No Excuses!

No Excuses!
John R. Petrilli

If you want to meet an expert on excuses, chances are good that a police officer monitoring traffic speeds could be your man. Once his radar gun detects a motorist’s excessive highway velocity, they’re toast. When he goes to the window of the violator’s vehicle, he’ll hear all the classic reasons why they were speeding, as well as some that are as laughable as they are original. While there are times when an excuse is legitimate, most excuses are simply a refusal to own up to irresponsible behavior. But all the blame shifting and concocted excuses will get us nowhere when we’re caught red-handed. Contrary to some people’s misconception of God as an easygoing gent who habitually overlooks our misdeeds, the picture painted by Scripture depicts Him as One Who doesn’t countenance any “excuses”. Here are a few passages that will encourage us to avoid excuses when it comes to our response to the salvation He’s offered.

EXCUSES WON’T FLY BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS VISUALLY THROUGH HIS CREATION.

“By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of God’s divine Being. So nobody has a good EXCUSE!” Romans 1:20

God invented global communications. The whole world from shore to shore can hear God’s testimony to Himself via His created works (Psalm 19:1-6). From the highest heavens down to the lowest valleys, creation shouts out the existence of her Master Designer. There’s not a single place on earth where God’s witness to Himself doesn’t ring true, loud and clear. What’s more, this witness has existed from time immemorial, spanning from the very first generation of mankind right down to our day. The starry heavens proclaim a convincing message to the dullest of minds, while the vast variety and complexities of life forms on land, sea and in the sky awaken the dullest of hearts. Whether things celestial or things terrestrial, all of God’s creation points unmistakably back to Him! Everything we can see, hear, taste or touch testifies to the existence of one awesomely powerful Creator God. This is a self-evident truth, and because of it, no one will ever be able to claim they weren’t aware of God’s existence. It was right in front of their eyes, plain for all to see. All who refuse this most basic revelation of God will be without excuse!

EXCUSES WON’T FLY BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS AUDIBLY THROUGH OUR CONSCIENCE.

“When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s ‘yes’ and ‘no’.” Romans 2:14-15

Imagine trying to function for a single day without any ability to distinguish between right and wrong. We’d be at the mercy of our own selfish desires and sinful drives. Thankfully God has endowed each of us with a conscience which enables us to distinguish good from evil, right from wrong. That conscience can be further informed and enlightened by God’s Word (1 Cor. 8:4,7 “We KNOW”, “Not Everyone KNOWS”). But the conscience can also become corrupted and completely crippled by repeatedly acting against its warnings, promptings and convictions (Titus 1:15; 1 Timothy 4:2). According to Paul, all of us have the inborn moral law of God written upon our hearts, including those who’ve never heard a single verse of Scripture! The light of conscience tells us what’s acceptable to God. On this basis alone God will judge all who have sinned against this fundamental and universal sense of moral obligation. Its presence makes us universally accountable.
No one will be able to stand before God and claim they didn’t know right from wrong. Those who do so will be without excuse!

EXCUSES WON’T FLY BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS IMPARTIALLY TO OUR INCONSISTENCIES.

“You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because He’s such a nice God, He’d let you of the hook? God is kind, but He’s not soft. You’re not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance adds fuel to the fire. In the end you get what’s coming to you.” Romans 2:1-3

There’s a wise old saying, “Whenever you point a finger at someone else, there’s four more of your fingers pointing back at you”. We find it so easy to identify the failures of others, but so difficult to own up to our own failures. Paul makes it clear that we can’t excuse ourselves because we do the very same things we condemn in the lives of others. No matter how “moral” we may think we are, every one of us breaks God’s standards every day in thought, word or deed. Our own personal failures and sins reveal that we’re anything but guiltless, but, instead, are worthy of a perfect God’s rejection. No one will be able to stand before God and claim they are innocent. Those who do so will be without excuse!

EXCUSES WON’T FLY BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS CLEARLY THROUGH HIS WORD.

“We know that everything in the Law (the Scriptures) was written for those who are under its power. The Law says these things to stop anyone from making EXCUSES and to let God show that the whole world is guilty.” Romans 3:19-20

I think one of the most misunderstood things is the actual purpose of God’s Law. The Law of God was never intended to be a means of getting right and staying right with God. Quite the contrary. God’s Law is designed to show us that we’re totally incapable of obeying Him. We possess a nature that naturally opposes adherence to His Law. Writing to the Christians in the country now known as Turkey, Paul clarifies that the Law’s real purpose was to reveal our sinfulness, show us our need for salvation, then point us to Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin’s destructive power and deathly penalty (Galatians 3:19-25, cf. Romans 5:20). Paul likens the Law to an ancient escort whose job it was to insure that a child got to school okay. Likewise, the Law’s purpose is to guide us to the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Law is revelatory, not redemptive. It can reveal what’s right, but cannot empower or transform us to perform it. Whether internally revealed via our conscience or externally revealed via God’s written Word, God’s Law makes our guilt an open and shut case. When we stand before Him, there will be no plea bargaining or loopholes to get us off the hook. No one who has been exposed to God’s Word will be justified in claiming immunity. Ignorance will not hold up in God’s courtroom. All will be without excuse!

EXCUSES WON’T FLY BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS DEFINITIVELY THROUGH HIS SON.

“If the old message (of the Law) delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message (of the Cross), this magnificent salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3). “Jesus’ descent from David roots Him in history; His unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead.” (Romans 1:3-4)

If someone ever asks you what makes Christianity so different from all other religions, here’s your answer: “Christianity is the only faith that has a RISEN Savior.” The founder of every other religion died and was buried, never to be seen or heard from ever again. Not so with Jesus. He came back from the dead! In so doing, He proved Himself to be God’s Son, and validated that His work on the Cross sealed the deal on our salvation. The writer to the Hebrews repeatedly used comparisons between Judaism and Christianity to highlight the relative inferiority of the former and the decisive superiority of the latter. In chapter two he warns of the dangers of ignoring the message of salvation via the Cross of Jesus Christ. Says he, “If those who ignored the Law received from angels on Mount Sinai (via Moses) were severely punished, how much more INEXCUSABLE will God consider those who have turned a deaf ear to His salvation provision via the cross?” (2:3) While the jungle dweller who’s never heard the gospel will be guilty based upon his violation of the light of creation and conscience, imagine the severity of God’s wrath against those who knew about Jesus’ provision for their forgiveness, yet rejected it? They, of all people, will be absolutely and irrevocably without excuse!

EXCUSES ARE UNNECESSARY BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS WINSOMELY THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

“When the Holy Spirit comes, He’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness and judgment. He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in Me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.” John 16:8-11

Any court case worth its salt includes the testimony of credible, reliable witnesses. Some cases even involve the testimony of experts in a particular field like DNA or other disciplines. Cases have been won or lost based on the strength of the evidence and the corroboration of eyewitness testimonies. God is very much committed to providing expert testimony. The Holy Spirit is such a witness. One of His primary functions in the salvation process is to set the record straight on our spiritual need, Jesus’ provision for that need, and the inevitable destiny of those who’ve chosen to refuse that provision. When someone hears the gospel message, the Spirit begins to open their eyes to these three critical areas of belief. First, the Spirit shows us our sinfulness and need of a Savior. Next, He points us to the provision for that need in Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross satisfied God’s righteous demand that sin be paid for in full. Finally, the Spirit warns us of the consequences of rejecting God’s provision in Christ, that being judgment, eternal separation from God. It’s the same kind of judgment Satan encountered the moment Jesus died on the tree (John 12:31; Luke 10:18). The Holy Spirit faithfully shines the light of the gospel into our hearts, and to receive that light is to step into spiritual rebirth! (2 Corinthians 4:6). Reception of Christ’s light transforms us into a child of God, and no excuses are needed once you become a part of His Family. “To all who receive Him, who believe in His name, He gives the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12)!

So how is it with you? Have you been making excuses for not trusting in Jesus Christ for your salvation? All that can change right now. If you wish to receive God’s forgiveness of your sins through Jesus Christ, sincerely pray the following suggested prayer:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I admit that I’m a sinner, and can do nothing to save myself. Thank You so much for sending Jesus to pay my sin debt in full. I turn away from my sins and ask You, Jesus, to come into my life. Help me to follow you as my Lord and Savior. Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer, please let us know so we can rejoice with you! Feel free to contact us by phone at 488-0800, or by email at: goodnews@twcny.rr.com. God bless you! 