I chose this topic for a very important reason. Based on my keen interest in the gospel, it is evident that some preachers are not specifically preaching about sin and repentance as they should. The gospel is and always has been “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Also, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Any truly “born again” believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should be concerned that so many are making self and material things the center of their lives instead of the Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save lost mankind. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin means “to miss the mark.” Therefore, anything that falls short of God’s glory is sin. Sin has separated us from God.
The Bible tells us the whole truth about sin. Therefore, pastors and lay preachers have a God-given responsibility to proclaim the gospel without reservation. Jesus commissioned us to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15,16).
Without exception. the universal problem for mankind is the fact that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:9,10). This indeed is God’s diagnosis of the true nature of mankind. Let’s remember that God sees us from the inside out where our true personality and make-up is revealed. Man, on the other hand, can only see us outwardly and no further.
Every person who comes into the world is a sinner. We are not sinners after we are born. On the contrary. And God’s word makes it abundantly clear—we are ‘conceived in sin’. ”Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). These were solemn words expressed by King David when the prophet Nathan confronted him after he committed adultery with Bathsheba. Thus, from the point of conception in our mothers womb, we are all sinners.
The Lord Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for our sins by shedding His blood and dying on the Cross to redeem lost mankind. “Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.” (Elvina M Hall, 1820-1889). Christians are eternally grateful to Jesus for what He has done for us so that we can be reconciled to God. The apostle Paul says, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20,21).
In view of what the Holy Scriptures teach about sin and the need for man to repent and receive Jesus Christ as Savior, why then are some preachers failing to proclaim the good news of the gospel? Pastors, lay preachers, and Christians must always call sin exactly what it is and tell others how they can find peace with God and purpose in living a Godly life. Peace with God is peace that the world knows nothing about.
Sadly, we live in a climate of “political correctness,” whereby we must stifle our consciences by using words and exhibiting a behavior that will neither offend nor upset certain groups of people. It is an established fact that people need the Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives to enjoy the peace of God and peace with God. It is not God’s wish that anyone should perish. The apostle Peter makes the point that the Lord “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Repentance means an unconditional surrender to Almighty God, which brings about a complete change in one’s lifestyle and direction toward the only true and living God.
When a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, that person turns over a new leaf by seeing things from God’s perspective. The Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself” (2 Corinthians 5:17,18).
“The new birth experience is exactly what God says it is—a fresh beginning.” Writes Dr Charles Stanley. “When we are born again, we not only have our sin forgiven and our guilt removed, but we also receive the Holy Spirit—who comes to indwell us and live Christ through us. We cannot be what we were before because we have been born into His life—with a new spirit and nature. And because of that, our desires and goals should be conformed to those that God has for us.” (The Charles F Stanley Life Principles Bible, p. 1387).
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, why not receive Him today, whom to know is life eternal? This indeed would be the best decision you ever made. The Bible says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). God says, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Amen.