Teach Or Be Lost

The Bible says in Proverbs 11:30 "he that winneth souls is wise." Are we involved in trying to win the souls of the lost? If not, the Bible teaches we will be lost.

Proverbs 25:9a reads "Debate thy cause with thy neighbour." This requires more than just short quips made at work or at the grocery store. Short quips that make a point for truth are great, but that is not all that is required by God. Actual teaching must be done. Jude 3 teaches we all "should earnestly contend for the faith."

We learn from passages like Philippians 4:9 that we should follow the example of the disciples. We learn then by example from Acts 5:40-42, 20:31, and 28:30-31 that we should be teaching the lost. Acts 5:42 reads "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus commissioned all to disciple others. I Peter 3:15 requires studying and teaching as it says "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." Hebrews 5:12 shows all Christians "ought to be teachers" within a certain period of time.

Teaching by example is important. However, persuading men is also required. If you really believe in "the terror of the Lord" at the judgement, then you will be trying to "persuade men" (II Corinthians 5:10-11). If you are not doing that, perhaps you don’t really believe there is an “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46).

When is the last time you had a home Bible study (Acts 20:20)? When is the last time you even tried to set one up with a friend or neighbor? Do you think God is pleased with our effort in light of all these passages showing the Bible’s emphasis upon teaching others? In New Testament times the whole church "went every where preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). That would be men, women, and youth – all Christians. Does that match twentieth century times?

If you don’t spend time trying to teach others you will lost; their blood will be required at your hands. Ezekiel 3:18 reads "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” The New Testament teaches the exact same thing in Acts 20:26-27,31.

June 25, 1988

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