The Unbeliever's Unhappy Condition

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John 3:36

He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life…

John the Baptist was a preacher who knew how to discriminate. He does not address the people as all lost or saved, but shows the two classes and the line of demarcation.

I. THE GUILTY ONES.

1. They are common. They abound in our sanctuaries, and are to be met by thousands in our streets.

2. They are not necessarily sceptics. Many of them are quite orthodox.

3. Not a few are blameless in morals, but like the young man lack the great thing.

4. Many are religious after a sort, attend worship, read the Bible, etc,, but alas! there is a worm at the centre of all this fair fruit.

5. If they were criminals no one would wonder, but many of them are highly respect. able.

II. THEIR OFFENCE. They have not believed on the Son of God.

1. They refuse to accept the mercy of God. Men rejected God's law, now they reject His gospel. To refuse such a blessing provided at such a cost, cannot be a small sin. It is the greatest, for when the Holy Ghost comes to convince the world of sin, that sin is unbelief.

2. In this rejection the unbeliever displays an intense venom against God. He must either accept mercy or condemnation. He chooses the latter. What has God done to deserve this?

3. The unbeliever touches God in a very tender place: slighting the greatest manifestation of His love.

4. He perpetrates an offence against every person in the blessed Trinity.

5. He insults every Divine attributes justice, wisdom, mercy.

III. THE SOURCES OF THIS UNBELIEF.

1. In many, careless ignorance of the way of salvation, and this in a land of churches and Bibles, is so far from being an excuse that it is an aggravation.

2. Indifference. Men are aware that they are not quite right, but hope to be at last; meanwhile it does not trouble them. What grosser impertinence can there be against the supreme Ruler?

3. Pride. Salvation is all very well for harlots, drunkards, etc.

4. Love of sin.

IV. THE TERRIBLE RESULT. The wrath of God abideth now and always.

1. You will not escape by ceasing to exist. The Divine wrath cannot rest on a non-existent creature.

2. This must be so because you reject the only remedy. There is but one door, and you close it by unbelief.

3. The wrath will produce no saving or softening effect, but will go on to harden.

4. God has never taken an oath against any but unbelievers. "To whom sware He in His wrath that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not?" Continued unbelief God will never forgive, because His word binds Him not to do so. In conclusion. There is a blessed alternative: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life."

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