Passing the Responsibility

2001016

Subject: duties of Christians

INTRODUCTION

A. A common, but dangerous practice today is that of refusing to accept responsibility for our own mistakes.

B. This sin (passing the “buck”) is as old as shortly after the creation.

1. Many people today tend to “pass the buck.”

2. We are not only speaking of those outside of the body of Christ but Christians as well .. followers of Christ.

I. Some blame others for their mistakes.

A. There are several examples in the Bible.

1. Gen 3:12-13 - Adam blamed Eve .. Eve blamed the serpent .. they both indirectly blamed God.

2. Ex 32:22 - Aaron .. the brother of Moses .. put the blame on the people ..

a) They cannot help it .. they are set on mischief ...

b) He was just following their wishes.

3. 1 Sam 15:15 - Saul did not obey the Lord’s command (v. 3).

B. Sinners many times blame the “hypocrites” in the church for their continued disobedience.

1. They claim that they are just as good as those in the church ..

2. Those who hide behind a hypocrite are not serious about their lives ..

3. It is far better to be with those few hypocrites .. in the church .. than go to hell and be with all .. for eternity.

C. Unfaithful members blame disinterest on other members.

1. They are not friendly (Prov 18:24).

2. “I was sick and no one came to visit me!”

3. “The preacher preaches right at me!”

D. Husbands and wife blame each other for their troubles.

1. “I know I have done wrong .. but .. she is just as much to blame as I am!”

2. They talk with everyone else about their problems ... except to one another!

II. Some blame a busy life for their spiritual failures (Luk 10:40-42).

A. They are too busy to study (2 Tim 2:15).

B. Too busy to attend worship service of the church (Heb 10:25).

C. They are too busy to visit the sick .. fatherless .. widows and orphans (Jam 1:27).

D. Parents become involved in so many activities .. they are too busy to train their children (Eph 6:4)

E. The Kingdom of God must come first in our lives (Mat 6:33).

III. Some blame circumstances of life for their spiritual failures (Luk 14:15-24).

A. Let’s look for a moment at these excuses .. and that is what they are!

1. Bought a piece of ground and must go to see it.

2. Bought five yoke of oxen and must go prove them.

3. Married a wife .. I cannot come.

B. There are reasons and there are excuses ....

1. If Christians would take the same time for reasons that they do for excuses ..

2. Our congregations would be more attended.

IV. My husband/wife are not members and he/she will not come with me.

A. Look at (1 Pet 3:1,2) .. Show them by your example.

1. If you are unfaithful in worshipping .. what kind of message are you given to him/her?

V. There are consequences for not accepting responsibility for our own mistakes.

A. (Rev 21:8) .. We have become liars and are no better than the worst of sinners.

1. We need to place blame where it belongs .. squarely on the individuals shoulders.

B. We become cowards by allowing the innocent to be blamed for our wrongs ..

1. Coward is “fearful.” “Fearful” used here .. is not pleasing to God.

C. We become blind to our own mistakes and think more highly of ourselves than we ought to (Rom 12:3) (Prov 25:27).

D. We become “Hypocrites” .. (Mat 7:1-5).

1. We begin to unfairly judge others .. while not realizing just what we are.

Conclusion:

A. Instead of making excuse for ourselves and passing the responsibility for our failures on others .. we must have the integrity and courage to recognize .. admit .. and repent of our wrong doings.

B. If one has not obeyed God’s commands in the Gospel .. no excuse or “passing the buck” will take the place of obedience in the eyes of God (Mat 7:21).

C. As unfaithful children of God .. no excuse will make you into a faithful child of God.

1. Becoming faithful involves more than just coming to the assembly.

D. There will “NO” excuses accepted in the judgment (2 Cor 5:10) (Rev 22:12).

E. I N V I T A T I O N



Passing the Responsibility 2001016 Subject: duties of Christians INTRODUCTION A. A common, but dangerous practice today is that of refusing to accept responsibility for our own mistakes. B. This sin (passing the “buck”) is as old as shortly after the creation. 1. Many people today tend to “pass the buck.” 2. We are not only speaking of those outside of the body of Christ but Christians as well .. followers of Christ. I. Some blame others for their mistakes. A. There are several examples in the Bible. 1. *Gen 3:12-13 -* Adam blamed Eve .. Eve blamed the serpent .. they both indirectly blamed God. 2. *Ex 32:22 -* Aaron .. the brother of Moses .. put the blame on the people .. a) They cannot help it .. they are set on mischief ... b) He was just following their wishes. 3. *1 Sam 15:15 -* Saul did not obey the Lord’s command *(v. 3). B. Sinners many times blame the “hypocrites” in the church for their continued disobedience. 1. They claim that they are just as good as those in the church .. 2. Those who hide behind a hypocrite are not serious about their lives .. 3. It is far better to be with those few hypocrites .. in the church .. than go to hell and be with all .. for eternity. C. Unfaithful members blame disinterest on other members. 1. They are not friendly (Prov 18:24). 2. “I was sick and no one came to visit me!” 3. “The preacher preaches right at me!” D. Husbands and wife blame each other for their troubles. 1. “I know I have done wrong .. but .. she is just as much to blame as I am!” 2. They talk with everyone else about their problems ... except to one another! II. Some blame a busy life for their spiritual failures (Luk 10:40-42).* A. They are too busy to study *(2 Tim 2:15). B. Too busy to attend worship service of the church (Heb 10:25). C. They are too busy to visit the sick .. fatherless .. widows and orphans (Jam 1:27). D. Parents become involved in so many activities .. they are too busy to train their children (Eph 6:4)* E. The Kingdom of God must come first in our lives *(Mat 6:33). III. Some blame circumstances of life for their spiritual failures (Luk 14:15-24).* A. Let’s look for a moment at these excuses .. and that is what they are! 1. Bought a piece of ground and must go to see it. 2. Bought five yoke of oxen and must go prove them. 3. Married a wife .. I cannot come. B. There are reasons and there are excuses .... 1. If Christians would take the same time for reasons that they do for excuses .. 2. Our congregations would be more attended. IV. My husband/wife are not members and he/she will not come with me. A. Look at *(1 Pet 3:1,2)* .. Show them by your example. 1. If you are unfaithful in worshipping .. what kind of message are you given to him/her? V. There are consequences for not accepting responsibility for our own mistakes. A. (Rev 21:8) .. We have become liars and are no better than the worst of sinners. 1. We need to place blame where it belongs .. squarely on the individuals shoulders. B. We become cowards by allowing the innocent to be blamed for our wrongs .. 1. Coward is “fearful.” “Fearful” used here .. is not pleasing to God. C. We become blind to our own mistakes and think more highly of ourselves than we ought to *(Rom 12:3)* *(Prov 25:27). D. We become “Hypocrites” .. (Mat 7:1-5). 1. We begin to unfairly judge others .. while not realizing just what we are. Conclusion: A. Instead of making excuse for ourselves and passing the responsibility for our failures on others .. we must have the integrity and courage to recognize .. admit .. and repent of our wrong doings. B. If one has not obeyed God’s commands in the Gospel .. no excuse or “passing the buck” will take the place of obedience in the eyes of God (Mat 7:21). C. As unfaithful children of God .. no excuse will make you into a faithful child of God. 1. Becoming faithful involves more than just coming to the assembly. D. There will “NO” excuses accepted in the judgment (2 Cor 5:10) (Rev 22:12)*. E. I N V I T A T I O N