The Two Secrets to Life Part 1

1. Don’t think too much of yourself.

2. Don’t think too little of yourself.

Part 1 – Unbelievers who do Part 2 – Christians who do

Unbelievers It could be you. It could be someone you know who doesn’t know Christ.

Some who have not accepted Christ have not done so because they think so much of themselves they see no need to have Jesus Christ as any part of their life – they, themselves are the answer.

Some reasons that un-believers can think too much of themselves and see no need for Jesus Christ. Our culture of “rugged individualism.” The view that relying on Jesus is a sign of weakness. Our culture of relative affluence. The “I’m a good person” mentality.

Matthew 19:16-26

I’m a good person compared to what? Others or God’s standard?

Some reasons that un-believers can think too much of themselves and see no need for Jesus Christ. Our culture of “rugged individualism.” The view that relying on Jesus is a sign of weakness. Our culture of relative affluence. The “I’m a good person” mentality. Ignorance

Some who have not accepted Christ have not done so because they think so much of themselves that they see no need to have Jesus Christ as any part of their lives – they, or other things in their lives, are the answer.

For other non-believers the exact opposite is true. They have not accepted Jesus Christ because they actually think too little of themselves. This manifests itself in two sad and harmful false beliefs.

The first is, “I have to clean myself up before I can come to God and be accepted by Him”.

Remember: God’s standard is perfection.

We are unworthy because of sin. Everyone is unworthy. Jesus is worthy, and he makes us worthy.

Revelations 5:12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: "The Lamb is worthy-- the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing."

Luke 5:27-31 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi [Matthew] sitting at his tax-collection booth. "Come, be my disciple!" Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Soon Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor.

Luke 5:27-31 (cont.) Many of Levi's fellow tax collectors and other guests were there. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with such scum?"

Luke 5:27-31 (cont.) Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-- sick people do. I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough."

The second reason that some unbelievers feel they are unworthy of receiving Christ and His love is because they fully believe that they have done, or are doing, such a terrible thing(s) in their life that God really has no use for them.

Moses King David Noah Paul

People who feel unworthy of receiving God’s love and acceptance may know that God forgives; they may know that God has forgiven their friends, co-workers or relatives and the preacher at church, but they just can’t accept the fact that God would forgive them.

We don’t need a smaller sin; we need a bigger God.

What do we do with all of this?

1. Pray to receive Christ (you don’t have all the answers). 2. Pray to receive Christ (you are worthy). 3. Pray for God to show you the heart of people you know who don’t know Christ.