God's Answers to Man's Excuses
" But they all with one accord began to make excuses." (Luke 14:18) reveals the proneness of man to seek release from blame or obligation. Man's excuse is evidence of his guilt and need.
When the searchlight of God's Word is turned upon man's excuses, the excuse becomes the reason why man should make a decision for Christ. "The hypocrites in the church" behind whom the sinner seeks to hide in his rejection of Christ will become his companions to plague him throughout eternity with the memory of what he forfeited.
The wrongness of the excuse-maker is revealed by the Word of God
2 For He says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” II Cor. 6:2
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. II Cor. 9:8
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
10 As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one; Rom 3:10
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Rom 3:19
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom.3:23
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. Jas. 2:10
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Jas. 4:4
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. I John 2:15
33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:33
3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3
38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38
8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12:8,9
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42,43
6 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Rom 2:16
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Rom 2:3
4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. Rom 14:4
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Rom 14:12
21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” John 21:21,22
5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:5
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, II Tim 3:16
24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. Act 3:24
32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:32
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:6
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:8,9
16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Titas 1:16
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Rev 3:1
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matt. 7:21
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. II Cor.5:7
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Rom. 1:17
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Cor. 2:14
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. I Cor. 2:10
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Rom.10:9
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3
24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Titus 3:5,6
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ Acts 17:28
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. I John 1:5
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. I John 4:16
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, John 5:26
25 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Gen 18:25
11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Rom 2:11-16
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
And the horse from Jerusalem;
The battle bow shall be cut off.
He shall speak peace to the nations;
His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.’ Zachariah 9:10
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18
33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Luke 23:33
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? Luke 23:40
42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42,43
2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” II Cor 6:2
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14
2 For He says:“ In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. II Cor. 6:2
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, Acts 17:30
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Heb. 10:26,27
22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the [d]blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by [e]Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
The Unpardonable Sin
31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. Matt. 12:22-32
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt. 10:28
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, Heb. 9:27
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev.20:11-15
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Cor. 10:13
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. I John 5:4
9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, II Peter 2:9
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Gal.6:7
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3
23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16:23
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matt. 25:46
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Rev. 21:8
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, II Thess. 1:8,9
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. Mark 5:29
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Eph 2:8
10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. I John 5:10
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:28
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. John 6:37
8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Matt. 23:8
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. 22:17
7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. Rom. 9:7,8
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:26
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Gal 4:7
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Rom. 8:17
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16
3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3