An ageing English evangelist remarked recently that we do not hear the words; blood, repentance, commitment and sin in sermons or even Gospel Messages very much lately. Maybe the ministers are too busy trying to keep the flock in line, than preaching the full Gospel from the pulpit. However if we look at cause and effect we might obtain more devoted followers for our Lord if these words were used sometimes. It has been said that if the ministers get too dogmatic in their teaching, it might offend the congregation. However if we do not explain salvation fully then might we offend the trust that the Lord has given us, to give the facts.
Ezekiel was sent by God to the people of Israel to warn them of impending judgement. He was told not to be frightened of telling them the truth or mincing his words but to warn them of what was to come in the future and to warn Israel of Gods judgement, God warned Ezekiel that he had a God given commission and a responsibility: “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. “Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. [Ezek 3:18-19]. Sobering words. Many years ago a Bible Class Teacher I knew, had a dream one night. Two angels came and took the members of his teenage Bible Class and threw them one by one into the eternal fire. When this man tried to stop them, they said you did not preach Christ Crucified to them or the way of repentance, and salvation, or judgement to come. The Bible Class Teacher changed his message from then on, to let them know assuredly the full facts.
To Nicodemus, one night, Jesus said: You must be born again. You must be born of the water and the Spirit or you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. At that time many Jews were repenting of their sin and being baptised by John as witness to this action, and if we commit ourselves to the Lord Jesus and seek to follow Him, the Holy Spirit will come upon us and dwell within us each one. Then the Holy Spirit will reveal to us how we should live and be a constant companion, guiding and guarding us.
No one who knows his or her Bible can say God does not bring judgement. The fall of Adam and Eve, The Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, The firstborn in Egypt, the captivity of Israel and the banishment of the Jews from the land of Palestine are all places where God passed judgement. He will pass judgement on the wickedness of this world and the people in it who have turned aside from God’s offer of salvation. That’s why Jesus came. “Unto you is born a Saviour” The Angels said. The Bible says: “Not that He [Jesus] should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another–He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. [Heb 9:25-28 NKJV].
All through the Old Testament the slain lamb is a symbol of the impending death and sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour. We take communion in Church so as to remember Christ’s sacrifice for us. At that first Passover in Egypt, the Jews were slaves and in bondage to the Egyptian’s. After many try’s God said to Pharaoh. Let my people go or I will kill all your firstborn. The Israelites were told; kill a lamb and paint the doorposts and lintel of you houses doorway with the blood of the lamb. The Angel of Death will pass through the land tonight and if the house has its doorposts thus painted the Angel will pass over that home and not pass judgement on those therein.
So how do we preach the real Gospel without warning of what’s to come. Read Revelation see the judgements which will fall on the wicked ways of mankind. We are told we will be saved from all this judgement if we believe in Jesus. Nicodemus was told by Jesus; For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [John 3:17 KJV]. In 70AD the Roman General Titus destroyed the city of Jerusalem with many Jews killed. Jesus knew this was to happen and as He looked over Jerusalem one day, and with tears in His eyes proclaimed: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused! [Lu 13:34 WEB]. The Bible says: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” [2 Pet 3:9 KJV]. Yes God does indeed love us beyond measure or man’s understanding. As a loving God He offers a way of escape through the Lord Jesus Christs sacrifice, and eternal life through the Lord’s resurrection, but as a righteous judge He still has to judge this world because it will not receive Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and will not give Him the due as Creator and God. The world continues to rebel and sin against Him. May we preach of God’s love, salvation, judgement, and eternity, in its fullness, but let us do it with tears in our eyes and love in our hearts.
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for the PWMI in the South Pacific.