Paul concluded his gospel presentation at Antioch of Pisidia with these words.
Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said, 41 ‘Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.’” Acts 13:40-41 (NLT)
No Jew would have ever imagined that Israel would be cut off from Abraham’s promises! Their rejection of the Messiah brought judgment upon that nation in 70 AD when Titus and the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem. Gentiles will encounter a similar judgment on the Last Day, if we reject the gospel. Those who reject the message doom themselves to a continuation of their present condition as spiritual orphans in the universe – an eternity away from God’s loving presence.
And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 10 When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 (NLT)
The presentation of the gospel puts us in a place of decision: will we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior or reject God’s amazing offer?
With how we spend our eternity on the line, the loving thing to do is warn our hearers about the enormous consequences connected to our response to the gospel.
