Acts 20:21 What Must Be Done

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Acts 20:21

There are times when people are told some things that they must do in order to be safe or to avoid something.

Driving down a road, one might be told to turn off the road to another road in order to avoid a washed out bridge. People are told to evacuate their homes when there is a large forest fire or hurricane heading their way.

While some will heed these warnings, others will ignore them at their peril.

Paul told the people that he would go house to house telling both the Jews and the Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and believe in Jesus.

While the warnings to evacuate or avoid a certain road protect a person, they are only temporary protections. Those types of warnings only help in the here and now, at the moment, not for life-long or even eternity. These warnings are also only for a set group of people and do not involve every person around the world.

One of the dangers that is coming, that will involve every person around the world, regardless of who or where there are, is the coming of Jesus with the judgment of sin by God. This is a danger that will destroy all life, unless warnings are heeded.

Every believer has been given the command to declare the evacuation method to avoid the coming destruction. They are to tell every person, regardless of their ethnicity, that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith or believe in Jesus Christ.

Not doing these things will guarantee disaster and death for eternity. Every one needs an opportunity to believe in Jesus.

You, just as the rest of the world, need to make sure you have turned to God in repentance, turning away from all sin. Then you must also have faith in the salvation that Jesus is providing.

Once you have done this, you now have a mandate to declare that same message to everyone else you can talk to. Salvation and eternal life cannot and will not be found in any other person, god or religion. There is only one way to the Father, to heaven–Jesus Christ.

What are you declaring to the people you meet?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will repent before God of all your sins; that you tell others about Jesus; that you will emphasize the need to believe in Jesus; and that God will save many through your word and testimony.

Acts 20:21 A Needed Declaration

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Acts 20:21

When a person goes to court, he is required to make a declaration of his standing on whatever the case is about. It is a statement that whatever he says is factual and true about a situation that has been witnessed.

People make declarations all the time about various issues in their life or about the public life around them. Most declarations have little to do with other people, but some will effect what others think or do.

Paul pointed out that he had made a declaration to everyone. His message was the gospel message of repentance and faith in Jesus.

While many things can be declared or talked about, there is only one major priority that every one needs to hear. Many people are quick to declare their belief in politics, entertainment, or sports, but few are willing to make a declaration in what is truly important for all eternity.

The people of this world are dying without knowing the truth or having access to eternal life. Very few are willing to let people know the truth of Jesus. Believers have ignored their true mission that Jesus had given them to do.

Every believer has been given the same commission. They are to proclaim the gospel message to everyone that they can speak to. This message is that God loves them, they need to repent of their sins and have faith in Jesus. As one speaks these things he is making a declaration of the truth.

All the people of this world need to hear this declaration of truth. No believer should be afraid to stand up and declare the truth of Jesus to those who need to hear it.

At some point in your life, someone had declared the truth to you. It was made known to you that you must repent and believe in Jesus for the salvation of your soul.

Now just as someone declared the truth to you, be willing to declare that same truth to others around you. Know that you know what you know and be willing to boldly proclaim it to this lost and dying world.

Do not hold back any truth that the people need to hear. Do your best to keep anyone from being prevented from hearing the truth of Jesus.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will boldly declare the truth of God; that you will be a witness of Jesus to those around you; and that you will declare repentance and faith to all who need it.