BBDC SS 3-4-12. Last week, 2-26-12, in SS you learned that God is all powerful, all knowing, everywhere
at the same time, 100% fair, not limited in His abilities; God speaks to all people thru creation; people do
not need a language to know there is a God; God saves people thru dreams and visions... After class
some of you asked me, "Because God speaks to all people thru creation (Rom. 1:19-20; Ps. 19:1-4), and
God does not need anyone's help (Acts 17:24-26), then why do we witness, and why do missionaries go
to foreign countries?"
Notice in Matt. 28:19-20 Jesus did not say, "Go save people." Jesus didn't say, "Go make Christians of
all people." Jesus said to go make disciples, teaching them the Bible... Question: if you are a
Christian, you already have eternal life. So why do you want to come to SS? Because you want to
learn the Bible. You want to learn more about God, about your ID in Christ, about how to live the
abundant life. Jn. 10:10. You also want to learn more about spiritual warfare and how to resist
Satan. When Christians are born again, that is the beginning of their growth into spiritual maturity.
Christians need the pure milk of God's Word. 1 Pet. 2:2. And also the meat of God's Word. Heb.
5:11-14. Yes, God can and does save people any time and any place. And God often does that thru
visions and dreams. And He teaches them enough of the gospel to go share with others. That is
happening powerfully now around the world!
Job 33:15. But God also calls other Christians to go
teach those new Christians. Does a missionary have to go to a foreign country? No. Your mission
field can be where you live, your neighborhood, your work place, your social gatherings... 2 Tim. 4:2
Another thing that is misunderstood is this O.T. and N.T. quote.
If you don't share the gospel with
someone and they die without Jesus, then will you be guilty of their blood? NO! Let me explain why.
In Acts 18:6 Paul used that quote as an example of his life. Paul was willing to go where God sent him,
to both Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). Paul's life was a witness of his faith in Jesus. But Paul could
not reach all the millions of people in his world. And Paul didn't force people to listen to him share the
gospel. Paul also left the Jews so he could go witness to the Gentiles! Some people in your life do
not want to hear the gospel. You need to be sensitive to God's leading and to God's timing. "Don't
force the gospel on everyone you meet! Don't witness in every elevator (where people can't walk
away if they don't want to listen)!"
You need to understand the O.T. scripture reference for Paul's comments in Acts 18:6. In Ezek. 3:17-21
God called Ezekiel to be a prophet to the Jews, to warn them of the Old Covenant laws. If the Jews
obeyed the Old Covenant laws, then God would bless them. If they disobeyed the Old Covenant laws,
God would punish them, sometimes by death. Christians are NOT under the Old Covenant laws or
blessings and punishments! In Acts 18:6 Paul knew the Jews would understand that picture--especially
when the Jews refused to listen to Paul. So that's why Paul said that to the Jews. And that's when
God sent Paul to the Gentiles, to witness to them and teach them. Bible verses about "blood guilt"
don't always refer to warning people or witnessing to people. So don't use a few verses out of context.
(Verses in Joshua, 2 Sam., 1 Kings and Matt. use "blood guilt" (blood on his hands) to refer to murder or
actual physical death of someone, and don't refer to warning or witnessing.)
Do not take scripture out of context! And do not put Christians under the Old Covenant! (Gal. 3)
Even Ezekiel (under the Old Covenant) was shut up by God and had to wait for God-given opportunities.
Legalistic Christians preach a God who is limited in what He can do, and a God who is not fair. That is
not who God is! So don't copy legalistic Christians' teaching. And don't teach that God is weak.
Witness about God's true character and His relationship with us under the New Covenant. When Jesus
died on the cross, He fulfilled the Law perfectly. And God removed the Old Covenant. Its laws and
rules are no longer in operation. Gal. 3; Eph. 2:14-15.