“Five Things We Cannot Escape”
1. We cannot escape personal responsibility.
Matthew 27:22-24, “"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" 23 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"”
1. We cannot escape personal responsibility.
Matthew 27:22-24, “"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" 23 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"”
“In the past God overlooked … ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
2. We cannot escape our influence on those around us.
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
John 3:20-21, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
3. We cannot escape the consequences of sin.
Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Romans 2:6-11, “God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil … 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good … 11 For God does not show favoritism.”
Numbers 32:23, “If you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
John 3:20-21, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
3. We cannot escape the consequences of sin.
Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Romans 2:6-11, “God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil … 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good … 11 For God does not show favoritism.”
Numbers 32:23, “If you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”
4. We cannot escape death.
Psalm 89:48, “What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?”
“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him” (Ezekiel 18:20).
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).
“man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Psalm 89:48, “What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?”
“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him” (Ezekiel 18:20).
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).
“man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
5. We cannot escape the Judgment.
“Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
“We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him” (1 John 4:13-17).
“We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him” (1 John 4:13-17).
Conclusion:
“We will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.'" 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12).
“We will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.'" 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12).