Accepting Responsibility Under the Gospel of Christ

Acts 18.5-11

Acts 18.5-11

5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

Acts 18.5-11

7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.

8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

Acts 18.5-11

9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;

10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Accepting Responsibility Under the Gospel of Christ

Acts 18.5-11

Those Who Reject

• Can protest and resist, but their blood is on their own head

Ezekiel 33.1-9

33:1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 "Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: 'When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman,

Ezekiel 33.1-9

3 'when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people,

4 'then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.

Ezekiel 33.1-9

5 'He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.

6 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.'

Ezekiel 33.1-9

7 "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.

8 "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

Ezekiel 33.1-9

9 "Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”

Those Who Reject

• Can protest and resist, but their blood is on their own head–May say “contrary to my religion” vv5,6,13

Those Who Reject

• Can protest and resist, but their blood is on their own head–May say “contrary to my religion” vv5,6,13–May say “foolishness” – 1 Cor. 1.21-27

1 Corinthians 1.21-27

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

1 Corinthians 1.21-27

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1.21-27

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

Those Who Reject

• Can protest and resist, but their blood is on their own head–May say “contrary to my religion” vv5,6,13–May say “foolishness” – 1 Cor. 1.21-27–May say “unnecessary” – 2 Thess. 1.7-9; Heb. 2.3

2 Thessalonians 1.7-9

7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Hebrews 2.3

3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Those Who Reject

• Can protest and resist, but their blood is on their own head–May say “contrary to my religion” vv5,6,13–May say “foolishness” – 1 Cor. 1.21-27–May say “unnecessary” – 2 Thess. 1.7-9; Heb. 2.3–May say “too hard” – 1 John 5.3

Those Who Reject

• May rationalize – but blood is still upon their own head

Those Who Reject

• May rationalize – but blood is still upon their own head–May say “better than some

Christians” – 2 Cor. 10.12

2 Corinthians 10.12

12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Those Who Reject

• May rationalize – but blood is still upon their own head–May say “better than some

Christians” – 2 Cor. 10.12–May say “others to blame” – Ezek.

33.8-9

Ezekiel 33.8-9

8 "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

9 "Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

Those Who Accept

• Are expected to act…–By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor.

1.12-17; 12.12,13)

Acts 18.8

8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

Those Who Accept

• Are expected to act…–By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor.

1.12-17; 12.12,13)–By living a clean life – 1 Cor. 6.9-

11

1 Corinthians 6.9-11

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6.9-11

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Those Who Accept

• Are expected to act…–By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor.

1.12-17; 12.12,13)–By living a clean life – 1 Cor. 6.9-

11–By trying to save others – 1 Cor.

7.16; 10.33-11.1

1 Corinthians 10.33-11.1

33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Those Who Accept

• Are expected to act…–By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor.

1.12-17; 12.12,13)–By living a clean life – 1 Cor. 6.9-

11–By trying to save others – 1 Cor.

7.16; 10.33-11.1–By being a good influence – 1 Cor.

10.33-11.1

Those Who Accept

• Are expected to act…–By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor. 1.12-

17; 12.12,13)–By living a clean life – 1 Cor. 6.9-11–By trying to save others – 1 Cor. 7.16;

10.33-11.1–By being a good influence – 1 Cor.

10.33-11.1–By worshiping God acceptably –

11.20-22

Those Who Accept

• Are expected to act…–By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor. 1.12-17;

12.12,13)–By living a clean life – 1 Cor. 6.9-11–By trying to save others – 1 Cor. 7.16;

10.33-11.1–By being a good influence – 1 Cor.

10.33-11.1–By worshiping God acceptably – 11.20-

22–By abounding in the Lord’s work – 15.58

All of us are Responsible

• For our own souls…• Whether we accept or reject the

gospel of Christ, we will be held accountable