When warning others
“Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31 NIV)
Warning: A statement telling of or an indication providing evidence of impending danger, difficulty, or misfortune.
A Godly warning is an act of love
When driving along a country road you may come across warning signs such as, “Dangerous Curves Ahead” or “Watch for Rocks on Road”. These signs are there to warn you of danger ahead and to prevent accidents, even death. Warning people of danger is both a duty and a kindness. Notice in the passage at top that Paul says that he warned the Ephesians “with tears.” He said that because he loved them! Not warning people of dangers you are aware of makes you complicit if something bad happens to them. The Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, is filled with many warnings. There are more than a hundred in the New Testament, alone. When you warn people, attitude is everything! Always do it carefully and lovingly. The verse below says to warn others like you would a brother.
“Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (2 Thess. 3:15 ESV)
The following are just a few of the many warnings found in the New Testament
Biblical warnings
Deceivers: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.” (2 John 1:7-8 ESV)
Forces of evil: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12 ESV)
Works of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21 ESV)
Worldliness: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17 ESV)
Unrighteousness: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” ( 1 Cor. 6:9-11 ESV)
False doctrines: “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” (1 Tim. 6:3-5 ESV)
Devisiveness: “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” (Rom. 16:17 ESV)
Unequally yoked: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor. 6:14-18 ESV)
The way to God: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6 ESV)
Therefore…
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Eph. 6:13 ESV)
Quotes:
“I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” – Jesus Christ (Rev. 3:11)
“More than 100 verses in the New Testament tell us to warn others. It’s part of our responsibility as followers of Jesus.” – Rick Warren