2. Accepting Responsibility Under the Gospel of Christ
Acts
Accepting Responsibility Under The Gospel Of Christ
Acts 18:5-11

3. Acts
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."

4. Acts
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.

5. Acts
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.

6. Accepting Responsibility Under the Gospel of Christ
Acts
Accepting Responsibility Under The Gospel Of Christ
Acts 18:5-11
Introduction:
A. Paul accepted his responsibility under the gospel at Corinth.
1. Preached if supported or not. (vv. 3,4; cf. 2 Cor. 11:8,9 “I robbed other churches…”)
2. Preached in synagogue and in private homes. (vv. 4,7).
B. Paul expected the Corinthians to accept their responsibility under the gospel.

7. Those Who Reject
Can protest and resist, but their blood is on their own head
I. He Expected Those Who Rejected the Gospel to Accept Responsibility. (v. 6; cf. Ezek. 33:1-9).

8. Ezekiel
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,

9. Ezekiel
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.

10. Ezekiel
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.'

11. Ezekiel
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.

12. Ezekiel
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.”

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
I. He Expected Those Who Rejected the Gospel to Accept Responsibility. (v. 6; cf. Ezek. 33:1-9).
A. Could protest and resist --Blood still on His head.
1. May say it is contrary to his religion. (Acts 18:5,6,13).

14. 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
2. May say it is foolishness. (1 Cor. 1:21-27).

15. 1 Corinthians
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,

16. 1 Corinthians
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.

17. 1 Corinthians
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;

18. 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
May say “unnecessary” – 2 Thess ; Heb. 2.3
3. May say it is unnecessary. (2 Thess. 1:7-9; Heb. 2:3).

19. 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,

20. 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,

21. 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
May say “unnecessary” – 2 Thess ; Heb. 2.3
May say “too hard” – 1 John 5.3
4. May say it is too hard. (1 John 5:3).
B. Could rationalize--blood still on HIS head.
1. May tell self that he is better than some "Christians". (2 Cor. 10:12).
2. May tell self that others are really to blame for his condition. (cf. Ezek. 33:8)
II. He Expected Those Who Accepted the Gospel to Accept Responsibility.
A. By being baptized. (v. 8; cf. 1 Cor. 1:12-17; 12:12,13).
B. By living a clean life. (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
C. By trying to save others. (1 Cor. 7:16; 10:33-11:1)
D. By being a good influence. (1 Cor. 10:31-11:1).
E. By worshiping God acceptably. (1 Cor. 11:20-22)
F. By abounding in Lord's work. (1 Cor. 15:58)
Conclusion:
A. We, each, must realize that we are responsible for our souls.
B. We, each, must realize that we are responsible for obeying the gospel and living according to it.

22. Those Who Reject
May rationalize – but blood is still upon their own head
B. Could rationalize--blood still on HIS head.

23. Those Who Reject
May rationalize – but blood is still upon their own head
May say “better than some Christians” – 2 Cor
B. Could rationalize--blood still on HIS head.
1. May tell self that he is better than some "Christians". (2 Cor. 10:12).

24. 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.

25. Those Who Reject
May rationalize – but blood is still upon their own head
May say “better than some Christians” – 2 Cor
May say “others to blame” – Ezek
2. May tell self that others are really to blame for his condition. (cf. Ezek. 33:8)

26. Ezekiel
"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.
"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.

27. Those Who Accept Are expected to act…
By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor ; 12.12,13)
II. He Expected Those Who Accepted the Gospel to Accept Responsibility.
A. By being baptized. (v. 8; cf. 1 Cor. 1:12-17; 12:12,13).

28. 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.

29. Those Who Accept Are expected to act…
By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor ; 12.12,13)
By living a clean life – 1 Cor
B. By living a clean life. (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

30. 1 Corinthians
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.

31. 1 Corinthians
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.

32. Those Who Accept Are expected to act…
By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor ; 12.12,13)
By living a clean life – 1 Cor
By trying to save others – 1 Cor. 7.16;
C. By trying to save others.
1 Cor. 7:16
For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
1 Cor. 10:33-11:1

33. 1 Corinthians
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.

34. Those Who Accept Are expected to act…
By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor ; 12.12,13)
By living a clean life – 1 Cor
By trying to save others – 1 Cor. 7.16;
By being a good influence – 1 Cor
D. By being a good influence. (1 Cor. 10:31-11:1). JUST READ***

35. Those Who Accept Are expected to act…
By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor ; 12.12,13)
By living a clean life – 1 Cor
By trying to save others – 1 Cor. 7.16;
By being a good influence – 1 Cor
By worshiping God acceptably –
E. By worshiping God acceptably. (1 Cor. 11:20-22)
“Therefore when you come together into one place, it is not to eat (or your cannot eat) the Lord’s Supper…

36. Those Who Accept Are expected to act…
By being baptized – v 8 (1 Cor ; 12.12,13)
By living a clean life – 1 Cor
By trying to save others – 1 Cor. 7.16;
By being a good influence – 1 Cor
By worshiping God acceptably –
By abounding in the Lord’s work – 15.58
F. By abounding in Lord's work. (1 Cor. 15:58)
Conclusion:
A. We, each, must realize that we are responsible for our souls.
B. We, each, must realize that we are responsible for obeying the gospel and living according to it.

37. All of us are Responsible
For our own souls…
Whether we accept or reject the gospel of Christ, we will be held accountable