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NOTES

Jesus Unfiltered
“Without Excuse”
Pastor Carl Nichols

John 1:6–13
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Romans 1:18-20
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

God has made himself known. We are responsible for how we respond.

God reveals. People resist. Yet God still invites us to receive his Son.

1. GOD HAS MADE HIMSELF KNOWN.

...THROUGH CREATION

Romans 1:18-20
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

You don’t have to understand everything about the universe to recognize you aren’t the reason it exists.

Creation reveals God’s power. It doesn’t give us the full account of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

...THROUGH SCRIPTURE

God prepared people through patterns, prophets, and promises.

...THROUGH PEOPLE

John 1:6
There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

Before you ever started asking questions about God, God had already been making himself known.

2. WE SUPPRESS WHAT GOD MAKES PLAIN.

Romans 1:18
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness

John 1:10
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

The Creator entered his creation, and people kept him at a distance.

“Without excuse” means we cannot make God responsible for our refusal to honor the truth he has revealed.

3. GOD OFFERS GRACE WE CANNOT EARN.

John 1:12-13
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

People did not recognize him. His own did not receive him. Yet those who received him became children of God.

The God we have resisted offers to welcome us into his family.

We cannot excuse our sin, and we cannot earn our rescue.