One of the clearest things taught in the Word of God is that each of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of our deeds in this life, whether they be good or evil. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10). At that day we will also be judged by that which we knew to do and failed to do it. James tells us that such failure is sin. "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

Another principle clearly taught is that when I stand before God in judgment, I will be there either as a penitent forgiven sinner or as an impenitent and unforgiven one. "All have sinned" (Rom. 3:23) and "the wages of sin is death" (spiritual death…separation from God, Rom. 6:23). Only those who have had their sins washed away in the blood of Christ can stand before God in that day as a forgiven sinner and expect to be saved eternally in heaven. All others will be lost. Every judgment scene found in God's Word teaches this vital truth.

A third great truth is that God has clearly told us what sin is, warned us of that future punishment awaiting those guilty of sin, and the wonderful provision made for us to receive salvation from our sins. In whatever dispensation of time man has lived, those who knew God's will and lived according to it pleased God and had the assurance of salvation if they maintained faith and fidelity until death. However, there were always those who refused to follow God's will. In fact, the majority in any dispensation of time have failed and will be lost eternally (Matt. 7:13-14).

It is also true that God has always expected those who knew His will and attempted to follow it to try to warn others of the consequences that would follow. To fail to issue such warnings would obviously displease God. Under Patriarchy the fathers were expected to teach their families God's will and warn them of the consequences of not following it. Noah was warned of a coming flood that would destroy all that were not following God's will. He was given instructions by which he and his family could be saved, but he obviously was also expected to warn the rest. He preached to them and warned them (1 Peter 3:19-20; 2 Peter 2:5).

When the Israelites would depart from God's way and stood in danger of being rejected by God and punished, God would send them prophets to warn them and call them back to God. God thought of them as "watchmen" who were charged with issuing such warnings. If these "watchmen" warned them of such sins and they failed to turn, they would die in their sins, but the "watchmen" would have no guilt before God. However, if the "watchmen" knew of such sins, but failed to warn them of such, the sinners would die in their sins, but God said He would require their blood at the watchmen's hands (Ezek. 3:17-21).

In the New Testament we find the same principle being applied to people in the Christian dispensation. Paul recognized that it applied to him. Note his references to being free from the blood of all men. "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). He then admonishes those Ephesian elders to "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). He goes on to admonish them to watch and warn brethren against those who would lead them astray (vs.29-31). Why such an admonition? Because they will one day stand before God and give an account of their watching and warning (Heb. 13:17). If they failed to warn the brethren and they were lost, would the elders have pure hands or bloody hands before God?

Paul not only had pure hands as it related to the Ephesians, it was true of all others as well. When he stood before any man or group guilty of sin and was given an opportunity to speak to them, he NEVER just talked to them about things in which they all agreed, but things which they had to believe and practice in order to be approved before God and have the hope of eternal life. A good example is his preaching in the Jewish synagogues such as his appearance in the synagogue in Corinth (Acts 18:1-8). When you read that passage, note what Paul DID NOT preach. He did not preach the need for faith in God. Why? Because they already believed in God. He did not preach about righteous daily living, though they may have needed such teaching. But they needed another message even more. He preached to them about Jesus Christ as the Messiah, God's Son, and His death, burial, and resurrection and what God now requires of them to be saved from their sins. How do I know he preached such things? Paul says so in 1 Cor. 15:1-8. And the record says in Acts 18:8, "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Paul knew what Jesus had said about the Jews in John 8:24, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." Paul also knew that when he preached this message, most of those Jews would reject it and he probably would not be given another opportunity to teach in their synagogue. Brethren, can't we see that if Paul had squandered that opportunity and not preached what those people needed to hear most, they might have accepted his message, even complimented his message, but would have remained lost in their sins and their blood would have been upon Paul's hands.

When Paul appeared before Felix and Druscilla, a couple living in a state of adultery, he knew they were lost and gave them warning from God as "he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come." Felix trembled at Paul's warnings, but evidently they didn't repent. At judgment they will be among those lost forever in hell, but Paul's hands will be free from their blood.

If parents today see or know their children are doing that which is wrong, and do not give them warning about being lost eternally because of their sins, the children will be lost, but parents will have their blood upon their hands.

If elders of the church know about conduct of members of the congregation which will result in their being lost and do not warn of the consequences of such sinful action, the sinful Christian will be lost, but their blood will also be on the hands of those elders.

When a Gospel preacher today stands before a congregation of people and knows they are guilty of sin, but does not warn them about such, those who are thus guilty will die in their sins, but their blood will be on the preacher's hands. That applies whether the group being addressed is a congregation of God's people, or is another religious gathering. To be given an opportunity to preach to liberal and sinful brethren, or to a denominational church, or to a foreign religious group, and only speak on general things in which there is agreement and not warn of the errors that will condemn their souls is inexcusable for any Gospel preacher. His hearers will continue in their sins and die lost, but God will require their blood at his hands.

Every faithful Christian is charged with the same responsibility. Paul wrote to the brethren at Ephesus and gave them this solemn charge: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). Do you suppose that if your neighbor or friend wanted you to engage in some sinful action with them, and you refused, but you did not reprove them and warn them of the consequences of such sinful action, that God would consider you to have hands clean from his blood?

The words of that wonderful song entitled "You Never Mentioned Him To Me" need to haunt each of us. We ought to sing that song frequently lest we forget that grave and serious responsibility that is placed upon us. Note these words from that song: "When in that better land before the bar we stand, How deeply grieved our souls will be; If any lost one there should cry in deep despair, You never mentioned him to me…You helped me not the light to see; You met me day by day and KNEW I WAS ASTRAY, YET NEVER MENTIONED HIM TO ME."

Before death claims you from among the living, and before you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, look at your hands under the light of God's Word. Are they bloody before God because you have failed to give sinners warning of God's judgment upon their sinful conduct? If so, you had better repent and have them cleansed by the blood of Christ before it is too late.

--Richard Guill

GOSPEL MEETING: Verona Church of Christ. April 8-11. B. J. Clarke will be preaching, nightly at 7:30.

GOSPEL MEETING: Strickland Church of Christ. April 8 - 12, with David South.

ADULTS NIGHT: Tues., 10^th, Dinner Bell, 6:00pm.

KIDS OUTING: Fri., April 13. Memphis Zoo.

FOOD ITEM: Peanut Butter

r SHUT-INS: Pauline Irvin, Nellie Wallace, Mary Dexter, Annie Nauman, Faye Jackson, Clydie Morrow, Frances Massengill, Doug Kimbrough, Sula Perry, Harry Prater, Lucille Leatherwood, Dorothy Johnson.

Control Your Tongue! Do not let it speak hastily, cruel or wicked words.

Control Your Eyes! Do not permit them to look on wicked books, pictures or objects.

Control Your Ears! Do not allow them to listen to wicked speeches, songs or words.

Control Your Lips! Do not let tobacco foul them; do not let strong drink pass them.

Control Your Hands! Do not let them steal, fight or write evil words.

Control Your Feet! Do not let them walk in the steps of the wicked.

Control Your Heart! Do not let the love of sin dwell in it. Do not give it to Satan, but let Jesus Christ make it His throne.