Are You Barely Escaping The Flames?

We were talking about the term, "blood on my hands" in reference to an unbeliever dying without me sharing the gospel. If I share the Good News and it is rejected that is sad but if I fail to share the Good News that is too much to fathom. Mark 16: 15, "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'" This is not a suggestion but a commandment. What happens if we do not obey? 1 Corinthians 9: 16, "...Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" Woe is intense sorrow and shame on the day Jesus judges His church.

1 Corinthians 3: 13-15, "their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames." Paul taught that the Christian’s works would be judged by fire and if our works were done in obedience to Jesus and His commands our works would remain and appear as precious metals. However, if what we did in this life was not what Jesus commanded, we would be saved as only one escaping the flames.

We will have already been judged according to our salvation. Being judged according to our works as a disciple does not contradict the free gift of everlasting life that is received by Jesus. The judgment will be based on our obedience, or neglect, to preach the gospel to the lost. God told Ezekiel to be a spiritual watchman over the people of Israel. If he was faithful to warn the people their blood would not be on his hands. Ezekiel 33: 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.'"

We are held responsible for telling unbelievers how to be saved. Once we have told them, God says we are no longer responsible. The responsibility will then lie with the listeners.