Continuing Pastor Kennedy's message on why the world needs Christ, he points out that every man has received the light of creation and most have rebelled against it. In Romans 2, we read of the light of conscience where God has placed a moral monitor into the hearts of men “(their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men . . .” (vv. 15–16). And everywhere we see that this is true.
I have asked people all over the world this question: Have you ever done anything that you believed was wrong? Every one of them has said, “Of course,” and all but one of them have laughed. They said, “Why, of course, many times. Hasn’t everybody?” They have sinned against their conscience. God has revealed to them certain things that they know are right or wrong. This is clear because universally people condemn one another. Little do they realize what they are doing to themselves when they do. “Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 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?” (Romans 2:1-3). Everywhere people do this.
Immanual Kant, the famous philosopher was, no doubt, one of the most brilliant men who ever lived on this planet. If you doubt that, I suggest you pick up a copy of The Critique of Pure Reason and start wading through it—the most difficult book I have ever read in my entire life. This man was profound in his intellect, but he said something I have never forgotten. He said: “There are two things that fill me with a deep awe, and they are the starry heavens above and the conscience within.” The light of creation and the light of conscience. All men have received that light and all men have sinned against it. All have sinned and come short of the Ten Commandments? No. Sermon on the Mount? No. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)—as revealed in the light of creation, as revealed in the light of conscience.
Third, there is the light of Christ. There only do we have hope and mercy, because the light of creation requires something from us—that we worship the living God. The light of conscience requires something of us—that we follow those commandments that God has written on the fleshly tablets of our heart. But the light of Christ is the light of grace, where God does something for us and gives His Son to die in our place and offers freely eternal life to those who are utterly undeserving, to those who will trust in Him. It is sin that condemns. It is Christ that saves. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
There is one other thing you should never forget, and that is that there are degrees of punishment in Hell, as there are degrees of reward in Heaven. To whom much has been given, will much be required. Forget for the moment about the heathen in the midst of Africa. You, who have sat right here in this sanctuary and have heard of the Gospel of grace, and the death of the Son of God, and the free offer of eternal life to those who will repent and trust in Him, if you have not done that, you will receive a far more severe judgment than that cannibal headhunter in the midst of Africa. You, respective one; you, counsel member; you, president of this, that or the other, God is no respecter of persons. To whom much has been given will much be required. So, I would ask you who have received much light—whereas the cannibal in Africa may have sinned against the candlelight of creation and conscience, you have sinned against the blazing sun, the noontime sun of the love of God displayed on the cross of Christ—have you truly surrendered to Christ? Have you truly repented of your sins?
Have you truly trusted in Him as your Savior? Have you ever really been lost? Do you know that you have really been found? Ah, my friend, the world desperately needs Christ because the world is lost, and each one of us desperately needs Christ because we either have been, or some of you still are, lost.
PRAYER: Father, I pray that your Spirit will speak to hearts right now, that you will draw unto yourself such as should be saved, and some may say, “O God, I see. I see the light I have received, and I yield myself now to Christ. I receive Him as Lord and Master and Savior of my life. I accept the free gift of eternal life, and henceforth, I desire to follow Him. In His name I pray. Amen.
Merry Christmas
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