Preach The Word

Q: What does the Bible say about preaching the word?

The Bible instructs us to 'preach the word' as essential for teaching sound doctrine and confronting false beliefs. In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul commands Timothy to 'preach the word' at all times. This directive highlights the importance of sound doctrine in the life of the church. Preaching is not merely a vocation but a high calling that commits the preacher to relay God's truth regardless of popular opinions or controversy. The emphasis is on the authority of Scripture, which is vital to equip believers for every good work and to ensure the church does not drift into erroneous teachings.

Q: How do we know that Christ was made sin for us?

The Bible states in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that God made Christ to be sin for us, emphasizing the divine mystery of our salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:21 clearly states, 'For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' This passage underscores God's sovereign action in imputing sin to Christ on behalf of believers. It is a profound truth rooted in divine ordination, indicating that in God's plan of redemption, Christ took upon Himself the sins of His people, ensuring that their sins were dealt with justly. To question this is to question God's integrity, as it affirms His character as just and merciful.

Q: Why is grace important for Christians?

Grace is crucial for Christians as it is God's unmerited favor that enables our salvation and sanctification. Grace, as articulated in scriptures, including Ephesians 2:8-9, is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It is by grace we are saved, not through our works but through faith. This divine favor empowers Christians to live out their faith and to bear witness to the transformative power of God in their lives. Understanding grace also cultivates humility in believers, reminding them that their standing before God is not based on their merit but solely on His love and mercy, ultimately leading them to glorify Him in all things.

I have what may seem an odd message to you this morning. It'll be taken from 2 Corinthians chapter 5, but I'd like for you to turn with me first of all to the book of 2 Timothy. Much of what I've got to say has to do with Paul's letter to Timothy. In 2 Timothy chapter 2, we'll begin reading there.

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Paul said, when I'm weak, then am I strong, because God's grace is sufficient. And that's what he's telling him here. It's a hard lesson to learn. Be strong in grace. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou unto faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." You're going to talk to men whose hearts are hard. They're not going to want to hear what you've got to say. They're going to look at you like you're from another planet. And he said, endure these things.

No man that woreth entangle himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man strive for the masters, he wants to be a preacher, he wants to be a pastor. Yet he is not crowned except he strive lawfully. There's a way. that God does things. He does them in this order. He don't just do things because you want them. And he don't do them any which way. There's an order with God. There's a pattern.

And if you're going to strive for these things, strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboreth must first be a partaker of the fruits. He eats these things. What's the point in planting a garden if you don't like what you're planting? That's what he said. Before you start planting a garden, you better know what it is you like. I'll never forget planting my first garden. I planted a bunch of zucchini. I didn't realize how prolific zucchini was. There wasn't enough people in my whole neighborhood to give all the zucchini to. So the husband man that laboreth, he must first be partaker of the fruits.

Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel. Wherein I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even unto bonds, but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. There's only one salvation, and that salvation glorifies God.

That's what he's saying here. It is a faithful saying, for if we be dead with him, we also shall live with him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he'll deny us. And if we believe not, Yet he abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself. Lord, we believe, help thou our unbelief. Is that your confession this morning? You realize how much unbelief is in us? And don't we pray for that?

Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words of no profit, but to the subverting of their hearers. studied to show thyself approved unto God. If you don't, if these young men that you're teaching, these young men that you're going to commit these things to, if they don't perceive you to be a servant of God, how in the world are they going to learn to be a servant of God?

You're not going to learn these things in a seminary. You're going to find a pastor that you have some confidence in, and you're going to sit under him and learn. Maybe God will use you in the ministry. Maybe he won't. But you still need to learn these things.

A workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness, and their word will eat in you like a cancer. It'll just eat and eat and eat. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Pilate, who concerning the truth have erred, saying that they that the resurrection has passed already, and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless, the foundation of God's stand is sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are also vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, and prepared unto ever good work. Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they do gender strife. That's why they're asked. People want a platform to get on. They want a soapbox. And so they bait you, and you answer these foolish questions. Now you've given him a platform.

But the servant of the Lord must not strive. He's got to be gentle unto all men. and apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." He may do it. If he didn't intend to do it, this would never be written in his words.

And that they may recover themselves out of what? Out of the snare of the devil. Oh. Oh, I thought it was just a misunderstanding. No. No. I'm trying to recover this man out of the snare of the devil. That's where all of our problems come from, is false religion. Who were taken captive by him at his will. They thought they could stand on their own. just reason everything by themselves.

No, sir. This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. Now, this is not talking about a few examples here. I want you to understand what this is talking about. This is talking about the attitude and overall way of thinking of men. And it's going to get worse. That's what Paul said. Perilous times is going to come.

Men should be lovers of them own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truthbreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness.

I'm a Christian. but guilty of all these things. They have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. What's the power? That's the strength he talked about earlier, the grace of God. For of this sort are they that creep into houses and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Boy, you listen to him talk and you think, wow, that must be all this guy does 24-7, study. He's an expert on everything.

They're ever learning, but they're never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. And as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth. Men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith. But they're going to proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs was also.

But thou hast fully known." Now here's the thing, and I'll be referring to this passage. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, and afflictions that came to me at Antioch and Iconium, which I endure. But out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scriptures given by inspiration of God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, complete, truly furnished unto all good works. And now he looks at this young man and he says, I charge thee, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

Preach the word. I know what men are going to say. I know what they're going to accuse you of. But here's what you preach, the word. The word. And be instant, in season, out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.

But after their own lust shall they heap together teachers having itching ears." These false teachers. They've got an itch, and they want it scratched. And they're going to get people in there that's going to scratch their itch. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.

But watch thou in all things, and do afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and make full proof of thy ministry. May the Lord bless the reading of this morning. Our Father, we call upon you this morning knowing that all provision, every good and perfect gift comes down from heaven from the father of lights.

And we call upon you this morning with some understanding of this and ask for your spirit. Pray that you will overrule whatever ignorance is in our hearts and teach us the truth. And give us the attitude and spirit to preach it as it ought to be preached. Allow us to to lose whatever fear we have of this world and controversy and all these things, to just let these things aside and do what you've called us to do. And now, Father, as I pray this morning, I pray for these young men. If you see fit to work in the hearts of one of these here and call him into the ministry, I pray that you'll give me the words to teach him. and the spirit and attitude to set an example before them. Be with us this morning, we ask for Christ's sake. Amen. I invite you to turn back with me to 2 Timothy chapter 4. This is the Apostle Paul's second letter to this young preacher.

A young man born under Paul's ministry, he was a faithful, loving, trustworthy man who stood with the apostle even in his darkest hour. He stood with Paul even as the gainsayers criticized him being put in prison. You're following after a lawbreaker. That's what they accused him of. Timothy of, but he stood with Paul. He ministered to Paul while he was in prison, and he stood with him during the darkest of times and even when others walked away. And no doubt Timothy also went through these very same things, or else Paul would not have exhorted him concerning these things. And the apostle stood with him for the same and then the same persecution. Now, I said that to say this. We are one body. One body. We're one people. If you're here, you're a believer. We're one body. There's one spirit.

What's that mean? The spirit of the living God is our teacher. He's the one who opens our minds and hearts to receive the truth of the gospel. I don't have one spirit and you have another. We have one spirit. And this spirit works with the means that God's ordained and he works in the order God's given at God's time on the basis of God's character and he works. We don't have two or three different spirits. There's no reason for all this division. We have one heart, one mind. We're one body, one spirit.

Listen to this. Called in one hope of our calling. What's your hope? Christ in you. The hope of glory. And we as believers have one mind. One mind. What's that mean? Well, that's how we walk. That's how we act. That's how we get along with one another. That's how we minister. That's how we suffer. That's how we look at all things. One mind. This is how we think.

We have the mind of Christ. With the mind of Christ, I serve the law of God. I see that law exalted, honored, and I'm thankful for it. We have the mind of Christ, and Paul said, God revealed his son in me that I might preach him among the heathen. Paul was a preacher. He was called of God.

Preaching was not just a vocation with him. He didn't ride around in a carriage with a little sign outside that says clergy. When he went to the marketplace, he didn't expect whoever's checking him out cash register to greet him as reverend, he would just pause.

He counted his calling a high privilege, and whatever sufferings and persecutions that he had to bear because of it, he counted them a privilege. A privilege? Yes, a privilege. Because these sufferings identified him with the Savior. Peter said, when you do good and suffer for it, take it patiently, for this is acceptable with God. For even here unto were you called, called to suffer, yes, because Christ suffered for us. Now, from the language in this epistle and from my own experience, I can tell you that a preacher is a man who's confronted with controversy.

Controversy. And your impulse is to take out your sword and whack your head off. That's your impulse. But listen to how Paul tells Timothy to deal with these things. These are men who opposed him, opposed what he preached. Said, no, we don't believe that.

2 Timothy 2.24, I read it to you a few minutes ago. And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle. unto all men, apt to teach. If I return a comment from one of these men, my purpose is to teach him, not to tear him down, not to slam him down, not to slap him in the face. It's to teach him.

There's only one reason why a man, especially a man who claims to be a pastor or a preacher, to hold on to a wrong view of the truth. There's only one reason. The snare of the devil. That's exactly what Paul says. I'm trying to recover him from the snare of the devil.

And I must not strive, I must be gentle in meekness, instructing them that oppose themselves, if God perhaps, peradventure, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. How come us to know a thing and another to miss it? The Holy Ghost was pleased by His grace to reveal it to you, and for a reason, and for a reason. We're so acceptable to Satan. I mean, he's a powerful enemy. Don't ever think you can just tell the devil to go on back to hell where he come from. That's foolishness. That's foolishness.

He drug out of heaven itself a third of the angels. A third of the heavenly hosts followed this man. One interaction with a perfect woman And she succumbed to it. And because of it, the fall of man. Now here's the thing about grace that men overlook completely. I want us to learn something here. I hope you'll give me a hearing. God gives these mysteries to the weakest of men. Huh? He gives these mysteries to the weakest, most ignorant of men, and he does it to magnify his mercy and grace.

Paul learned this over time. He said, when I'm weak, then am I strong. When I realize my own ignorance, then the light of the glory of God shines so clearly in the things of God. When I realize my own ignorance. And that's why we're meek to start with, because they know who made them to differ from another. Our ministry is performed out of love and gratitude. Otherwise, I'm wasting my time.

Christ loved us and gave himself for us. 1 John chapter 4, which is about how to recognize faithful gospel preachers. And John calls us to see in this man and in his message and in his life the love of God. And he uses the word love over 10 times in chapter 4. Love. And this is to recognize God's ambassadors.

Several years ago, a small group of Calvinists, or Calvinistic preachers, I should say, decided they're going to whittle down those who claim to preach grace by confronting them on these. They picked out some controversial issues. And the very first one that they confronted them with was eternal justification.

Now, if you didn't fall in line on this, you's out of the club. You're out. Well, and they didn't agree among one another. Some said it was at the cross. Some said it was when a man believes, and on and on and on it went. They didn't even agree, but they all agreed on one thing.

It wasn't eternal. Well, if it wasn't, then God went against his own nature when he allowed the human race to continue after Adam. Justification was when God ordained his son as the justifier. That's eternal justification. And nothing's changed. I know Christ had to come and I know Christ had to die. But he had to die because he already stood as our justifier in eternity past.

And God counted it done because he sent his son to do it. He trusted all things unto him. And then one day, somebody in that little group Heard a man talking about Christ being made sin. Made sin. Now you can turn with me over to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. He made Christ sin for us. And this becomes a giant issue and a point of division among preachers and churches.

And I said all this because of a phone call I received this past week from a man that I've known his name forever. I don't really have any personal fellowship with him over the years. He may have attended somewhere where I preached, but I don't remember it. But I've known his name for years and years and years, and I'm not going to give you his name.

But he called me, and he said, I hear you coming out to California. I said, yes, sir. And he said, well, I got to ask you something. He said, I've been confronted with some young preachers who are preaching that Christ become a sinner. And I knew, oh, no, here we go again, back to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Here we go. Soon as he said it, I knew where he was going to go with it. And before his words even finished out of his mouth, this scripture came to me over in 2 Timothy chapter 3, where he tells Timothy, all these men were accusing him of this, that, and the other. And these other men that he fellowshiped with. And Paul said, you've known my doctrine fully. You have fully known. I have 1,700 messages on Sermon Audio. 1,700 messages. I preached all the way through Genesis, verse by verse. I went all the way through Exodus, verse by verse. We've been through Joshua, going through Judges. I've been through Jonah, verse by verse, and the entire New Testament, verse by verse.

If you want to know what I believe, look it up and push the button. It'll tell you exactly what I believe. What I needed to know on 2 Corinthians 5, I have three or four messages on 2 Corinthians chapter 5. All you got to do is hit the button. They like to debate. Now, I'm telling you, this is what they like. It makes them look wise or big or something in their own eyes. I don't know why they do it. I just know that they do it. But Paul said to Timothy, I don't have to explain myself.

You've been with me. You know my persecutions. You know my patience. You know my love. You know my charity. You're a partaker of these things. You were born again under my ministry. You've fully known my ministry. You've known my manner of life, my purpose, my faith, my long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, and afflictions.

I've been a pastor here for almost 20 years, just not very many months. It'll be 20 years. And I'll tell you something. In my past life, I've passed through the fire. You know something about the fires of trials? I do. I do. And I haven't been preaching these many years in somebody's living room. Most everything I've taught the priest is recorded for anybody who wants to hear it. It's recorded.

And the only reason for anybody to call me and ask what I believe is to start some kind of a debate or draw a line in the sand. Now, turn with me here to 2 Corinthians 5. This man asked me where I stood on this issue. He asked me what I thought about such a thing. And here's what I said to him. And I hope this will ring clear with you.

It matters very little what I think. And my opinion doesn't amount to anything. The only thing important here on this issue is what God says. Now, if you're not willing to do that, then hang up. Just hang up, because I've got nothing else to say. The only thing important here is what God says. That's the only thing that matters.

I started going to church with my dad when I was six years old. I'm 76. 70 years going to Arminian churches and Calvinistic churches, and I'm going to tell you something. Not one time in 70 years have I ever heard anybody from the pulpit say that Christ was made a sinner or become a sinner or sinned in any way. That's ridiculous.

This is what men say that we're saying when we say Christ was made sin. I'm not saying that he was a sinner or become a sinner. It said he was made sin who knew no sin. That ought to be the end of that, shouldn't it? And for all my young life, I went and I listened to these things. I never heard such a thing. Nobody preaches that. This is just what people accuse you of. And I told this man exactly what I'm getting ready to tell you this morning.

The word of God here in 2 Corinthians 5.21 says, for he, that is God, hath made him, that is Christ, sin for us. Now, I know some of you looking on your phone and your phone ain't gonna show you this, but if you got a Bible in your hand, you notice that to be is in italics. That means that it was added by the translators. It's not in the original text.

He wasn't made to be anything. He is. Now what he said over and over and over in the book of John, I am. I am. Now, God made him sin for us who knew no sin. that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Now God said in his word that he made Christ's sin for us. I said that's what the word of God says. To deny this is to call God a liar.

He said in 1 John 5.10 that this is the witness of God. To deny this witness is to make God a liar. There's no getting around the word of God or explaining it away. God made his son sin for us. That's what it says.

So how was he made sin? That's where the issue is, isn't it? How? How was he made sin? Well, that's really the issue. And I tried to show this man four things concerning what God said on this very subject. And I pray by God's grace, you'll be enlightened by it. Here's four things that the scripture says plainly on this issue, God made him sin. First of all, he was made sin by divine ordination. starts out and tells us God made him sin. Huh? How was he made sin? God made him sin. How'd he do it? I don't know. Same way he made the world out of nothing. I don't know. It's a mystery. I don't know.

But it's a wonderful, wonderful, amazing act of God's sovereign grace. God ordained him to be made sin. Nobody else Him, Elon, one man did this. Oh, wonderful grace of God that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all. And whatever it is to be made sin, it was directly related to God's holy character because God ordained it. heart and purpose of His grace.

Back in chapter 1 of 2 Timothy in verse 9, the Apostle Paul said to this young minister, God hath saved us and called us. Well, which did he do? He did both. Now watch this. God hath saved us and called us. How? With a holy calling. That means that your salvation and your calling was in perfect harmony with the character of God. That's what he's telling this young master.

And it's not according to our works, but it's according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. This is God's holy name at stake here. It's his character and what makes him God. When you question this, Christ being made sin, you're questioning the very character of God. He must be made sin. God's not going to punish an unrighteous man. He has to be made sin.

He sent his son into the world and manifested our salvation. accomplished our redemption and said, neither is there salvation in any other, now listen, for there's none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. What's that name? It's the holy character of God. There's none other name. Has to be this.

The God that saves sinners is the God who saves them and calls them with a holy calling a calling without compromise of his name. And even more, it manifests the glory of God, which is his name. So first of all, God made him sin for us according to the holy, just, and righteous character of God. God saves sinners for the glory of his name. That's what he's doing. All right, secondly, God made him sin for us who knew no sin by divine and eternal union with Christ. We're saved because God made us one with his son. That's full provision.

He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, and he did it that we might be holy. Is there any other way to be holy outside of Christ? No. And without blame, any other way to put away sin besides Christ? No. Before Him in love, securing God's love for you even though you're a sinner. There's no other way to do it except union with His Son.

And when Jesus Christ came into the flesh, he manifested God's covenant union with his people. He became one with us, flesh of our flesh. And he's the God-man. Isn't that what the scriptures say? He's the God-man. In Galatians 2.20, Paul makes an amazing statement. He said, I am crucified with Christ. not crucified because of Christ. He said, I'm crucified with Christ. There's no other way that you can understand that except as we're in union with him. When God poured his wrath out on his son, he poured it out on me. And that's how Paul viewed it. That's how every preacher of God's sovereign grace preaches it. I'm crucified with Christ. Who was crucified? Paul was. How? With Christ. And how was he made sin? By divine and eternal union.

Listen to this verse over in Ephesians 2.5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace are you saved, and hath raised us up together. and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. There's no way that I, as a sinner, could be seated at the right hand of God except as I'm in union with His Son. Now, if I'm in union with His Son and He's seated at the right hand of God, so am I. So am I. That's my hope. seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus by divine union.

Now listen to this verse, 1 Corinthians 1.30. You can turn over there if you want to and read this verse. Brother Mahan said years ago, it's one of the most comprehensive verses in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 1.30.

But of him, that is God, are you in Christ Jesus? who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. That's divine union, right? There's no other way. No other way you can take it. That according as it's written, he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Thirdly, how was Christ made seen? by substitution. Barabbas, you're free to go. How can that be?

I've already been convicted. The judge has already pronounced me guilty, and they're putting my cross that I'm going to be crucified on, they're putting it in a hole right now. What do you mean I'm free to go? Another has been chosen to die in your place. That's substitution.

Isaiah knew this, and he wrote about it 700 years before Christ came into the world. He said, all we like sheep have gone astray, we've turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement of our grace was upon him, and with his stripes were he He died, Peter said, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but raised by the Spirit, quickened by the Spirit. Jesus Christ did not die on the cross to give all men a chance to be saved. Salvation is not by chance. It's according to God's own purpose and grace. And according to that own purpose and grace, we are his elect. He chose us. And when he died, he died for us. Does that make a difference? Well, yeah.

If he died for the whole world and part of them not going to be saved, then his death wasn't effectual. The only way you can see or view the death of Christ as effectual is to believe in election. Christ died for every sinner given to him by his Father in eternal election. And it's an election of grace, an election of God.

If he died for me, my debt's paid. My redemption is accomplished. My inheritance is secured. And all the means of grace will be enacted and the means made effectual so that fruit shall appear on the tree, and God will get all the glory. And then lastly, how was Christ made sin? By imputation.

What's that mean? It means by legal transfer. parents responsible for their child until they become 18. That child steals money. They're not going to come to that child. They're going to come to you. You owe this. Well, wasn't I? I didn't do it. They did it. Yeah, but you're the parent. You're responsible. Crash willingly become responsible for us. You know, you cosign. I made the mistake of cosigning one time. If you cosign on a note, the bank can come to you at any time and say, we want the money, all of it. And you got to cough it up or lose whatever was at stake. Makes you responsible. Jesus Christ is our covenant surety. He stands responsible for all of its demands. Listen to these verses. Psalm 32. Listen to this. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord impugneth not iniquity. How come? Because it's charged to the Son. Read the same thing in Romans chapter 4. Paul quoted that verse. And then in 2 Corinthians 5, Paul said this about the ministry of reconciliation.

Here it is, to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. Now, imputation, that it's not just God saying, well, I'm not going to charge him. I'm going to charge him. God only imputes what's real. If he imputes righteousness to the believer, it's because he's made righteous. Well, how's he made righteous? In his Son. If God imputes sin to the Son, it's because by divine union he's made sin. You understand what I'm saying? He don't impute something that's not there, it's real. It's real, and that's the whole point of this verse, is to tell you that salvation is real. You have a real substitute, a real union, a real salvation in Christ.

And God honored it by his own character and his own name. Paul says in Romans 3 that God sent him forth as a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sin. Past, present, and future believers to declare his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. At judgment, nobody's going to stand up and tell God, you're not just in this thing. You're not just. No, he's not. He's not going to say that because he is just, and he proved it.

And this is what Paul has ordered Timothy to do, to study and rightly divide the word of truth and preach the word, not what seems right to men, but the word. Why? Because the time has come. I know Paul says it's coming, but it's here. The time has come when men will not endure sound doctrine. You can show them a thing in the word of God, and they'll lay it aside. They'll lay it aside. Perilous times. Beware the time come when men will not endure sound doctrine. They got an itch and they won't scratch. Now, why did I say these things to you? Because I know you're going to be confronted with them. I know you will.

And rather than just turn red in the face and walk away or get mad, just slow down and patiently tell them what the Lord said. You know there's a place, I can't give you a chapter and verse, but there's a place where our Lord told them, He said, there's going to come a time when you're confronted with these things, very controversial things, and He said, don't give any thought for what you should say. Because the Spirit of God will give you something to say in that day. He's not telling that man not to study the controversial subject, he's just saying, don't sit around and try to think up what you're going to say. Something witty and something, don't do that.

Just learn the doctrine, and you'll know what to say. And I'm so thankful that the Lord had taught me these things, and I was able to answer this man in a calm voice. And I hope, as God is my witness, I hope this man goes home and reads his Bible and thinks about what I see. I know we respect men, but men are wrong sometimes.

Who's subject to get carried away with the snares of the devil? Anybody. Anybody. He's like a roaring lion. He's just sitting there waiting. He's just waiting. And he's patient. And boy, when the time comes, he'll snatch you out of the water so fast, you won't know what hit you.

So let's just be kind to one another. Father, I pray that you'll take these things and use them to teach us the truth. Teach us how to respond to men. Teach us how to teach men. Make us apt to teach. And give us the spirit of your grace and kindness and mercy and longsuffering to do it. We ask it for Christ's sake. Amen.

Preach The Word

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How do we know that Christ was made sin for us?

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Preach The Word

What does the Bible say about preaching the word?

How do we know that Christ was made sin for us?

Why is grace important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Darvin Pruitt

Comments

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