In the eighteenth chapter of the book of Acts, we find Paul preaching the gospel to the citizens of Corinth. While Paul had some success at Corinth, establishing a local church at that location, some rejected the gospel. In Acts 18:6, Luke refers to those who rejected Paul’s inspired words in an interesting way. He said, “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”
Notice that Luke said these people opposed themselves when they refused to obey the gospel that Paul preached. The Greek word for oppose is sometimes translated as resist, and literally means, “to rage in battle against” (Thayer). When someone refuses to obey the gospel, he fights against himself because he is doing something that hurts him more than anyone else. We can all oppose ourselves in some ways. Let’s look at some areas where this might happen.
- By not attending services
There are many reasons why we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, beginning with the fact that when we do, we sin against God (Hebrews 10:25). Sin is a self-inflicted wound. How many people would dive headlong into a fire? That is what the person who willfully sins against God is doing. He may not feel the heat right now, but if repentance does not take place, he will burn forever in a devil’s hell.
Will those who do not attend services as commanded by God go to hell? If God’s word means anything at all, the only answer is yes. However, from a positive standpoint, when we assemble, we do things that help us to grow in Christ and become better Christians.
Think about all that we do when we assemble to worship God. We sing praises to Him and at the same time learn from each other and receive admonishment.
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
On the first day of the week, we have the privilege of partaking of the Lord’s Supper
Acts 20:7 (ESV)
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
We also study God’s word, approach our Creator in prayer, and, again, on the first days of the week, we have the honor of giving to the cause of Christ financially. All of this serves to strengthen us spiritually. When we forsake assembling, we not only sin against God, but we oppose ourselves by purposely missing things that are very beneficial to us.
- By keeping bad company
1 Corinthians 15:32–33 (ESV)
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Too many Christians think that they can go anywhere and keep any kind of company without it affecting their spirituality. It is easy to be deceived by the Devil in this area. No doubt, pride plays a part in this. We sometimes think that we are too strong to succumb to the evil that surrounds us. We think that even the most wretched elements around us will not make us fall. We would be wise to remember the warning of Paul not to be deceived. Bad company can corrupt us.
When we ignore the inspired warnings of Paul and go to places where sin abounds, or “hang out” with those who act in ways that we deplore, we are putting ourselves in a dangerous position. It was God who said, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door” (Genesis 4:7). To put ourselves close to sin is to oppose ourselves. Instead, let us do ourselves a favor by keeping good company that might influence us for good instead of evil.
- By not knowing God’s will
Without doing God’s will, we cannot go to heaven. Jesus was clear about this.
Matthew 7:21 (ESV)
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Obedience has always been a requirement for fellowship with God, and being in fellowship with God now is required to enjoy it forever in heaven. We must determine to put God’s will before our own, even as our Lord did by going to the cross (Mattew 26:39). But how can we do God’s will if we do not know it? Let us all follow the good advice given to us by Paul.
Ephesians 5:17 (ESV)
17 Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.
How can we know God’s will? We can know it by turning to the Bible, where it is found, and studying it (2 Timothy. 2:15). When we refuse to put time aside to search the scriptures and to become more familiar with God’s word, we are opposing ourselves.