Preach the Word

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

The Bible emphasizes the importance of preaching the Word as a solemn charge given by Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:2). The Bible instructs us in 2 Timothy 4:2, where the Apostle Paul charges Timothy to 'preach the word.' This command indicates that preaching is not just a formality, but a divinely ordained duty that faithfully communicates God's truth to His people. In accordance with Paul’s exhortation, all scripture is described as 'God-breathed' (2 Timothy 3:16), meant for teaching, correction, and guidance in righteousness. These are vital for the growth and maturity of the believer, thus establishing the pivotal role of preaching within the church.

Q: Why is sound doctrine important for Christians?

Sound doctrine is essential as it forms the foundation of our faith, guiding believers in truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Sound doctrine is of paramount importance for Christians, as it represents the foundation upon which faith is built. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul warns that there will be a time when people will not endure sound doctrine but will turn away to fables. This indicates that the integrity and health of the church hinge on adherence to biblical truth. Additionally, doctrine informs our understanding of God's character, the fall of man, and salvation, which are crucial for knowing how to live in accordance with God's will. A church that upholds sound doctrine is equipped to face challenges and maintain the purity of the Gospel.

Q: How do we know that scripture is inspired by God?

Scripture is said to be inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) as it is divinely breathed out and profitable for teaching. We know that scripture is inspired by God because 2 Timothy 3:16 states that 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God.' The term 'inspired' indicates that the writings of the Bible are not mere human constructs, but are 'God-breathed,' meaning they come directly from God through the Holy Spirit. This divine authorship ensures that scripture carries the authority of God's will and serves a vital purpose: teaching truth, correcting errors, and instructing believers in righteousness. Additionally, 2 Peter 1:21 reinforces this by stating that prophecies were not produced by the will of man, but holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Q: What is the significance of preaching in the church?

Preaching is significant because it conveys the Gospel and edifies the church, which is vital for spiritual maturity (Acts 6:4). The significance of preaching in the church cannot be overstated, as it is the primary means through which God's Word is communicated to believers. As evidenced in Acts 6:4, the apostles prioritized prayer and the ministry of the Word over other roles, clearly establishing that preaching is central to the church's mission. It serves to instruct, correct, and build up the faith of the congregation. Through the preaching of the Word, believers are equipped to live out their faith, gain understanding of God's character, and engage with the grace of Jesus Christ, ultimately growing in spiritual maturity.

All right, let's turn to 2 Timothy, chapter 4. I think it's very significant
that I point out again that this is an epistle written
by the Apostle Paul in his latter days, hours, I might say, just
prior to his death. And he's writing to Timothy,
young Timothy. I started to say one of his favorites,
and I think I could legitimately say that. Timothy was perhaps
Paul's favorite. The old preacher is charging
the young preacher, and he says to him in verse 1 of chapter
4, I charge thee, I charge thee therefore before
God, how solemn that is, before God and before the Lord Jesus
Christ. who shall judge the living and
the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word."
Preach the word. You know, there's an unfortunate
chapter division here between chapter 3 and 4, and I think
all of these men here tonight who have studied the scriptures
will agree that that this division ought not to be here, because
here is the Apostle Paul using the word, therefore, I charge
thee therefore, because of what I've just said, because of what
I've just laid before you, then preach the word. So let's go
back to verse 16, verse 16 of chapter 3, and he said, all scripture,
All scripture is given by inspiration of God. The word there is all
scripture is God breathed, inspired by the Holy Spirit. If you will,
hold that place and turn to 2 Peter chapter 1. 2 Peter chapter 1. And Peter is
talking here about his experience when he was on the Mount of Transfiguration
with the Lord Jesus Christ. There was Peter, James, and John
with the Master on the mountain. And the scripture said he was
glorified before them, and his clothes glistened. The glory
of God was around him. Moses and Elijah appeared and
spake with him, and they talked about the death he would accomplish
at Jerusalem. And God the Father spoke and
said, this is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased. That's
the last line in verse 17. And Peter says in 2 Peter 1,
18, this voice which came from heaven we heard, Peter, James,
and John, we heard this voice when we were with him in the
holy mountain. We have also a more sure word
of prophecy. We have a better word than this
vision, than this experience. It's more sure, it's more dependable. It's for all of us. And what
is that? Where unto you do well that you
take heed. You weren't on the mountain with
us, and you didn't see the vision, and you didn't hear the voice,
but you can hear this word. And it's a more sure word of
prophecy. as unto a light that shineth
in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star rise in
your hearts, knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture
is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy, the word of
God, came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." What is this
better foundation? What is this more sure word of
prophecy? A lot of people would give their
Bibles up to have that kind of vision. I wouldn't. And Peter wouldn't either. A
lot of people would give their Bibles up to hear a voice from
heaven just one time. The voice of God just one time.
If you were wise, you wouldn't do it. This is a more sure word
of prophecy. That's what he said. That's exactly
what he said. Now back to the text. All scriptures
God breathed. Just as God spoke from heaven
in that hour on the Mount of Glorification, God also spoke
in the writing of this word. For holy men of God wrote and
spake as they were led by the Holy Spirit. Paul himself is
writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So all Scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and all Scripture is profitable. Profitable for doctrine, that
is, for learning truth concerning God, learning truth concerning
ourselves, learning truth concerning the redemption we have in Christ,
learning truth concerning life everlasting, If we want to know
anything about God and his redemptive will and glory, we'll have to
go to the Word. Feelings come, Luther said, and feelings go. And feelings are deceiving. I
rest my hope and confidence on the Word of God. Nothing else
is worth believing. That's how strong I believe in
the Word. For doctrine, for reproof, that
is of error. reproof of error, and we have
to do some of that. It's not pleasant, and a lot
of folks don't like it, but we've got to call attention to error
and heresy and false teaching. We just must do it. And I know
it's distasteful, and it's distasteful to our hearers sometimes when
we point out error and heresy and false teachings, but we must
do it. We must do it for our young folks.
Let's do it by ourselves too. And then for correction, we need
to be corrected. We need to daily be corrected.
That's what the scripture does. It's profitable for doctrine,
foundation. It's profitable for reproof of
error and heresy and false teaching. It's profitable for correction.
Correct me in my practice, in my attitude. In my spirit, I
need to be daily corrected. And then for instruction in righteousness,
twofold. I need to know the righteousness
of Christ, imputed. But I need to know something
about the righteousness of God imparted. And this word is profitable
in both exercises, the imputed righteousness of Christ and the
imparted righteousness of Christ, look at verse 17, that the man
of God, the man who trusts God and believes God, not the man
who's carrying on a pretense or hypocrisy, but the man whose
heart is knit to God in Christ, that that man may be perfect.
That word is mature. I'm sure you know that, and I'm
sure I'm not violating the scriptures when I say none of us are perfect.
We're perfect in Christ, perfectly righteous, perfectly holy, perfectly
accepted. But I'm not perfect in this life. I'm going to be someday. But
that the man of God might be mature and truly furnished, truly
furnished unto all good works, that the believer may grow to
maturity, that we may grow up and be fully equipped and taught
of the Word of God to do good works. Desire the milk of the
word that you may grow thereby. And that's when he comes and
says, therefore. Verse 1, chapter 4. I charge
you, Timothy, therefore. Because all scripture is given
by inspiration of God. Because all wisdom and understanding
is contained in the scripture. Because our growth and maturity
depends on our knowledge of the scriptures. Because we must give
an account. Did you know that? You know,
I sometimes wonder when I hear men preach, is that what they want to hold
before the Lord Jesus Christ in that day? Turn to Hebrews chapter 13. Listen
to this. He says, I charge you before
God and before the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living
and the dead at his appearing. Look at Hebrews 13, verse 17. This is talking to the church,
talking to the people of God. And it says here in verse 17,
now listen to it, let it say what it says. Obey them. That's what I talked about this
morning, authority. in the home, in the school, in
the church, in the factory, where obey them that have the rule
over you. And he's talking here about preachers
of the gospel. He's not talking about all these
folks that claim to be preachers. He's talking about God's preachers.
Obey them that have the rule or guide you and submit yourselves. They watch for your souls as
they that must give an account. I've got to give an account of
that message I preached this morning, the one I'm trying to
preach now, the one I'm going to preach next Wednesday in Arkansas.
Got to give an account. Listen, that they may give that
account with joy and not with grief, that's unprofitable for
you. I tell you, if I don't preach
the word and preach the truth of God and rightly divide the
word of truth, it's going to be unprofitable for me someday.
and for you too. And I need to get out of here
and somebody else get in here that will preach the word of
God. They must give an account. And
he says this three words in verse 2, preach the word. Now if I
could leave, when I leave here, if I could leave a legacy or
an example It would be contained in the article that I put in
the bulletin either last week or the week before, entitled,
Preach the Word. I don't know whether many of
you read it or not, but I put myself into that particular article
from this verse of Scripture, Preach the Word, Preach the Word.
And I said this, I'll remind you of it by calling your attention
to it again. The scripture says it pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. And
I said there can be no substitute for preaching the Word. Preaching
the Word, there can be no substitute for that. And all who attempt
to attract followers by any other means than preaching the Word,
whether it be socially or friendship or however, whatever, whatever
methods and means we use to attract people to us and to our ministry.
If we use any other means except the preaching of the word, we
only weaken our ministry, which is God's ministry, and we build
wood, hay, and stubble. That's what we build. We'll get
followers. We'll attract followers. like a pied piper, but it'll
be wood, hay, and stubble, and it'll be burned someday. You
see, good music, I love. I love this music. I love the
specials. I love the instruments. It's
good in its proper place. Well-written bulletins. We put
out bulletins for you. Personal fellowship. Here you
fellowship with one another. Go to one another's homes. You
have social contact, and dinners, and potluck dinners, and we have
dinners back here, and all these different things, and visitations,
and all these things. They serve a good purpose. They
serve a good purpose. But they are efforts to no avail
without the power of the pulpit. This is where it's all done.
All these other things make contributions. But these other things will be
total failures if we don't have the power of the pulpit. Is that
right, Cecil? The preaching of the Word of
God. Is that right, John? This is where it's done. This
is where people are taught. This is where sinners hear the
gospel. This is where a church is disciplined. This is where
people learn about God, the preaching of the Word. That's just so. That's just so. Hold Timothy
there a minute and turn to the book of Acts. Let me show you
something here. Acts chapter 6. Now, back here, and I know
these other things are useful, and let's don't stop doing them.
Let's keep contact and friendship and fellowship and give us music
to inspire us and to edify us and all. But preach the Word.
Preach the Word. In the book of Acts, chapter
6, verse 1, it says, in those days the number of the disciples
will multiply. There's a whole lot of them.
And there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews
because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. In
other words, they were distributing food to the needy and helping
the widows and seeing that they had proper things. And you saw
the article in the Bulletin recently. Our church does a lot of that.
Martha's busy in taking care of unfortunate, needy people
that come by here. Last year, $10,300 went to buying
medicine and food and these things for needy people in our area.
And this was a problem, and they wanted the disciples to handle
it. When people call me for those things, I say, I don't handle
that. Call my secretary. I'm too busy doing what I'm supposed
to do. Preacher's not supposed to be
walking up and down the street trying to to win friends and
influence people, he's supposed to be trying to find something
to preach. And that's what these fellows said. Then the twelve
apostles called a multitude of the disciples to them and said,
it's not reason that we should leave the Word of God and wait
on tables, attend banquets, and carry on this sort of thing.
Therefore brethren, look out among you seven men of honest
report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, and we'll point them
over all this business. Let them take care of it. And
what are we going to do in the meantime? Go fishing? No. We're
going to give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word
of God. That's the preacher's business. Twofold. Prayer and
preaching. That's his business. And I tell
you, when the disciples said that, they were setting the example
for preachers to follow them. I heard a preacher say one time,
he got up and he just knocked. struck out. And when he got through,
he said, well, I just didn't have time to prepare. And the
thing about that is you don't ever have time. You take time.
You take time. That's what I would say to every
preacher here and everyone that'll hear this tape. You don't have
time. You take time to prepare to preach. Preaching the gospel
is what we're called to do, and anything else, I don't care what
it is, is secondary. preaching the gospel. I had a
little illustration there. When you select a doctor, when
you're sick, you've got a real problem, and you're sick, do
you go to a doctor because he's friendly? I see these fellas,
righteous artists in the church that adds themselves, friendly
church. Is that why you go to a doctor? Because he's friendly?
I think we ought to be friendly. That's not why I go to a doctor.
Because he's nice looking? Because he has the proper credentials,
he's got so many degrees, got the proof on his office wall.
Or maybe you go to the doctor's office because it's such a lovely
building, the curtains and the drapes and the exterior is beautiful. Is that why you go to a doctor? You go to a doctor because his
medicine heals. His medicine heals. And I tell
you this, when you select a church, If you have any interest in God
at all, it won't be because the preacher is friendly or nice
looking, or because he's got the credentials, or because the
building is beautiful. You go there because that's where
the gospel of God's grace is preached. Now, brethren, ladies
and gentlemen, you who are visiting here tonight, that's the important You're pretty
selective about your restaurants, aren't you? You don't eat out
of the garbage can, do you? Sinners with whom God is dealing,
they care about the healing word preached in the fire of the Holy
Ghost. And that's what Timothy is told here by Paul. Timothy
preached the word. Preached the word. And then he
went on and said, Be instant. Instant. In season, out of season.
What does that mean? It means be diligent. Don't let
up. Don't faint. We'll reap in due
season, but faint not. Be diligent. Be steadfast. In
season, out of season. What does that mean? What does
that mean? Whether the opportunity is favorable or unfavorable. Whether it seems convenient or
inconvenient. Keep preaching the gospel. Same
gospel. whether the word is welcomed
or unwelcomed. We preach the word, be diligent
and steadfast at all times, and what's this? Rebuke, reprove,
rebuke, reprove error, rebuke sin, exhort believers, listen,
with all patience and doctrine. Now that's a word that that folks just in 1991 are just
not crazy about. Verse 3 says the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine. But you know doctrine
is our foundation. Turn with me to Psalm 11, Psalm
chapter 11. Listen to this. Psalm chapter
11, verse 3. Take heed to yourself and to
your doctrine, Paul said in another place. Take heed to yourself
and to your doctrine. For in so doing, you'll save
yourselves and them that hear you. Your doctrine. That's the
foundation. Look at Psalm 113. If the foundations
be destroyed, what can the righteous do? What are we going to do if
we leave our foundations? Another scripture. Turn to 1
Corinthians. I want you to look at this. 1
Corinthians chapter 3. 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse
10. Listen. Paul's talking about
his ministry. Now, 1 Corinthians 3 is written
to preachers. It's written about preachers,
too. 1 Corinthians 3, 10 says, "...according to the grace of
God, which is given unto me as a wise master builder, I have
laid the foundation. I've laid the foundation. And
another man builds their own. Let every man take heed how he
builds their own. For other foundation can no man
lay. That which is laid, Christ Jesus
our Lord. My dear friend, Brother Kendall,
R.T. Kendall over in England. And
I have exchanged some letters recently in which I was very
strong and dogmatic in some things that I believe are essential
to preaching the Word of God, preaching the gospel. And I mentioned to him about
some company that he has been keeping and having in his pulpit, mainly two, Arthur Blessed and
Billy Graham. And he wrote back to me and these
were his words. He said, well, Henry said, Arthur
Blessed and Billy Graham are not theologians. And Arthur Blessed and Billy
Graham do not say the things that you and I would like for
them to say. But nevertheless, God has used them. to bless his
people. And my friends, if there's ever been a day when
we need to be firm and strong and reestablish the doctrines
and the foundations, this is the day. If there's ever been
a day when we need to avoid compromise, this is that day. Because the
foundations in most places are all but gone. What am I talking
about? Five or six things. And these are things that those
men do not preach, whether they're theologians or whatever they
are. But you know, theology, isn't that the study of God?
Well, you'd think the world's most renowned evangelist would
study God, wouldn't you? That he would be a theologian,
a student of God. Isn't that what theology is?
Study of God. Well, you'd think he'd be a student
of God. And when a man writes about it, he says he's no theologian.
And he won't say the things that we want him and think he ought
to say. Well, why won't he say them? Why won't he say them? He'd have to answer that. I can't.
But why won't he say them? I think I know. But here are
those things, the foundations, doctrine. Preach the word, be
instant, in season, out of season. Exhort the long-suffering in
doctrine, for the time will come when they'll not endure sound
doctrine. At times here, here's what I'm talking about without
apology. I'm talking about the character
of God. The absolute, immutable, infinite, unchangeable sovereignty
of God in all things. You see, the scriptures don't
begin with man, they begin with God. What preachers are doing today,
they're beginning with man and trying to go to God. You don't
start that way. You start with God and leave
man what's left. You establish the character of
God first. I think if I ever took another
church as pastor, which it seems, that seems improbable, but I
think for the first two years I'd preach on who is God. Who
is God? You see, David said, the heathen
says, where's your God? Our God's in the heavens. He
hath done whatsoever he pleased. Whatsoever the Lord please, that
did he in heaven, earth, and the seas, and all deep places.
I am the Lord, that is my name. I declare the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are not yet done. Who can
stay my hand? Who can say unto me, What doest
thou? I am God." I think the second foundation
is the fall of man and the consequences thereof. We're going to have
to stay a while on the character of God, the character of God.
And then on the fall of man, the character of the sinner,
as in Adam all die. By one man's sin entered the
world, and death by sin. You who were dead had to quicken.
I was born in sin, shapen in iniquity, brought forth speaking
lies from the sole of the feet to the top of the head. There's
no soundness in us. There's none righteous, none
good, none that seek after God, none that understand. This is
us. We do fate as a leaf. Our righteousness is a filthy
rag. Tell it! It's so. I preached here one time on the
depravity of man. And some dear soul stopped as
I was shaking hands with the door and looked at me and said,
Do you really think we're that bad? I said, No, I think we're worse. I believe if I could really tell
us what we are in the sight of God, we'd be as white-headed
as Richard down here. You must have seen it. That's
right. We wouldn't look up again, would
we? We'd go around with our heads down somewhere. Man, we're not
appealing to sinners to do something for God. We're appealing to God
to do something for sinners. That's the foundation. The third
one is salvations of the Lord. Salvations of the Lord from Alpha
to Omega in His planning, in His execution, in His application,
in His sustaining power, in His ultimate perfection. Salvations
of the Lord. The Lord saved whom He will.
He'll be merciful to whom He will. He'll be gracious to whom
He will. Jonah said that. Paul said that. God had chosen us in Christ before
the foundation of the world. I don't apologize for that. Christ
said in his prayer, Father, you've given me power over all flesh
that I'll give eternal life to as many as you've given me. The Son quickeneth whom he will. God's ear is not heavy that he
cannot hear, and his arm is not short that he cannot save. He
can save whom he pleases to save. You say, where does that leave
us? Shut up to mercy. That's the best place a man can
find himself. Shut up to mercy, because he's
plenteous in mercy. He won't bargain with you, but
he will show mercy to you. He won't swap with you, but he'll
show mercy to you. He won't take anything from you,
but he'll give a whole lot to you. If he can find one naked,
he'll clothe him. He can find one dead, he'll give
him life. If he can find one born, he'll
give him sight. If he can find one dead, he'll
give him hearing. God is able. Salvation is of the Lord. And
I'll tell you, that foundation, instead of, you know, preaching
and appealing to sinners to come and do something for God, tell
the truth about God. Tell the truth about the fall.
Tell the truth about salvation and have sinners crying for mercy.
Seeking the Lord, leaving the congregation, going out somewhere,
seeking the Lord, crying like the thief on the cross. Remember
me, like the publicans of the temple, have mercy on me. And I'll tell you, when that
person is saved, you won't have to conserve the results, as they
say. You can't run him off. He'll
be hanging around. You can't run him off. We're
convicted of the Spirit when He's come. He'll convict men
of sin, of righteousness and unbelief. We're taught of the
Spirit. He'll take the things of mine
and show them to you. We're comforted by the Spirit.
He is our comforter. The word is made effectual by
the Spirit, for eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither
hath it entered the heart of man the things God's prepared
for them that love Him, but He hath revealed them unto us by
Spirit. The Holy Spirit seals us. The
Holy Spirit preserves us. Those are foundations. The perseverance
of the believer. The preservation of the believer.
And that's what Paul is saying to Timothy here in verse 2. Preach
the Word! Whether it's convenient or inconvenient,
whether it's welcome or unwelcome, whether it's a favorable time
or unfavorable, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all patience and
doctrine, for the time will come. And my soul, it's here when men
will not endure sound doctrine. And that's the reason I think
a lot of fellas who know it up here don't preach it. They know
people won't have it. They just won't have it. It's
offensive. The gospel of the cross is offensive. Any gospel that's not offensive
is not God's gospel to the natural man. It's offensive. Let me show you that in Galatians
chapter 5. Now, here's what I said. If our
message is not offensive, then we're preaching something besides
grace. We're preaching works. That's what Paul said. If our
gospel is not offensive to the natural man, then we're telling
him something different than salvation by grace. Galatians
5, verse 11. And our brethren, if I yet preach
circumcision, works, law, obedience, duties, why do I yet suffer persecution? For thee is the offense of the
cross ceased. You know what he said? If our
preach works, the offense of the cross is gone. Offense. Peter called it a rock of offense.
Paul in 1 Corinthians called it a stumbling stone. Spurgeon
brought a message one time on the offense of the cross. And
he said in that message, there are four reasons why the preaching
of the cross is offensive. When we tell a man he's a sinner,
and that's what the cross says, that's why Christ died to save
sinners, there's no other way, it offends his dignity. And when
we preach that the gospel comes by revelation, has to be revealed
to the heart, it can't be explained, it has to be revealed. It can't
be learned by reason or research, it has to be revealed. God supernaturally
in regeneration reveals the gospel. That offends a man's wisdom.
The effectual atonement, preaching that salvation is all in Christ,
all in what he did, all in his blood and righteousness, that
offends man's pride. And when we preach his Lordship,
we offend man's love of self. Now, that's good, isn't it? That's
the offense. The calling of a sinner offends
his dignity. Shutting him up to God's revelation
offends his wisdom. Christ and Christ only offends
his pride. And committing to the Lordship
of Christ offends his love of self. But I want to add something
to that. I heard the other day that a
preacher preached on the offense of the cross on television. I
just heard. I didn't see that he was preaching.
I didn't see the program. But I wondered what he would
say. Did any of you see it? the offense of the cross. Well,
here's the offense of the cross. Now listen to me carefully. The offense of the cross, and
when I say the cross, I don't mean that cross. That's popular
now. There are people wearing it,
hanging it around their necks. They wear it on their Bibles
in their lapels. When I say the cross, I'm talking
about the death of Christ. I mean all that was included
in our justification. All that Christ is, all that
Christ did, all that Christ suffered, all that Christ bore to bring
us to God. When Paul says we preach Christ
and Him crucified, he's talking about all the person and work
of Christ. Isn't that right? Justification
by substitution. That's the cross. I'll tell you
what's offensive. Number one, that message is offensive
in its eternality. In other words, what I'm saying
here is when Christ died on that cross, you go right on back in
time to before the foundation of the world. And he died on
that cross because God determined and decreed and designed in an
everlasting covenant that he would redeem a fallen race of
people by that cross. Eternality. You can't have it.
You can't have gospel without election. You can't do it. There's no gospel without election.
Men will not come to Christ. They've got to be called and
chosen. You can't have a gospel without eternal grace, a covenant
of mercy. So don't apologize for it and
don't try to skim around it. You can't have a cross in time
without a cross in eternity. Is that right? Eternality of
the cross. Secondly, the necessity of the
cross. That's the only way God can redeem
folks like you and me. God, in order to be just and
justify us, had to submit our substitute and representative
to the most ignominious, hateful, evil, suffering and death. Is that right? For God's sake,
that cross is necessary. And then for your sake. Justice
demands your death. Justice demands my death. Justice
demands my separation from God. A hateful eternity separated
from God. You say, well, how could one
man in such a short time on that cross bear the sin of so many
because of who he is? Paul took this comfort. He said,
who is he that condemneth? It's Christ that died. That's
the key there. It's not just death. It's who
died. It's Christ that died, the necessity
of the cross. Christ didn't make a way. He
is the way, and he's the only way. There's no other way, there
can't be any other way to satisfy divine justice and holiness and
law without Christ suffering and dying and obeying. Had to
be. That's offensive. They call it
a bloody religion, a slaughterhouse religion, a little bit of everything
else, but it's necessary. And then thirdly, the offense
is in the eternality of the cross, in the necessity of the cross,
and in the effectuality of the cross. What's effectuality? What is effectual redemption?
He did all that needed to be done. Christ fulfilled all that
God required, all the law demanded, all justice required, and all
I need. One hundred percent. And I preached
this morning on television that message I brought last Sunday
on the thief on the cross. I'm saved exactly like that man
was saved. Plus nothing, minus nothing.
I don't care if I preach 40 years or 40 minutes, I'm saved by the
death of Christ. I don't care if you give 5 cents in the plate
or 5 million dollars over a period of 50 years, you're saved by
the cross. Nothing you do before you're
saved or after you're saved makes any contribution to how you're
saved. That's just so. That's offensive. And you tell
this generation, you mean they come to you and say, That this
ain't going to count for nothing? You mean I've served and I've
worked and I've sung and I've taught Sunday school and I've
given my... It's not going to buy me anything? You're foolish
to think it will. He said come without money and
without price. Come with an appetite and a thirst. In my hands, no price I brought,
no price I bring. To the cross of Christ I cling.
I know it's offensive, but don't back up. Don't apologize. And I tell you, the cross is
offensive in its demands. It demands submission. It demands
commitment. And I know folks all over this
country think because they believe a little doctrine that Going
to be like Jesus someday. But I tell you, this scripture
says something about commitment. It says something about commitment.
It says something about discipleship. It says something about taking
up a cross and following Him. It says something about standing
up and being counted. It says something about rolling the banner
as high as you can get it. It says something about that.
It says something about being ashamed of me and I'll be ashamed
of you. Deny me and I'll deny you. Confess me and I'll confess
you. That's all over the word, isn't it? Commitment. And that's offensive. The time will come, look at verse
3 again, when they won't endure this sound doctrine. They won't
have it. But after their own lust, they'll
heap to themselves teachers. Having itching ears. Who's got
the itching ears? Both of them. Preacher and people.
Preacher likes to be bragged on and the people like to be
pacified. And that's the reason churches change preachers all
the time. They get tired of this one, fire him, get him another
one. They get upset with this one, get him another one. This
preacher comes, folks get upset with him, he leaves. Just keep
on changing around, you know. They have itching ears. Both
preacher and people. We're not people-servers, we're
God's servants. We're not people-pleasers. Let's
don't make ourselves obnoxious, but we're not people-pleasers,
we're pleasing God. Verse 4 says, and they'll turn
away their ears from the truth. They can't receive it. Natural
man receive it, not the truth. The things of God, they can't
rejoice in it. Can you rejoice in God's character
and power? I can, I believe I can. Can you
rejoice in Christ's effectual work? Rejoice in Christ Jesus.
Can you love it? Paul said that Thessalonians,
they don't love the truth. They receive not the love of
the truth. Well, where do they turn? They turn to fables. What's
a fable? Any doctrine or practice in religion
is a fable if it can't be found in God's Word. It's a fable. Well, it's a tradition, it's
a fable, if it's not found in Scripture. So we're, Brother
John said, we're exhorted. Look at verse 5 and I'll quit.
But watch, you watch. Be alert. Be alert to error. Be alert to apostasy. Be alert
to heresy. Be alert to these Satans, a subtle
enemy. Watch. Be alert. Guard this pulpit. You men, something
happens to me, guard this pulpit. Guard this pulpit. Be alert. Watch. Endure afflictions. Endure persecution. Endure. If people call you a fanatic,
that's all right. A radical, that's all right. Uneducated, that's all right.
Just endure it. And do the work of a missionary.
Do the work of an evangelist. Keep this gospel going from here
all over the world. Endure all things for the elect's
sake. Keep this gospel going. Do the
work of an evangelist. Look at the next line. And make
full proof of your ministry. What's that saying? He's saying
fulfill the ministry God's given you. Fulfill it. God's given
us a ministry here. It has its course. It'll come
to an end. Let's fulfill it while we're
on this road. I'll tell you, 40 years, 35 years
I've been walking through that door up here. Sunday morning,
Sunday night, Wednesday night, other services. I talked to Scott
this morning about this. I'm more under pressure and burden
and concern and dedicated to telling the truth in this world
than I ever was the first time I walked through there. Much
more. I've got a ministry, and you and I have a ministry God's
given us here. By the grace of God, we're going
to fulfill it to the last minute. We're not going to fade out.
We're not going to phase it out. We're not going to go fishing
while somebody else... We're going to fulfill it right
up to cut-off time. Is that all right? I don't know
when cut-off time is. It'll be there, I guarantee you.
But he says, fulfill your ministry. And then he says this about himself.
He looked at the present without any complaints. He said, I am
now ready to be offered like a drink offering upon the blood
sacrifice, a thanksgiving offering. I'm ready to be offered. The
time of my departure is at hand. I got no complaints. I got no
complaints. And he looked at the past without
any regrets. Listen, I fought a good fight.
I finished my course. I've kept the faith. my profession
of faith and justification by faith. I've kept the faith. Boy,
I tell you, I'd rather be shot at sunrise than deny the faith
of my Lord Jesus Christ, hadn't you? I'd rather be humiliated,
embarrassed, and drugged through town on the back of a donkey
than deny the faith of Jesus Christ. Well, I may preach to
five people next Sunday, but I ain't going to deny this faith,
and you're not either. I'm not going to. I've kept the faith.
I've kept the faith. He looked at the past without
any regrets and therefore he could look at the future without
any fear. Look at the present, no complaints,
God's on the throne. Look at the past with no regrets
and you can look at the future without any fear. Listen, henceforth
there's laid up for me a crown of righteousness. Now he's not
talking about some special thing that he's
going to get and nobody else is going to get, a crown of the
happiness and glory and future state of all believers is signified
by a crown. We call it crown of joy, crown
of rejoicing, crown of righteousness for several reasons. One, what
he's talking about here is his future, and it's signified by
a crown because of the glory of it, the glory of it, the excellency
of it. And also, it signifies the character
of the saints. We're kings and priests. Kings
wear crowns. And thirdly, because we're raised
to sit among princes and inherit the throne of glory. So he calls
it a crown of righteousness, and it's figurative. It's not
something that's going to be sat on top of his head. It's
position. It's position. It's glory. It's
excellent. It's a reign, isn't it? But now
watch this, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me
at that day, and not me only, not me only, but unto all of
them also, even the thief, that love his appearing. What's his
appearing? Well, he appeared on this earth
and put away sin with the sacrifice of himself. He appears now in
the presence of God as our Mediator, and one day he'll appear without
sin of the salvation. And everybody that loves his
appearing, substitute, Mediator, reigning king, is going to have
a crown of righteousness. Well, there it is. All right,
might come lead us in a hymn, if you will.

Preach the Word

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How do we know that scripture is inspired by God?

What is the significance of preaching in the church?

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Preach the Word

What does the Bible say about preaching the Word?

Why is sound doctrine important for Christians?

How do we know that scripture is inspired by God?

What is the significance of preaching in the church?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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