Old Paths Baptist Church

Matthew 12:33-37

Text Vs.Mt 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Words are powerful things. By your words anyone can determine what you believe, what your goals in life are, and what is in your heart.

Mt 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart;… The words that flow off your tongue are dangerous at times and can do great harm to yourself and others.

Jas 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10a Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.

The tongue is the spewer of filthy language, the gossiper in the hallway, the false religion teacher, the greedy politician, or it can the kind word speaker, the comforter at the hospital, the mother and father who tries to steer their children right, the cheerful Sunday School teacher, or the Bible believing preacher. It can be both evil and good but I want to remind you that, according to the passage of scripture we have read today, your words will determine whether you enter the pearly gate of heaven or be cast into an everlasting lake of fire. You will either curse yourself forever for what you have said or thank God for eternity for the words you had the sense enough to utter.

We ask ourselves, What words could be so powerful as to cause me to be justified in God’s eyes or so evil that they would condemn me to an everlasting, devil’s hell?

I. Words that condemn.

At some point in your life you have expressed the disbelief that there is a God, or You stated that God loves everyone so much that he would not send anyone to hell, or my good works will outweigh my bad works and God will let me in because I was mostly good, or I’m not as bad as some people are so I’ll probably make it. All of these statements contradict the Bible message of only one way to heaven and therefore are sinful words. No one who utters these sinful words will enter heaven. These words will be replayed for them at the great white throne judgment and will condemn them to an everlasting hell.(Vs 36) You will be condemned by your words!!

Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;

II. Words that Justify

Lu 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14a I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other:

When you realize, I mean truly realize your sinfulness before God and that you have no excuse or anything to say that will turn the wrath of everlasting punishment from you, you will then look to the One and only One, Jesus Christ, who can justify you before God and you will call out to Him for the justification that you need, and you will receive it.

Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

When you realize that Jesus is your only hope, and that he came to this earth, was mocked, beaten, spit on, beat up, hung on a cross, and shed his blood to pay your penalty of sin for you. When you truly realize that, you will utter the words that will justify you forever. Those words are found in Ro 10:9, 10 & 13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Faith is simply believing God's words, and according to His word, He will not lie to us.

As I read at the beginning of the Sermon:

Mt 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

I urge you today to believe the Bible so that the first words out of your mouth that really matter are: Jesus forgive me for my sins, cover me with your blood, save me from the penalty of my sin, and take me to heaven when I die. I'm trusting you by faith to save me. In Jesus name, Amen.