The Responsibility of Choice

by:  Matt Allen

 

96045

08/25/96 - Cyclone, KY

 

I.     Introduction.

A.   Read 2 Cor. 6:1-2.  This morning, we are going to be talking about “The Responsibility of Choice.”

1.    We make choices daily.  We have already made some today.  Choices that are routine, and don’t seem to have any implications.

2.    What we were going to wear today, what/if we ate for breakfast, made the choice to be present for services today.

B.   Many of us began to understand at an early age the responsibilities that making choices brought along.

1.    Short time ago - “I longed to be grown up so I could be my own man.”

a.     didn’t realize that I would have to make decisions that would affect me for the rest of my life:

1.    marriage, making dec. to preach the gosp., accepting responsibilities that come along with that profession, etc.

2.    Contrary to the pop. Idea today, we all need to understand that when we make choices, we should accept responsibility for them.

a.     all want to accept resp & benefits if something positive comes from a choice that we made.

b.    some do as much as possible to get away/get out of resp. for choices that came out in an inpositive manner.  (deny responsibility.)

3.    Seen in the criminal justice system:  no penalty for the choices made to commit crime.

a.     J.G. Tucker

b.    murders go free on pleas of ‘insanity.”

4.    Seen in other realms of life.

a.     people not accepting responsibility for immoral behavior.

b.    promiscuous woman have baby - don’t want?  Abortion.

C.   Thus, we have an entire generation of people growing up who don’t understand that with the freedom to make choices comes the task of accepting & taking responsibility for choices made.

1.    With God -  no excuses.

a.     no buts….Mt. 7:22-23

b.    no 2nd chances when it comes to salvation

c.     no nothing but understanding we are responsible for the choices we make.

D.   Since we understand choices bring resp., then it is up to us while living upon the earth - during our short lifetime, to make the right choice.

1.    We need to be desirous of what is right.

2.    Mentioned earlier that generation growing up which doesn’t realize they are resp. for the choices they make.

a.     problem that confronts us all!

b.    today in our lesson, we want to examine what the bible says about choices, look at some people who made different choices & what happened to them.

c.     want to make application of these people to our lives

d.    hopefully, we will all grow & be built up by the lesson today.

 

II.   Examples of Choices Made by Some in the Bible.

A.   First of all, man is a creature of choice.  God made man that way.  Thus, it has been that way from the beginning.

1.    Gen. 2:15-17 - Let’s notice some things from this verse.

a.     have you ever thought - Why did God put that tree in the garden if He didn’t want Adam to partake?

b.    because He wanted man to make the choice to serve Him.

1.    God didn’t want just another animal - but didn’t want to create a robot to do the work in the garden - man was special.  1:26-31

2.    Adam & Eve were given the choice - either not to eat or eat.

a.     not to eat:  2:8-9,15 - blessed, tend the garden, live in paradise serving God and living forever.

b.    to eat:  2:16-17 - you shall surely die!

3.    Thus they are given the chance to prove which choice they would make in Chapter 3.

a.     Eve knew of result/implications of choice in 3:2-3.

b.    serpent tempts her. V. 4-5

c.     she succumbs.  Both partake in v. 6

4.    Read 7-10

a.     They’ve made the choice - to disobey the commandment of the Lord.

1.    Been caught red handed.  Like a kid in a cookie jar.

2.    read quest. In v. 11

b.    notice here (nature of man) - Adam passes resp. of the choice he made on someone else - v. 12  Eve too in v. 13.

5.    With some today, (man) this excuse would work.  But does this response work with God?

a.     v. 16-19

6.    God dealt with Adam & Eve as responsible creatures.  They were held resp. for the choice they made and would now have to deal with the consequences.  There is no “getting out of it” with the Lord.

B.   Saul - 1 Sam. 15.

1.    The people of Israel wanted a king.  Saul was the first king of Israel.  A tall & handsome man, who was a mighty warrior.  He was always acting & doing things before he stopped and thought about it.

2.    In 1 Sam. 15, Saul given the command to destroy the Amelekites.  15:1-3

a.     was to destroy everything.  Not to spare anything.  Utterly do away with them because of the problems they caused Israel in the wilderness.

b.    v. 7-9 - failed to follow the commandment of the Lord! 

c.     wanted to keep the best things & spare the king!

1.    how convenient!  Seems the Amelekites were an ancient nation & very wealthy.

3.  Saul was presented with a choice!  Wither to follow the instructions of Samuel ( who had been instructed by God) and be pleasing unto God - or to disobey Him - which always brings forth consequences.

4.  We today have been given a choice - obey & do the Lord’s commandments or choose not to.

a.     Saul did something that many try to do today!

1.    omit or change the word of God & then claim to be following the Lord’s commands. - just like Saul in v. 13

2.    many say, Blessed are you!!! We are fulfilling the commandment of the Lord! By:

a.     teaching “it’s not important to attend services.”

b.    preaching “there’s no need for baptism!”

c.     saying that worshipping unscripturally (adding to worship) is OK.

3.    These may seem as little things.  Saul prob. Rationalized that doing it by saying “sacrifice” would please God.

a.     many do the same today!

b.    “It’s not a big deal - what’s all the fuss over I.M.?

c.     “What’s the big deal about the social gospel?”

d.    “It’s a good thing we’re doing!”

e.     v.  16 - “Be Quiet!”  What matters is if we fulfilled the commandment of the Lord or not;  not if we did what we thought would be right!

f.     The Lord is pleased when we do what He says..

g.     How many of us will the Lord have to say “Be Quiet!” to?

1.    v. 17-23

2.    Saul then realizes that he was wrong.  How long will it take for many people to realize that they are wrong?  Some will be like Saul & wait until it is too late.  V. 24-25

a.     Many will ask - please pardon me!  Please give me a 2nd chance!  Please have mercy!

3.    Remember, the Lord have given us the power of choice.  We must take advantage of the opportunity to serve Him while living here upon the earth.  He deals with us as resp. beings.

a.     consequences of Saul’s decision:

1.    V. 11,26-28, 35.

C.   Peter - Matthew 26:31-35.

1.    Peter was one of the Lord’s apostles, and during their relationship, it seems evident that Peter & our Lord became close.

a.     Peter, James, & John are mentioned in num. Places being present with the Lord while the other apostles weren’t.  (only 3 present at transfiguration!)

b.    not to say other apostles didn’t develop good relat. With Jesus, but maybe Peter was closer than others.

2.    Could this be why Peter makes the statement in v. 33 & v. 35?

a.     v. 69-74.

1.    you may be saying, He had no choice but to deny Him - Christ said he would.

2.    Peter made the decision each time to deny Christ.

3.    c. 70, 72, & 74. - He didn’t have to do this!

b.    at this point, Peter more scared for his own skin than Christ.

c.     reaction in v. 75.

1.    He realized what he had done!

2.    He realized that he had forsaken his Lord & Master - someone who was about to die on the cross for Him!

a.     Caused great grief & pain!  Went & wept bitterly.

3.    We need to realize that we too make choices to deny Him or follow & serve Him.

a.     we do the same thing as Peter when we do not put into practice the commandments of Christ.

1.    many of us do things when we know it is better not to do them.

2.    sometimes to impress others around us.  Try to make them feel “I’m no different from you!”

b.    just like Peter.

1.    We make the choice to deny Christ.

2.    we make the choice or not whether to spread the gospel or not!  This is another way we deny Christ.

a.     may be at church every Sun.

b.    may give $50/wk in collect. Plate!

c.     may attend Bible class, etc.

3.    But if you’re not telling others about the saving power, about the gospel of Jesus Christ - THEN YOU ARE DENYING HIM!

a.     others need to know about Him.  By telling them directly;  by our example and influence.

4.    We made the choice to become a Christian!  Then we need to accept the responsibility of teaching the gospel to the Lost!  Mt. 28:18-20.

5.    to not do this is to deny Him!

c.     Sadly, many will not come to realize that they have denied Christ until it’s too late! - v. 73-75! 

1.    Think back to Peter!  Denies Him vehemently.  Rooster crows and then he realizes!

d.    Same will happen to some today!  Deny Him on earth!  Death or judgment comes - too late!

e.     Will have plenty of time to weep bitterly in HELL!

 

III. Conclusion.

A.   We said in the beginning, that man is a creature of choice.  God has empowered the human spirit with the ability to make decisions.  At the beginning of the lesson we read 2 Cor. 6:1-2.  Read again.

1.    As human beings, God has given man the choice of whether he wants to serve Him or not.

a.     it is up to you, me, each person in this room, county, state, country, world to make up his mind to choose whether or not he is going to serve the Lord!

b.    no one else can make the choice for you!

c.     do YOU realize the AWESOME responsibility YOU have?

B.   You have seem today that God doesn’t accept excuses, doesn’t allow 2nd chances, doesn’t allow man to change his commandments and still be pleasing to him.

1.    God treats each one of us as resp. human beings.

C.   Josh. 24:15.

1.    The Israelites had to make the choice whether to serve YHWH or not!

2.    We have to make the choice too!  The Lord desires all to come to repentance - 2 Pet. 3:9

3.    Logically is there any other choice?

a.     There is no other choice!  Do we/you realize that if we choose NOT to follow the Lord what will happen?

b.    Mt. 25:30 - will be cast into a place of outer darkness.  A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

c.     Rev. 21:8 - a place  which will burn with fire & brimstone!

4.    The only person that will put us in this terrible place is OURSELVES!

a.     We will put ourselves there by OUR actions.

b.    many not realize this till it’s too late!

5.    2 Pet. 3:10

a.     11-12 Peter calls to make a decision - a choice!

b.    how can we look for and hasten the coming day of the Lord?  By making the choice to follow Him!

D.   Have you made the choice to follow Him?  2 Cor. 6:2  Why not this morning?  Make the choice by:  believing, repenting, confessing, baptized for reemission of sins.  Then be willing to make the commitment to follow Him the rest of your life.

E.    Have you already been a Christian for some time & been denying Him?  Make the choice before it is too late!

F.    The choice is yours as we come & sing!

 

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