As Christians, this is something we should never forget. We do not deserve to inherit the kingdom of God, either. Nobody does. Christian or not, we still find new ways to break each and every commandment that God gave us. That part of us doesn’t change. We can’t help it – it comes naturally.But, praise God, there is good news!
Paul has not just given us a commission to go out - he’s also telling us that wherever we go, in every facet of our little ‘world’ in which we move around in, there will always be people to win. Sinners aren’t faceless zombies that follow you about, calling out ‘I’m a sinner, please come and save me!’. Well, not in the literal sense, anyway. Sometime you can spot them a mile off.
So, how does the unbeliever suppress his knowledge of God? Look in verse 1 – he says “There is no God”. What’s the easiest way to supposedly cheat death and judgement? Ignore it. Keep going along in life, be nice to people, always do good. Make life as comfortable as you can for yourself, and others.
Then, right in front of me he pulled his t-shirt off, revealing a black singlet, and heavily tattooed arms. He then replaced his t-shirt with a black waistcoat. This was no ordinary waistcoat. It was one of the most intimidating ones you could adorn - with the huge circular bulldog insignia of the fearsome Mongrel Mob - probably the most dangerous gang in the country.
I know these excuses, because hello, I use them all the time. But the Great Commission of the church is to 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations.' That was a commandment from Jesus, not a 'suggestion'. The Gospel needs to be preached because there is no other way for men to be saved.
When I lived in Christchurch, I often saw a funny little man with a moustache who would stand on a step-ladder in Cathedral Square at lunch times. He would yell out stuff about breaking God's law, sin & repentance. I remember thinking 'I could never do that!'. It seemed to me that he never got a lot of return for his hard work.
Then my wife asked if we could have our photo taken with him. He said "Sure, no problem!". But she couldn't get it lined up properly. He said "Here, I'm used to doing it" (he is famous for them, just Google 'John Key selfies'). He grabbed the phone and took the picture.
Me: Well firstly you do not believe that Jesus is God, and that is fundamental to our salvation.M: He isn't God. God created Jesus.I pointed out that Jesus was there in the beginning (John 1), and created the world (let 'us' make man).Me: If Jesus wasn't God, then He died in vainMichael frowned and was taken aback M: That's a very bold statement to make, Craig!
He was a very polite young man, I would say barely into his 20's, of African descent. He introduced himself as Michael, and he handed me a pamphlet. The title at the top read 'Can the dead really live again?', which was the giveaway to his cult. The gist of the pamphlet was about resurrection of the dead, and how this can happen to you.
Without the Way, there is no going, Without the Truth, there is no knowing, Without the Life, there is no living, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, that's what Jesus said.