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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

THE COST OF CONVENIENCE

Introduction

We live in a world built on convenience. We like convenience. Those in the business world know that. Therefore we continually see more and more things coming on the scene that make our lives increasingly more convenient

Some of us remember the time before convenience stores, fast food restaurants, ATM’s, the internet, and many other things that make our lives more convenient.

We said that many people have a tendency to put off that which is not convenient.

We also said that most of the time we pay a price for convenience in our physical lives.

We live in a fast paced world. Our lives are so full that it is easy to push aside the things of God when they are not convenient. And when we do, we find that we pay a price for that desire of convenience.

READ LUKE 9:57-62

Last week we looked at the cost of convenience to the Christian.

But this morning I want us to look at THE COST OF CONVENIENCE AS IT RELATES TO THOSE WITHOUT CHRIST.

I.         THERE IS A COST TO THOSE WHO CANNOT FIND A CONVENIENT TIME TO BE SAVED. (Acts 24:22-25)

            A.        It Costs Them An Opportunity That May Not Return.

                        We are not told that Felix ever found that “convenient season” to hear from Paul.

Proverbs 27:1–“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

                        People don’t like to think about dying do they?

Nevertheless, there is not a person here today who has the promise of being here tomorrow. (Or even for the next breath.)

                        That is why the Bible says:

2 Corinthians 6:2–“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

            B.        It May Cost Them An Eternity In Hell.     (Luke 16:19-31)

                        If you die without Christ in your life, that is what you will face.

John 3:18–“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

            C.        It Costs Them A Life That Could Have Been Lived For Christ.

Most folks that I’ve seen who get saved late in their lives mourn the fact of the wasted years they could have spent for the Lord had they come to Him sooner.

            D.        It May Cost Them Loved Ones Who Follow Their Godless Ways.

                        Romans 14:7–“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”

Whether it be husband, wife, children, grandchildren, or other family and friends that are in our circle of influence.

Somebody is watching us. And they may not only be watching us, they may be emulating us!

THERE IS A COST TO THOSE WHO CANNOT FIND A CONVENIENT TIME TO COME TO BE SAVED.

II.       THERE IS A COST TO THOSE WHO CANNOT FIND A CONVENIENT PLACE TO BE SAVED.

            Some folks think they have to be in Church to get saved. Not true!

Some folks are too scared to walk down the aisle of a Church to get saved. You don’t have to!

            A person can get saved anywhere, anytime that the Lord is dealing with their heart.

Jesus said in John 5:39–“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

All a person needs to do in order to get saved is understand what the Bible says about salvation, and then be obedient to what the Bible says to do! Here it is in a nutshell:

            (Look at the back of the ANNOUNCEMENTS!)

              1.          YOU MUST REALIZE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER. (Romans 3:10-12; 5:12)

                          Romans 3:23--“For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

             2.          YOU MUST REALIZE THAT THERE IS A PENALTY FOR SIN.

(Revelation 20:14-15)Romans 6:23--“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

             3.          YOU MUST REALIZE THAT YOU CAN DO NOTHING TO SAVE YOURSELF. Romans 3:19-20--“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Ephesians 2:8-9–“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

             4.          YOU MUST REALIZE THAT YOUR SIN DEBT HAS BEEN PAID BY GOD’S SON, JESUS CHRIST, ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY AND THAT ONLY HE CAN SAVE YOU.

Romans 5:8-9--“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him”

John 3:16-18–“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

             5.          YOU MUST, BY FAITH, PLACE YOUR TRUST IN CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.

Romans 10:9-10--‘That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

THERE IS A COST TO THOSE WHO CANNOT FIND A CONVENIENT TIME TO GET SAVED. . .A CONVENIENT PLACE TO GET SAVED. . .

III.       THERE IS A COST TO THOSE WHO CANNOT FIND A CONVENIENT WAY TO BE SAVED.

            A.        The Bible Says That Jesus Is The Way!

John 14:6–“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Acts 4:12–“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

John 5:39-40–“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

John 8:24–“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

             B.         Salvation Is Not Found In Our Ways!

                          1.          It’s Not In A Denomination.

                          2.          It’s Not In Church Membership.

                          3.          It’s Not In Good Works.

                          4.          It’s Not In Water Baptism.

                          5.          It’s Not In A Catechism Or Creed.

                          6.          It’s Not About Deserving It.

                          7.          It’s Not About Being Worthy Of It.

                          8.          It’s Not In Any Other Thing That We Might Do.

                                       If we try to come to Jesus on our terms instead of His, we won’t make it.

Conclusion

Are you saved? Have you received the free pardon of sin from the only One Who can give it?

Don’t wait for a more convenient time, place, or way to be saved!

Don’t be like Felix looking for a more convenient season!

Don’t be like King Agrippa who was almost persuaded to be a Christian!

Don’t put it off! Take care of it right now!

Now is the time, this is the place, Jesus is the way!

If you are saved, how serious are you about seeing others come to Christ? How serious are you about doing the finding and doing the will of God for your life?

Are you concerned or apathetic? Are you busy for the Lord or are you too busy with your life and your desires to be busy for the Lord?

Do you have a testimony that would draw someone to Christ or does your life repel those who are lost because of something in your life you know shouldn’t be there?

Our desire for convenience in our Christian lives keeps us from doing the will of God and fulfilling the Great Commission.

God is waiting for you to come to the end of yourself and come back to him. (Just like the prodigal son did.)

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!