The Question No One is Asking

 

 

Introduction:  There are two questions often asked or implied:

  1. What must I do to be saved?  Acts 2:37, 9:6, 16:30-31
  2. How little can I do and still be saved?
  3. But no one ever asks the question, “What must I do to be lost?

 

 

  1. Refuse to hear God’s word (listen intently, favorably)
    1. Acts 16:25 – the prisoners heard Paul & Silas (Strong’s 1874)
    2. 2 Corinthians 6:2 – “I have heard thee in a time accepted” (Strong’s 1873)
    3. Romans 10:17 – “faith comes by hearing the word of God”

 

 

  1. Refuse to believe – Hebrews 11:6
    1. John 3:16, 36
    2. John 8:24
    3. John 11:45-46

 

 

  1. Refuse to repent – Luke 13:3-5
    1. Keep on saying, “I’m a good person…”
    2. Cornelius was a good person (Acts 10:1-2), but he was lost (Acts 11:14)
    3. Romans 3:9-10, 23
    4. Meta (after) + neo (think) – Repentance is a change of thinking that leads to change in living (Matthew 3:8)

 

 

  1. Refuse to confess your faith in Jesus
    1. Matthew 10:32 – contextually, this verse demands fidelity in the face of persecution
    2. Titus 1:15-16 – their conduct denied their confession

 

 

  1. Refuse to be baptized, even though it is the means by which…
    1. One is born again – John 3:3-5
    2. One becomes a child of God – Gal 3:26-27
    3. One’s soul becomes purified -  1 Peter 1:22-25
    4. One is made a disciple – Matthew 28:19
    5. One is saved – Mark 16:15-16
    6. Remission of sins is obtained – Acts 2:38

 

 

  1. Refuse to live faithfully:
    1. Some Christians completely quit:

                                                              i.      2 Timothy 4:10 – they love this present world (cf Revelation 12:11)

                                                            ii.      Mark 4:6, 16-17 – they wither away

                                                          iii.      2 Peter 2:20-22 – the end is worse than the beginning

    1. Others become lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-17) by…

                                                              i.      Refusing to make God their priority

1.      Luke 14:26-27, 33

2.      this includes the church (Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 10:25)

                                                            ii.      Refuse to read and study daily

1.      2 Timothy 2:15

2.      Acts 17:11

                                                          iii.      Refuse to pray daily – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

                                                          iv.      Refuse to evangelize – Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:4

                                                            v.      Refuse to grow – 2 Peter 3:18