The following "Question" was asked by an attendee at the 2005 Shepherds' Conference (a ministry of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California), and was "Answered" by John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from "General Session #10 John MacArthur - Q&A."  A copy of the CD, cassette tape, or MP3 can be obtained by going to:  www.shepherdsconference.org  ©2005. All Rights Reserved. Grace Community Church.

Questioner

In Matthew 17 and 18, you quoted today that Jesus said, “I didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it and the prophecies.”  Also, in Daniel 12:21, there’s a little caveat in the NASB that says—“Let the reader understand…”  The fact that Matthew 28 says, “Go out and make disciples and baptize in the name of the Lord…,” and, back in Ezekiel, R. C. Sproul, earlier today, talked about getting up on the wall and warning people of danger that’s coming—my first question is, if we don’t warn people based on what we know in Scripture, is that considered a sin?

John MacArthur's Answer

Yes, I think it is a sin.  You know, it’s back to Ezekiel’s comments about “their blood is on our hands.”  Certainly James 3:1 weighs in, where it says, “Stop being so many teachers, for theirs is a greater condemnation.”  Back to what R. C. Sproul said, when he was going through Romans 1, where the apostle Paul says there, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,” and he’s going to preach the gospel of Christ; compare that with I Corinthians 9, where he says, “Woe”—or “condemnation”—“is on me if I don’t do that,” right?  “Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.”  If I’m not faithful to discharge my duty, it’s not just a matter of being ashamed of my irresponsibility; it is being under, I think, divine discipline if I do not discharge that responsibility.  So, you know, that’s why it’s so important that we cry out against those preachers who were unfaithful.  It’s not just we’re right and they’re not; it is that there’s a shame that is borne by those who have that low regard for Scripture, and that there is a necessary warning about no matter how successful they may appear to be on earth, they are heading for the potential—certainly, at God’s discretion—discipline of the Lord for not doing what they should do.  I think it’s definitely the way to view it.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Our websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986