John T. Lewis
The preacher who tries to show you that your hope is in the gospel, and that in disobeying the gospel you are cutting yourself loose from the only hope men can have, is your friend. I would rather have thousands say to me at the judgment, “We heard you preach and, you hurt our feelings,” than have just one lost soul say, “I heard you preach, but you did not tell me the truth.”
Paul said to the elders of the church at Ephesus, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:26-27). That means if he had not “declared all the counsel of God” he would not have been free from their blood.
And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. (Acts 18:5-6).
Yes, those Jews got mad at Paul because he told them the truth, but he left their blood upon their own heads. I hope and pray that I may come to the end of my earthly pilgrimage just as free from the blood of my fellow travelers as Paul was. I cannot do that if I handle the word of God deceitfully. It makes no difference how good you are.
You either obey the gospel, or you will perish (2 Thess. 1:7- 9). So if you want to know what is going to become of all these good people who have not obeyed the gospel, the Lord has told you. Therefore, the only sensible thing to do is to try to show all responsible beings—good and bad alike—the folly in thinking they can be saved without obedience to the gospel.
