TEXT:  Acts 26:24-29

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WE HAVE DISCUSSED WHY ONE OUGHT TO BE A CHRISTIAN.

B.      SOME STILL ARE NOT.  WHY NOT?

I.      SOME ARE UNAWARE OF THEIR LOST STATE.

A.      WHY DID THE HOLY SPIRIT COME?( John 16:8 ).

B.      HE REVEALED GOD'S WILL THRU THE APOSTLES( Eph. 3:5 ).

C.      AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR TEACHING( Acts 2:36;  Rom. 3:23 ).

D.      THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN IS ALSO REVEALED( Rom. 6:23;  Eph. 2:1 ).

II.     SOME ARE CONVINCED SALVATION IS UNCONDITIONAL.

A.      GOD WILL SAVE ALL NICE PEOPLE.

          1.       Good people in all religions( John 14:6; 10:1 ).

          2.       The "good, moral man"( Acts 10:1-2;  11:13-14;  Matt. 7:21 ).

C.      BELIEF IN THE GOSPEL AND OBEDIENCE ARE NECESSARY.

          1.       Not everyone that sayeth "Lord, Lord"( Matt. 7:21 ).

          2.       You must be born again( John 3:3-5 ).

          3.       Trust in the Lord is essential( Matt. 16:15-16 ).

III.    NOT CONVINCED, SKEPTICISM.

A.      THE BIBLE IS FULL OF EVIDENCE( John 20:30-31 ).

B.      IT IS NOT A BOOK OF MYTHS( 2 Pet. 1:16-21;  1 John 1:1-4 ).

C.      WE MUST BE READY TO GIVE ANSWER( 1 Pet. 3:15 ).

IV.   SOME FEEL UNWORTHY AND UNABLE TO HOLD OUT.

A.      GOD PROVIDES AN ESCAPE( 1 Cor. 10:13;  Eph. 6:16 ).

B.      GOD PROVIDES AN EXAMPLE( Heb. 12:1-2 ).

C.      GOD PROVIDES HELP( Phil. 4:5;  Gal. 6:1;  Heb. 10:24 ).

D.      GOD FORGIVES( 1 John 1:6-7;  2:1-2 ).

V.    EVIL INFLUENCE OF SOME PROFESSED CHRISTIANS.

A.      ARE YOU A STEPPING STONE?( Matt. 5:16 ).

B.      OR A STUMBLING BLOCK?( Matt. 18:6 ).

VI.   LOVE OF THE WORLD.

A.      1 John 2:15-17.  A CHOICE TO BE MADE.

B.      ARE WE AS GOOD AS THIS MAN?( Matt. 19:16-22 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      NO ONE WANTS TO MAKE YOU DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

B.      COULD YOU NOT BE PERSUADED?