I came across a scripture reading this
morning in which, during the course of explaining the proper use of the
Spiritual Gift of tongues, the Apostle Paul contradicts the modern concept of
soft preaching and witnessing to the lost which has become prevalent today. It’s
timely for me as I was recently asked by a brother in Christ to listen to a
sermon recently given at his church. It doesn’t matter which church or who gave
this sermon, I can assure you that far too many churches are propagating this
very untruth. The devil has misled many well-being preachers, teachers, and
members of Christ’s church into the notion that in order to win people to Christ,
we need not preach to them about their sin. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to
convict they say.
I don’t disagree. The Bible is clear that
one of the works of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of its sin. But God
has built up His Church, the true Church, to be the vehicle by which the truth
of the Bible is to be taken to the lost. We were given the Great Commission by
Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit and endowed with special, spiritual
gifts, to take the Gospel out to the world and then to make disciples.
Read this passage.
1 Corinthians 14:24-25
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
The object of the Gospel is to bring
people to a saving knowledge of Jesus, so that through the work of
sanctification, all who believe in His name will make Him Lord of their life
and do as Jesus did, His will.
John 17:1-4
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
If we are to become like Jesus, then our
goal must be to glorify God.
When an unbeliever walks into our church
or into our lives, according to Paul, this is what should happen. “He is called
to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed.” This is how
the Holy Spirit works in conviction, by opening their hearts to the truth of
the entire counsel of God, as is recorded in the Bible, and then using what they
heard to bring conviction.
Romans 10:14-17
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The good news is that though we are
sinners, God has sent Jesus to pay that price for our sin. People need to know
what they are “saved” from. For when they hear God’s Word spoken, they are convicted
by “all”, the secrets of their hearts are disclosed and then, they will fall on
their face, worship God, and know God is present in that place.
This is the method God has chosen to use
to bring people to a saving knowledge of Himself. This is why we have been
each, given a spiritual gift. This is why the entire counsel of scripture must
be preached in the church. Some of us are teachers, some pastors, and some lay
people, but all of us are to be speaking the truth of the Word.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
We cannot continue to ignore the truth of
scripture. I don’t know when Jesus is coming back, I sure hope soon, but until He
does it is our work to preach His Word. Our culture is in serious moral
decline. It’s no coincidence that the less we prophesy the truth and call out
the sins in the world and be the salt and light of Christ, the worse it is getting.
1 Corinthians 14:24-25
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
The Bible is clear. Do it in love, for
much of 1 Corinthians tells us we must, but do it. It is not love to let
someone live with a false hope that they can live in sin and still be Christ’s.
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