Glen Bond ...............................Jan. 28, 2007 Dec. 31, 2006 the last day of the year Picayune, Ms Subject: The un-believing heart John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: John 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. ...they COULD NOT believe... (this is St. John speaking here) Do you believe the Bible? Do you think that you are any different than they are? They saw his miracles, and would not believe. Have you seen his miracles? You are no different than they were. they could not believe, and YOU can not believe. The Bible tells us plainly that faith, true believing faith is a gift of God. A gift..., therefore it cannot be purchased. And because it is a gift, he gives it to whom soever he will. Do you believe what the Bible says? You are going to believe what the Bible says about you, or you will go to Hell. The Bible says: 1 - You are a sinner. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 2 - You must come to Christ. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 3 - You must repent. Luke 13:3 but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 - You must believe on Jesus Christ. 1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. The sinners prayer: I know that it is a common thing today for people to say the sinners prayer for salvation. But I want to refute that. Now you listen ... The Lord has never saved anyone because they said the sinners prayer! That's not how the Lord saves sinners. Yet, You must come You must repent You must believe But YOU are not able. look...you can not believe... look again...should not see with their eyes (you are blinded, blind to what?, you don't see your need of salvation) and no man can come. You can't do one thing of yourself. Every lost sinner is a prisoner of Satan. Listen, God is a soveriegn God. He does as he pleases. He doesn't have to save anyone. He doesn't have to save YOU. And you will acknowlege this before you are ever saved. John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: You can not come to Christ except the Father draw you, and you will acknowlege that to God before you are ever saved. This does away with the 'sinners prayer'. If the Father doesn't draw you, you can be as earnest as you ever were, you can pray the sinners prayer all you want, and you can believe as much as you are able, but you will never be saved. ... except the Father which hath sent me draw him: To draw: horses draw a carriage. Except the horses draw the carriage, it will not move. Neither will a sinner move except the Lord draw him. The Bible says plainly that you can not come. Jonah 2:9 Salvation is of the LORD. The Lord must save. I can not help you. If the Lord has pricked your heart, and you have even the smallest desire to be saved, that is the work of the Lord. Do you want to be saved? If you want to be saved, I can tell you a few things that the Lord made me to know. 1 - You don't deserve to be saved. You have worked in this life pileing up sin on top of sin. and you DESERVE Hell. You have worked for it. You have earned it. How could God not give it to you? Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; 2 - God is soveriegn and does as he pleases. He doesn't have to save anyone. 3 - You will come to Christ in prayer begginig and pleading for salvation. because you will know that you don't deserve it. 4 - You will come to see that you are blinded by Satan. 2 Corinth. 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 - You will come to see that you hate God. Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: Enmity means - to be at war with, or to have a deep rooted hatred for. They saw Him, they talked with Him, and they would not believe. John 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. If you will only believe, you will see the glory of God in salvation. John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? The Lord doesn't keep everyone. He called and drew Judas to him, but Judas was never saved. Judas loved money, and was not interested in salvation. He was so close to God, yet so far away. He has drawn you this far, if you are not saved, beg him that he will not let you turn back as he let Judas. You are no different than Judas. He is no respecter of persons. This means that all are the same in his sight. Ths SAME.