Unless You Believe
What do you believe tonight? Who or what do you believe in? The majority of people nowadays believe in evolution, especially those 30 and under (73% of them believe in evolution). But evolution and secular science can’t explain where we come from, why we are here or where we are going. Atheism at its core is so anti-God that atheists believe everything came from nothing. Some atheists recognize how ludicrous this is, so they now are saying that aliens originally populated the earth.
The point is, we all believe in someone or something, even the most ardent atheist. Personally, I believe in Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. He’s the one that loved me. Jesus is the one who died on the cross for a wretched sinner like me. He is the one who saved me from my sins. God granted me repentance and faith in Jesus 10 years ago and I am gloriously saved.
I Have Eternal Life
I have eternal life. I’m promised life without end, after this life is over. I believe in Jesus. I have repented and put my trust in Him. Folks, I know that I am saved and nothing or no one can take that away from me. Jesus said And fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him that is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).
I no longer fear God and I don’t’ fear the wrath of God. Jesus died for a rotten sinner like me. He took my punishment. Jesus suffered the wrath of God that I deserved. This doesn’t mean that I take God’s grace for granted. I don’t sin at will and cheapen God’s amazing grace. No, because of the high price that Jesus paid, I want to honor and obey Him.
My desire is to keep His commandments because I love Jesus. I love Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior because He first loved me. Oh, I’m telling you tonight that I am saved. My conscience has been cleared. My sins have been cast as far as the East is from the West. I’ve been redeemed. I’ve been set free. This is something to shout about. I’ve been born again. I’ve repented and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ my Lord. Praise God I’m Heaven bound. I know where I’m going after I die.
What Will Happen To You After You Die?
I’m asking you directly: what about you? What about those of you who have not repented and submitted your life to the Lord Jesus? Have you ever thought about what will happen to you after you die? Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, “I am the Light of the world. He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
The Pharisees therefore said unto Him, “You bear record of yourself; your record is not true.” Jesus answered and said unto them, “Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true, for I know whence I came and whither I go; but you cannot tell whence I come and whither I go. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me.
You Don’t Know Me
It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One that bears witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me bears witness of Me.” Then they said unto Him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You neither know Me, nor My Father. If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also.” These words spoke Jesus in the treasury as He taught in the temple, and no man laid hands on Him, for His hour was not yet come.
Then Jesus said again unto them, “I go My way, and you shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins. Whither I go, you cannot come.” Then said the Jews, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Whither I go you cannot come’?” And He said unto them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you that you shall die in your sins; for if you believe not that I am He, you shall die in your sins.” (John 8:12-24)
Jesus Is From Above
Jesus said that He is from above and we are from below. We are of the world, Jesus is not of this world. (In fact, He created this world). He also said unless you believe in Him, you will die in your sins. Jesus even repeated it twice in these verses: you shall die in your sins. You don’t die for anyone else’s sins, you die for your own sins.
You may think what’s the big deal? I don’t care if I die in my sins. What does it matter if I die in my sins or I don’t die in them? Maybe you are thinking it really doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care. But you will care and Jesus warned you. I am also warning you tonight, do not die in your sins. Do not die without Jesus Christ being your Lord and Savior. Don’t do it. Don’t die in your sins.
If you die in your sins, your guilt remains upon you. You are guilty and you know what happens to guilty people who get caught, they get punished. You can’t fool God. He is ever present, all powerful and all knowing. No matter how smart you think you are, you cannot fool God. He made you. He gives you every breath that you take. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, then God is angry with you. You are a guilty sinner and there’s nothing you can do to change that.
Not Just A Slap On The Wrist
If you die in your sins, there is punishment to come. I’m not talking about a little slap on the wrist. Real punishment; never ending suffering. Hell is real and it’s really awful. You don’t want to go there. Jesus said: And if you right eye offends you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. And if your right hand offends you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell (Matthew 5:29-30).
In Matthew 7:18-19 Jesus stated: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Again, Jesus also said: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). Who do you think can destroy your body and soul in Hell? God is the one who does this. God punishes unrepentant sinners who die in their unbelief.
Parable Of The Fish
Listen to this parable that Jesus told: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:47-50).
Folks, this is by no means an exhaustive list, but you can see that Jesus talked about Hell – a lot. He warned people to flee from the wrath to come. Jesus talked about Hell more than anybody else in the Bible. The Lord did so because He knows it real and He knows that’s where all unrepentant, unbelievers are headed.
In fact, Jesus stated in Revelation 21:8 (near the very end of the Bible): 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 burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. This message is about Jesus telling you that unless you believe in Him, you will die in your sins. There is everlasting punishment for all unbelievers. Jesus calls out unbelievers specifically in this list of people who have the lake of fire waiting for them when they die.
Unbelievers Have Their Part In The Lake Of Fire And Brimstone
The unbelieving shall have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone. Along with all liars. Folks, this is very serious. You will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell. You either believe in and surrender your life to Jesus Christ and receive eternal life or you continue in your rejection of Jesus, die in your sins and go to the eternal lake of fire. There is no third option. Unbelief is no excuse. Jesus specifically said unbelieving people will go to Hell.
Don’t continue rejecting such a great of salvation. Jesus Christ came to this earth 2,000 years ago to do what you and I could never do. He perfectly kept the 10 Commandments. He always did the will of God the Father. Jesus never sinned, yet He went to the cruel cross to suffer and die for guilty sinners. That is for guilty sinners who repent and trust Him.
Those who believe in Him has eternal life. Those who do not believe in Jesus do not have eternal life, and God’s wrath abides upon them. He that believes on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him. Because of your sins against God, He sees and knows that you are guilty. On Judgment Day, all will be revealed for everyone to see. All your sins, even your secret sins. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
Unless You Believe That Jesus Is He You Shall Die In Your Sins
Oh you do not want to die in your sins. You do not want to die in unbelief. No, you don’t want to die and have all your sins revealed to everyone that’s ever lived to see. Talk about embarrassing and humiliating. But if you die in your sins, this is what is waiting you. The Bible says you are guilty and that you will have nothing to say on that great and terrible day of the Lord. Not one word. You will hang your head in shame and you won’t mock God when you are condemned before all mankind.
Now we know that what things so ever the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God (Romans 3:19). And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he said unto him, Friend, how did you come in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:11-13).
I said therefore unto you that you shall die in your sins; for if you believe not that I am He, you shall die in your sins. Jesus said these words. He took the punishment that guilty sinners deserve. Jesus bore God’s righteous wrath over sinful people when He hung on the cross. Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave.
Believe In The Lord Jesus
Believe in the Lord Jesus. Recognize that you have sinned against God. Admit your guilt, God knows it already. But humble yourself and cry out for God to save you. He saves through Jesus Christ alone. Don’t foolishly die in your sins and go to Hell. Repent and be converted. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus. Believe in the Lord Jesus. Believe in His finished work on the cross.
Oh, surrender your life fully to Jesus tonight. Repent and believe the Gospel. Unless you believe in Jesus Christ the Lord, you will die in your sins. Don’t die in your sins as a guilty sinner. Come to Jesus tonight and be saved. Admit that you are a sinner. Confess your sins. Cry out for God to save you. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus.
Repent and trust Jesus Christ our Lord. Do this tonight. Call upon the name of Jesus and be saved. Don’t die in your sins in unbelief. Believe in the Lord. Believe on the Lord Jesus and His perfect righteousness to save you. Repent and believe the Gospel. Become a new creature in Christ. Then surrender your life completely to Him.
(This message was proclaimed on September 15, 2017 in downtown Springfield, MO)