Unbelief Not Ignorance!
God's truth is not to be argued or intellectualized, but to be loved and obeyed, with our response determining our path ahead.
Rolfe Barnard emphasizes the divine authority and power given to Jesus by God, highlighting the ultimate responsibility Jesus has in saving or condemning individuals. He stresses the importance of not altering or adding to the message of salvation through Christ. Barnard warns against rebellion and urges listeners to walk in the light and truth provided by God, as their response to God's truth will determine the path ahead.
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The religious folks of that day got permission from the Roman government to hang Jesus Christ on a tree; and God raised Him and put Him on a throne. God turned you over to Him (John 17:2 God gave Him power over all flesh...) , and He's got you on His hands, and He's got to save you, or He's got to damn you. He's got to deal with you. (No "slipping through the cracks" here.) We are never to change that message, and we are never to try to improve on it. We must never take anything from it.
God isn't filling hell with innocent victims. Hell is being filled with rebels refusing to walk in the light they have and could have from Almighty God. We are to walk in the truth and the light God is pleased to give us.
If a person walks in the light God gives him, I believe God will give him more light. If not the way before him will be more darkness and confusion. God has not brought light & truth into your life to argue about, split hairs about, get more intellectual information about, It has come to you to love and obey. Every time you are confronted with God's truth you will make some kind of response. The path ahead will correspond to your response!
Sermon Outline
- The Sovereignty of God
- The Responsibility of Humanity
- The Consequences of Unbelief
- Hell is filled with rebels refusing to walk in the light
- We must love and obey God's truth
Key Quotes
“God isn't filling hell with innocent victims. Hell is being filled with rebels refusing to walk in the light they have and could have from Almighty God.” — Rolfe Barnard
“Every time you are confronted with God's truth you will make some kind of response. The path ahead will correspond to your response!” — Rolfe Barnard
“We are to walk in the truth and the light God is pleased to give us.” — Rolfe Barnard
Application Points
- We must love and obey God's truth, rather than trying to improve on it or argue about it.
- Our response to God's truth determines our path ahead, either towards more light or more darkness.
- We are responsible to walk in the truth and light God gives us, and to make a response to His truth.