The Good We Did Not
E.A. Johnston warns that the sins of omission—failing to do good when we know to do so—will weigh heavily on believers at the final judgment.
In "The Good We Did Not," E.A. Johnston explores the often overlooked but deeply significant sins of omission—those moments when believers fail to do good despite knowing their duty. Drawing from James 4:17 and 1 Corinthians 3, Johnston challenges listeners to reflect on their spiritual accountability and the weight of neglected opportunities to serve God and others. This sermon calls Christians to live with intentionality, embracing prayer, witness, and acts of kindness as vital expressions of faith.
Full Transcript
When I was a teenager and a friend of my mother's lay sick and dying in her home She asked me to come visit her and bring my guitar along and play her some music to take her mind off her pain I didn't go Not because I had other plans. I just chose not to go. I didn't want to go entertain an old lady That woman died, but my failure to go do a kind act Still haunts me to this day.
I Believe God keeps a record book on every one of us and in that book is a detailed list of our sins of omission I believe when we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and our beam a seat of review That it won't be the evil that we did that accuses us as much as the good We did not do when we knew to do it in the book of James in chapter 4 We read in verse 17 Therefore To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him it is sin That verse Startles me it scares me and one day it will shame me I think too many of us keep a short list on Sins, we won't do and we are happy with ourselves for not doing them But we have a much longer list of sins that we are completely unaware of in God's record book of heaven And it is those sins of omission That are busting the seams of that record book with the multiplied entries through the years James says to him that knoweth to do good Meaning we are not in ignorance of our duty We can't claim ignorance on that day review when those sins stack up against us and tarnish much of the gold Silver and precious stones of our other deeds for Christ Jesus over in 1st Corinthians in Chapter 3 we read For other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ Now if any man build upon this foundation gold silver precious stones wood hay stubble Everyone's work should be made manifest for the day shall declare it The text says the day will declare it in other words Jesus will point it out to us as we stand before the one who has eyes of fire I believe it's the sins of omission that will haunt us the most and stare back at us as we stand in front of that high stack of lumber Hay and ashes and all we had knowledge to do but we did it not for whatever Selfish reason we had I believe there'll be a woodpile Stacked high for all the times. We should have been on our faces and broken prayer and Intercession and we did it not I believe there's going to be a great stack of hay for all the times Should have witnessed for Christ and shared the gospel with the lost and we did it not and I believe some of us Will stand knee-deep in a pile of ashes for all the good we knew to do But we did it not because God's Word has spoken Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth not To him it is sin
Sermon Outline
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I. Personal Reflection on Sins of Omission
- Speaker's teenage experience of failing to do good
- The lasting impact of neglecting kind acts
- Introduction to the concept of sins of omission
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II. Biblical Foundation on Sins of Omission
- James 4:17 emphasizes sin in knowing good but not doing it
- God's record book contains sins of omission
- The accountability before Christ at the final judgment
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III. The Weight of Sins of Omission at Judgment
- 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 describes the foundation and works revealed
- Sins of omission compared to wood, hay, and stubble
- The shame and regret believers will face
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IV. Practical Implications for Believers
- The need for prayer and intercession
- The call to witness and share the gospel
- Living with awareness of our duties to do good
Key Quotes
“I believe God keeps a record book on every one of us and in that book is a detailed list of our sins of omission.” — E.A. Johnston
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him it is sin.” — E.A. Johnston
“I believe it’s the sins of omission that will haunt us the most and stare back at us as we stand in front of that high stack of lumber, hay and ashes.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Be vigilant to recognize and act on opportunities to do good as a demonstration of faith.
- Commit to regular prayer and intercession to align with God's will and avoid spiritual neglect.
- Engage actively in sharing the gospel to fulfill the Christian duty of witnessing.