WHAT IT MEANS TO REJECT CHRIST

This lesson does not apply to us who have obeyed Christ,

But it does apply to the people we love and care about who have not obeyed Christ.

Introduction

• The Jews were likened unto stone masons. • Stone masons were expected to know which stone

would enhance the beauty of a building and which would not.

• They were expected to cast aside the objectionable material and keep the good and suitable.

• But they made the drastic mistake of rejecting the cornerstone.

• With the result that they could not even finish the foundation - much less the entire building.

Acts 4:10-12• “let it be known to all of you, and to all the

people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, who you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

There is a spiritual application to be made to the figure used

• Christ was the rejected stone. Matthew 21:42; Ephesians 2:20-22.

• They set this stone "at naught" as worthless and useless.

• But rejecting Christ spelled doom to their spiritual building. Matthew 21:43, 44; Acts 4:12; John 5:40.

• One cannot leave the cornerstone out of a material building and expect it to stand.

• Neither can Christ be left out of one's spiritual life and he still expect to stand.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT THE ATONEMENT FOR SINS

• 1 Peter 2:24: “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”.

• Webster says atonement means: "Reparation for offense" "Giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury."

• The idea is "at-one-ment". To reconcile two parties and make them as one again.

• The Old Testament account of atonement, as it is found in Lev. 16, is quite a story within itself.

• The idea of atonement is mentioned 16 times. • In Lev. 17:11, we read: "It is the blood that maketh

atonement for the soul."

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT THE ATONEMENT FOR SINS

• This lesson is beautifully portrayed in Hebrews 9:22,28; 10:4-14.

• But Jesus did the will of His Father by offering His own body upon the cross for our justification. Romans 5:8-11.

• Justification was a legal term used in courts during the time of Christ.

• Instead of punishing the sinner, God treats him as though he never sinned.

• In other words: JUST-IF-I had never sinned.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT THE ATONEMENT FOR SINS

• Men cannot create their own atonement for sins. • They may beat themselves, torture themselves,

offer crude sacrifices, etc. to no avail. Colossians 2:20-23.

• This is usually done to ease the pain of a heart being tormented by an accusing conscience.

• But Christ changed all of that, the day He died for our sins.

• His sacrifice plus my obedience equals atonement. 1 John 2:1-6.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT THE REDEEMING GOSPEL

• To redeem is to, rescue, to ransom, to buy back. • We have "pawned" our souls to Satan by sinning --

Christ has "bought us back" with His blood. 1 Peter 1:18-25.

• B. The word "Gospel" means "good news" concerning Christ. Romans 1:16,17.

• It contains facts to believe and understand; commands to obey; and promises to receive. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Mark 16:15,16; 2 Peter 1:2-4.

• Through this gospel, life and immortality have been brought to light. 2 Timothy 1:10; John 10:10.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT THE REDEEMING GOSPEL

• Yet, in spite of this, some are ashamed of the gospel; therefore they turn to something more popular.

• Paul warned that there would be perverters of the gospel that would draw away disciples after themselves. Galatians 1:6-9.

• Worship is vain if it is not according to the gospel. Matthew 15:9.

• Rejection of the gospel means destruction of the soul. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT ALL HOPE

• Hope is only attainable through Christ. 1 Peter 1:3-5. • When we take our eyes off of Christ, we begin to doubt. We

begin to sink. Matthew 14:28-31. • Of all the ills that men may have, hope is the only cure. • The captive hopes for freedom; the sick man hopes for health;

the warrior hopes for victory; the beggar hopes for wealth; the sinner hopes for salvation.

• In order for mankind to be happy, they must have something to hope for.

• Otherwise it becomes a matter of "dog eat dog" "the survival of the fittest" "eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT ALL HOPE

• Because of this some in desperation, commit suicide. • Just think of what it means for the doctor to say "no hope" at the

bedside of the sick; or for searchers to say "it is hopeless" to the waiting, anxious parents of a lost child.

• But the gloomiest picture of all is the death of those outside of Christ -- for them there is no hope, now or forever. Ephesians 2:12.

• Even though some are still alive and outside of Christ, there is no hope of salvation for such a one as long as that person remains outside of Christ.

• Hope is the anchor of the soul. Hebrews 6:19. • Hope extends beyond this life for some. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT HIS CHURCH

• Some claim to want Christ, but they don't want His church.

• “Preach the man and not the plan”. • They claim that there is no need to attend

church services, that one can serve the Lord just as well at home.

• There are some Christians that don't want to get involved with the work of the church.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT HIS CHURCH

• The church belongs to Christ. Matthew 16:18. • He purchased it with His own blood. Acts 20:28. • To reject the church of Christ, is to reject the

blood of Christ. • The saved are in His church. Acts 2:47;

Ephesians 5:23. • When He comes again, He will present it to His

Father in heaven. 1 Corinthians. 15:24.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT GOD

• We can't have the one without the other. • Luke 10:16: • 1 John 2:23.• John 12:47-50. • We must abide in the doctrine of Christ in

order to have God the Father. 2 John 9.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT THE ETERNAL HOME OF THE SOUL THAT HE

HAS GONE TO PREPARE• John 14:1-3. • It is evident that our present home will not

last forever. 2 Corinthians 5;1. • Therefore, there is need for an eternal home.

2 Peter 3:13. • In Job's day, man was asking this question: "If

a man dies, will he live again?" Job 14:14. • 1. When Jesus came, He brought an answer to

this question. John 11:25, 26.

TO REJECT CHRIST IS TO REJECT THE ETERNAL HOME OF THE SOUL THAT HE

HAS GONE TO PREPARE• There are three great matters that concern all

mankind. These are: • Life; Death; and Eternity. • Christ alone has the only definite, authoritative

and satisfying word concerning all three. Revelation 1:18.

• Eternal life can be ours only through accepting Christ. Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:11-13.

Conclusion

• It is easy for us to see the folly of rejecting Christ. • He is to our spiritual life, what the sun is to our

physical life. • We often sing: "Jesus is all the world to me, My

life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, Without Him I would fall..."

• But if you haven't obeyed the gospel, His coming, so far as you are concerned, has been in vain.