No Excuses Romans 10:18-11:12 Grace Community September 14, 2008

John 4:37 “Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” ~Jesus

W e can be better prepared to share Christ by understanding three excuses associated with Israel’s unbelief.

“It is easy for us to imagine that we will suddenly come to a point in our lives where we are fully prepared, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished. In fact, it is a process that must be steadily maintained. It is dangerous to become settled and complacent in our present level of experience. The Christian life requires preparation and more preparation.” “It is easy for us to imagine that we will suddenly come to a point in our lives where we are fully prepared, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished. In fact, it is a process that must be steadily maintained. It is dangerous to become settled and complacent in our present level of experience. The Christian life requires preparation and more preparation.” ~ Oswald Chambers

Excuse #1 “I didn’t get the message” Crisis, Problem or Complaint? Simpsons: Crisis, Problem or Complaint? Simpsons: Complement or Appreciation ? Hansens: Complement or Appreciation ? Hansens:

Romans 10:18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world

Colossians 1:15-20 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. …by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

Disturbing Trends “Science proves the Bible is wrong”“Science proves the Bible is wrong” “Evolution is science, but the Bible is religion”“Evolution is science, but the Bible is religion” “I believe the Bible over science”“I believe the Bible over science” The root meaning of science is basically “knowledge”. Operational Science: Observable, repeatable experiments in a controlled environmentOperational Science: Observable, repeatable experiments in a controlled environment Origin science : attempts to discover truth by examining reliable eyewitness testimony (if available); and circumstantial evidence, such as pottery, fossils, and canyons.Origin science : attempts to discover truth by examining reliable eyewitness testimony (if available); and circumstantial evidence, such as pottery, fossils, and canyons.

Disturbing Trends The debate is about origin science and conflicting assumptions, or beliefs, about the past.The debate is about origin science and conflicting assumptions, or beliefs, about the past. Neither creation nor evolution is directly observable, testable, repeatable, or falsifiable.Neither creation nor evolution is directly observable, testable, repeatable, or falsifiable. The argument is not over the evidence—the evidence is the same—it is over the way the evidence should be interpreted.The argument is not over the evidence—the evidence is the same—it is over the way the evidence should be interpreted. Resources: Ben Stein: Expelled -No Intelligence allowed / A.I.Gwww.answersingenesis.orgResources: Ben Stein: Expelled -No Intelligence allowed / A.I.G.

Psalm 19:7-8 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Romans 10:19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation who has no understanding.”

Eph 1: 3-5 NLT How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Long ago, when before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.”

Excuse #1 “I didn’t get the message” DID ISRAEL GET THE MESSAGE? Creation, Mt. Sinai, The prophets, The Son, The Apostles and Holy Spirit – They had the message but they were a distracted people! Creation, Mt. Sinai, The prophets, The Son, The Apostles and Holy Spirit – They had the message but they were a distracted people!

Excuse #2 “I didn’t know you cared.” Lam 3:22 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.” The very fact that you are alive is evidence of God’s mercy and blessing your life. Lam 3:22 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.” The very fact that you are alive is evidence of God’s mercy and blessing your life. Jer 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jer 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” CS Lewis, author and apologist, referred to God as the “hound of heaven.” CS Lewis, author and apologist, referred to God as the “hound of heaven.”

Romans 10:20-21 “And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Excuse #3 “I didn’t know you were still interested.” Romans 11:1 (Very personal to Paul) I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin Romans 11:2-6 Summary: God didn’t reject His People? God didn’t reject His People? Remember Elijah! Remember Elijah! GOD excludes the opportunity to NO ONE.

Romans 11:7 “What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,” Hebrews 4:2 “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just at they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.” Israel trusted in themselves instead of their Savior.” Their proximity did not change their destiny!

Conclusion: The only solution is to call on Christ in an abandoned and ruthless trust. The only solution is to call on Christ in an abandoned and ruthless trust. You too will be dealing with people who are distracted, disobedient, and difficult – by understanding the excuses Israel had together we can be better prepared to stay faithful in sharing our hope: Christ!