In all the new testament there is likely no better example of what a Christian should look like than the Apostle Paul. This man was a giant in his own time and even the other apostles seamed at times to take note of how marvelous Paul’s conversion was. How he changed completely.
In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Paul is ending his journey and calls the elders of Euhuses together to say goodbye and challenge them. In acts 20:25-27 Paul speaks to them.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Acts 20:25-27
This part of scripture is incredibly moving to me, but I don’t wish to focus on the contexts of this passage. Instead, I want to look at where Paul might have got this concept of “being pure from the blood of all men.” We can say for a certainty that Paul was guilty of persecuting the church of God. It is not likely that he is saying that he never harmed a person, instead, (in context) he is saying that he has preached the gospel without error and without respect to person.
I believe Paul has taken this principle directly from the book of Ezekiel chapter 3:17-21 where God tells Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 3:17-2117 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
To me this is an extremely sobering quote. God is saying to Ezekiel that he will hold him accountable if he fails to preach what God has told him to preach. what is even more sobering is how I believe Paul took this passage and applied to his own life.
I venture to take this a step further; when the Holy Spirit of God presses us to witness to someone and we forbear, I believe God will hold us accountable for that soul’s life. If we know someone who is living in sin, it is our duty to warn them of the wrath to come. Else, God will not hold us guiltless. Why do we quiver to tell our friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family of what Christ has done for us. Why do we fear man instead of God?
1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1
Could it be that we are not living righteously? We do not have the boldness to stand with Christ. we fail to have the love and compassion that God commands us to have.
I believe that God has burdened me for the people of India, and one day I believe he will let me go there to preach the Gospel to them. However, if I fail to have the boldness to proclaim his truth here I will be an utter failure there.
S.T.
I Thessalonians 5:24
"Faithful is he..."
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