The following message is not aimed at those who are preaching the whole gospel with compassion, tears and desperation, truly desiring to see sinners, even the most depraved, saved from their sin and God glorified. It is aimed at those who preach a lopsided gospel which states only that Jesus loves them, or only that God hates them. Such a gospel has no saving power.
If a sinner hears that God loves them, they’ll go right on doing what they are doing, thinking they are OK and on their way to heaven.
Equally damaging and dangerous is preaching on hell, sin and condemnation without speaking of the unfathomable fullness of the love of God, demonstrated by Him on the cross. Many people are aware of the damage the likes of Westbro Baptist Church have caused by preaching in such a manner.
It is, of course, true that God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11) and that He hates all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5) but we must remember that we were included in that condemnation before we were brought to the cross through the conviction of the Holy Ghost and lead to repentance and salvation through Christ alone.
We must remember that, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
Romans 5
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Far more prevalent than condemnation only preaching, however, in this day and age of apostate, lukewarm, deceived, seeker friendly ‘churches’, are people who are quick to quote John 3:16 but stop, dead in their tracks, either there, or at verse 17. What follows verse 16 and 17 is a vital part of the full gospel without which, the context of the preceeding verses is completely lost.
John 3
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
What people need to hear, and have always needed to hear, is the whole gospel. That God is going to judge them and cast them into hell if they continue in sin as they are but will forgive them and save them if they’ll humble themselves, repent and cry out for mercy, recognizing their sinful state and need of Jesus Christ as their atonement and salvation through His death on the cross, His shed, righteous blood and His resurrection.
The condemnation only preachers love quoting Psalm 5:5 and Psalm 7:11 and the lukewarm love quoting John 3:16 but are too scared (of men rather than God) to quote the rest. The lukewarm are not willing to be hated for doing what Jesus commanded in Mark 16 while the condemnation only preachers use Mark 16 as a license for self righteousness and lack of compassion, seemingly revelling in the hatred directed towards them.
Mark 16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach* the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Here’s the Greek meaning for the word ‘preach’ as it appears above:
G2784
- Original: κηρύσσω
- Transliteration: Kerusso
- Phonetic: kay-roos’-so
- Definition:
- 1. to be a herald, to officiate as a herald
- a. to proclaim after the manner of a herald
- b. always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed
- 2. to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done
- 3. used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers
Even if only ONE sinner in an entire crowd repents, that is more effective than the effeminate, watered down, apostate garbage presented by most seeker friendly churches today or the hatred spewed by the likes of Westbro Baptist Church. Besides, in Jesus’ words, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
Regardless, I don’t see too many crowds these days with ninety nine righteous people in them!! Oh how I long to see that change!!!! I long to see mighty outpourings of the Holy Ghost with THOUSANDS saved as on the day of Pentecost described vividly in the book of Acts.
We won’t see that though unless God’s people seek His face diligently until the Holy Ghost endues them with power from on high….. and that won’t come until we are desperate to be emptied of ourselves and FULL OF HIM!!
Luke 24
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Matthew 7
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Psalm 27
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
Let us each determine in our hearts and with our actions from right this moment onwards to seek the Lord with every ounce of our being, desperate to be emptied of this world and dead to the things therein. Cry out to God that He endue us with Holy Ghost infilling and unction of the Spirit in our preaching for God’s glory, wait patiently for Him to answer and keep seeking Him in the meantime and thereafter.
I know I long for this. How about you?
