Acts 20:25-27 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Paul grieves over the fact that he will not see the Christians at Ephesus again. They also grieve, because he spent several years among them, teaching and preaching and founding congregations in that city and saving many souls. To our ears, it seems rather startling that Paul declares himself innocent of their blood, but he is referring to the Scriptures which held prophets accountable to God if they did not warn those to whom they were sent.

Ezekiel 3:18 If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

Like the prophets of old, the apostles had the same responsibility to proclaim the truth about the consequences of sin, and to lead people to repentance and a saving faith in Jesus Christ. Is this the responsibility of every Christian? If it is, how are we at carrying out our responsibility in our world? Is the church leading the way in warning this generation, or have we failed to do what God expects of us? Come and hear more this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.