Verses 17-21:
Verses 22-24:
Application:
I'm not saying that we shouldn't be proud to know salvation in Christ, or that we shouldn't take a confident stand for the truth. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be bold with our efforts to take the gospel to a lost and dying world, but I am saying that we should check our motives and our attitudes lest we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Our focus should never be on the fact that other people are lost, but rather that EVERYONE is lost without Christ. The fact that people are lost without Christ is no haughty matter, but rather a heartbreaking one. Our encouragement now is to not be arrogant that we have the gospel, but that we should have hearts that break when we look at the tragedy of unbelief. To be ever thankful to God for His mercy, and ever loving towards those who do not know Christ, because aren't they the ones who need Him the most?