The Point Of No Return
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Intro
Intro
Text - John 6.66-70
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
Definition
the critical point in an undertaking, decision-making process, etc., where one has committed oneself irrevocably to a course of action or policy.
The place in a course of action beyond which reversal is not possible.
This expression comes from aviation, where it signifies the point where an aircraft does not have enough fuel to return to the starting point.
Example
marriage - once the vows are uttered on the altar, you are bound to your husband or wife until death
Issues
Have you reached a point of no return in your faith and commitment to serve God?
How do you know you’ve reached that point of no return?
What is this “point of no return”?
Main Point
Many Christians today ay finding it easier, even better, to go back -
back to the world
back to the denomination/religious system
back to sinful living
Many people are also finding they have made a decision they wish they had not done in the first place.
There are two critical “points of no return” for every Christ -
one is negative, one is positive
one is to be avoided, the other to be attained
either way, no can reach both.
Sermon Points
Sermon Points
The Disciples of Christ
The Disciples of Christ
some of them did not really believe
John 6.64-66
Jesus knew them and they soon went back
they had not reached that point of no return
a few had reached the point of no return
John 6.67-69
they had found the One they were waiting for - the Messiah
they had nowhere else to go
one more stayed and played the devil
John 6.70-71
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus
Judas' sin
Matthew 27.3-5
he betrayed the innocent blood despite everything that he has learned and experience under Christ’s ministry
The ‘negative’ point of no return
The ‘negative’ point of no return
This point of no return takes place when a person steps beyond mercy into judgment.
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
it is a “willful sin” - when one commits sin after he known what is right and true
28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
trampling underfoot the Son of God
to disdain, despise, look down
counting the blood of the covenant a “common” thing
ordinary, unholy, no special value
insulting the Spirit of grace
insult - to do or say something offensively disrespectful
Examples of negative point of no return
Esau - Hebrews 12.14-17
Paul exhorts about “falling short” of the grace of God
to miss out
Esau was a profane person - he sold his birthright
he INSULTED the blessing of God!
he found no place of repentance
Israel at Kadesh Barnea - Numbers 13
they sent spies to Canaan - signified doubt in God’s word
the spies gave a “bad report” of the land - Numbers 13.31-33
they decided to replace the leadership and return to Egypt - Numbers 14.1-4
God decides to make them stay in the wilderness 40 years until the unbelievers are all destroyed
THEY DISDAINED THE PROMISE OF GOD AND THE POWER OF GOD DEMONSTRATED BEFORE THEM!
The “positive” point of no return
The “positive” point of no return
The positive point of no return is when a true believers comes to a full commitment of following Christ.
the disciples reached that point of not return
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Simon Peter has reached this point in Matthew 16.15-16
perhaps the others came to the same conviction sometime later
they have found in Christ what the cannot be found else - eternal life!
they have come to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God!
Examples of this point of no return
Abraham and his household
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
they could have returned
they chose to stay because of what they saw by faith
they looked for a city built by God’s hand - Hebrews 11.9-10
Moses
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
he looked forward to God’s reward
he saw Him who is invisible
GENUINE FAITH IS THE POINT OF NO RETURN!
when one truly believes God and His word, there is no turning back for him or her
Conclusion
Conclusion
No one will reach both points of no return - the negative and the positive.
when you reached the negative point of no return - it means you have not truly believed God despite the demonstration of God’s power and love
when you reached the positive point of no return - it means you’ll never ever despise the grace of God in your life!
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
Genuine faith will not turn back!
discouragement may come, and confusion, and fear
but real faith will endure
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Song - Point of No Return