What barriers prevent people today from accepting Christ as in John 1:11? Our Text “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” – John 1:11 Why This Still Happens • Christ still comes—through His Word, His people, His Spirit—and many still turn Him away. • The same heart-level barriers that blocked first-century Israel keep multitudes today from receiving Him. Core Barriers in Plain Sight • Familiarity without faith – “Is this not the carpenter’s son?” (Matthew 13:55-57). Proximity breeds contempt; cultural Christianity can inoculate against real surrender. • Religious pride – “You nullify the word of God by your tradition” (Mark 7:13). A self-made righteousness refuses the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3). • Love of darkness – “People loved darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Hidden sin persuades the heart to keep Jesus at arm’s length. • Fear of people – “They loved praise from men more than praise from God” (John 12:43). Social pressure, cancel culture, family expectations—silencing open faith. • Intellectual skepticism – “Has God really said?” echoes in modern classrooms (Genesis 3:1). Pride in human reason dismisses miracles, the resurrection, and the call to repent (1 Corinthians 1:22-25). • Material preoccupation – “The worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word” (Matthew 13:22). A screen-lit world obsesses over now, ignoring eternity. • Spiritual blindness – “The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Only the Spirit’s illumination can break the fog. Scripture Spotlights • Luke 14:18-20 – Excuses about property, work, relationships. • Hebrews 11:6 – Faith is required; unbelief locks the door. • 1 John 2:15-17 – Love for the world crowds out love for the Father. • Acts 7:51 – Resisting the Holy Spirit hardens the heart. Clearing the Obstacles • Expose the heart to Scripture’s light daily (Psalm 119:130). • Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand (James 4:6-10). • Confess and forsake hidden sin (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9). • Choose God’s approval over human applause (Galatians 1:10). • Ask the Spirit to open blind eyes (Ephesians 1:17-18). • Count everything loss compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). |
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