Self Responsibility, Obligated, but Not Responsible for Others

 We are obligated as children of God. 

Welcome, today. Today we are going to start a new series that is not what you would call a popular topic. As a matter of fact, as time goes on, we find this topic becoming more and more diminishing in importance in nearly all areas of personal and public life. We have entire industries that make billions of dollars in convincing you that you are NOT responsible. Man guns down 5 people in a Fastfood joint? It was not his fault. He was not hugged as a child. Let's look at some of these. Lose your temper? Not your fault. You may have EAD!

You steal? Not your fault. You may be a Kleptomaniac.
Steal a lot? Not your fault. You may be a Hoarder.
Murder? Not your fault. Many possibilities drove you to it.

Other industries work together and supply pills. Unhappy? Take this. Feeling like you cannot breathe? Take this. Feeling like you want to murder someone? Take this. So on and so forth. Religions even get into the game and tell you that you are not responsible. The Devil made you do it. Or it is just human nature and you should not be blamed.

Then we have the other end of the spectrum, and that is those that feel that not only are they responsible for their own actions, but somehow feel that they are responsible for others as well. This can become a serious problem in Christian Households.

This is the topic we will be talking about for the next few weeks.

Yes. You are obligated to share the Gospel.
Yes. You ARE responsible for yourself, and the decisions you make.
Yes. There are absolute consequences for actions.

We are going to start today with the fact that yes, you are obligated, but not responsible, for others. look at this command that God gave to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:16-21

"And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them a warning from me. 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. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul."

Now I understand that God is talking to Ezekiel here. He is talking to you as well. Jesus also told us this.

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

We are obligated to be sowers of the Seed. Tellers of the Truth. Sharers of the Gospel. However? We are not responsible for their acceptance. You tell them the Truth. John 3:16-18

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

You share with them all of the Gospel and they say, "I do not believe in God." Or "I do not believe that you have to accept Jesus to get to Heaven." Or "religion is for idiots." Something to this effect. Have you failed? Have you not communicated properly? Are you responsible for the fact that they will now die, not accepting Christ, and forever be cast out? You think about this. Someone you care about, someone you love, and you have the key to give them, so that they may enter into Heaven, and yet, they are on their way to Hell. Have you failed to save them?

The simple answer is NO. You have fulfilled your obligation. You are now free and clear. You have told them the Truth. You are not responsible for their decision to accept or not. It is your responsibility to tell people the Truth. It is your responsibility to live as God commanded us to live. John wrote this warning to us not to think of ourselves as higher or more holy than anyone else. It is our responsibility to keep ourselves in check and to spread the Truth. He wrote this in 1 John 1:1-10

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. The life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

The truth is simple. Believe and accept Jesus, and live. Or do not, and die. This is the message. The truth. This is what we are obligated to tell people. "he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Not that God is going to condemn you. You are condemned already. Not that God is looking to punish you. But rather God is looking to save you.

Here is something that can be difficult to learn. Especially if you are talking to loved ones. See the world will tell you that you must have compassion and live and let live. Keep that religious stuff to yourself. However, we know that true compassion is not sitting back and quietly watching someone walk into the fire, but trying to warn them not to. This is especially hard when it comes to the ones we love. However? Jesus never told us to go out, get in people's faces, and thump them on the head with the Bible. He never told us we should go out and try to force people to believe. He told us this.

"And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town." Matthew 10: 14-15

Why? Because before someone hears the Truth, they know no better. They have an excuse for living the way they do. After they hear the Truth, then they are without excuse.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." Romans 1: 18-20

"I didn't know" is far different from "I didn't believe." If I was going through a strange town, and I get pulled over and told that the speed limit in that town is 35. If there are no signs, and no way of me knowing, "I didn't know." may find me some compassion and grace. However, If the first thing I see when I enter is the sign saying 35. Someone who lives there tells me it's 35. I get pulled over, I say "I didn't believe it, nor do I accept it." Guess what? I'm guilty beyond any excuse.

I understand your compassion and your desire to free those you love from the laws of sin and death. God has blessed me, with now, three beautiful children. Joshua who is not going to be sixteen years old, accepting Jesus into his heart at age 7. Without conversation or prompting, he stood up and walked up to the altar, and asked to be, and was, baptized. Elijah is 10, and Maya is now 6, at this time. When the time comes, it will be their choice.

Let's say that one or both of my youngest, chose to live a life of sin. Do I love them? Yes. Of course. Would I do whatever it takes to save them from the laws of sin and death? Of course. Let's say one or both are living in a way that causes me to have to lay down my life for them. I do so. I have paid the ultimate price. If they choose to go back to the same life, I can no longer help them.

Jesus loved us so that He came and died for us. He can do no more. He paid the ultimate price. If we choose not to accept that, there is no longer anything He can do for us. He already paid the ultimate price. Death. He cannot, nor will He, come and do it again. It is final. It is settled. It is now up to us to accept it or not. It is up to all of us, individually, to do so or not.

Our responsibility is to be sowers of the Seed. Tellers of Truth. Share freely what we received freely. The Way. The Truth. The Life. That is our responsibility. That is our obligation. Acceptance of this truth and reality. It is everyone's own responsibility to accept it or not. We are not responsible for their choices or actions.

Remember what Jesus told the Disciple that asked to join Him?

"Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Matthew 8: 21-22

And again

"And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9: 60-62

Was Jesus saying this to be mean? No. He was telling His disciples the truth. Not everyone will accept the truth and live. Even those we love the most. So, we need to rather focus on those that do want to hear the truth and those that God will lead us to. Tell them the truth, and what they choose to do with it, is their choice. You are free and clear. You have met your obligation.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He raised from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!