PREACHING THE GOSPEL REQUIRES US TO ALSO PREACH AGAINST SIN

 

In my webinar on Friday (tomorrow), I will focus on the extent of the love of God. We need of this assurance that blesses us in so many ways. Therefore, Paul prayed that we would:

 

·       …know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)

 

To “be filled with the fullness of God” is to be assured of His love for you. I need to remind myself of God’s love many times each day to combat my worries and the oppressive opinions of others.

 

However, I need to alert you of an associated danger. In our emphasis on God’s love forgiveness, and mercy, we might leave out God’s righteousness, His hatred and judgment of our sins. Some pastors even argue:

 

·       Since we have been forgiven once and for all, we shouldn’t be concerned about our sins. This concern is just bondage, fear, and legalism from which we have been set free.

 

They might even add that if we confess our sins, Jesus will forgive us. Therefore, there is no need to live a righteous life for our Lord.

 

Yes, when we truly confess our sins, we are forgiven and cleansed (1 John 1:9). However, confession must be accompanied by a sincere commitment to turn from our sins, or it is not a genuine confession:

·       …  “Return (repentance from sin) faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt (confession) that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD. Return (repentance) O faithless children… (Jeremiah 3:11-14)

 

True confession and repentance, the commitment turn away from sin, are inseparable. We cannot have one without the other. Likewise, we should not preach the Gospel without preaching against sin and its consequences, as Jesus had done:

·       No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)

 

But isn’t salvation a free gift of God? Why then continue to preach against sin?

For one thing, sin is still an abomination against God. For another, if we trust God, we will try to do what he tells us to do – to avoid sin! If we don’t trust God, we will not seek to honor Him. A real faith is a tree that eventually bears good fruit. A bad tree will inevitably bear bad fruit and will not follow the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 7:15-19) to love Him (John 14:21-24). While bearing fruit does not save us, it is a necessary indication that we are a new creation in Jesus. Therefore, if we do not bear apples at some point, we are not an apple tree.

MOST “BORN-AGAINS” BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO BE SAVED

 

 

Leonardo Blair has reported that:

 

·       “Nearly 70% of born-again Christians say other religions can lead to Heaven: study,” Christian Post, 10/21/2021:

 https://www.christianpost.com/news/nearly-70-percent-of-born-again-christians-dont-see-jesus-as-only-way.html

 

This means that we must reiterate from Scripture and reason that God has presented only one way of salvation, and that is through Jesus. According to Him:

·       Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

 

·       “All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:8–9)

 

Anyone else who had preached another way to God had been a deceiver.

 

·       Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37)

 

·       And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name 9or Person) under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

 

Salvation is only through Jesus. Here are some of the many verses we find in the Epistles:

 

·       For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5)

 

·       Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, (Hebrews 10:19–20)

 

·       And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

 

·       Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9)

 

·       And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, (Revelation 5:8–9)

 

There are also many warnings against straying into another gospel. These deny that there is any other way:

·       But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8–9)

 

·       I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. (Romans 16:17)

 

·       For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. (2 John 7–8)

 

 

REASONS AGAINST ANOTHER MEANS OF SALVATION:

 

·       If there are other ways to be saved, Christ endured crucifixion in vain and the entire Biblical Faith should be rejected. When the born-agains believe this way, they depart from the faith.

 

·       If there are other ways, this would provide many ways to become self-deceived and to become arrogant. It would also allow for rampant demonic deception: 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

 

·       We cannot be good enough to merit salvation. It must come through a free gift by the sacrificial merits of Jesus: Romans 1:32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

 

·       Our own conscience testifies against our unworthiness: Romans 2:2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

 

·       Faith in Christ alone has blessed the previously Christian West as no other religion has blessed: Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 

·       The Biblical Faith is supported by many proofs. Other religions lack these: The supportive miracles affirmed even by enemy sources; fulfilled prophecy; changed lives and societies; internal and external corroborating evidences.

 

I had been unable to find God through my own Jewish faith. It required a miraculous intervention by Jesus as I laid bleeding to death from a chainsaw injury.