Should the community be unwilling to accept the gospel of Jesus, do not knock at their door constantly and insistently, for God’s love would not force any body. His power dwells in the hearts of those who long for peace and truth, who open themselves to it willingly not as a result of force. Our faith knows no forcible seizure nor surrender, but conviction and responsibility.
When a man, a family, a city, or a nation reject Christ and His apostles, superficially or sluggishly, separate from them quietly that you will not share the judgment which will be theirs. Whoever rejects the gospel of Christ with its peace rejects God Himself.
There is a day of judgment coming, when all those that refuse the Gospel will certainly be called to account for it, however they now make a jest of it. They that would not hear the doctrine that would save them shall be made to hear the sentence that will ruin them. Their judgment is reserved until that day. But you continue to pray for them, even if they reject you and your Lord.
The condemnation of those that reject the gospel will in the last day be severer and heavier than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sodom is said to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. But that vengeance will come in a stranger manner upon those that despise salvation. Sodom and Gomorrah were exceedingly wicked, and that which filled up the measure of their iniquity was, that they did not receive the angels that were sent to them, but abused them and did not give respectful attention to their words. And yet, it will be more tolerable for them than for those who do not receive Christ’s ministers and give respectful attention to their words. God’s wrath against them will be more flaming and their own reflections upon themselves more cutting. These words will sound more dreadful in the ears of such as had a fair offer made them of eternal life and rather chose death. The iniquity of Israel, when God sent them His servants the prophets, is represented as, upon that account, more heinous than the iniquity of Sodom. Much more now, after He sent them His Son, the incarnate Spirit of His word.
Be cautious before you leave the disobedient. Examine yourself, that you may not be the reason for their reluctance and disobedience, through misunderstanding, or because of your rudeness or rashness. Go back and examine yourself first and repent that you may not offend others. And if necessary, go back and ask for forgiveness so that you will not be responsible for a lost soul.
Christ confirmed through these words the fact of the Day of Judgment and proclaimed His gospel as the only way to salvation from this terrible day. He who rejects or opposes the people of the Gospel chooses for himself God’s wrath upon him in the Day of Judgment.