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YOU AND I ARE NO DIFFERENT #1) Obvious Differences. A) Romans 3:22-23 The apostle Paul declares that THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. - Paul’s not talking about character differences. - We are all different in many ways. - God declares that in one point every man woman and child is alike. - “FOR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE” - Every single one of us “have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. - Have you ever thought that you have something in common with Osama Bin Laden, Charles Manson and even Adolph Hitler? - God’s message of the gospel is no different for them than it is for YOU. B) This is one of the biggest problems we see today when it comes to the preaching of the gospel. - We are so intent about looking on the physical that we forget this very simple truth. - There simply is NO DIFFERENCE. - We approach the attractive person differently than we approach the unattractive. - The rich differently than the poor. - Yet in the absolutely most important fact of life we forget that there is NO DIFFERENCE. C) We simply don’t see these differences being considered in the scriptures concerning the lost. - WHY? Because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. - Acts 15:6-9 The Jews had this very problem of not realizing that there is no difference between men. - God put no difference between the Jew and the Gentile. - WE ALL NEED SALVATION. - Contrary to popular belief, being a GOOD SINNER isn’t better than being a BAD SINNER. - In Gods eyes there is no difference. - The heart of every lost person needs to be purified by faith in Christ. D) Regardless of how good we may think we are and regardless of how good others may think we are God knows the truth. - God knows you when no one else is around. - God sees the parts of you that no one else sees. - God knows that the heart of every “good sinner”, every “good lost person” needs to be purified. - God first and foremost sees only if a person is lost or saved. - His greatest desire and burden is for the lost. - Because we see people on the outward this can become a great hindrance. - It’s a hindrance because the truth can hurt. #2) It’s Time To Sorrow. A) There is a problem today when it comes to the preaching of the word. - The problem is that the hard truth is dolled up so much that no real conviction is ever drawn. - God’s word says that REPENTANCE is to be preached. - You see there is no difference in regards to salvation, YOU MUST REPENT. - 1 Corinthians 7:9-10 If you’re here today and your fighting sorrow and tears PRAISE GOD FOR IT. - This is the conviction God uses to lead you to SALVATION. - V10 “For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of” - Don’t view this sorrow as something terrible but as Gods way of deliverance. B) There is no difference in the way of salvation today as it was in the days of Christ. - It has always been “come when God draws” - Jesus said that NO MAN could come to him except the Father draw him. - Without that drawing which brings sorrow you can’t be saved. - Don’t make the common mistake of telling yourself “I need to clean my life up before I get saved” - That day will never come. C) Jesus saved many in the scriptures who were right in the middle of sin. - Jesus saved the woman at the well while she was living in adultery. - The prostitute was saved immediately after being caught in the act. - Paul was saved while on his way to persecute Christians. - Even after Paul was saved He still said he was “the chief of sinners.” - God doesn’t need you to clean up in order to save you. - He can save you right out of any sin you may be in. - The greatest sin is the sin of unbelief. - God doesn’t need your goodness and good works to save you He only needs you to ask to be saved. D) These are the differences between the ideas of people and Gods
desires. - God has done everything possible to secure your eternity. - You sin required the life of Christ. - God has worked on leading you to repentance today. - Romans 10:9-13 If your lost don’t let anything keep you from calling out to Him today. - Let God save you today and He will turn that sorrow into OVERWHELMING JOY.
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