What Will You Say?

TEXT:  Matt. 7:21-23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THERE WILL BE A JUDGMENT.

B.      ALL OF US WILL BE THERE ( 2 Cor. 5:10 ).

C.      LIFE IS TEMPORARY – WE ARE SOJOURNERS ( Job 14:1-2;  James 4:14 ).

I.      THERE WILL BE A JUDGMENT DAY.

A.      Matt. 16:27;  Rom. 14:10-12;  John 5:28-29;  Rom. 2:4-6.

B.      ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HAVE DONE ( 2 Cor. 5:10 ).

C.      JESUS’ WORDS WILL BE THE STANDARD ( John 12:48;  Rom. 2:16 ).

D.      Rev. 20:12.  OUT OF THE BOOKS – ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

II.     TALKING AT THE JUDGMENT BETWEEN MEN AND GOD.

A.      THE TEN VIRGINS ( Matt. 25:11-12 ). 

          1.       Unprepared members of the church?

          2.       Neglect – Failure to prepare ( James 4:17;  Heb. 2:1-3 ).

B.      THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS ( Matt. 25:14ff. ).

          1.       vs. 24-30.  The man’s response and the Lord’s rebuke – Excuse makers.

          2.       Outer darkness!! (vs. 30 ).

C.      THE JUDGMENT SCENE ( Matt. 25:31ff. ).

          1.       Jesus invites the righteous ( vs. 34ff. ).

          2.       He rejects the unrighteous ( vs. 41ff. ).

          3.       Life and punishment – eternal ( vs. 46 ).

III.    WHAT WILL I SAY?

PEOPLE MAKE ALL KINDS OF EXCUSES – THEY WILL REPEAT

THEM ON THE JUDGMENT DAY.

A.      “TOO MANY HYPOCRITES IN THE CHURCH.”

          1.       We have a responsibility ( Matt. 5:13-16;  1 Pet. 2:11-12 ).

          2.       God will take care of the hypocrite ( Matt. 15:8-9 ).

          3.       Consider these things:

                   a.       Accused may not be a hypocrite – just weak ( Gal. 6:1-2 ).

                   b.       1 Tim. 4:16.  Take heed to Thyself!

B.      “I WOULD HAVE OBEYED – TOO MANY ROADS, CONFUSION.”

          1.       One road ( John 14:6 ;  Acts 4:12 ).

          2.       Denominations talk about many churches, one is as good as another.

          3.       Matt. 16:18;  John 14:6;  17:20-21;  1 Cor. 1:10;  Eph. 1:22-23;  4:4.

          4.       Where do we find that road ( Rom. 1:16-17;  2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

C.      “MY PARENTS DIED IN A DENOMINATION – WEREN’T MEMBERS OF THE

          LORD’S CHURCH.”

          1.       Obedience to the Lord sometimes has a cost ( Matt. 10:34-39 ).

          2.       Paul did not consult with his parents when Jesus spoke ( Gal. 1:10-12 ).

          3.       If our dead loved ones could speak to us, wherever they are …( Luke 16:27-31 ).

D.      “I NEVER DID ANYTHING REALLY WRONG.  I’M NOT SO BAD.”

          1.       The devil blinds us to our sins ( Gen. 3:1-6 ).

          2.       All have sinned ( Rom. 3:23;  1 John 1:8-10 ).

          3.       That’s why the gospel is for all ( John 3:16;  Mark 16:15-16 ).

CONCLUSION:  WHAT WILL THE LORD SAY TO ME ON JUDGMENT?