Which other scriptures emphasize accountability in sharing the Gospel message? Setting the Scene in Acts 20:26 Paul says, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men”. He had proclaimed the whole counsel of God, so no one could say, “I never heard.” Scripture repeatedly underscores this same sense of accountability. Echoes from the Old Testament Watchman • Ezekiel 3:17-19—“Son of man, I have made you a watchman … If you do not warn him … I will hold you accountable for his blood.” • Ezekiel 33:6-8—If the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the trumpet, “his blood will be on the watchman’s own head.” These passages establish a literal principle: when God gives a warning, the messenger must relay it or bear guilt. Mandates from Jesus Himself • Matthew 28:19-20—“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” • Mark 16:15—“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” • John 20:21—“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” The Great Commission is not a suggestion; it is a command that places responsibility on every disciple. Paul’s Own Sense of Obligation • Acts 18:6—When the synagogue resisted, Paul declared, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent.” • Romans 1:14—“I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.” • 1 Corinthians 9:16-17—“Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! … I am entrusted with a stewardship.” Paul viewed gospel proclamation as a debt he owed and a stewardship he must discharge faithfully. Apostolic Instructions to the Church • 2 Corinthians 5:18-20—“He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation … We are therefore ambassadors for Christ.” • 1 Thessalonians 2:4—“We speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.” • 2 Timothy 4:1-2—“I solemnly charge you … preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” • 1 Peter 3:15—“Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you.” Each verse stresses both privilege and duty: God entrusts the message, and we must deliver it. Sobering Warnings about Neglect • Luke 12:47-48—The servant who knows his master’s will and does not do it “will be beaten with many blows.” Greater knowledge brings greater accountability. • James 4:17—“Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” • Proverbs 24:11-12—“Rescue those being led away to death … will He not repay each one according to his deeds?” Silence can be sinful when lives and eternal destinies are at stake. Practical Takeaways for Today • We speak because Scripture commands it and souls depend on it. • We are watchmen; withholding the warning leaves us answerable for lost lives. • The Great Commission applies to every believer, not an elite few. • God supplies the message, the power, and the opportunities; we supply obedience. |
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