Judge Yourselves Unworthy
The Apostle Paul went to Antioch in Pisidia and shared the Gospel with the Jews in the Synagogue. After he had done so, the Jews there rejected the salvation that is found in Jesus Christ alone and Paul says to them: “You judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life.” Strong words from the apostle. The Jews in Antioch in Pisidia had judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life.
Now I’d like to read that passage of Scripture. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him (Jesus) not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree (cross), and laid him in a sepulchre.
God Raised Jesus From The Dead
But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep (died), and was laid unto his fathers (tomb), and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
Forgiveness Of Sins
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:27-46).
Unworthy Of Everlasting Life
Again, Paul says “You judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life.” You judge yourselves. Unworthy. Of everlasting life. Oh, folks, does this describe you tonight? Do you judge yourself unworthy of everlasting life? Are you contradicting God by your thoughts, words and actions? All sin is rebellion against God and Jesus said all liars will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8).
What do you have to do to go to Hell? Absolutely nothing! If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, just keep walking down the broad path to destruction. How do you judge yourself unworthy of everlasting life? You do so by rejecting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He is Lord of all. Jesus is the great Creator. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But you judge yourself unworthy of everlasting life by rejecting the only Savior of mankind. You just keep thinking you are in charge of your own life. Just continue saying “I will not have this man Jesus Christ reign over my life” (Luke 19:14).
What Does It Take To Judge Yourself Unworthy?
That’s all it takes to judge yourself unworthy of everlasting life, just keep doing what you are doing. Keep ignoring the great salvation, the only salvation that is found in Christ alone (John 12:48). Just keep doing things your way. Every single person suffering the torments of Hell rejected Christ and chose their own way. All of man’s ways lead to Hell. Only Jesus Christ leads to Heaven and you must come to Him His way, through repentance and faith in our Lord (Acts 20:21).
Jesus says you must be born again. John 3:1-21 states: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The Wind Blows Where It Wants To
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God So Loved…
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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 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.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Oh, You Must Be Born Again
You must be born again. You and I had a physical birth and we will have a physical death. In addition to your physical birth, you need a spiritual birth. That’s what Jesus meant by you must be born again. If you die in your sins, if you die without Christ Jesus, then not only will you physically die on this earth, but you also will have a second death. The problem with the second death is that it isn’t like dying in this life. No, the second death lasts forever. It is never ending punishment and torment.
Jesus says in Revelation 21:6-8: And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Do Not Judge Yourself Unworthy Of Everlasting Life
I’m pleading with you tonight: Do not judge yourself unworthy of everlasting life. Do not die in your sins and split Hell wide open after you die. Jesus describes Hell as a place where the worm dies not and the fire is never quenched (Mark 9:48). In other words, it lasts forever. Don’t die in your sins and suffer God’s righteous anger over your sins, over your rebellion for all eternity.
Instead, be born again. You must be born again. Repent from your sins and surrender your life to Jesus. Put your trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6). Repent and believe the Gospel. Believe in the Lord Jesus for your salvation. Those who don’t, judge themselves unworthy of eternal life.
Oh folks, do not judge yourselves unworthy of salvation. 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). Oh, receive everlasting life. Repent and believe in Jesus. Put your trust in the Lord and be saved. Those of you who do not do so, judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life and God’s wrath abides upon you. Don’t die in your sins and have God’s wrath abiding upon you forever. Instead, repent from your sins and put your faith in Jesus. Be born again. Be saved today and receive everlasting life.