Why People Reject the Gospel Gal. 2:12 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

We are praying for our friends and family to get saved and it will be helpful for us to understand some of the main reasons why people reject the gospel.  Knowing the reasons why people reject the gospel will help us to address these reasons when we preach the gospel.  If people can understand why they are reluctant to get saved and they can see how scripture answers their objections, it will be easier for them to overcome their own opposition and trust the Lord to save them.

Here are some of the reasons why people reject the gospel:

Fear (they’re Scared) – Gal 2:12 – they are afraid of the reproach they will receive from others if they receive Jesus – they lovedthe praises of men more than the praises of God – Jn 9:22 like the blind man’s parents who feared the Jews [excommunication], these folks fear the backlash from their religious family members if the turn from the family religion to receive Jesus.

Sin – they are in the middle of sin that they do not want to quit and so they won’t repent – Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,” [Lk 13:3, 5] – Paul preached “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ,” [Acts 20:21].

Skepticism – they don’t believe it – they have a heart of unbelief – Heb 3:12 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” – universities are bad about producing skeptics.

Satan – 2 Cor 4:4 the god of this world blinds the minds of them which believe not – Lk 8:12 “then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved” – we must meet spiritual opposition with the spiritual armor of God [Eph 6:10-18].

Self-righteousness – a man who has his own righteousness in his religion or his works is reluctant to let go of his righteousness to take up the righteousness of Jesus Christ – you will hear them say things like, “I was born a Catholic and I will die a Catholic.”

Scorn – Prov 29:27 he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked – Prov 15:12 “A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise” – a man who scorns the word of God won’t even listen to the gospel.

Superstition – Acts 17:22-23 “I perceive in all things ye are too superstitious… whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” – superstition is a fear that derives from ignorance of the truth – some people have all their faith in a statue or a rosary.

Conclusion: one or more of these reasons are why the person you are witnessing to has not yet received the Lord – if you can address these reasons with the words of God you can at least help then to “see” the truth – perhaps one of these reasons is why you have not yet received him – if the Lord has addressed your reason and you are now ready to receive him, please respond to him during the invitation.