Timothy 2:12; James 4:4 & Proverbs 1:26. If the laughter of people hurts a non-Christian, how much more will he be hurt when God laughs at his self-imposed destruction? The unbeliever must decide if his friends deserve to be placed above God. Which of his friends love him so much that he would have endured the cross of Calvary for him? An act of courage is needed and commanded, because if any man denies God, him also will God deny.
10. 'I am so weak' or 'I am too big a sinner.'
Read John 1:11; 6:37 & I Timothy 1:15. The Bible is emphatic in saying that Christ came to save sinners, even someone like Paul who thought he was the biggest of sinners. A weak sinner that would take the step to receive Christ would be given the power to become a son of God. No matter what you've done or how weak you are, if you come to Him, He will not cast you out!
11. 'I think I've committed the unpardonable sin.'
Read Isaiah 55:7 & 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. The unbeliever needs to understand the great mercy of God. The list in 1 Corinthians 6 includes the vilest of all sins. Those in Corinth who once committed these evils had now obtained a pardon because they left behind their sins and returned to the Lord. God promises to pardon abundantly.
12. 'There are too many hypocrites in the churches' or 'Someone who said he was a Christian hurt me.'
Read Isaiah 45:22; Romans 14:12,13 & Matthew 7:21-23. Just as there are many church-goers who lead hypocritical lives, there are many in churches who are not true Christians. Those who claim to be Christians, but are not, have brought much shame to the name of Christ and will be judged for their actions. The deception existing in this excuse is that the unbeliever feels he can be excused from receiving Christ because of the actions of hypocrites. In reality, the unbeliever will not escape judgment. His judgment will not be based upon the actions of others, but rather he must give an account to God, not to the lives of others. No man can find even a speck of hypocrisy in Christ and It is He that we must answer to one day!
13. 'Do I have to receive Christ publicly?'
Read Romans 10:9,10; 1 John 4:15 & Matthew 10:32,33. The answer is unmistakably YES. Salvation is dependent on both believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth. Such a confession must be made before others. If a belief is not strong enough for one to voice it publicly, it will never be lived privately.
14. 'I'm not a sinner.'
Read Isaiah 64:6,7; John 16:9 & Romans 3:10-12. The opinion of the unbeliever differs greatly from the judgment of God. God's Word declares that all are unclean, none are righteous, and no one does what is perfectly good. The unbeliever is obviously guilty of at least one sin, the sin of not believing on Christ. This by itself betrays his claim of sinlessness. Sin has worked to blind the unbeliever of its very existence in his life!
15. 'I don't care if I go to hell; all of my friends will be there with me.'
Read Psalm 11:6; 112:10 & Luke 16:19-28. The unbeliever desires to have fellowship with his friends in hell forever. The Bible says that the desires of the wicked shall perish. His fellowship will Instead be with new acquaintances, such as fire and brimstone. The Scriptures declare that those in hell suffer torment (acute physical suffering and mental anguish). Even the best of friends would have little opportunity or desire to fellowship while they were being burned with fire!!! In a polite and courteous manner, you may want to encourage the unbeliever to conduct the following experiment: Ask him to try and carry on a conversation with his closest friends while holding a lit match directly under one of his hands.