A faithful and timely warning is a thing of precious value. Who can estimate the number of lives saved by the roadside signs, and by the flashing red-lights at the railroad crossings? To warn a man against some great danger is hardly a friendly act--it is just common humanity; and to refuse to do it would be criminal.

      Jesus Christ was a good friend to us all. "The best Friend we have is Jesus." He was true, and faithful to God and man. He also knew what He was talking about, and had neither motive nor desire to deceive anyone, nor to trouble any one needlessly. He lived and died in the interest of others. Men who doubt every one else see good reason to have confidence in Christ. Now a great part of the teaching of the Lord Jesus consists of warning. He knew what men did not know, and He saw what they could not see. Just as you or I would warn the traveller in the fog of an open precipice ahead, so (and much more so) the Lord Jesus felt that He must press His warnings to us. To Him we are willing to listen. Here then are some of His solemn warnings.

      "Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!

      "And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire." (Matthew 18, verses 7 to 9).

      Here the Lord Jesus warns against sin, as the most terrible thing of all. If anything would cause us to sin, get rid of that at any cost, even though it were as dear and precious to you as your hand or your foot or your eye. Better suffer anything than to have to face the retribution of sin. Better lose all we have and suffer every earthly pain, than to have everything and go to hell. Many will not heed this solemn warning but in the great Day it will be seen how true it was. Blessed are those who will listen to Jesus! [1]

      This is set forth in the account of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 16:19-31.

      Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: and it certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us. And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them bear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rise from the dead."

      Some try to break the force of this by calling it "figurative" and a "parable." But on whatever pretext men set this faithful warning aside, be it known to all, the Lord Jesus told the truth, and whoever disregards it sins against his own soul.

      "Except ye repent ye shall all in like manner perish." (Luke 13:5). By nothing short of real repentance can a man avoid perdition. If he does not repent he will perish. If he does not perish it is because he repented. There is no third way. And nothing can take the place of repentance, neither gifts, nor membership, nor worship, nor good works. "Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye, die?"

      "Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many I say unto you shall seek to enter in and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, Lord open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are.  . . ." (Luke 13:24, 25)

      Salvation must be obtained in its time, and the time is never to be put off. Later on is too late. "Today if ye shall hear his voice harden not your heart."' "Behold now is the acceptable time; today is the day of salvation." This is the force of this earnest warning by our faithful and loving Savior. [2]

      "Every one therefore, that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof." (Matt. 7:24-27).

      Many build, and perhaps build beautifully. But only that house will stand which is built upon the rock-foundation of Christ's word. Every other building is on the sand and will go down when the great storm comes. "On what are you building my brother?"

      Reader if you have followed these words of our Lord Jesus you have been warned. This day the warning has come to you. These things are true. If you disregard them your blood is upon your own soul. So God charged His watchman of old.

      "So thou, son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die, and thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, and be turn not from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezek. 33:7-9.)

      Turn, then, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who having died for our sins, and having risen from the dead, has all power in heaven and on earth, and is able to save to the uttermost every soul that comes to Him. Obey His gospel and follow Him!

      The Lord Jesus Christ not only warns. He "came to seek and to save that which is lost." (Luke 19:10).

      "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:29).

      "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house." (Acts 16:31).

      "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38). [3]

[TWOJC 1-3]

      The electronic version of R. H. Boll's The Warnings of Jesus Christ ([Louisville, KY: The Word and Work, 1929]). has been produced from a copy of the tract in a contributor's collection. The essay was first published in The Word and Work 22 (January 1929): 8-10.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 1:      enter ino life [ enter into life
            wih one eye [ with one eye
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 4 February 2002.
Updated 20 June 2003.