All Guilty Sinners
You may wonder why my friends and I witness downtown on Friday nights; why we keep sharing the Gospel in downtown Springfield, MO. We do so because we are all guilty sinners. We have all sinned against God and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). Yes, we continually share the Gospel because people desperately need to hear it.
In today’s world, society continually tries to reaffirm that everyone is ok. Youngsters in sports now get participation trophies so everyone feels like a winner. But everyone is not alright. Believing this is a lie. We are not alright. We are wretched sinners that need to be saved from our sins. The question is not whether we are all guilty sinners or not. No, the question is are you still a guilty sinner with the guilt of your sins remaining upon you or have your repented and surrendered your life to Jesus?
Oh folks, are you listening tonight? Nothing is more important than your eternal soul. You can be late for dinner, the show or the bar. Stop for a minute and listen. If you die tonight, will you go to Heaven or Hell? Many times when we ask people this question, they answer Heaven. But sadly, more times than not, people can’t tell us how a person gets to Heaven. They are counting on their own wishful thinking. They are counting on their own goodness to grant them entrance into Heaven.
We Are Guilty
But none of us are good enough to save ourselves. None of us are good enough for God to grant you eternal life on our own merit. We have all sinned, rebelled against God and there is nothing that you can do to save yourself. You can’t wipe out a single sin, let alone all of your sins that you have committed over your whole life. You and I are guilty, when counting on our own goodness.
But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe (Galatians 3:22). The King James Version states it this way: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Romans 3:9-20 says: What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Every Mouth Will Be Stopped
“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
All are guilty sinners before our Holy, righteous, great Creator God. All of us have rebelled against Him. Not a single one of us are righteous. Our very best is as filthy rags in God’s eyes. He is that pure! He’s that Holy. All under sin, all are still slaves to sin including you, if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior. You cannot be justified, just or right with God by your own works.
God-given Conscience
You have a God-given conscience, even those of you who claim there is no God. Let God be true and every man a liar. God calls atheists – fools. The Bible says that every single human being knows there is a great Creator God. Every single one. Those of you who claim that God is not real, God says that you are merely suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. That you have swallowed a lie and do not believe the truth. Why have you done so? Because you love your sins. You try to smooth over your guilty conscience by pretending there is no God to be accountable to.
But this is utter foolishness, utter nonsense and you know. Not only do you have a God-given conscience, but God has written His law on your heart. God convicts you when you lust, covet, steal, lie, and blaspheme God’s Holy name. You know that you are sinning against God and pretending that God is not real will be no defense on Judgment Day.
Earlier I read the verse in Romans 3:19 that every mouth will be stopped and the whole world will be accountable to God. Oh, don’t foolishly go through life living for yourself, merely storing up more wrath against you on the day of wrath. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. There is a day of reckoning that is coming. We are all guilty sinners if we count on ourselves to save us.
You Need Jesus
That’s why you need Jesus. You need the righteousness of the perfect One to save you from your sins, to save you from God’s wrath. Too many people think that they are good and they don’t see the need for a Savior. But this isn’t so. Without Jesus, you are guilty. There’s no trial, no pleading your case before a judge. The Judge of all creation has already deemed you guilty by His standards – which is perfection. Again, Judgment Day isn’t a trial, it’s a day of sentencing. You are already guilty because every human being is guilty of breaking God’s Law.
Don’t foolishly continue going through life rejecting such a great of salvation, the only salvation of mankind that is found in Christ Jesus alone. He is the perfect sacrifice. His suffering, bleeding and dying on the cross appeased God’s anger over sin. The sinless Son of God took the punishment that He didn’t deserve in order to save His people from their sins. Are you one of His people? Have you repented from your sins and put your trust in Christ alone for your salvation?
Today Is The Day To Get Right With God
If not, today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to get right with God. Recognize that you are a sinner and your rebellion against God has separated you from God. Confess your sins to God. He already knows what you’ve done already. He is all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present. Cry out for God to have mercy upon you. Repent and surrender your life fully and completely to Jesus.
Many people can quote John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Yes, a lot of people can quote this verse, but not very many can quote John 3:36. Can you? Do you know what John 3:36 says? He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.
If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior then the guilt of your sins remains upon you. God’s wrath abides upon you. If you die in your sins, you will die a guilty criminal and the sentencing for your guilt is eternal damnation. Oh, don’t die in your sins and go to Hell. Don’t do it. Repent and submit your life to Jesus. Be saved. Trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation.
No Longer Seen As A Guilty Criminal
When you truly repent from your sins and surrender your life to Jesus, God no longer sees you as a guilty criminal. Your sins are forgiven when Jesus is your Lord and Savior. You pass from death to life. It is the great exchange. Jesus takes your sins upon Himself as He hung on the cross and He now credits you with His righteousness. Your guilty conscience is cleared, your sins are forgiven and God casts them as far as the East is from the West.
That is if, you repent and believe the Gospel. Oh, do this today and receive everlasting life. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, then all you are working for in this life is death. The wages of sin is death. Oh, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). Repent and put your faith in the Lord Jesus and be saved. Only Jesus can remove your guilt, but you must come to Him His way, through repentance and faith in Him.
(This message was lifted up on April 12, 2019 in downtown Springfield, MO)