Acts 20:25-31 NKJV

“25And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”

Self Defense

This was Paul speaking. He was on his way to Jerusalem. And the Holy Spirit had testified to him that in every city chains and tribulations awaited him. So, as he spoke to the elders of the church in Ephesus here, he was also convinced that he would never see them again. And so these were his parting remarks to them, much like someone might say who was dying.

Now, all throughout Paul’s ministry on this earth he was persecuted, beaten, left for dead, imprisoned, rejected, lied about, falsely accused of wrong, and opposed strongly by his opposition. So, at times, he had to come to his own defense to tell the truth about himself, as opposed to the lies. Jesus Christ did this, too, sometimes, when he was opposed and lied about and falsely accused of wrongdoing. So, it is not wrong or prideful or bragging, necessarily, to state the truth about yourself in opposition to the lies.

Therefore, he declared himself innocent of the blood of all people. For he had not shunned to declare to the people the whole counsel of God. And what is that? It is the whole plan of our salvation from sin and eternal life with God. It is God’s revealed will and purpose concerning our salvation from sin. It is the pure and unadulterated gospel message regarding Jesus’ death and resurrection, and for what purpose he died and was raised from the dead to deliver us out of bondage to sin so we will now serve him with our lives.

The Gospel

Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

For by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

For God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (See Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10)

Take Heed

Then Paul gave counsel to the elders of the church in Ephesus. They were to take heed, as overseers, to shepherd the church of God which our Lord purchased with his own blood via his death on that cross in putting our sins to death with him so that we can now die to sin and live to righteousness. And to shepherd is to lead, to give counsel to, to teach, to instruct, but also to provide comfort, encouragement, and compassion towards the people without compromise of truth and righteousness, for the sake of godly living.

And why was Paul so concerned about the church? He knew that after his departure that savage wolves would come in among them, not sparing the flock. And he was speaking of “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” i.e. of human beings who would pretend to be Christians and followers of Christ and preachers of the gospel. But they would speak lies to the people to lead them in the wrong direction. And we have many of them in the gatherings of “the church” in our world today who are leading many people astray.

Also, he said, from among their own selves men would rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. And we have many such people in our gatherings of “the church” today who are speaking lies to the people, who are diluting the gospel to make it less offensive and more acceptable to human flesh, and who are leading many people to hell on the promise of heaven. Therefore, we do need to keep watch, and to test the spirits, and to reject the lies, and to embrace the truth of God’s Word.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Forever with Us

Based off Psalm 46
An Original Work / February 5, 2016
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Be still and know God is over all things.
Throughout the earth, He’ll be honored as King.
The Lord Almighty, forever with us.
He is our refuge when we’re in distress.

Therefore, we have not a reason to fear.
Trials will come, but our God is still near.
He is our helper, so we do not fall.
Mountains will quake, but on Jesus we call.

Joy to the Church, even if sorrow comes.
Enemies rage, but our faith marches on.
God’s Holy Spirit, now living within,
Gives peace and comfort, and grace without end.

The Whole Counsel of God
An Original Work / June 1, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love