The Need for Now

I. Introduction
   A. James 4:13
   B. James shows here the need for now- today- this moment
   C. What is the past?
      1. Gone- one can do nothing about it
      2. the basis upon one is judged (Matthew 12:36-37, Matthew 16:27)
   D. What is the future?
      1. a hope, a dream- not a certainty
   E. Hence, the need for NOW

II. Now=Salvation
   A. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
   B. Quotation of Isaiah 49:8, a discussion of the promise
   C. Are you happy to be able to receive the gifts of God through Christ?
   D. For how many years did people yearn for this salvation?
   E. Matthew 13:17
      1. we are blessed to even be able to live under Christ
      2. Do we take this for granted?
   F. Now is the time for salvation- now is the time to come to Christ

III. Repentence-Ignorance
   A. Acts 17:30
   B. Times of Ignorance
      1. God has overlooked them
      2. Athens: God overlooked their paganism up until that point
      3. Now: God will overlook your past if you come to Him NOW
   C. Why now?
      1. The past is done with
      2. God has fixed a time for Judgment- on that day, there will be no 
         future in which one can repent
      3. hence, NOW is critical

IV. Examples
   A. We see in Scripture how many come to the truth and when
   B. Acts 2
      1. Sermon by Peter: verses 14-36
      2. Response: verse 37
      3. Repentance and baptism, 38.
      4. Did the Jews delay their decision?  No- they did it NOW.
   C. Acts 8:34-39
      1. the eunuch heard and immediately responded
      2. Did he wait until he reached Ethiopia?  No.  He did it NOW.
   D. Cornelius- Acts 10
      1. feared God (verse 2)
      2. saw the angel, asked for Peter NOW (verse 7)
      3. when Peter arrived, Holy Spirit received, he was baptized not later- 
         NOW (verses 47-48)
      4. did Cornelius' "righteousness" mean he could wait or that he did not 
         need salvation through Christ?  No.  It pushed him to act NOW

V. Why were they saved, and now?
   A. All of these individuals realized three things:
      1. they had sinned
         a. Romans 3:23
         b. Jews at Pentecost: heard how the Savior was crucified by them
         c. Eunuch, Cornelius: realization through the gospel
      2. their sins had separated them from God
         a. 1 John 1:7, 2:16
      3. they needed to return- and return now- while they still could
         a. Acts 17, Acts 3:19

VI. Conclusion
   A. We must obey God NOW
      1. the past is done
      2. the future is uncertain
      3. all we have is now
   B. Consider it a blessing to have the present
   C. If you feel that you qualify under the three conditions, there is no 
      reason to not return to God at this very moment- your soul is in danger!
   D. Come and act now, as we stand and sing