FreeChristianWritings.com TOPIC A12 WARNINGS OF JESUS BY RON FOSTER Lay Member RIVERSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH UPPER ARLINGTON, OHIO
WARNINGS OF JESUS All Scripture quotations are taken from The Life Application Study Bible, New International Version Published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and Zondervan Publishing House. Copyright 1995 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL. This TOPIC was written in 2008.
INTRODUCTION PURPOSE OF THIS TOPIC: The purpose of this TOPIC is to present warnings made by JESUS CHRIST. The source of information for these warnings is the spoken word of LORD JESUS, as journalized by the authors of the New Testament Books - - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Revelation. As used in this TOPIC, a warning is: (a) a notice of danger, evil, harm, risk, unpleasantness; (b) something that serves as an alert, alarm, or signal; (c) a caution given in advance; (d) an expression of disapproval; or (e) advice about avoiding a possible danger. MAKE COPIES IF YOU WANT: Copies can be made and distributed at a price no more than the cost of paper and printing. If this effort is of value, you may want to make a small donation to the church of your choice.
WARNINGS OF JESUS CONTENTS EXHIBIT WARNINGS ABOUT REJECTION........ 1. WARNINGS ABOUT REPENTANCE...... 2. WARNINGS ABOUT BELIEF IN ME..... 3. WARNINGS ABOUT BEING A DISCIPLE.. 4. WARNINGS AGAINST CARELESS WORDS. 5. WARNINGS AGAINST FOOLISH ACTIONS. 6. WARNINGS ABOUT PLEASURES AND WEALTH....................... 7. WARNINGS ABOUT FALSE TEACHERS AND WRONG LEADERS............ 8. WARNINGS ABOUT LIVING WITHOUT ME........................... 9.
EXHIBIT 1 WARNINGS ABOUT REJECTION 1. EACH PERSON HAS AN OPEN INVITATION TO JOIN ME AT THE BANQUET OF LIFE. THOSE WHO DO NOT ACCEPT MY INVITATION WILL BE THROWN INTO THE DARKNESS, WHERE THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF THE TEETH. MATTHEW 8: 12; 22: 11-13 2. EVERY PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER OWN DECISION TO ACCEPT ME OR TO REJECT ME. YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF ME MUST BE YOUR OWN. MATTHEW 25: 1-12 3. THE ONE WHO REJECTS ME AND DOES NOT ACCEPT MY WORDS WILL BE CONDEMNED ON THE LAST DAY. JOHN 12: 48 4. IF YOU DON T LISTEN TO MY WORDS, DON T FOLLOW ME AS YOUR LORD, AND IGNORE THE SACRIFICE OF MY LIFE FOR YOU - - - YOU ARE REJECTING THE SON OF GOD. AS A RESULT, THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL NOT BE GIVEN TO YOU, BUT TO PEOPLE WHO WILL PRODUCE FRUIT. MATTHEW 21: 33-43 LUKE 19: 27 5. THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED ME SHOULD BE AFRAID OF MY COMING JUDGMENT. MATTHEW 10: 28 6. DELIBERATE, CONTINUED REJECTION OF THE EFFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS BLASPHEMY - - - AN UNPARDONABLE SIN BECAUSE IT IS REJECTING GOD HIMSELF. MARK 3: 28-29 7. I AM THE STONE AND THOSE WHO REJECT ME WILL BE CRUSHED WHEN THE STONE FALLS ON THEM ON JUDGMENT DAY. MATTHEW 21: 42-44 LUKE 20: 17-18
EXHIBIT 2 WARNINGS ABOUT REPENTANCE 1. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS OR YOU WILL HAVE NO EXCUSE ON JUDGMENT DAY. MATTHEW 11: 21-24 MARK 1: 15 2. NOTHING CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF REPENTANCE - - - NOT GIFTS - - -NOT CHURCH ATTENDANCE - - -NOT WORSHIP - - - NOT GOOD WORKS. LUKE 13: 3,5 3. UNLESS YOU REPENT AND BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU WILL NEVER ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. MATTHEW 18: 3-4 4. DOING GOD S WORK DOES NOT CANCEL SIN. LUKE 20: 46-47 5. GROW IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR LORD BUT DO NOT ABANDON THE BASIC TRUTH. OBEY IT AND REPENT. REVELATION 3: 3 6. IF YOU DO NOT REPENT, I WILL COME TO REMOVE YOUR INEFFECTVE LIGHT TO OTHERS. REVELATION 2: 5 7. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN I WILL MAKE MY SWIFT AND SUDDEN RETURN. YOU MAY NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LAST-MINUTE REPENTANCE. MATTHEW 24: 42-44; 25: 13 MARK 13: 32-37 LUKE 12: 39-40
EXHIBIT 3 WARNINGS ABOUT BELIEF IN ME 1. MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY ARE GOOD AND WILL BE REWARDED WITH ETERNAL LIFE. BUT WHAT YOU DO CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM WHAT YOU BELIEVE, IF YOU EXPECT TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. MATTHEW 7: 21 LUKE 13: 27 2. SATAN STILL USES MANY TOOLS AND LIES TO CARRY OUT HIS DESIRE TO PERSAUDE YOU NOT TO BELIEVE IN ME. JOHN 8: 44-45 3. NOT BELIEVNG IN ME IS A SIN AGAINST GOD. JOHN 16: 9 4. YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SINS IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I AM THE ONE THAT I CLAIM TO BE. JOHN 8: 24 5. ANYONE WHO IS ASHAMED OF ME, OR DISOWNS ME BEFORE OTHERS, WILL BE DISOWNED BY ME ON JUDGMENT DAY. MATTHEW 10: 33 MARK 8: 38 LUKE 9: 26; 12: 9 6. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THOSE WHO CAN KILL THE BODY BUT CANNOT KILL THE SOUL. RATHER, BE AFRAID OF THE ONE WHO CAN DESTROY BOTH BODY AND SOUL IN HELL. MATTHEW 10: 27 7. YOUR RESPONSE AND BELIEF IN ME OUGHT TO BE MORE COMPLETE AND WHOLEHEARTED TODAY IN VIEW OF THE MANY EYEWITNESS REPORTS OF MY RESUR- RECTION, THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO YOU SINCE PENTECOST, AND EASY ACCESS TO THE BIBLE. LUKE 11: 29-32
EXHIBIT 4 WARNINGS ABOUT BEING A DISCIPLE 1. BEING A DISCIPLE OF MINE DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU WILL HAVE A TROUBLE-FREE LIFE. YOU MUST BE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP, WHICH MEANS TO AGREE TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING FOR ME. LUKE 9: 23-24; 14: 26-33 2. HE WHO IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME, AND HE WHO DOES NOT GATHER WITH ME, SCATTERS. MATTHEW 12: 30 3. DO NOT ALLOW FEAR OF OPPOSITION OR RIDICULE WEAKEN YOUR SERVICE TO ME. RATHER, FEAR ME, WHO HAS THE POWER TO THROW YOU INTO HELL. LUKE 12: 4-5 4. YOU MUST HOLD TO MY TEACHING OR YOU CANNOT BE ONE OF MY DISCIPLES. JOHN 8: 31 5. EACH DISCIPLE IS EXPECTED TO USE HIS OR HER TIME, TALENT, AND RESOURCES TO PRODUCE FRUIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. LACK OF EFFECTIVENESS AND PRODUCTIVITY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. MATTHEW 13: 12; 21: 19; 25: 29-30 LUKE 13: 6-9; 19: 26 6. IF YOU LOSE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A DISCIPLE - - - YOU ARE NOT OF VALUE TO ME. MATTHEW 5: 13 LUKE 14: 34 7. ON JUDGMENT DAY, I WILL SEPARATE MY OBEDIENT FOLLOWERS ON THE RIGHT FROM PRETENDERS AND UNBELIEVERS ON THE LEFT. THEN I WILL TELL THOSE ON THE LEFT TO DEPART FROM ME AND BE CURSED INTO THE INTERNAL FIRE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS. MATTHEW 25: 31-34, 41
EXHIBIT 5 WARNINGS AGAINST CARELESS WORDS 1. YOUR MOUTH WILL REVEAL THE UNDERLYING BELIEFS, ATTITUDES, AND MOTIVATIONS STORED UP IN YOUR HEART. DECEPTION CANNOT LAST. LUKE 6: 45 2. WHOEVER SPEAKS WITH ANGER TOWARD HIS BROTHER WITHOUT CAUSE WILL BE IN DANGER OF THE FIRE OF HELL. MATTHEW 5: 22 3. DO NOT JUDGE OR CONDEMN OTHERS OR YOU WILL BE JUDGED AND CONDEMNED BY ME. MATTHEW 7: 1-5 LUKE 6: 37 4. IF YOU REFUSE TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU, YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS. MATTHEW 6: 15; 18: 33-35 5. ANYONE WHO SPEAKS AGAINST ME WILL BE FORGIVEN, BUT ANYONE WHO SPEAKS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN, EITHER IN THIS AGE OR IN THE AGE TO COME. MATTHEW 12: 31-32 MARK 3: 28-29 LUKE 12: 10 6. ANYONE WHO BREAKS ONE OF THE MORAL LAWS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WILL BE CALLED LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. MATTHEW 5: 19 7. ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO USE IMPRESSIVE INTELLECTUAL WORDS AND PHRASES WHICH ARE EMPTY IN SUBSTANCE, WILL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR EVERY CARELESS WORD THEY HAVE SPOKEN. MATTHEW 12: 36-37
EXHIBIT 6 WARNINGS AGAINST FOOLISH ACTIONS 1. NEVER PUT SALVATION OFF. LATER ON IS TOO LATE. LUKE 13: 24-25 2. DO NOT DO YOUR ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE PEOPLE, TO BE SEEN BY THEM. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL HAVE NO REWARD IN HEAVEN. MATTHEW 6: 1 3. GOD KNOWS YOUR TRUE INTENTIONS WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU WANT TO OBEY HIM AND DO HIS WILL BUT YOUR ACTIONS SHOW OTHERWISE. MATTHEW 21: 28-32 4. GET RID OF ANY ACTIONS, WORDS, OR TEMPTATIONS THAT CAUSE YOU OR OTHERS TO SIN. MATTHEW 5: 29-30; 18: 7-9 MARK 9: 42-47 5. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO STUDY THE BIBLE OR ACT RELIGIOUS; YOUR ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES MUST BE SINCERE. MATTHEW 15: 7-9 6. WORRY IS FOOLISH BECAUSE IT CANNOT FILL ANY OF YOUR NEEDS. GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED; TRUST HIM TO DEAL WITH YOUR WORRIES. LUKE 12: 22-34 7. AT THE END OF THE AGE, I WILL HAVE MY ANGELS WEED OUT ALL THOSE WHO SIN, CAUSE OTHERS TO SIN, AND DO EVIL. MATTHEW 13: 41-42
EXHIBIT 7 WARNINGS ABOUT PLEASURES AND WEALTH 1. DON T GET SO ENSNARED WITH THE PLEASURES AND CONCERNS OF LIFE THAT YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO STAND BEFORE MY JUDGMENT WHEN I COME AGAIN. MARK 4: 19 LUKE 21: 34-36 2. WOE TO YOU IF YOU SEEK RICHES, APPROVAL OF MEN, AND COMFORT NOW AT THE EXPENSE OF ETERNAL LIFE. LUKE 6: 24-26; 16: 25 3. DON T LET THE WORRIES OF THIS LIFE AND THE DECEIT- FULNESS OF WEALTH CHOKE YOUR LIFE MAKING IT JOYLESS FOR YOU AND UNPRODUCTIVE FOR GOD. MATTHEW 13: 22; 19: 23 4. DON T BE SO FASCINATED WITH POSSESSIONS THAT THEY POSSESS YOU. MATTHEW 6: 24 LUKE 16: 13 5. LIVING IN A LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN BUILDING UP MATERIAL WEALTH. GETTING READY FOR LIFE BEFORE DEATH IS SMART; DISREGARDING LIFE AFTER DEATH IS CATASTROPHIC. MATTHEW 6:19-21; 19: 21 LUKE 12: 16-21, 33-34 6. MANY RICH PEOPLE GO TO HELL NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR WEALTH BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE SELFISH AND REFUSE TO USE THEIR WEALTH TO HELP OTHERS. LUKE 16: 19-31 7. YOU CAN PREVENT BEING SAD AND POOR THROUGH FAITH, OBEDIENCE, AND SERVICE TO GOD. LUKE 12: 18-21
EXHIBIT 8 WARNINGS ABOUT FALSE TEACHERS AND WRONG LEADERS 1. DON T BE DECEIVED BY FALSE TEACHERS WHO CLAIM TO BE ME. MARK 13: 5-6 2. WATCH OUT FOR TEACHERS WHO POINT ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES RATHER THAN TO GOD. DON T BE FOOLED BY PHONY SPIRITUALITY. MARK 12: 38-39 3. SOME LEADERS AND TEACHERS EXHIBIT BAD BEHAVIOR, LOW MORAL CHARACTER, AND DELIBERATELY TEACH FALSE SCRIPTURE. THEY CANNOT FULFILL THEIR PURPOSE AND SHOULD BE REMOVED. MATTHEW 7: 17-19 LUKE 6: 43-45 4. DON T FOLLOW LEADERS WHO CLAIM TO KNOW THE BIBLE BUT DO NOT PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH. THEY CARE MORE ABOUT LOOKING HOLLY THAN BEING HOLLY. MATTHEW 23: 3-7, 25-28 LUKE 11: 43 5. ANY INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE, OR ACTIVITY THAT LEADS ANYONE TO SIN MUST BE STOPPED. AND WOE TO THAT PERSON THROUGH WHOM SIN COMES. MATTHEW 18: 7-9 LUKE 17: 1-3 6. DON T WORSHIP ME LIKE SOME HYPOCRITES. THEY HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS BUT NOT THEIR HEARTS. THEIR TEACHINGS ARE THE THOUGHTS OF MEN WHICH, TO THEM, HAVE BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOD S WORD. MARK 7: 6-8 7. SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE BUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE IS VERY SUPERFICIAL. THIS IS DUE, IN PART, TO NOT ASKING GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHTS OF GOD. LUKE 11: 9,13 JOHN 14: 25-26
EXHIBIT 9 WARNINGS ABOUT LIVING WITHOUT ME 1. APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. THE PERSON WHO DOES NOT SHARE MY LIFE IS LIKE A BRANCH ON A VINE THAT IS CUT OFF, WITHERS, THROWN INTO THE FIRE, AND BURNS. JOHN 15: 5-6 2. DO NOT ALLOW PERSECUTION OR OPPOSITION FROM THE WORLD GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR LIFE WITH ME. MATTHEW 10: 21-22 JOHN 15: 18-20 3. I KNOW WHEN YOU ARE GIVING THE APPEARANCE OF BEING ONE WITH ME BUT YOUR HEART SAYS OTHER- WISE. MARK 4: 22 LUKE 8: 17 4. DO NOT BECOME SO ENGULFED IN RELIGION THAT YOU MISS ME IN YOUR EARTHLY LIFE. JOHN 5: 39-40 5. I AM THE ONLY LIVING WAY TO FATHER GOD. A PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME DURING HIS OR HER LIFE ON EARTH DOES NOT HAVE A WAY TO THE FATHER. JOHN 14: 6 6. NOTHING YOU GAIN IN THIS WORLD WILL MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS OF ETERNAL LIFE. ONLY AFTER YOU FIND AND ACCEPT ME DURING YOUR EARTHLY LIFE WILL YOU INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE. THEN YOU WILL BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF BEING UNITED WITH ME. MATTHEW 10: 39 LUKE 9: 24-25 JOHN 12: 25 7. THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR DECISION TO LIVE OR NOT TO LIVE MY WAY BEGINS IMMEDIATELY AND LASTS FOREVER. JOHN 3: 18; 10: 10; 12: 44-48