Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, March 12, 2006, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including zipped files of outlines from previous years, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

HOW I KNOW THAT MOST RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE LOST

By Michael D. O'Neal
Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church
Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Rom. 10:1-4

Text: Rom. 10:1

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Introduction: The apostle Paul was, no doubt, a deep student of the scriptures. However, I believe that his most outstanding characteristic was not that he was a STUDENT, but that he was a SOUL-WINNER. He witnessed every day. He prayed for the lost every day.

He was especially burdened for his countrymen and kinsmen according to the flesh, the Jews. He wanted them to be saved. He was the apostle to the Gentiles, but he had a tremendous desire to get the gospel to the Jews.

You see, the great majority of the Jews were not saved. That is, they were not heaven-bound.

They had a lot of religion, but they need REGENERATION.
They had a form of laborious worship, but the FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER.
They had the commandments of Moses, but they didn't have the CHRIST Moses promised would come.
They had an appearance of spirituality, but they didn't have ASSURANCE OF SALVATION.
They had a ritual, but not the REALITY of a RELATIONSHIP with God.

I want to bring you a message this morning called

HOW I KNOW THAT MOST RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE LOST

Contrary to the impression I might give you from another message that I plan to preach next Sunday as God allows, I KNOW that most religious people are LOST.

Most church people today are in the same boat as the Jews of Paul's day. It's a boat that is doomed to destruction. It's not the Old Ship of Zion. It's the Titanic. 

I want to point out to you three simple truths from our text from which I make this dogmatic statement.

I. THEIR IGNORANCE

Romans 10:2-3A For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Most religious people are ignorant of:

    A. The mandate for righteousness
        1. Perfect, not partial (Deut. 6:25 - ALL)
        2. It must exceed that of the Pharisees
    B. The message of righteousness - 1 Cor. 15:3-4
    C. The method of righteousness -  faith (Rom. 3:22)

II. THEIR INABILITY

Romans 10:3 ...  and going about to establish their own righteousness

    A. To please God - Heb. 11:6; Rom. 8:8
    B. To perform good works - Rom. 3:12
    C. To perfect righteousness

III. THEIR INSISTENCE

Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

    A. On their religion
        They would rather have:
        1. A pew instead of a pardon
        2. Stained glass instead of the Son of God
    B. On their righteousness
        1. Of the law
        2. Of works
    C. On their road
        1. The broad road
        2. The bad road

Conclusion: You may be religious, but are you saved?