WHAT THE LORD WILL NOT DO

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The Lord has done so much for us.

1.    He showed us the perfect way to live.

2.    He shed His blood and gave His life for our sins.

3.    He sent the Holy Spirit to reveal His will to mankind.

4.    He opened up the doors of heaven to our prayers.

5.    He mediates between us and God.

6.    He sits at right hand of God as our Advocate.

7.    He delivers the godly out of temptation.

 

B.   Let’s now flip the coin.  The title of this lesson is: “What the Lord Will Not Do.”

 

I.             HE WILL NOT FORCE MAN TO SERVE HIM

 

A.   The Lord wants all men to follow and serve Him.

1.    Matthew 11:28

 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

2.    John 7:37b

 

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

 

B.   However, He will not force one human being to come to Him.

1.    He will reason (Isa. 1:18).

He will plead (Matt. 23:37).

He will instruct (Matt. 5:2; 7:28-29).
He will pray (Luke 23:32).

2.    However, He will never force one person to come to Him.

3.    He wants individuals to choose to come.

He wants them to come out of love.

He wants them to come out of faith.

 

II.           HE WILL NOT SAVE MEN WITHOUT THE GOSPEL

 

A.   The gospel contains the plan whereby God makes man righteous (Rom. 1:16-17).

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 

B.   This plan was forged in heaven before the foundation of the earth was set (1 Pet. 1:20; Jer. 31:31-34).

This plan was ratified with the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Matt. 26:28).

 

C.   If God saved individuals without the gospel, then…

1.    Jesus’ death would have been for naught. 

2.    God’s Word would not have any legitimacy.

3.    Nothing about the Christian system would be true.

 

III.         HE WILL NOT SIMPLY OVERLOOK YOUR SINS

 

A.   Sin.

1.    The transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4).

a.    Transgression:  violation

b.    God:  the Sovereign of the Universe

c.    Law:  principle, precepts, and statutes by which men are governed

2.    Something that is often taken lightly by man. 

a.    We treat God’s law much like we treat driving violations:  speeding, running a red light, parking violation.

b.    Adultery, gossip, cursing, forsaking the assembly, not being faithful are treated like traffic violations.  Oops!

c.    The Jews had this outlook on sin (Rom. 2:3).

 

And thinkest though this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God.

 

3.    Something that a holy God cannot simply overlook (Ps. 5:4-5).

 

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:  neither shall evil dwell with thee.  The foolish shall not stand in thy sight:  thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

 

B.   God proved that He will not overlook sin by the death of Jesus Christ.

1.    “…the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6).

2.    “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin…” (1 Cor. 5:21).

3.    “Christ hath redeem us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us…” (Gal 3:13).

4.    Allowing Jesus to bear our sins is not God’s way of overlooking sin.  It was God’s way of allowing a perfect substitute to bear our sins for us (Heb. 9:28).

 

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many…

 

C.   If we do not allow Jesus to bear our sins, God will not overlook our sins.  We will have to pay the price for them.  And, the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).

 

IV.         HE WILL NOT POINT YOU IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

 

A.   There are a lot of people, counselors, and news outlets, politicians, and, even religious leaders that will point individuals in the wrong direction.

 

B.   This is not the case with Jesus Christ.  He will always point us in the right direction.

1.    Psalm 23:1-3

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul:  he leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name’s sake.

 

2.    The words of the Pharisees and Herodian to Jesus (Matt. 22:16).

 

…Master, we know that thou art true, and teacheth the way of God in truth…

 

3.    2 Peter 1:3

 

According as his divine power hath given unto all things that pertaineth to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

 

V.           HE WILL NOT FORSAKE THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL

 

A.   Men, including those who say they are our friends, will not always stand by us.

1.    Ahithophel turned on David.

2.    Judas turned on Jesus.

3.    Demas forsook Paul.

 

B.   Jesus, on the other hand, will never forsake us

1.    Isaiah 41:10

 

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:  be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 

2.    Hebrews 13:5b-6

 

…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall be unto me.

 

C.   This is comforting to know…

1.    When others forsake us.

2.    When we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

3.    When we are sick.

4.    When we find ourselves alone.

5.    When we are nearing death.

 

VI.         HE WILL NOT JUDGE YOU UNFAIRLY

 

A.   We live in a world where the word “fair” in judicial circles is not always practiced.

1.    It is who you know.

2.    It is who has the most money.

3.    It is who has the most power.

4.    It is to which agenda a person is loyal.

5.    It is how much one person has on another.

 

B.   Regardless of who we are, the Lord will always judge us fairly.

1.    There will be no respect of persons (Rom. 2:11).

 

For there is no respect of persons with God.

 

2.    There will be one righteous standard applied to all (John 12:48).

 

…the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

 

3.    All the facts will be brought to bear in our case (Luke 12:2).

 

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

 

C.   When the Lord decides a case, there will be nothing to argue and nothing to appeal.  The “i’s” will be dotted, and the “t’s” will be crossed.  Whatever the verdict is, it will have been determined with absolute precision.

 

VII.       HE WILL NOT CEASE TO LOVE AND CARE FOR YOU

 

A.   Love in our society comes and goes like a thunderstorm in Florida.

1.    People fall in and out of love in relationships.

2.    We love our leaders until we don’t.

3.    We love our family until our personal interests are at stake.

4.    We love truth until it conflicts with our cherished beliefs.

 

B.   When the Lord loves, it continues forever and ever (Jer. 31:3).

 

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:  therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.

 

C.   When some hear that the Lord will always love them, they associate false things with that love.

1.    Just because He loves us does not mean He will forgive us.

2.    Just because He loves us does not mean He will save us.

3.    Just because He loves us does not mean He will accept us.

4.    Just because He loves us does not mean He will allow us into Heaven.

 

D.   Many of us have children or family members that we love dearly.

1.    However, we cannot approve of their actions.

2.    We cannot associate with them.

3.    We cannot give financial support to them.

4.    But, we love them immensely. 

5.    NOTE:  The same is true of God’s love. 

 

E.   The prodigal son’s father did not chase his son when he went into the far country and involved himself in sinful practices.  But, he was watching for his return.  When he returned in a penitent condition, the father ran to him fell on his neck, kissed him, restored him to his position in the family, and rejoiced by throwing a huge celebration.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   There are things God can do.

There are things God cannot do.

There are things God will not do.

 

B.   We have examined some things God will not do in this lesson.

 

C.   The Lord will not tell us the precise day of His return.

1.    The day of the Lord’s return is known by the Father (Matt. 24:36).

2.    That day will come (2 Pet. 3:10).

3.    The Lord will not tell us when the precise day will be (Matt. 24:50).

4.    Therefore, we must be prepared for it every day (Matt. 24:44).

 

Therefore be ye also ready:  for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.