What Hinders You From Becoming A
Christian?
Matthew 11:28-30; Revelation
22:17; Luke 14:16-18
by: Roger Campbell
1. "I'm not good
enough."
a. Luke 5:31-32
b. Titus 3:3-5
2. "I need to make some
changes first."
a. That's like saying, "I think I'll wait until I get a
little bit better before I go to the
doctor."
b. Sinners don't go to Jesus for a check-up, but for a
cure.
c. Christians go for a check-up every time they open
the scriptures-
1. James 1:22-25
2. II Corinthians 13:5
3. "I don't think I can
be forgiven."
a. Acts 2:22-24, 36 the Jews at Pentecost
b. Saul of Tarsus / the apostle Paul
1. Acts 7:58 Stephen's
killers laid their coats at Saul's feet
2. Acts 8:1 Saul
consented to Stephen's death
3. Acts 9:1 Saul breathed
out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples
of the
Lord
4. Galatians 1:13 Paul
persecuted the church beyond measure and wasted it
5. Acts 26:9-11
4. "I don't know enough
yet."
a. Many of the conversions in Acts were "one
sermon" conversions:
1. Acts 2:1, 22-24,
29-41 the Jews at Pentecost
2. Acts 8:26-38 the
Ethiopian eunuch
3. Acts 16:31-34 the
Philippian jailer and his household
4. Acts 17:22-34 those on
Mars' Hill
5. "I want to become a
Christian, but not right now."
a. Any person who really wants to be a Christian will
let nothing stand in his way.
b. II Corinthians 6:1-2 TODAY is the day of
salvation
6. "I'm afraid of what my
family or friends might say."
a. Matthew 10:36-37
b. Galatians 1:10
7. "My (parents, deceased
spouse) aren't / weren't Christians."
a. II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12-13
b. Your obedience will not effect their eternal destiny
in any way:
1. Luke 16:19-31 the rich
man begged from torment for his brothers
2. Revelation 21:4
8. "There are too many
hypocrites in the church."
a. This fact is neither denied nor defended, but we
work with hypocrites, buy, sell,
and trade with hypocrites, go
to ballgames with hypocrites, shop at Wal-Mart
with hypocrites.
b. Jesus did not abandon Judaism neither did He
encourage anyone else to leave
because the Pharisees were
hypocrites - Matthew 23:1-7
c. Some refuse to attend worship with hypocrites a few
hours a week, but are
perfectly willing to spend
eternity in hell with them.
9. "The thief on the
cross was saved without baptism; why can't I?"
a. You can't prove that he wasn't baptized:
1. Many in Judea submitted to
John's baptism: Matthew 3:5-6
2. Many later fell away - John
6:66
3. John's baptism was still
valid and was with a view of a future faith in Jesus -
Acts
19:4
b. Even if not baptized, Jesus had power while on earth
to forgive sins -
Matthew 9:1-7
c. One cannot be saved like the thief because Jesus is
ascended into heaven -
Acts 1:11
10. What hinders you from
being a faithful Christian?
a. We always manage to find time to do the things we
want to do.
b. Do you really want to go to Heaven?
c. Luke 9:57-62
d. When you obeyed the gospel, you put your hand to the
plow. Have you turned
back?