The Two Lanes to Hell — William Blackburn

The New Birth and the Necessity of Regeneration

To be born again It's the most wonderful thing that can happen to a person's life to be Supernaturally transformed by the power of the Living God is the most exciting most dynamic thing that can in a person can encounter.

The Bible says in order for you to go to heaven. You must be born again. My friend you can walk a thousand aisles. You can pray a million prayers. You can be baptized a dozen times but until your heart is Supernaturally transformed by the power of God the Bible says you are lost a man must be born again.

There must be a day in his life when the Spirit of the Living God comes into his heart and Supernaturally regenerates him into a new person and the question tonight is have you been born again? Have you been born again by the Spirit of the Living God sir?

I am NOT asking you. Are you a member of a church in? Mississippi everybody is a member of a church. I'm not asking if you've been baptized. Everybody in Mississippi has been baptized. I'm not even asking do you believe in God?

I'm asking was there a day in your life when you surrendered your will to the will of God? Was there a day when you repented of your sin? Was there a day when the supernatural Spirit of God came into your heart and changed you.

Were you born again? You see that's the most important thing that can happen because whether you go to heaven or hell Does not depend upon your baptism or your Sunday school membership or whether you're a good moral person.

But whether you go to heaven or hell depends on one thing. Have you been born again? This is not a Baptist doctrine. This is not a Methodist doctrine. This is not a Catholic doctrine. This is a Bible doctrine.

Jesus Christ himself said Except a man be born again He'll never see the kingdom of God tonight. God is going to speak to your heart tonight. God's gonna speak to your heart. He's gonna convict you. He's gonna draw you.

He's gonna take the scales off of your eyes and there are people here tonight that God is going to show and reveal that they've never truly been born again and God's gonna give you an invitation to come and make it real.

It will be without a doubt the most important decision you will ever make and my prayer is that when the Holy Spirit of God Touches your heart that you will yield your will to his. The Bible says when you hear the voice of God.

Don't harden your heart. My prayer is tonight that you will say yes to Jesus. You will come and be born again. If you have your Bibles take them please and turn to the gospel of Matthew chapter 7. Matthew chapter 7 and I'm going to read one verse tonight.

Matthew chapter 7 verse 13. Matthew chapter 7 verse 13 page 1100 18. If you've got the right kind of Bible Matthew chapter 7 13 and sir, listen very carefully. I want you to notice the speaker here in this verse is that great authority Jesus Christ?

Here's what Jesus says to you tonight. Jesus says Enter ye in at the straight gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and Many there be which go in. Thereat the Bible says in that one verse that I've read to you.

The Two Lanes on the Broad Road to Destruction

The Bible says that it is a wide broad road That leads to hell and I want you to imagine for a moment that this road to hell is so wide. It is so broad that the devil has put a divider right down the middle of it and I want you to imagine that for a moment because I Want to talk about two distinct classes of people that are going to hell.

I want you to imagine though. The road is wide it is broad and the devil has put this divider. This divider is so high that you cannot see over it. You cannot climb over it because I want to talk to you because I believe that.

Every person who's going to hell tonight is in one of these two classes of People and I want to share with you this sermon that simply titled the two lanes on the road to hell. There are two lanes with a divider.

They're both going in the same direction. They both lead to doom and destruction. There are two lanes on the road to hell and Satan has said that some folks are going to miss the way to heaven. Thinking they're on the way to heaven when really they're on one of those lanes to a place called hell lane one is over here.

I call it the road of the wicked now. I'm not picking on you folks over here. But this is the road of the wicked. These are the folks over here that don't care anything about God. They hate God. They have no desire to follow God.

They love themselves. In fact, they hate the things of God. They are the infidels the atheists the blasphemers the liars the drunkards the prostitutes. The homosexuals those that don't have a place for God.

They live for themselves. The Bible says don't go in the path of wicked men don't go to where evil men and yet this road over here is filled Up with folks. They don't even make any pretense to know God.

They are living for themselves living for the devil living in sin, and they're proud of it. This lane is filled up with folks who have no concern at all for God. They love their sin. They're on the broad road to hell.

They're in lane one the lane of the wicked but lane two over here I call the lane of the deceit deceived church member this lane over here. The Bible says in Proverbs listen, sir, there is a way that seems right to a man.

But the ends thereof are the ways of death over here. We have folks who are good decent moral church members and they really believe they're going to heaven. They're on this lane going to hell. They've been deceived.

They really think they're saved. They really think they're on that on the narrow road, but the devil has deceived them. You know what the devil's done. Well, first of all, he's put this big divider here and also along the way.

He's put churches and good works in a good life. And these folks are on this road and they really think they're saved and they can hear the people over in lane one. They hear them parting and cursing God and living like the devil and they'll say things like this Oh poor wicked sinner.

If you only knew what we knew if you would only get saved so you wouldn't have to go to hell and all the time. They are on the same road as the lost wicked man. They are just as doomed and down for hell as the atheist.

They are just as lost as the most wicked homosexual that ever lived. They're on the road to hell. They're just in another lane going the same direction because they have been deceived by the devil now.

Friends I am convinced that most people in our churches today have been deceived by Satan. I read an article a day in the Baptist paper. There was a survey that the average person who claims to be a Christian.

He can talk the talk. But he cannot walk the walk and the reason we are not having an impact on a lost and dying world. It's because the world looks at those folks who profess to be Christians and they see absolutely no difference in their life.

And I will tell you dear friends. There's a big difference between saying you are a Christian and God saying you're a Christian and I won't tell you there are a lot Of folks over here. They are walking down that lane.

They are excited about one day going to heaven they're living their good moral lives their teachers and Sunday school teachers and deacons and Evangelists and preachers and they're on this road to hell.

Thinking they're going to heaven and they are just as doomed and damned as the biggest sinner that ever lived in the state of Mississippi. Now, how could that happen? How could they be so deceived? What is it that deceives people today about their salvation?

A Past Decision Without Present Righteousness

Well, the three things I believe that are receiving folks today and I want to share them with you the first thing that makes folks believe they're saved when they're really not is this a past Decision in their life without having present-day Righteousness in their life.

You ask these kind of folks. Are you saved sir? He'll say yeah, I'm saved. Well, how do you know you're saved sir? Well ten years ago. I made a decision for Jesus Christ. Well, sir, the Bible never points to the past to prove your salvation.

The Bible never says look to the past to verify that you're saved. You know what the Bible says the Bible says look at your life today. Don't look to the past sir. Look at your life right now. Do you have the evidence in your life according to the Word of God?

Have you truly been born again? Don't look to the past. Don't tell me you walked an aisle. Don't tell me you prayed a prayer. Don't tell me where your your mother's buried in the in the cemetery next to a little country Church tell me do you have the proof in your life today that the Spirit of God lives in you you say?

What is the proof where the Bible talks about that and the Bible talks about in Matthew chapter 5? It tells us about the Pharisees and the Pharisees had their Concept about salvation. The Pharisees had all these rules and regulations.

And they thought they had a handle on what it took to go to heaven one day. They they had things like you had to tithe and you had to you had to fast and you had to pray you had to Do all these works.

It really was a work salvation. It was based upon doing not trusting the Lord Jesus Christ not putting your faith in God. It was wrapped around their works and their effort and their lives and you know what sir Jesus came along and Jesus just kind of blew all that stuff out the window and he said I want to tell you What's the real proof you're saying?

What's the real proof? Listen, it's not because your dad is a preacher. It's not because your mother's a Sunday school teacher. You see the proof that you're a born-again believer has to be according to the Word of God and in Matthew chapter 5 It gives us in this verse 20.

Here's what it says. It says. For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. Ye shall in no way enter the kingdom of God. You know how you want to tell if you're a Christian, sir.

You know how you can prove that you're a born-again believer. You want to test yourself in the Bible does say test yourself. By the way, if this kind of preaching makes you mad you get mad at Jesus, sir.

The Bible says examine yourself test yourself prove yourself. You know how you can test yourself. You take your life sir, and you stack it up against the Sermon on the Mount. Which is the same as Galatians 5 22 the fruit of the Spirit you take your life and you stack it up against the Sermon on The Mount and the results of that test will tell you whether you've really been born again by the Holy Spirit.

You know what the proof of salvation is it is Righteousness my friend when a man gets the Spirit of God it produces righteousness in his life. It produces godliness in his life. It produces God Christ likeness in his life.

You say well ten years ago I made a decision for Jesus, but did you get righteousness in your life? Did you get Christ's likeness? I want to tell you we have a lot of folks they can remember the date.

They prayed a little prayer, but they have no righteousness. No godliness in their life and the Bible says those kind of folks are not saved. Let me read to you what the Bible says in Galatians 5 24. It says and they that are Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust verse 19.

And the works of the flesh are these? Adultery fornication uncleanness lascivious idolatry witchcraft hatred. Variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envying murders drunkenness. Revelings of the which I tell you as I have also told you in time past that they listen sir.

Which do such things? Shall not enter the kingdom of God. Friend I won't tell you if you're a born-again believer. The Bible says you have crucified the flesh. The Bible says if you continue to live in sin and you and you do not repent the Bible says that is proof positive.

You have not been born again by the Holy Spirit. Sir this old nonsense that is preached today that you can walk down an aisle and pray a Prayer and then go live like the devil and still make it to heaven that is not found in the Bible.

When you get the Spirit of a living God it changes your life now think about it man. We're talking about the God of the universe. We're talking about the God that created the world and when that God who has the power to create the world when he puts that Power in your heart.

It causes you to have a passion for the things of God if you have no righteousness in your life today. If you are living in continued Unrepentant sin you have no way and no right to call yourself a born-again Believer.

In fact in Romans 8 verse 9 it says but ye are not in the flesh. But in the spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ He is none of his. Verse 13 for if ye live after the flesh Ye shall die.

But if ye if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live. You know what? It says that says if once if you keep living in the flesh if you keep living in sin. After you've made a profession of faith.

That means you have not been saved. For in a profession of faith is one of the biggest lies of the devil. The Bible never says make a profession of faith. The Bible says repent and be converted by the Holy Spirit.

In fact, Jesus said there are a lot of men in Mississippi who make professions with their mouth. But with their heart and their life they deny me they're a long way from me friend. I will tell you you must give your life to Christ.

You must convert you must surrender your will to the will of God and when God sees you serious He'll fill you with his Holy Spirit and a lot of people are on that on that road to hell. Because they made a decision in the past somewhere in their life.

They walked and I'll pray the prayer but right here right now. There is no righteousness in their life and the Bible says that is proof positive. You've never truly been born again by the Holy Spirit.

I I had somebody tell me one time say William. That lady over there says she's a Christian. But she's still living with a man. She's not married to. What does the Bible say about that? Well, the Bible says in 1st Corinthians 6 9 says fornicators do not Inherit the kingdom of God and you say well, wait a minute I made a decision for Christ back some years ago.

So today God does not see me as a fornicator. He sees me as a Christian who's just maybe Backslidden. I will tell you friends that kind of theology is like walking over a rotten canvas over hell. I won't tell you that's nonsense friend when a man gets a spirit of God it produces righteousness.

And I will tell you it causes you to resist sin to fight sin. It causes you to understand that sin is what makes a man lost. Sin is what put Jesus on the cross. Sin is what condemns a soul to hell. Sin is the whole issue and when a man comes to Jesus He turns away from sin and gives his life to Christ.

He receives the Holy Spirit it Transforms his life. And my friend if you've not been transformed. You've not been saved. Listen what the Bible says in 1st Corinthians 6 9. Listen men. Be not deceived.

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God neither fornicators Idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind. That's homosexuals nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you, but you are washed but you are sanctified. But you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. My friend listen to me if tonight you are living in a constant state of unrighteousness the Bible brands you Lost you say but I made a decision in the past.

I walked that out. I prayed that prayer. But did you get righteousness? Did you get godliness? Did you get holiness? Do you have a passion for the things of God friends? I'm gonna tell you you can walk an aisle till you're blue in the face.

But if the Holy Spirit of God does not indwell you the Bible says you are still in your sin. You are doomed and down friend. The Bible says without holiness. No man shall see the Lord. 2nd Timothy 2 to 19 says the Lord knoweth them that are his and let every man that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

I Heard a man one time priest said any great in it wonderful. You can come to Jesus and you don't have to change a thing inside or out. That's a lie straight from the devil, sir. There better be a supernatural Transformation of your life there be it.

The Bible says you are transformed when you meet the Lord Jesus and I will tell you our Bible is filled up with examples of Folks who were not transformed that had a form of religion but denied the power of God.

The Bible says from those folks stay away from and our church today. The reason we have so many dead churches today is because we have so many dead people in those churches. We're trying to revive dead people.

You cannot revive dead people in first John 3 8. It says he that keeps on practicing sin is of the devil. The Bible says whosoever is born of God does not habitually practice sin for his seed remains in him.

He cannot sin because he is born of God. Verse 7 says let no man deceive you if you are constantly doing Righteous it is because you are righteous even as he is verse 8 says but if you keep on sinning.

It shows that you belong to Satan. Verse 9. The person who has been born into God's family does not make a practice of sinning because now God's life is in him so he can't keep on sinning for this new life has been born into him and Controls him.

He is Transformed. I will tell you friends if you are a real born-again believer, you have to deal with a flag. I'll tell you here's what happens. We're born-again believer when he has temptation in his life.

He wants to resist it. He wants to push it away. He wants to stay away from it. He doesn't he fights against sin. He does not take sin and cleave to his chest. He runs from sin and I will tell you if you are a born-again believer, there will be a decreasing Frequency of sin you may sin but I tell you what every day you get closer to Jesus that sin gets less and less and less and Less and you know what happens when a man gets born again.

When God when you really get born again, the first thing that God will do with you He will deal with that prominent sin in your life that most visible sin in your life. That's strong. Oh, maybe you come down and you get saved and maybe the sin you've got is drunkenness.

That's the first area God will deal with. He'll take that away or maybe it's gambling. Maybe it's going down to one of these casinos and giving you money to the devil. That'll be the first thing God will change in your life.

Maybe it's a dirty mouth cursing. That's the first thing God will deal with you see God will deal with that prominent stronghold. So it will be an evidence to the world of how the Spirit of God has changed you and I will tell you man If you have a foul mouth and you curse and you walk an aisle and God doesn't deal with that cursing.

I don't believe you've met Jesus you come down this aisle and you still buy those pornographic magazines and watch those pornographic Videotapes, I don't think you've been born again. I tell you what if you come down an aisle and pray a little prayer and you still give your money to the devil on Those casino boats.

I'm tell you you are not born again. I'm telling you when God gets a hold of a man. He points a spotlight on that sin and God says this is a point. I'm gonna push on first. I'm just saying friends these folks in lane two Are good decent moral people.

They're the best people, you know. They're Sunday school teachers and deacons and preachers and evangelists. They think they're on this road to heaven. They're just knocking along and the reason they think they're on the road to heaven is because they have a decision in the past.

They've walked an aisle prayed a prayer but in their daily life. They don't have a lifestyle of righteousness. Now man, I would tell you I would be willing to stand up and say that every person this auditorium has walked an aisle and Made a profession of faith.

Everybody in this auditorium has been baptized sprinkled or confirmed. Everybody here you are interested in the things of God. That's why you have to service tonight. But the fact is probably a hundred or two hundred of you are lost on your way to hell.

You see my friends you're counting on your salvation on something you did a long time ago. But yet right now man, there's no passion for God in your heart. There's no passion for the things of God. Oh, you know about Jesus, but you never let him spirit come in your heart and change you you don't walk.

You don't leave your family in devotional prayer. You don't win people to Christ. You don't live a holy and godly life. Why. Because you made a decision in the past you joined the church. But you didn't join Jesus you got baptized in some water, but you didn't get born again.

You have your name on a church roll, sir. But God did not write it down in heaven in the Lamb's Book of Life. You are in lane two you are rolling down the same road of all these wicked drunkards and prostitutes and harlots and Homosexuals, you're on the same road going to the same hell because a past decision that does not produce Righteousness is totally and absolutely worthless.

Tasting the Things of God Without Truly Committing to Christ

The second reason these folks are deceived is this they have tasted. But they have not eaten of the things of God if you have your Bible look in Hebrews chapter 6 verse 4 and here's what it says Hebrews 6 verse 4.

This will scare you to death sir. Listen. It says for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come.

If they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance. Seeing they crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open Shame now friend. This is a solemn warning. It is not a warning to born-again Christians, and it is not a warning to the flagrant Blatant Non-christian.

It is a warning to the lost church member. He's talking to the Jews there the Jews who believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They had come to church. They listened to the preaching. They saw the miracles.

They saw all the great wonders, but they would not commit themselves to Jesus Christ. You see first I want to tell you there are a lot of folks just like that. Oh, they come to church. They hear the wonderful singing.

They clap their hands. They lift their hands. They sing the songs. They listen to the preaching. They're tasting the wonders of God. They're seeing the miracles of God. Folks are walking down the aisle.

They see that they taste the things of God, but they do not eat them. They do not internalize them. They do not commit themselves to the things of God. There are many of you here tonight just like that.

You have walked an aisle and prayed a prayer. You come and you hear the message of Jesus. You sing the songs about Jesus. You have been enlightened. You have been exposed you have come very near. But you have not committed yourself to it.

You are lost in your sin men. The way you become born again is you don't simply get close to the things of God. You surrender your will to God. You can. You surrender your heart to God. You sell out to God men.

You cannot serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other. You've got a choice to make tonight, man. You can't give your life to the world and to God. The Bible says love not the world. Neither the things that are in the world.

If a man loves the world and the love of the Father is not in Him. There are many people who've come very close to Jesus. They've been enlightened. They've heard the message. They've been touched by the power of God, but they have not yielded themselves to God.

They've tasted. But they've not really Eaten. Some of you men here tonight. I just like that. Oh. You don't want to go to hell. But you don't want Jesus to be the boss of your life. Oh. You don't mind coming to church and singing the songs.

But you want to do what you want to do when you want to do it. I'm tell you friends that Jesus Christ. It's not the boss of your life. He's not the Savior of your life if he's not the owner of your life.

He's not going to take you to heaven when you come to the Lord Jesus. You must give up your life. The Bible says you must die in order to live. You must give up the things of the world take up your cross and follow Jesus.

You see when a man comes to Christ. He must understand that he has sinned against the Most High God. He must understand that everything he does is worthless and useless. He must understand that he must die to himself turn away from sin and surrender his heart and his life to the Lord Jesus.

Holding nothing back friends. We're talking about the God of the universe and you must surrender your will to the will of God. I won't tell you I I'm telling you I it's very easy to spot a born-again believer.

Because the the the spirit of the Living God just kind of oozes out of every poor. I'm telling you you get around a born-again believer. You can see it in their eyes, man. You talk to him about 30 seconds and the name Jesus just bubbles out.

I'm telling you there's something that comes out when the man when a man has the spirit of the Living God. And I'm tell you men I am so sick and tired of having these are these offerings and these little churches you come down here and somebody pray Dear God.

If there be one here today that is not saved. Please save him. And if we have any sin, I always want to say out son you filled up with sin. Don't be asking said if we have sin men don't know how to pray.

You know why you don't know how to pray because you don't know God. You've not been filled with his spirit and I'm tell you what when you meet the Lord Jesus. It will ooze out of it because it becomes the dominant force of your life and I will tell you man.

You see you've been exposed to the things of God. You've tasted a little bit of it. But you've never put it in deep in your heart. You've never committed your life to Christ and you're in this lane over here headed to hell at a hundred miles an hour.

Just like the drunkard. Just like the homosexual just like a prostitute you're just in a different lane. But you're headed in the same direction. The third reason folks are deceived about their salvation not only because of a past decision that does not produce righteousness.

Not only because they've been exposed to the things of God, but they've not really committed themselves to it. But number three because they are in the house. But still lost. Luke 15 verse 8 says what woman having ten pieces of silver if she lose one piece does not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently diligently.

Till she find it and when she has found it She called her friends and her neighbors together saying rejoice with me for I have found the peace which I had lost. Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repented.

Lost in the Church House

You see now listen very carefully man. If you're a preacher perky ears up. The coin was lost in the house. It was lost in. I talked to preachers all the time. William, I've got this group of people they banded against me.

They're trying to run me off have a business meeting and it's like the devil's right in the middle of it. Why? Because we've got folks that are lost in the church house. Now I'll tell you I'm a member of a denomination that does not believe that.

I'm a member of a denomination that does not believe that. I'm a member of a denomination that believes if you walk an hour and pray a little prayer get your name on a church. Roll, you're all right. You can live like the devil.

You just need a little more discipling. No, son. You don't need to be any more disciple. You need to be saved. See, we are disciples to death. We are seminar to death. We are meeting to death. What we need is the power of the Living God to come in our heart and save so.

Now I'll tell you I travel across America and I'm telling you today I stand before you convinced that the number one problem in churches today is we have folks in the house. But they're lost and like the woman we're sweeping very diligently.

We're looking every corner. We're doing scraping on our hands and knees. We're trying to find that lost coin. That's in the house. But without Jesus friend, I want to tell you I walked an aisle when I was 12 years old a Baptist Church about Oh 150 people me and my buddy came off that very back row.

We came down the aisle on a Thursday night during a revival service. The man met me right here patted me on the head said God bless you, William. I'm glad you've come. They sent me on the front row. A lady came over got my name and address on the card.

The church voted on me. They took me in a bath. They baptized me in some water, but I didn't get saved. Nobody explained how to count the cost of salvation. Nobody explained about repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nobody explained how to call upon the name of the Lord. I walked and I'll join the church. Got wet, but I didn't get saved. You know how I can tell my life never changed and yet the Bible says when you get Christ your life will change.

The Bible says if any man really be in Christ He is a new creature. All things are done away with behold all things become new. I was the same old boy had always been. I live for myself live like the devil.

When I got to be 16 I never went back to church went off to college never went to church never prayed never had it read a Bible. But if you were to ask me was I Christian. I'd say was sure I'm a Christian because I when I was 12 I walked down that aisle, but I didn't have the Spirit of God and I have literally met Thousands of men just like that.

Many of you here tonight are just like that. You walked an aisle. You've prayed a prayer, but it did not produce that righteousness in your life. It did not produce the things of God in your life, you know about Jesus.

But you've never committed your life to him. You're not born again and Tonight you're in that lane to over here on the broad road deceived by Satan. On your way to hell. My friend I'm gonna ask you a question.

Me and perky ears up look at me if you were to die tonight. Do you know for sure you'd go to heaven you say William? I think I'd go to heaven. Well, let me ask you a second question. Why do you think that.

What makes you believe you're going to heaven when you die? You say well, I walk down made that profession of faith. I've been preaching all night on that son. There are many people who profess Jesus, but Jesus says they deny him with their life.

You say well, I believe in Jesus and the Bible says believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you'll be saved. But the Bible also says in James 2 19 you believe in one God. Congratulations. The devil's in hell believe in tremble.

Don't you understand men the devil believes in Jesus while the devil has talked to Jesus the devil believes Jesus is God. The devil believes Jesus died on the cross. The devil believes he was buried in a tomb and raised to the dead while the devil believes in Jesus more than many of you.

But the devil has not been born again. Friend, I want to tell you the one thing that will save you is you must be born again. Not walking an aisle not praying a prayer not believing in God not being a good person.