Are You Wicked?

Are You Wicked?

This is a serious question: Are you wicked? Absolutely not you might say. So why am I even asking this question? Because God has some harsh things to say about the wicked. God hates all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5). God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). But here’s the really scary one: The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God (Psalm 9:17).

The wicked shall be turned into Hell. This should frighten every single person that is not a follower of Jesus. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, you should have sleepless nights. The terrors of Hell should frighten you nearly to death. You should tremble and fear. Yes, you should shake in your shoes. The demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). Why do they tremble? Because even though they know God is real, they know they follow Satan and they are on the losing side. They know that they have Hell to pay!

So why are you listening to this with no fear and trembling? Because you don’t believe that you are one of the wicked ones. When I say this, I’m talking specifically to unbelievers. Those of us who are truly saved, know that God has saved us out of our wretchedness and we have surrendered our lives to Jesus. But for those of you who are hearing this and are not saved, you most likely have no fear because you don’t see yourself as wicked. You ignore the warnings and hearing about God being angry with the wicked didn’t faze you at all because you think that you are not wicked.

Could You Be Wrong?

But could you be wrong? Are you really wicked after all? Most people proclaim themselves good (Proverbs 20:6). But the problem is you are comparing yourself to other people. You say to yourself, “I’m no Hitler, or Stalin or Putin. I’m not a mass murder and I’m not a serial rapist. I’m not like those really, really wicked people. Therefore, I’m not wicked.”

But that’s the crux of the problem. You are comparing yourself to other people. Do you know what God’s standard is? It is absolute perfection. 100% perfection. Are you truly perfect? Are you perfect in your thoughts, words and actions? All of them? Every single one? For your whole life? Of course not. None of us are perfect. But again, God’s standard is perfection.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). 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.

God Is Righteous

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (Romans 3:19-26).

For all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Again, God’s standard is perfection and we all fall woefully short of God’s standard. On Judgment Day, every atheist’s mouth will be stopped. Every agnostic’s mouth will be stopped. The mouth of every self-righteous person will be stopped on Judgement Day. If you think that you are going to Heaven on your own merit, you will fail. You will miss the mark. There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10).

Only Jesus Saves

Salvation is found in Christ Jesus alone. Only His perfect, shed blood can make you whole. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Redemption, salvation is found in Christ alone. Jesus suffered, bled and died on that cruel cross in the place of guilty sinners who repent and surrender their lives to Him. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. Propitiation means the wrath was satisfied. That is, God’s Holy, righteous wrath is satisfied because He poured out His anger, His wrath over sin upon His own precious, sinless Son.

But there is not automatic salvation for everyone, just because God poured His wrath over sin out upon Jesus. No, Jesus came to save His people from their sins. You must be one of His. You must be born again.

Jesus told Nicodemus Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). He also said Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). The Lord further said Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again (John 3:7).

You Must Be Born Again

Folks, you must be born again. Does this describe you tonight? Have you truly repented of your sins and surrendered your life to King Jesus? Is Jesus lord of your life? He is Lord over all, but have you received Him as your Lord and Savior? Are you truly saved? Or are you still a wicked, Hell-bound sinner?

Oh, do not foolishly die in your sins and split Hell wide open when you die. Don’t do it. Turn to Christ and live. Enter in at the strait gate. Don’t continue barreling down the broad road to destruction. Repent and believe the Gospel. It’s the very first message that Jesus preached when He walked this earth. Repent and believe the Gospel.

Do this tonight and be saved. Recognize that you are a sinner. Admit your sins. Confess and forsake your sins. Cry out for God to save you. Surrender your life fully and completely to Jesus. Our Lord Jesus didn’t ask for decisions for Him. He doesn’t ask you to walk and aisle and ask Him into your heart. Jesus doesn’t tell us to repeat the sinner’s prayer. No, He says deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Him. Christ Jesus is looking for true followers, for true believers.

Repentant Hearts

Jesus is looking for repentant hearts. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Humble yourself tonight. Fall broken over your sins at the foot of the cross. Truly repent and put your faith in Jesus to save you. The Bible says that we are to have repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:20-21).

Don’t foolishly continue comparing yourself to other sinful humans. Of course, most of us are not as wicked as mass murderers or serial rapists. But that is not God’s standard. Again, God’s standard is perfection and none of us are perfect. Look at yourself as God sees you. Unrepentant sinners will stand before God on Judgment Day and God will remind them of every wicked thought, every evil word and every vile action they committed during their life on this earth. People on Judgment Day will see how wicked they really are.

Do You Really Know Your Own Heart?

Jeremiah 17:9 says: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Oh, recognize tonight that outside of Jesus, your heart is wicked. Truly see yourself as the wicked sinner that God sees you. People all the time on the streets say “God knows my heart.” And they say this like it’s a good thing! I always say God does know your heart and He knows that it is desperately wicked. Repent and turn to Christ Jesus before it’s too late.

So, if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior tonight, I plead with you to to truly see yourself as God sees you. See yourself as the wretched sinner that you are. Cry out for God to have mercy on you. Repent of your sins and turn to Christ Jesus and be saved. Be saved today. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36).

This message was proclaimed in downtown Springfield, MO on June 2, 2023)