1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. I. THERE ARE SUCH, Alas! how many! Not those who have never heard of him, but those who have heard much of him - those before whom the great revelation of Christ has been spread out. Not those who have been brought up under sceptical influences, but those who have been trained in Christian homes. How many of those to whom Christ has been made known as fully as he can be to any who have not received him, yet do not love him! This is (1) strange, (2) saddening, (3) explicable only upon belief in the extreme virulence of sin. II. THE HEINOUSNESS OF THEIR SIN. Consider: 1. Christ is altogether lovely and lovable. There is nothing in him to check love, but everything to encourage it. 2. He has never done the slightest evil to any man. 3. He has relinquished heaven for men. 4. He has humbled himself to assume human nature for men. 5. He has lived for men. 6. He has died for men. 7. He is willing to redeem men from all things evil, and to ensure to them all things good. Not to love such a Being as this is the chief of crimes. No tale of guilt could be sterner. It is a fearful revelation of the "carnal heart," which is enmity against God and Christ, instead of love. III. THEIR DOOM. They are "anathema" - accursed. Their crime merits completest condemnation. If they can be guilty of this, they can be guilty of anything. Their sentence is "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord;" their home, with "the devil and his angels." Their choice is to be accursed. They choose the curse rather than the blessing which Christ waits to bestow. They choose the curse rather than the One who alone can deliver them from it. They are now accursed; their present condition is this condition, and their future condition will be this unless they "turn to the Lord." IV. A SOLEMN QUESTION - DO WE LOVE CHRIST? 1. Not - Do we admire him? He is admired even by atheists. 2. Not - Do we abstain from hostility towards him? 3. Not - Do we take his name upon our lips, observe his day, meet with his people? 4. Not even - Do we work for him? 5. But - Has he touched our heart? Do we love him? Christ is the great test applied to human hearts. The issue reveals condition, character, prospect. - H. Parallel Verses KJV: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.WEB: If any man doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Come, Lord! |
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