Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:14-19
"I'm the Exception!"
Intro.
1. Tragic failing we must overcome is the ability to see fault and areas that need improvement in the lives of others, while being blinded to our own faults, Matt. 7:1-5.
2. cf. Personal obligations before God:
a. We exempt ourselves from commands we find burdensome (1 Jno. 5:3), hardship (Matt. 11:30), inconvenient (Acts 24:25) or undesirable -- “That doesn’t apply to me!”
b. Exception - “A person or thing different from others of the same class; case to which a rule does not apply” - Webster.
I. “I’M THE EXCEPTION.” (Attitude of release from our spiritual obligations & responsibilities without fear of accountability and punishment)
A. Such an Attitude Ignores Personal Responsibility before God, Gal. 6:5; 2 Cor. 5:10.
B. This Attitude Results from Pride.
1. Humility before God needed to examine oneself, Jas. 4:5-6; 2 Cor. 13:5; Matt. 23:12
2. Pride blinds us to our own spiritual needs, Lk. 18:9-14; 1 Cor. 10:12.
3. Pride ignores our dependency upon God’s grace, Prov. 16:18.
4. cf. Naaman: 2 Kgs. 5:9-14 - Pride almost caused him to remain a leper. It causes many to remain sinners, too!
C. This Attitude is Motivated by Self-Will (Presumption).
1. Disown self - Lose our life to find it, Matt. 16:24-25.
2. Rather than rationalize disobedience, makes God’s will our will.
a. Nadab and Abihu acted as if they were exempt from God’s law, Lev. 10:1-2.
b. Avoid the presumptuous sin of ignoring God’s commands – And thinking nothing is wrong! Psa. 19:13; Jas. 4:17
II. THE “EXCEPTION DEFENSE” IS APPLIED TO SUCH THINGS AS…
A. Sporadic Attendance of Worship Services, Heb. 10:24-25.
1. Forsake: “to leave behind...abandon.”
2. Some apparently think they can go to heaven while ignoring / violating God’s command to worship him (Jno. 4:23-24).
B. Prayer, Lk. 18:1; 1 Ths. 5:17; Col. 4:2.
1. Not just at meals and worship services.
2. Times we are weakest are the times we are not praying!
C. Bible Study, 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:16-18 (1 Cor. 8:2).
-Approved workmen; avoid falling; study to understand and live!
D. Teaching Others, 2 Tim. 2:2; Acts 8:4.
1. Don’t ignore the needs of others.
2. Ability + Opportunity = Responsibility.
E. Moral Purity, 1 Tim. 4:12; 6:11.
1. Gossip (1 Tim. 5:13); Immodest dress (1 Tim. 2:9-10); Speech (Eph. 4:29); Godly attitudes (Phil. 4:8); Harmful habits (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Pet. 2:19, smoking, alcohol, drugs).
2. Unspotted from the world; not camouflaged in it! Jas. 1:27
III. EXCUSES FOR NOT MEETING OUR PERSONAL OBLIGATION TO OBEY GOD (Will not be accepted on the Day of Judgment):
A. “I didn’t know”, Acts 17:30-31.
B. “I didn’t have time”, Eph. 5:16.
C. “I did some good things”, Matt. 7:21-23.
D. “I wasn’t as bad as others”, Gal. 6:4 (2 Cor. 10:12; cf. Matt. 7:3).
Conclusion
1. Don’t let pride and selfishness keep you from doing what you know is right in the sight of God. These are sins and will not be exempt from punishment, Jas. 4:17 (Rom. 2:5-6).
2. We know God’s will – Let us obey it instead of yielding to the temptation to exempt ourselves from it.