God in judgment and
spend eternity in hell because you refuse to come. It's your
responsibility. Why won't you come? Why will
you not come to Christ? Number one, turn to the book
of 2 Corinthians. Chapter 4. The Word of God shows us plainly
that all the sons and daughters of Adam are spiritually blind. The problem with man is that
he's blind. so blind that you cannot see
the kingdom of God unless and until you are born again by God
the Holy Spirit. That's what our Lord said, John
chapter 3, isn't it? Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God. Just that simple. Doesn't matter
how much light you shine on it. Doesn't matter how many pictures
you draw of it. Doesn't matter how many illustrations you give
of it. He can't see. He can't see. Men don't come
to Christ because they're spiritually blind, and the gospel of the
glory of God is hidden from them. Look at this, 2 Corinthians 4,
verse 3. If our gospel be hid, hid, it's
not hid because we hide it. Now, I know preachers who do. They'll talk to you about what
they call Calvinism in their office, or in the coffee shop,
or in the car when you're driving down the road. But when they
get in the pulpit, they don't say anything about it. You'd try to get them
to say something about an election, and then they would sooner sew
their lips up and say something about an election, because it
cost them some money. They hide it. They don't dare tell men
the truth. They don't dare. Paul said, no,
no, no, no. We haven't hid it from anybody.
We don't talk about the things of God in a corner. No. Give us a megaphone and stand
us up in front of the crowd. We'll tell anybody, anywhere,
anytime. No, we don't hide anything. But
it's hid to them that are lost. In whom Satan, the God of this
world, hath blinded the mind Them which believe not Satan
just keeps on putting blinders on blind men he keeps Giving
more darkness to men who live in darkness For this reason lest
the light of the glorious gospel It might be read this way lest
the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ should shine
unto them. Men don't come to Christ because
they're blind. It's just that simple. The reason
you won't come to Him is because you can't see Him. And I can't make you see Him. Blind. Blind. I've had a few
friends over the years who are blind. And you're so accustomed
to be around folks who can see, you're around blindfolded and
you say, look at that. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I forgot you
can't see. Oh, isn't that magnificent? Oh,
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. And I'm not making
any light of that. I can't see. Diving through the Smokies on
a beautiful fall day. And you get a breathtaking scene
and you say to somebody in the car, sit beside you. Oh, my.
And that blind person sit back in the back seat, says what?
What? Can't see. Can't see. All men, all women are in a lost
condition, perishing before God because of sin. Every child born
in this world is born in sin, conceived in sin, brought forth
in iniquity, and goes forth from his mother's womb speaking lies
in blindness, in spiritual blindness. Oh, blessed be his name. God
will save a multitude. Out of every nation, kindred,
tribe, and tongue, out of every people in the earth, out of every
rank in society, he will save his own. He's chosen to save
some. Christ redeemed them, and the
Spirit of God will call them. But the rest are lost forever,
never seeing truth, never knowing God, never knowing themselves
because they're blind. And blind, they're given over
to a reprobate mind to live in performance of that which is
inconvenient. Every vessel of mercy shall be
prepared under glory by God's grace and every vessel of wrath
fitted for destruction. And this is exactly according
to the will of God. Look at two passages, Romans
chapter 1 and Romans chapter 9. Now you can argue with it until
you meet God in judgment. I promise you, your argument
is going to stop then. But your damnation is both a matter of
justice and a matter of sovereignty. Just as the salvation of any
sinner is a matter of justice and a matter of sovereignty,
so the damnation of every wicked person is a matter of justice
and a matter of sovereignty. God Almighty saves sinners by
the satisfaction of his justice in their substitute, Jesus Christ
the Lord. And he damned sinners. executing
his justice upon those who will not believe. Romans chapter 1
verse 28. 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. You read this first chapter and
you'll find out that God gives light and men turn the light
he gives in darkness. He shows his power. He shows
his God head and men said, let's worship bugs. Let's worship stones. Let's worship
each other. God says, all right, have it
your way and go to hell. You will not come. You'll go
to hell because God said, all right, have it your way. Have
it your way. Look at chapter 9 verse 11, Romans chapter 9
verse 11. This is a matter of justice and
it's a matter of sovereignty. Do not imagine, let no one convince
you, pay no attention to any preacher who tells you that somehow
or another you're going to interrupt God's purpose. That you by your
faith or by your unbelief are going to alter God's will. Who
do you think you are? A pygmy. An ant. A gnat. Gonna change God. Gonna change God's purpose. No,
sir. No, sir. No, sir. Romans 9, verse 11.
For the children being not yet bored... Read these next five,
six words with me, will you? Read them out loud. Neither having
done any good or evil. What? What'd that say? They hadn't done anything, good
or bad. That the purpose of God, according to election, might
stand not of works, but of him that calleth. It was said unto
her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob
have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Well,
that's not right. Take it up with God. Is there
unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses,
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Verse 18. Therefore hath he mercy
on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Verse
21. Hath not the potter power over
the clay of the same lump to make one vessel and to honor
and another and to dishonor? What if God, willing to show
his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering
the vessels of wrath fitted, fitted by their own willful unbelief
to destruction? and that he might make known
the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy which he had aforeprepared
unto glory. Verse 28, for he will finish
the work and cut it short in righteousness because a short
work will the Lord make upon the earth. Therefore, our Savior
said, ye will not come to me. that you might have life. The
Jews in John chapter 10 said to the Lord Jesus, said, tell
us plainly and we'll believe you. And the Lord Jesus said,
I told you and you believe not. He said, but you believe not. But you believe not because you
are not of my sheep. As I said to you, my sheep, hear
my voice. If he called you as one of his sheep, you'd believe.
You'd find yourself believing him and following him. The church
of God must not cease from our labor until we preach the gospel
to every creature. We must give ourselves relentlessly
to missionary work, evangelism, witnessing, fulfilling the great
commission, preaching the gospel everywhere. But don't ever imagine
that one name shall be added or taken from the book of life
slain from the foundation of the world by what we do or don't
do. Oh, no. God's purpose doesn't
depend on us. We depend on God's purpose. God's
will doesn't depend on us. We depend on God's will. God's
work doesn't depend on us. We depend on God working by us. It is not ours. to convince men
and persuade men and get men to believe on Christ. It is the
Spirit of God who must do so. Unless God the Holy Spirit convinces
you of sin and of righteousness and of judgment, I can't. I can't. I've got those two grandchildren. And you who know what grandchildren
are know what it is that you You just kind of dote over them.
You want the best for them like you do your own children. I'm
told the same way with great-grandchildren. I have one great concern for
those two children. Just one. Just one. I'm not concerned about them
starving to death or running around naked or not in a place
to live. I'm not at all concerned about
that. certain about knowing God. And I teach them. I write to
them and write for them. Tell them everything I can, but
I can't make them see. Can't do it. And what do you
do, preacher? Oh, God, will you give them eyes
that they may see? Will you open their eyes and
cause them to see? I ask you, do that with regard
to every aspect of our labor in the cause of Christ. Pray
that God the Holy Spirit will attend our labors and bless our
labors as only he can. making his word effectual to
bring light and salvation to dead, blind sinners. Oh, God do that. God do that. He can. He can. And he will for
some. He most certainly will. Preach,
yes, we must. And then we wait. We wait. I know the whole religious world,
churches all over this town, churches all over this town,
perform all kinds of tomfoolery. They go to church these days,
kind of like going to a carnival, never know what you're going
to see. Just tomfoolery. A few years ago, first year I
was in town here, all the churches got together and had a movie
at high school called The Burning Hell and scared the hell out
of everybody. All these young people went back to church, want
to make a profession of faith. And folks got upset with me because
I wouldn't go and wouldn't promote it, told folks not to go. Why? Because
it's just tomfoolery. We're not trying to trick you
into making a profession of faith. I'm not interested in numbers
and place and prominence. I'm just not interested. We're
not interested in deceiving men. and tricking them into religion.
I want you to know God. Well, you ought to start contemporary
worship. When I hold God in contempt,
I'll start contemptible worship. Well, you ought to have, you
ought to join up with the folks and show the movies at your church.
Everybody wants, you ought to have a good singing. I can't tell you how angry I
get with religion. I can't put it into words. It's
just all-encompassing land and sea to make one or one million
disciples. And when you do, you made them
two-fold more the child of hell than they were before. Have a rally and give an altar
call, as if coming to some foolish man-made piece of wood they call
an altar is going to get somebody saved. And to make sure it works,
they'll use decoys. I bet you didn't know that, did
you? He used decoys. I'm not lying to you. I'm not
making it up. Now listen, listen. Bob, you and Bobby and Larry,
man, when we start to sing, y'all get up and come to the front.
It'll get folks started. Like putting a clay or wooden mallet
out on the pond, trying to get decoys to come down so you can
shoot them. Pretty good analogy. Pretty good analogy. Oh, doesn't
God use that? Yeah, he does. He uses it to
accomplish his purpose, but that ain't how God saves sinners.
Well, I got saved that way. No, you didn't. No, you didn't. Didn't happen. Didn't happen.
Well, that's how my mama said she got saved. Well, that's how
everybody, everybody said they got saved, but she didn't. Didn't
happen. It's making folks twofold more
the child of hell than they were before. I gotta hurry. Number two. Why don't you come to Christ? Because you're dead. You're dead. Spiritually dead. As dead spiritually as a corpse
in the graveyard is stoned cold dead, dead. You hath he quickened, Paul said,
who were dead, dead in trespasses and in sins, dead. What does that mean? I'll tell you what you do. You
take a two-year-old child down to the funeral home at the next
funeral you have occasion to go to and see if that two-year-old
child talks to the person laying in that casket, tries to get
them to do anything. What does it mean to be dead?
That two-year-old child knows. They're gone. They're not coming
back. Nothing I do is going to affect
them. Nothing I say is going to change them. Nothing I offer
them is going to get them to move. They're dead. Pop, why
are you tugging on his arm? He's dead. Why are you trying
to get him to do something? He's dead! I would just as soon
expect to see a dead man get up out of a corpse, get up out
of a casket that's been laying in it for three days and walk
over here and get a drink of water and see you go from where
you are right now and drink of the water of life unless God
the Holy Spirit comes and pours the water of life in you. You'll never drink because you're
dead. Dead. Well, Brother Dodd, The
way you talk, salvation is totally God's work. You're exactly right. Bless his name. Because if God,
our Savior, waited on you to come to him, you're going to
hell. And there's no question about
it. Oh, no. There are some people to whom
he comes in the power of his spirit and calls them by his
grace, giving them life and faith in Christ. I suppose every preacher
in the country has a sermon on Matthew 27, 22. You remember
what Pilate said to the Jews? What shall I do then with Jesus,
which is called Christ? And preachers try to make you
think that Christ is in your hands. Now, I just read this
week somebody explaining election to a dear lady. She's asked about
election, said the preacher said election is God votes for you
and the devil votes against you. Now it's up to you to cast the
deciding vote. Christ is in your hands. The
Lord's done everything he can to save you. Now it's all up
to you. Those fellows aren't honest enough to preach from
what our Lord said to Pilate. Thou couldst have no power at
all against me except it were given thee from above. Man's dead, dead. That's it. You're in the hands
of God. And God's going to do with you
whatever he is pleased to do with you. And he's not going
to answer to anybody for it. He said to Moses, I will make
all my goodness pass before thee. And here it is. I will be gracious
and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. What does it say? I don't like that. Take it up
with God. I'm not going to change it. It
suits you. Not going to change it. Number three, why don't you
come to Christ? Why is it that men and women
will not come to Christ? They're spiritually blind. They're
dead in trespasses and in sins. And here's the third thing. Their hearts are filled with
hatred for God. I'll tell you why you won't come
to it. You may stand there when the congregation stands up and
sing, Oh, how I love Jesus. But you know, it's not right.
You know it. Oh, no, no. You won't come to
Christ because you hate him. You hate it. Yeah, I didn't say
you're indifferent to me. Hate him. Hate it. carnal mind, the Spirit of God
says, is enmity against God. Hates God. Men will not come
to Christ because they will not have His terms of salvation. That's it. If they can come to
Christ and use Him, like religion tells you to, as a fire escape,
Oh, I believe on Jesus. You won't have to go to hell.
Nothing else. Just believe on Jesus and everything
will be alright. You can go ahead and do whatever
you want to. Just believe in Jesus. It's alright. No, he's
not a fire escape from hell. If you can use him as a fire
escape from hell and still hold on to the reins of your life,
then you'd be a fool. You'd be a fool not to have both.
No, no, no, no. Men won't come. Because his terms
of salvation are plain and clear. You got to lose your life to
find it. Got to lose it to find it. That
means surrender. Take up your cross and follow
me. You got to bow to him. As Lord, are you going to hell? I don't know many people who
haven't made a profession of faith. Thankfully, there's some of you
here yet lost in your sins and you've attended this place of
worship where we endeavor to deal with your souls faithfully
and you're not being conned into a religious profession. But almost
everybody you know. The young people, your children,
the smallest child in here, those down in the nursery, they go
to preschool. I'll guarantee you the three and four year old
babies are going to school with some religious con artists. Talk
to them into a profession of faith. Talk to them into saying,
I believe in Jesus. Talk to me and say, I trust Jesus.
Talk to me and saying, I love Jesus. Talk to me and saying
the sinner's prayer. And they don't have a clue what's going
on. We have a clue. But professing faith is not faith. professing faith is not the possession
of Christ. Faith in Christ involves nothing
less than surrender to Christ the Lord. Turn to Luke chapter
14. Luke chapter 14. Surrender. I'm not talking about
something you can't put your fingers on. That means, Larry
Brown, if Christ is your Lord, you bow to whatever he says in
his book. Whatever he says. I hear folks go, I wouldn't believe
that for anything. I don't expect you to. I just don't expect it. No, I wouldn't trust God like
that. He's the only one you will trust, but I don't expect you
to. I don't expect it. I don't expect it. Only folks
who bow believe. Luke 14, verse 25. There went
great multitudes with him and he turned and said to them, if
any man come to me, all you got to do is say, I believe I'm a
sinner. I believe that Jesus died for sinners. Do you agree
with that? Yes, I do. Well, bless God, you're
saved. Rex, our Lord must not have gone
to that same seminary. He must not have been in that soul winning
class. If any man come to me and hate not his father, and
mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea,
and his own life also, got to give it all up. You got to give it all up. Otherwise,
he cannot be my disciple. Verse 33. So likewise, whosoever
he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be
my disciple. Our Lord said if a man loses
his life, he'll gain it. If he keeps it, he'll lose it.
And what should it profit you to gain the whole world? Lose
your own soul. There are just two kinds of faith,
just two kinds. The faith of the world, and I
mean by that the faith that men have throughout the world of
any kind of religion, whatever it is, it doesn't matter what
tag you put on it. The faith of the world is faith
that centers in me. and me, and what I do, and what
I experience, and what I think, and what I want. If my faith centers in me, I worship me. And there is the faith of God's
elect. It centers in Christ. His will, His glory, His purpose,
His kingdom, His honor, His gospel, His people. And if my faith is
centered in Christ, I worship Him. Just that simple. Here's a fourth thing. Turn to
Isaiah 28. I want you to see this one more
time. Here's the reason you don't come
to Christ. You're hiding in a false refuge. Everybody's got a refuge. Everybody
does. When Adam sinned against God,
first thing he did was seek out a refuge. He got him some fig
leaves and made him some aprons and said, now I can go out and
I can get in the woods because I've got some big leaves wrapped
around me now. I can get in the woods. And when God comes in
the garden, I can hide from him. He can't see me. I've been here
and standing here beside this oak tree, I look just like an
oak tree. Kneeling down here beside this
mulberry bush, I look just like a mulberry bush. And God Almighty
can't see me. I've got my fig leaves on. I've
got my fig leaves on. And men have been putting fig
leaves on ever since. And you'll keep putting them on unless God
rips them off of you. Unless God rips them off of you.
A refuge. Some kind of refuge by which
you convince yourself either that everything is all right
or it's going to be all right. Refuge by which you convince
yourself either that that you are saved or bless God soon You
will be and certainly by the time it comes time for you to
die and meet God in judgment. Everything be alright Isaiah
28 verse 14 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord you scornful
men That rule this people which is in Jerusalem Because you have
said We made a covenant with death. I ask you, are you prepared to
die? Well, yes, I am. I did this. I've been there. My mama, my daddy, my grandpa,
I once had. I made a covenant with death.
And with hell, we're in agreement. Don't tell me I'm going to hell.
OK, I won't. OK. When the overflowing scourge
shall pass through, it shall not come nigh us. Oh, I know
God's going to send somebody to hell, but not me. For we have
made lies our refuge. Under falsehood have we hid ourselves. We search the scriptures. and
we've been baptized, and we join the church, and we fast, and
we tithe, and we say our prayers, and we keep the commandments,
and we rule our lives by the scriptures. Don't you tell me
I'm going to hell. In these things we have eternal life. So, you will not come to me. You won't come until God lays
righteousness to the line and judgment to the plummet and strips
away your refuge of lies. You can look at the fifth one
later, John chapter 6, verse 44. Why won't you come to Christ? Because you don't have God's
grace. That's why you won't come. Our master said, no man can come
to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him." So I instruct
this congregation, I instruct your mom and dad, brothers and
sisters, I instruct anybody who will hear me and as your pastor, I tell you we will not try to
do anything to talk you into a profession
of faith. Not going to twist your arm. Not going to stir up
your emotions and get you excited. Not going to chase ambulances
when you have a close call with death. You can make a confession
of faith now. Strike while the iron's hot. No. I'll tell you
what we're going to do. We're going to plead with God
for you. Oh, God, pour out your grace and give these poor lost, doomed,
damned, helpless, dead sinners. Life. Faith caused them to come to
Christ. Oh God. Oh may God make you come
to Him. Right now. Right where you are. Blessed is the man whom thou
choosest and causest to approach unto thee. Amen.

Why You Will Not Come To Christ

What does the Bible say about coming to Christ?

How do we know that God's sovereignty affects salvation?

Why is faith in Christ important for Christians?

What does it mean to be spiritually blind according to the Bible?

Why do some people refuse to come to Christ?

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Why You Will Not Come To Christ

What does the Bible say about coming to Christ?

How do we know that God's sovereignty affects salvation?

Why is faith in Christ important for Christians?

What does it mean to be spiritually blind according to the Bible?

Why do some people refuse to come to Christ?

Sermon Transcript

About Don Fortner

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